Andalucía Flashcards
Which autonomous community is the most populous? Where does it rank by land area?
Andalucía
Second largest
Which mainland autonomous community is southernmost?
Andalucía
What is Andalucía bordered by?
N: Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha
E: Murcia
S&E: Mediterranean Sea, Gibraltar
W: Atlantic Ocean, Portugal
How many provinces in Andalucía?
Bonus: name them and their capitals
8
All are named after their capitals. W-E by capital location:
Huelva
Cádiz
Sevilla
Córdoba
Málaga
Jaén
Granada
Almería
Capital, most populous city in Andalucía? Where does the most populous city rank in Spain?
Sevilla (700k)
4th in Spain
Climate of Andalucía
Mediterranean with Atlantic and continental influences
Rainfall in Andalucía? When?
Bonus: give an example of how variable between provinces
low to medium: 300-800mm
Mostly in winter
Cabo de Gata (Almería) is Europe’s driest area with 160mm rain annually.
Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park (northern Cádiz and Málaga) is one of the wettest places (possibly the wettest) in the Iberian Peninsula >2,000mm/year
Name the weather pattern that contributes to the hot, dry summers (especially inland) in Andalucía
Azores High
Typical temperature range through the year, inland, in Andalucía? How does the coast differ? And east-west?
Cool to hot (6-45ºC)
Less extreme at the coast
Coolest in the east
Which city has the highest average temperature in mainland Spain?
Sevilla
Name the principal winds in Andalucía, and their effects. Why are they important for winemaking?
Levante (from E, hot, dry)
Poniente (from W, cool, humid 95%, as evening sea breeze)
Between them they create the ideal environment for flor.
Which two principal mountain ranges are in Andalucía?
N: Sierra Morena (border with Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha)
S: Sistema Bético (highest in Iberia)
Which three chains of mountains make up the Sistema Bético in Andalucía? Which chain includes the Sierra Nevada?
Cordillera Prebética (mostly in Murcia, Castilla-La Mancha)
Cordillera Subbética (northern Andalucía)
Cordillera Penibética (southern Andalucía, includes Sierra Nevada)
Name the five long rivers that flow across the plain in Andalucía to the Atlantic Ocean. Which flow through sherry country?
North-South:
Odiel
Tinto
Guadalquivir (sherry)
Guadalete (sherry)
Barbate
Name the five shorter rivers that flow through Andalucía, from the Sistema Bético to the Mediterranean Sea?
West-East:
Guadiaro
Guadalhorce
Guadalfeo
Andarax
Almanzora
Are the soils of Andalucía diverse or similar?
Diverse
What soil types are generally found in Andalucía in:
N: Sierra Morena
E: Sistema Bético
Sherry country
N, Sierra Morena: shallow limestone, clay
E, Sistema Bético: deep slate, clay, limestone
Sherry country: 90% planted on albariza, 30-80% chalk with limestone, clay, sand
It’s called albariza in sherry country, but what is it called in DO Montilla-Moriles? Not to be confused with…?
albero
Not to be confused with the albero that covers floors in sherry bodegas.
Which three grapes dominate Andalucía?
Palomino Fino
Pedro Ximénez (PX)
Moscatel (de Alejandría)
What are the Spanish terms in Andalucía for:
fortified wine
sweet wine
vino generoso
vino dulce
Which two DOs in Andalucía make the majority of sweet wines?
DO Montilla-Moriles
DO Málaga
Which ten grapes (4 white, 6 red) are most used in Andalucía to make dry wines?
Blanco: Pedro Ximénez (PX), Vijiriego, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc.
Tinto: Tempranillo, Garnacha Tinta, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah.
The vineyards of which autonomous community in mainland Spain have the largest range of elevation?
Andalucía
Vines from 0-1,200m
Name the main vine training techniques of Andalucía
en vaso
espaldera
vara y pulgar (for sherry)
Give an example of a wine area in Andalucía where both en vaso and espaldera vine training is used, but harvesting is still by hand
VC Granada
What was sherry country historically called by the:
Phoenicians?
Romans?
Moors?
Xera
Ceret
Sherish
In which year did Christians reclaim Jerez? What did they import from England in return for sherish?
1264
wool
In 1483, the sherry producers banded together to create which regulations?
Regulations of the Guild of Raisin and Grape Harvesters of Jerez
In which year did Sir Francis Drake attack Cádiz? What did he steal? How did it change the English language?
1587
3,000 barrels of sherry
‘sack’ (from sacar, to take out, e.g. from solera) took on another meaning - product of a raid
In the 17-18C, as the popularity of sherry grew in Britain, what was the response of the British merchants and government?
British merchants set up in Jerez
Government reduced excise duties, causing sales of sherry to quadruple
How did sherry production change in the 18C?
The criaderas y solera system was developed to manage surpluses, leading to drier wines, fractional blending, homogeneity, and sherry cathedrals.
When did phylloxera reach Jerez, with what effect?
1894
swiftly replanted
In which year was the sherry DO officially created? What is its full name?
1933
DO Jerez-Xérès-Sherry
In which year did manzanilla get its DO? What is its full name?
1964
DO Manzanilla-Sanlúcar de Barrameda
What proportion of the sherry vineyard is planted to Palomino Fino? What is Palomino Fino also called?
95%
Listán Blanco
Who is the possible inspiration for the Palomino Fino name?
Don Fernán Yáñes Palomino
a knight of King Alfonso X during the Reconquista
Palomino Fino is indigenous to where?
Andalucía
Give four sherry-friendly characteristics of Palomino Fino
low sugar
low acidity
low alcohol
(so blank canvas)
prone to oxidation
Where is Pedro Ximénez (PX) indigenous to?
Andalucía
What is PX used for in Andalucía?
sweeten sherry
varietal wine
What is unusual in sherry regulations about PX? Why is this rule exploited?
It may be (and usually is) grown in DO Montilla-Moriles, and can be labelled sherry if aged in sherry country.
DO Montilla-Moriles is warmer and drier which helps to fully ripen PX.
What is Moscatel (de Alejandría) used for in Andalucía? (4)
fruit
raisins
sweeten sherry
varietal wines
Outline the principal architectural features (and their effects) of the sherry cathedrals. Consider:
ceilings
windows
walls internally
walls externally
floor
orientation
High ceilings (heat to rise).
High windows (heat to escape).
Esparto grass window coverings (shade).
Thick walls (thermal stability).
Walls of porous material (humidity).
Outside walls painted white (reflect sunlight).
Albero floors (watered for humidity).
Rectangular on NE-SW axis (encourage Poinente, discourage Levante and hot sun).
Sherry cathedrals can have up to:
what height of ceiling?
what thickness of walls?
15m high
60cm thick
When are the high windows typically opened and closed in a sherry cathedral, and why?
Open in the evening to let Poniente sea breezes in.
Closed in the morning to avoid the heat of the day.
Historically Palomino Fino was foot trodden to music. At what time of day? Bare feet or shod? Why?
Midnight to noon (when cool).
Nail-studded shoes (zapatos de pisar) which gathered grape skins for gentle pressing.
Nowadays where is sherry base wine usually fermented? Why?
Near the vineyard (not the ageing bodega) to reduce transport time and avoid oxidation and spoilage
In sherry production, when is Palomino Fino pressed? What are the pressing fractions, their percentages, and intended purposes?
After crushing.
Primera yema: mostly free-run, intended for Fino, 65% of volume.
Segunda yema: light pneumatic press, for Oloroso, 23% of volume.
Mosto prensa: firm pneumatic press, for distillation.
After pressing, the pressing fractions are vinified. Together or separately?
Separately
(What would be the point of separating them otherwise?)
Fermentation of Palomino Fino for sherry is done in what kind of vessel? With what kind of yeast? To what level of sweetness and alcohol?
Usually temperature controlled stainless steel tanks.
Some use 500-600 L wooden butts.
Indigenous yeasts.
To dry (11-12%abv)
After fermentation, Palomino Fino base wines for sherry go through first classification. What are the classifications, and their chalk marks?
Fino/Manzanilla (for biological ageing under flor: /)
Oloroso (for oxidative ageing without flor: o)
What are the characteristics of base wine intended for classification as fino/manzanilla?
Albariza soil
Old vines
Free run juice
Excellent hygiene
After first classification, the sherry base wine is fortified. With what? To what strength? What happens next?
Fortification with mitad y mitad (half and half: distilled grape spirit and mature sherry).
Fino/manzanilla: to 15-15.5%abv to encourate flor and biological ageing.
Oloroso: to 17% to kill flor for oxidative ageing.
Then: moved to wooden butts (sobretabla).
How long is sherry kept in the sobretabla before second classification? What change might happen then?
3-12 months
Some fino/manzanilla might be switched to oxidative aging (palo cortado).
What is the minimum average ageing period for biologically-aged sherry?
Two years
What is the most abundant strain of yeast in the flor of biologically ageing sherries?
Saccharomyces beticus
What conditions are required to encourage the flor, in biological sherry ageing?
air above the flor
undisturbed
Cool and stable (ideally 18-20ºC)
>65% humidity
In biological sherry ageing, what does the flor consume, and produce? What does the flor protect the wine from?
Consumes:
alcohol
acid
glycerin
Produces:
aldehydes (oxidised alcohols)
fusel oils (higher alcohols)
Protects from:
acetobacter
oxidation
If biologically ageing sherry is not replenished with younger wine, how long before the flor’s food source is depleted? If replenished, how long can it be kept alive?
Depeted in 12-18 months.
Can be kept alive for 7-8 years.
How is amontillado sherry made?
Make a fino, fortify it to 17% to kill the flor, age it again oxidatively.
What inhibits acetobacter in oxidative sherry ageing?
17% alcohol
What effect does evaporation have on oxidatively ageing sherry?
Water evaporates, alcohol increases
What is the maximum legal alcohol content for sherry?
22%abv
What is the name for lighter sherry wines that are aged outside in the sun for 1-2 years, evaporating 15% volume per year, concentrating flavours and hastening oxidative ageing? What often happens after ageing?
rayas
Often blended with sweetening agents for dessert sherries
Give four meanings of the word ‘solera’
1) A stack of casks from different vintages.
2) The lowest row of butts (from Latin solum = floor, Spanish suelo).
3) dynamic ageing system where old wine is partially withdrawn and replaced with young.
4) a combined fractional blending and ageing system to maintain house style and quality.
How many criaderas in a solera system?
From 3 to upwards of 20
Typical barrel size in a solera? Made of? Filled to?
600L
American oak
Filled to 5/6 capacity
True/false: the top row of butts in a solera system is the youngest criadera? Why?
Not necessarily in chronological (or logical) order.
Fino ages best near the cool, humid floor.
Oloroso oxidises better in warmer upper tiers.
In a sherry solera, is ‘running the scales’ performed more often in biological or oxidative ageing?
Biological
(to feed the flor)
What is the maximum proportion of wine removed from the solera when bottling?
one third
Blended sherry wines are sometimes darkened by adding a wine.
What is the wine called?
How is it made?
Vinos de color
It is a 1:3 mix of arrope and Palomino Fino must, aged in a solera.
Arrope is a dark syrup made by heating grape must over a slow fire until it reduces to one-fifth volume.
In Sherry, vinos generosos are:
Dry or sweet?
Oxidatively or biologically aged?
Made from which grapes?
Grown where?
Aged where?
Dry.
Either.
Palomino Fino.
In DO Jerez-Xérès-Sherry.
In the Sherry Triangle (says SWS but this is now out of date).
What is the difference between fino and manzanilla sherry?
Manzanilla can only be produced and matured in Sanlúcar de Barrameda
What is the origin of the sherry term Manzanilla?
Manzanilla is Spanish for chamomile, a characteristic flavour of Manzanilla sherry
What characteristics are shared by fino and manzanilla sherry? (6)
Fortified, dry sherry
Palomino Fino
Biologically aged under flor
Low acid
Pale colour
Fresh dough, roasted almonds
How is palo cortado made?
First classification (for sobretabla): biological ageing.
Second classification (for ageing): oxidative ageing, fortified to 17%.
Which style of vino generoso sherry only experiences oxidative ageing?
Oloroso
In Andalucía, Vinos Dulces Naturales are typically made:
from which grapes?
grown where?
treated how around harvest time?
fermented to what extent?
biological or oxidative ageing?
Either Moscatel or PX.
Moscatel in sherry country, PX in DO Montilla-Moriles.
Overripe or sun-dried (actually PX is always sun-dried).
Fermentation stopped early by fortification.
Oxidative.
A sherry labelled Moscatel is typically made:
with at least what percentage of Moscatel grapes?
grown where?
treated how around harvest?
fermented to what extent?
sometimes blended with?
85%
sherry country
overripe or sun-dried
fermentation stopped early by fortification
PX or arrope
A sherry labeled Pedro Ximénez is typically made:
with at least what percentage PX?
grown where?
treated how around harvest?
fermented to what extent?
matured where?
how sweet?
85%
DO Montilla-Moriles
overripe or sun-dried (actually I think it is always sun-dried)
fermentation stopped early by fortification
Jerez
luscious: some over 400 g/L sugar
In sherry production, what is RCGM?
Rectified Concentrated Grape Must
a clear, odourless sugar solution derived from grape must, used to add sweetness without altering colour, aroma or flavour.
In the production of Vinos Generosos de Licor, what is the Spanish term for blending?
cabaceo
Which blended sherries can be made by adding:
RCGM?
Moscatel?
PX?
Dry / Pale / Pale Dry: RCGM
Pale Cream: RCGM
Medium: RCGM/Moscatel/PX
Cream: PX
What six other names are authorised for Medium sherry?
Golden
Abocado
Amoroso
Brown
Milk
Rich
The category Medium sherry divides into Medium Dry and Medium Sweet, with what sugar levels? (this is not ‘need to know’)
Medium Dry: 5-45 g/L
Medium Sweet: 45-115 g/L
(actually I think it’s 4-45 and 50-115)
What are the sugar levels for these blended sherries:
Dry / Pale / Pale Dry?
Pale Cream?
Medium?
Cream?
(this is not ‘need to know’)
Dry <45 g/L
Pale Cream 45-115 g/L
Medium 5-115 g/L
Cream 115-140 g/L
What are the three special categories for age-designated sherries? Which styles of sherry are eligible? Examples?
Vinos de Vejez Calificada (Sherry Wines of Certified Age)
Amontillado, Palo Cortado, Oloroso, PX
VOS/VORS
Vinos con Indicación de Edad (Sherry Wines with Indication of Age)
Amontillado, Palo Cortado, Oloroso, PX
12 and 15 years old.
Añada (Vintage Sherry)
Amontillado, Palo Cortado, Oloroso (not PX)
For the categories:
Vinos de Vejez Calificada (Sherry Wines of Certified Age), and
Vinos con Indicación de Edad (Sherry Wines with Indication of Age),
which of them:
require an independent tasting committee?
require analysis by the Estación de Viticultura y Enología de Jerez?
apply to the wine vs the solera?
Give examples of the designation.
Both require independent tasting and analysis.
Vinos de Vejez Calificada: applies to the wine (VOS, VORS)
Vinos con Indicación de Edad: applies to the solera (12, 15 years)
What is ‘East India’ sherry?
Bodegas Lustau’s homage to cream sherry shipped to the Indies in the 17C, which spent long times on ships.
Method:
age Oloroso and PX in separate soleras for 12 years
blend
further age in a 45-cask solera for 3 years at elevated humidity and temperature
Name the 9 towns of the sherry region
North-south:
Lebrija
Trebujena
Sanlúcar de Barrameda
Chipiona
Rota
Jerez de la Frontera
(also San Juan del Valle)
El Puerto de Santa Maria
Puerto Real
Chiclana de la Frontera
What three zones are defined in sherry country?
Zona de Producción (production zone): the nine towns for viniculture
Jerez Superior: a subset of albariza soils, 92% of vineyard
Zona de Crianza (ageing and maturing zone): the Sherry Triangle (this changed in recent regulations to the whole Marco de Jerez)
What is DO Málaga in Andalucía known for?
sweet wines
In which centuries was DO Málaga in Andalucía the second largest wine region in Spain?
17-19C
When was DO Málaga created?
In the 1932 Wine Statute
DO Málaga in Andalucía: primary grapes used for vino dulce?
PX and Moscatel
Are sweet wines in DO Málaga (in Andalucía) made from overripe or sun-dried grapes?
Either
Are sweet wines in DO Málaga (in Andalucía) fortified?
Usually but not always
Apart from PX and Moscatel, which three indigenous grapes can be used in in DO Málaga (in Andalucía)? How much?
Romé
Doradilla
Lairén
combined maximum 30%
Name the style of sweet DO Málaga wine that became popular in 18C England and is admired today? What are its alternative names? How is it made? How sweet?
Pajarete
Paxarete
Paxarette
PX and/or Moscatel
fermented and fortified
oxidatively aged 2yr+ in oak
some producers use a solera system
45-140 g/L sugar
True/false: all DO Málaga wines are sweet
True (says the SWS book, though the regulations allow for dry)
DO labelled raisins and dry still wines are both made within the borders of DO Málaga. What DO appears on the label?
Raisins: DO Pasas de Málaga
Dry still wine: DO Sierras de Málaga
(from indigenous and international varieties)
True/false: all sweet DO Málaga wines are fortified
False
Some producers make non-fortified, sweet Moscatels, golden and perfumed for early consumption
DO Málaga is divided into how many growing areas, and subdivided into how many sub-zones?
Bonus: name the sub-zones (this is not ‘need to know’).
3 growing areas
5 sub-zones (north-south):
Norte
Axarquía
Montes de Málaga
Serranía de Ronda
Manilva
Name the two main rivers delineating DO Montilla-Moriles in Andalucía
Guadajoz (NE)
Genil (SW)
DO Montilla-Moriles in Andalucía is just south of which city?
Córdoba
DO Montilla-Moriles in Andalucía encompasses how many towns? Name the two most important. What factors distinguish them?
17
Montilla
Moriles
Elevation, soil
Name the vineyards of DO Montilla-Moriles in Andalucía that are planted at the highest elevations. On what kind of soil?
Sierra de Montilla
Moriles Altos
Albariza (locally: Albero)
With the exception of the highest elevation vineyards, name and describe the soils in the rest of DO Montilla-Moriles in Andalucía.
ruedos
sandy topsoil, clay subsoil
What impact do ruedos soils have on vines in DO Montilla-Moriles in Andalucía, compared with albero (albariza)?
(sandy topsoil, clay subsoil)
More heat, hydric stress
What is the main grape in DO Montilla-Moriles in Andalucía?
Pedro Ximénez (PX)
What kind of wines are made from PX in DO Montilla-Moriles in Andalucía? What is it most famous for?
still wine
vinos generosos
famed for: dulces
Much PX from DO Montilla-Moriles is used to sweeten what?
Blended sherries, aged in Jerez
PX wines in DO Montilla-Moriles age differently depending on the soil they were grown on. Which soil shows accelerated ageing/oxidation?
Clay (ruedos)
How are PX wines made under DO Montilla-Moriles? How are they labelled?
Similar to sherry but with PX instead of Palomino.
Labelled Fino, Amontillado or Oloroso. Not labelled sherry.
Finos are not fortified (PX reaches 15% naturally).
What is the origin of the term Amontillado?
from Montilla, as in DO Montilla-Moriles in Andalucía
True/false: flor develops in DO Montilla-Moriles
True
but thinner and weaker than in the Marco de Jerez
What kind of vessels are used for vinification in DO Montilla-Moriles?
Traditionally: tinajas (large earthernware vessels: 60-100 hl)
Modern: temperature controlled stainless steel tanks for fermentation, then tinajas for ageing
Outline the production process for sweet PX in DO Montilla-Moriles
Hand harvest in August.
soleo/asoleado: sun dried on straw mats for 4-10 days, turning, until double concentrated with 400 g/L sugar.
Basket pressed.
Fermented to about 3-4% abv.
Fortified to 15% abv with neutral grape spirit.
Put in tinajas or casks and categorised as vintage or solera (casks filled, min 2 years).
Vintage Sweet PX from DO Montilla-Moriles is typically never topped off. What happens to the wine during ageing? What is it like? How much sugar? Bottle ageing potential?
It concentrates.
Opaque black, raisins/figs/chocolate/caramel.
Can be over 500 g/L sugar.
Age for decades.
Soil types of DO Málaga?
Limestone, clay, decomposed granite
All the need-to-know DOs in Andalucía have a Mediterranean climate. Which has continental influences?
DO Montilla-Moriles
Which need-to-know DO in Andalucía has the smallest vineyard?
DO Málaga (996 ha)
Which need-to-know DO in Andalucía has the highest rainfall? When?
DO Montilla-Moriles
500-1,000 mm irregularly
Apart from Albariza, what soil types are found in the Marco de Jerez?
Barros (clay)
Arenas (sand)
The Moors permitted viticulture. What for?
raisins
alcohol for medicines and perfumes
What did the Caliph order in Jerez in 966? What happened?
Vines to be grubbed up.
One third was left for raisins for troops
Which Andalucían wine was prized by New World explorers from 1492?
Málaga
Royal decree gave land for vines
In which centry was sherry production transformed by the development of the criaderas y solera system?
18C
What diminished Andalucía in the early 19C? Which industry particularly suffered? What replaced them?
French occupation during Napoleonic Wars.
Loss of western Spanish colonies.
Ship building suffered.
Railways were built.
In which year was the first railway built in Andalucía? From where to where?
1854
La Estación de Jerez
from Jerez de la Frontera to El Puerto de Santa María
How did Andalucía fare under Franco?
Hard hit.
Bombing of Córdoba, Granada, Sevilla, Huelva, Málaga.
‘White Terror’: mass murder by Franco’s troops, executing 30,000 in Andalucía.
Many emigrated to Cataluña or France.
