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WSET Level 3 Award in Wines > 30. Spain > Flashcards

30. Spain Flashcards

1
Q

What are the three broad climatic zones of Spain?

A
  1. Moderate Maritime Climate: north or north-west coast, dominated by Atlantic weather systems, rainfall is high
  2. Warm Mediterranean Climate: east coast from Catalunya in the north to the Levante further south, many vineyards moderated by sea or altitude, more southern / hotter.
  3. Hot Continental Climate: The Meseta Central, a large plateau in the center of Spain, cold winters, hot summers can be moderated by cool nights of high altitude sites), limited rainfall.
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2
Q

What are the biggest grape growing challenges in Spain? How do grape growers combat this?

A

-heat, lack of water

  • low density, busy-trained vineyards
  • maximize amount of water available to each vine, shading from excessive heat
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3
Q

What is Spain’s premier black grape? What are these wines like?

A

Tempranillo

  • northern and central Spain
  • thick-skinned
  • medium acidity
  • requires sufficient warmth for ripening
  • too hot dilutes the acidity

Styles:

  • varietal wines: fresh, strawberry scented Joven white
  • blends: ageworthy, oaked
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4
Q

What is Garnacha Tinta?

A
  • Spain’s name for Grenache
  • high alcohol
  • widely used for rosados
  • important in Priorat (intense, complex, full-bodied reds)
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5
Q

What is Monastrell?

A
  • Spain’s name for Mourvedre
  • thick-skinned
  • drought-tolerant
  • needs hot, sunny conditions to ripen
  • South-eastern Spain: Yecla, Jumilla
  • deeply colored
  • full body
  • high tannin
  • high alcohol
  • low-to-medium acidity
  • ripe blackberry fruit flavors
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6
Q

Name the 6 top black grapes of Spain.

A
  1. Tempranillo
  2. Garnacha Tinta
  3. Monastrell
  4. Graciano
  5. Carinena/Mazuelo
  6. Mencia
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7
Q

Descibe Graciano.

A

-highly valued
-difficult to grow
-Rioja
-part of blend
ADDS:
-concentrated black fruit aromas
-acidity, tannins, structure

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8
Q

What is Carinena?

A
  • Carignan
  • Mazuelo in Rioja
  • Priorat (blends with Garnacha)
  • high acid, tannin, color
  • small proportion in Tempranillo blend
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9
Q

What is Mecia?

A
  • local variety
  • moderate climates
  • fresh fruit, medium to high acidity
  • hints of herbaceousness
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10
Q

What is Spanish for PDO?

A

Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP)

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11
Q

What is Denominación de Origen (DO)?

A
  • certain minimum quality

- specification on grape variety, viticulture and location

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12
Q

What is Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa)? What are the 2 DOCas?

A

-DOs of at least 10 years standing may apply for this more prestigious category

Rioja & Priorat
-Priorat uses Catalan terminology Denominación de Origen Qualificada (DOQ)

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13
Q

What is Vinos de Pago (VP)?

A
  • a small number of single estates with high reputations

- may only use their own grapes, which must be vinified and matured on their estate

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14
Q

What is Spanish for PGI?

A

Vino de la Tierra (VdlT)

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15
Q

What are the 4 categories for age laws?

A
  1. Joven
  2. Crianza
  3. Reserva
  4. Gran Reserva (only produced in exceptional vintages)

Note: many producers exceed the minimum aging requirements.
White and Rose wines rarely made in this style

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16
Q

What is the minimum total aging (in months) of red Joven wines? Crianza? Reserva? Gran Reseva?

A
  1. Joven - 0 months
  2. Crianza - 24 months
  3. Reserva - 36 months
  4. Gran Reserva - 60 months
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17
Q

What is the minimum time spent in barrel (in months) of red Joven wines? Crianza? Reserva? Gran Reseva?

A
  1. Joven - 0 months
  2. Crianza - 6 months
  3. Reserva - 12 months
  4. Gran Reserva - 18 months
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18
Q

What is the minimum total aging (in months) of white and rose Joven wines? Crianza? Reserva? Gran Reseva?

A
  1. Joven - 0 months
  2. Crianza - 18 months
  3. Reserva - 24 months
  4. Gran Reserva - 48 months
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19
Q

What is the minimum time spent in barrel (in months) of white and rose Joven wines? Crianza? Reserva? Gran Reseva?

A
  1. Joven - 0 months
  2. Crianza - 6 months
  3. Reserva - 6 months
  4. Gran Reserva - 6 months
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20
Q

What are the 2 main white grape varieties of Spain? What other grapes are produced?

A
  1. Verdejo
  2. Albarino
    - -
  3. Airen
  4. Macabeao/Viura
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21
Q

What are the two styles of Verdejo wines?

A
  • susceptible to oxidation
  • Sherry-like wines

Style 1:

  • light body
  • high acidity
  • melon, patch
  • often blended with Sauvignon Blanc

Style 2:

  • richer
  • full body
  • skin contact
  • barrel fermentation
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22
Q

Describe Albarino wines? Where is Albarino widely grown?

A
  • north-west of Spain
  • thick-skinned
  • resists fungal disease
  • high acid
  • citrus, stone fruit

-can also make richer, fuller bodied styles

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23
Q

What is the most widely plated grape variety in Spain? Where is it planted? Why?

A

Airen

  • La Macha, central Spain
  • can cope with extreme heat and drought
  • dry wines
  • Brandy de Jerez
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24
Q

What are the 3 main grape varieties used in the production of Cava?

A

Parellada, Xarel-lo, Macabeo

-Catalunya

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25
Q

What is Macabeo? What is it known as in Rioja?

A
  • Viura in Rioja
  • often used for still wine production
  • unoaked, subtle herb and spice aromas
  • traditional heavily-oaked white Riojas
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26
Q

What international varieties are grown in Spain?

A
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Merlot
  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • Chardonnay

-blends with local varieties

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27
Q

Name the 6 geographical regions of Spain.

A
  1. Upper Ebro
  2. Catalunya
  3. the Duero Valley
  4. the North West
  5. the Levante
  6. the Castilla-La Mancha
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28
Q

What is the main region for the production of Vino de la Tierra?

A

Castilla y León

towards the north of the Peseta Central

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29
Q

What are the main subregion of the Upper Ebro?

A
  1. Rioja
  2. Navarra
  3. Carinena & Calatayud
30
Q

What are the subregions of Rioja?

A
  1. Rioja Alavesa
  2. Rioja Alta
  3. Rioja Baja
31
Q

Describe the geography and wines of Rioja Alavesa.

A
  • west of Logrono
  • north bank of the Ebro
  • foothills of the Cantabrian Mountains
  • lightest wines
  • most finesse
32
Q

Describe the geography and wines of Rioja Alta.

A
  • west of Logrono
  • south of the Ebro
  • 500-800 meters
  • moderated climate (Atlantic Ocean)
33
Q

Describe the geography and wines of Rioja Baja.

A
  • east of Logrono
  • mainly on the south bank
  • less maritime climate
  • hotter summers
  • severe winters
  • drought common
34
Q

What is the most widely planted variety in Rioja? Describe this grape. What other grapes are added to Rioja blends?

A

Tempranillo

  • does best in the cooler western subregions
  • main component in blends
  • gives red fruit flavors
  • medium tannins

Other
-Garnacha, Mazuelo, Graciano

35
Q

Where does Garnacha grow best? What does it add to Rioja blends?

A
  • Rioja Baja

- adds body and alcohol

36
Q

Describe early drinking Rioja wines and winemaking techniques.

A
  • semi-carbonic maceration
  • vibrant red fruit
  • low levels of smooth tannin
37
Q

Describe Rioja wines made for long term maturation.

A
  • destemmed, crushed
  • vigorous cap manament
  • extended maceration
  • heavily extracted wines
  • deep color
  • full of fruit
  • some are more subtle and elegant
  • oak maturation
38
Q

Traditionally, what type of oak was Rioja aged in? What flavor did this impart on the wine?

A

American oak

-pronounced vanilla

39
Q

Now, what type of oak is Rioja aged in?

A

French or other European oak

-more subtle, spicy aromas

40
Q

What is the most widely planted white grape used in white Rioja?

A

Viura

41
Q

Describe traditional white Rioja.

A
  • aged for extended periods of time in American oak
  • deep golden color
  • nutty flavors
  • deliberately oxidized
42
Q

Describe modern white Rioja.

A
  • minimum oxygen contact
  • preserve maximum fruit
  • some barrel fermented but not as oxidized as traditional Rioja
43
Q

Where is Navarra DO located? What’s the climate?

A
  • northern/eastern borders of Rioja into the foothills of the Pyrenees
  • climate is similar to Rioja but cooler and wetter near the mounatins
44
Q

What is the most widely planted variety in Navarra? What types of wines is it used in?

A

Tempranillo
1. similar to Rioja blends
2. blended with Cab or Merlot
range in quality from Joven to Gran Reserva

45
Q

What else is commonly planted in Navarra? What types of wines is it used in?

A

Ganarcha

  • rose
  • picked earlier when acid levels are high and sugar levels are low
  • refreshing fruity wines
  • medium alcohol
46
Q

What white grapes are grown in Navarra?

A
  • Viura, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc

- very small proportion in white

47
Q

Where are Carinena and Calatayud located? What is the climate? Describe the two styles of wines

A

-south of the Ebro
-warm continental climates
-low rainfall
-Garnacha is main variety
Styles:
1. fruity, early drinking
2. higher quality: old vine Garnacha and Carinena, great intensity and structure

48
Q

What’s confusing about Cariñena?

A

It’s both a DO (Ebro) and a grape (Carignan) and the grape is not the most widely planted grape variety in the DO with the same name.

49
Q

Where is Catalunya located? What’s special about it?

A
  • North-east corner of Spain
  • coastal plain and hills
  • has it’s own generic DO for still wines from the entire region (allows significant volumes of branded wine)
  • where nearly all Cava is made
50
Q

What are the main DOs of Catalunya?

A
  1. Penedès

2. Priorat

51
Q

Where is Penedès? Describe the 3 distinct climate zones?

A
  • southwest of Barcelona
  • Mediterrannean coast to the hills
  • three distinct climate zones
    1. Mediterranean: hot coastal plains
    2. Warm: inland in the valleys, slightly cooler
    3. Moderate: 800 meters into the hills
52
Q

What are the main grapes of Penedès?

A

Black: Tempranillo, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon,
White: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewurztraminer

53
Q

What do they call Tempranillo in Penedès?

A

Ull de Llebre

54
Q

Describe the climate and soils of Priorat. What grapes thrive here? What factors contribute to the higher cost of Priorat wines?

A
  • within the hills inland from the city of Tarragona
  • long, hot, dry summers
  • annual rainfall is low
  • great for: old Garnacha and Carinena vines
  • soil “llicorella” consists of layers of slate with small particles of mica that sparkle in the sun
  • help with ripening by reflecting and conserving heat
  • retain water
  • bush vines and steep slopes = expensive, hand harvesting
  • nutrient pool soil, low yields
55
Q

Describe wine from Priorat.

A
  • deeply colored
  • high tannins
  • concentrated black fruit
  • toast aromas of new French oak
  • mostly Garnacha and Carinena
  • some Cabernet Sauvignon
56
Q

Describe the geography of Ribera del Duero.

A
  • ring of mountains cuts off any maritime influence
  • short, hot, dry summers
  • very cold winters
  • vineyards on the heist part of the Peseta Central, over 850 meters (retain acidity and fresh fruit flavors)
57
Q

What is the dominant grape of Ribera del Duero? Describe the wines/winemaking techniques. What are other grapes grown here?

A

Tempranillo

  • varietal wines
  • dark color
  • high tannins
  • mostly red, some rose, no white
  • long macerations
  • short aging in new oak (more French than American now)

Other

  • Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot
  • Garnacha (dry rose)
58
Q

Describe wines from Toro DO.

A
  • Tempranillo
  • full body
  • intense fruit flavors
  • high alcohol
  • similar climate to Ribera del Duero
  • Joven: some Garnacha
  • Reserva/Gran Reserva: deeply colored, tannic when young; can age well.

-some whites and roses

59
Q

Describe the climate and wines from Rueda DO. How is it different from its neighboring DOs?

A
  • Focuses on white wine
  • between Toro and Ribera del Duero
  • continental climate (cool summer nights)
  • ideal for Verdejo, Sauvignon Blanc
  • blended whites must contain at least 50% Verdejo
  • styles range from simple and fruity to richer, barrel fermented
60
Q

What are the main subregions of the Duero Valley?

A
  1. Ribera del Duero
  2. Toro
  3. Rueda
61
Q

What are the main subregions of the North West region of Spain?

A
  1. Rias Baixas

2. Bierzo

62
Q

Describe the geography, climate and wines of Rias Baixas.

A
  • on the Atlantic coast
  • moderate, damp climate
  • mildew and rot are common
  • vines trained on pergolas to encourage air circulation
  • Albarino
  • fresh, unoaked style
  • high acidity
  • some made in richer style with a touch of oak or lees stirring

-some red wine

63
Q

Describe the geography, climate and wines of Bierzo.

A
  • predominantly red wines
  • mountains between Galicia and the Meseta Central
  • moderate climate, cooling maritime influence
  • Mencia
  • elegant wines
  • naturally high acid
  • red fruit
  • sometimes oaked

-old vines, stony slopes

64
Q

What are the main subregions of the Levante?

A
  1. Valencia

2. Jumilla, Yecla

65
Q

Where is The Levante region?

A

-Mediterranean coast, south of Catalunya

66
Q

What is Valencia? What are the most widely planted red and white grapes? What other grape/wine is made here?

A
  • large, spread out DO
  • known for value wines
  • Monastrell: most planted red grape
  • Merseguera: most planted white grape

-Muscat of Alexandra is used to make Moscatel de Valencia (sweet fortified wine)

67
Q

Describe the location, climate, and wines of Jumilla and Yecla.

A
  • further inland
  • hot, arid climates
  • perfect for Monastrell
  • youthful, fruity
68
Q

What is the largest DO in Spain? What is the most widely grown variety here and what types of wine does it make?

A
  • La Mancha
  • most widely planted grape: Airen (neutral, fresh white wines)
  • Inexpensive, well-made reds and whites for export market

Other:
-Tempranillo (Cencibel), Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc

69
Q

Where did the trend for top quality pagos wines begin?

A

La Mancha

-many of the estates award the appellation Vinos de Pago

70
Q

Describe the location, climate, and wines of Valdepenas.

A
  • south of La Mancha
  • identical climate to La Mancha
  • higher quality wines
  • Airen is most widely planted grape
  • also Tempranillo (Cencibel)
  • range in style from fruity to oaked

WSET Level 3 Award in Wines (41 decks)

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