9. Andalucía Flashcards
The ____ _____ is a high pressure system that develops over the Atlantic and contributes to hot, dry summers in Andalucía.
Azores High
Much of Andalucía is impacted by the _____ and the _____ winds.
Levante and Poniente
The _____ _____ provides a natural northern border between Andalucía and the autonomous regions of Extremadura and Castilla-La Mancha.
Sierra Morena
The _____ _____ is the highest mountain range on the Iberian Peninsula and is found in southern Andalucía.
Sistema Bético
The highest peak in mainland Spain is the ____ de ______ found in the Sierra Nevada of the Sistema Bético
Pico de Mulhacén
Some of the highest vineyards in Europe, with elevations up to 3,937 ft/ 1,200m, are found in ______.
Granada
The _____ and the _____ rivers flow through Sherry country.
Guadalete and Guadalquivir
Provide three reasons why Albariza is vital to the success of vines in Andalucía.
- Reflects sunlight and thus creates a cooler mesoclimate.
- Retains humidity
- Stores water from winter rains by forming a hard crust at the surface during hot summer months.
True or False?
Albero is a typically white, calcium carbonate rich soil found in DO Manzanilla-Sanlucar de Barrameda.
False.
Albero is the name for this soil in DO Montilla-Moriles.
In DO Manzanilla-Sanlúcar de Barrameda and DO Jerez – Xérès – Sherry, it is called Albariza.
____% of the vineyard land in DO Manzanilla-Sanlúcar de Barrameda and DO Jerez – Xérès – Sherry is comprised of ______ soil.
90%
albariza
True or False?
The three most important grapes in Andalucía are Palomino Fino, Pedro Ximénez and Moscatel de Grano Noble.
False
Palomino Fino, Pedro Ximénez and Moscatel (de Alejandria)
The dominant pruning technique in Andalucía is ___ y ______.
Vara y pulgar.
Phylloxera arrived in Andalucía in 1894. In what way did the arrival of the louse change viticulture?
Recovery from the louse was rapid as the remedy was well known. Afterwards, replanting was carried out by matching each varietal to its ideal growing environment.
Palomino Fino is also known as _____ _____.
Listan Blanco
Explain why Palomino Fino is the perfect grape for infusing character via the criadera y soleras system.
It ripens with low sugar levels and low acidity, resulting in a neutral, flat, low alcohol wine upon which sherry traits can be imbued. It’s also prone to oxidation.
What is the principal sweetening agent in sherry production?
Pedro Ximénez
Where can Sherry producers purchase finished sweet wine for blending purposes?
DO Montillla-Moriles
Which grape is grown for wine as well as consumption as a fruit or raisin?
Moscatel (de Alejandria)
When the architecture of Sherry Cathedrals was re-designed in the early 19th century, what where the two principal vinification needs that it addressed?
Retention of humidity and reduction of heat. A third consideration was the accommodation of vertically stacked casks as part of the solera ageing system.
Name at least three features of Sherry Cathedrals that helps retain humidity and reduce heat.
Several possibilities.
- High ceilings so that heat can rise and casks can be stacked.
- Windows in the top third of the buildings that release heat.
- Covering windows with esparto grass blinds to temper light and, when moistened, to cool incoming air.
- Thick porous walls to help retain humidity inside and maintain constant cooler temperatures.
- Painting outer walls white to reflect sunlight.
- Covering the floors with Albero, an absorbent sand that, when watered, helps regulate humidity within the bodega.
- Rectangular buildings oriented on a northeast-southwest axis. This minimises exposed surface area and the number of hours the building is subjected to the hot afternoon sun. It also allows the entry of the moisture-laden westerly Poniente winds whilst blocking the strong, dry Levante winds from the east.
65% of the total volume of juice from crushed grapes used in Sherry production comes from the ____ _____.
Primera Yema
Free run juice
The Primera Yema press fraction is typically used for what type of Sherry and why?
Fino sherry because it’s light and pale.
Oloroso sherry typically comes from which press fraction?
Segunda yema, juice that is generally extracted via pneumatic press and has more colour and tannin than free run juice from the primera yema.
The _____ ____ press fraction is typically used for distillation, not sherry production.
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