Andalucia Flashcards
What does Andalucía link?
Southern Europe to North Africa
What is the British overseas territory of Gibraltar called?
Meeting place of continents
What does the strait of Gibraltar seperate?
The 2nd largest continent (Africa), from the 2nd smallest continent (Europe)
Where did the final battle of the Reconquista take place?
Andalucía
Who brought the vine and founded southern coastal city of Gadir?
Phoenicians
Oldest city still standing in Western Europe?
Cadiz
What did the Roman’s rename Gadir?
Gades (Became Roman city and primary navel base)
When Vandals crossed the land what were they given?
Land grants in the south by the Roman’s, it was called Vandalusia
Who conquered Visigoths and set up their capital in Cordoba?
Umayyads
Who taught tribes how to prune vines?
Greeks
Who ordered the vineyards of Jerez to be gone for religious reasons?
Caliph
Where did Christopher C’s first expedition leave from?
Palos de la Frontera (Huelva Province)
Where were wines prized from?
Malaga
Who was Ferdinand Magellan?
He left Sevilla with 5 ships, he wanted to find a Western trade route to the spice islands of Indonesia,
Years later, one ship returned branding both sailors and sherry world travelers
When was the Criaderas Y Soleras system developed?
18th century
When did the French occupy and when did they loose the Spanish Western colonies?
19th century
When was the first railway built?
1854, La Estacion de Jerez
Between Jerez de la Frontera and El Puerto de Santa Maria
Who did Franco bomb?
Cordoba, Granada, Sevilla, Huelva, Malaga
White terror?
Mass murder
Andalucia is the — largest and — most populated autonomous community
2nd largest, 2nd most populated
Southernmost tip?
Gibraltar
How many provinces?
8
Capital?
Sevilla (4th most populous)
Where is the highest average annual temperature in mainland Spain?
Sevilla
Lowest overall temperatures in South?
Jaen and Granada
What winds are found in Andalucia?
Levante and Poniente
What cause hot/dry summers?
Azores high
One of the wettest areas in Iberian Peninsula?
Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park
Europe’s driest area?
Cabo de Gata in Almeria
What is tapas?
“Tapar” “To cover” or “To top”
What 2 winds create the ideal environment for the development of flor?
Poniente and Levante
What provides the natural border between Extremadura and Castilla-La Mancha?
Sierra Morena Range
Highest mountain range on Iberian Peninsula?
Sistema Betico
3 mountain chains in Sistema Betico?
Cordillera Pentbetica (Murcia and Castilla- La Mancha Cordillera Subbetica and Cordillera Prebetica (Southeastern Andalucia)
Highest peak in mainland Spain and 3rd highest in continental Europe?
Pico de Mulhacen in the Sierra Nevada range (Part of Penibetica) in Granada
5 rivers?
Odiel, Tinto, Guadalete, Guadalquivir, Barbate flow into Atlantic
2 rivers that flow through sherry country?
Guadalete and Guadalquivir
2 rivers that flow through the Med?
Guadiaro and Guadalhorce (These rivers are shorter and descend from Betico)
Sierra Morena North border soils?
Shallow, limestone (Vineyards in Cordoba province)
Sistema Betico East soils?
Deep/slate/clay
Where are Albariza soils found?
Jerez-Xeres-Sherry
Manzanilla-Sanlucar de Barrameda
Primary sherry grape?
Palomino Fino
Most popular whites?
PX and Vijiriego
and Chardonnay and Sauv B
Dominate reds?
Tempranillo, Garnacha Tinta, Cab Sauv, Merlot
How are grapes planted?
En vaso
Vine training in sherry producing areas?
Vara Y Pulgar
Vine training in VC Granada?
On slopes using en vaso and espaldera, but still hand harvested
Where did Phoenicians plant the first grape vines in Andalucía?
When the Roman’s took control, what did they rename the area?
Xera (Present day Jerez)
Ceret
What wine was highly prized during Moorish occupation?
Vinum Ceretensis
What did the Moors call sherry?
Sherish
What was English wool traded for?
Spanish sherish
Who attacked Cadiz and stole 3000 bottles of Sherry
Sir Francis Drake
Sherry producers created Regulations of the Guild of Raisin and Grape Harvesters of Jerez to provide?
Guidance on commercial practices, harvests, aging, barrel (bota) specifications
What did the English call sherry?
“Sack” taken from Spanish “Sacar” meaning to take out
Who is Palomino Fino (Listan Blanco) named after?
Don Fernan Yanez Palomino, a knight
What is PX used for?
Sweetening agent
Most plantings in DO Montila-Moriles where warmer/less humid growing conditions favour it’s full ripening
What is Moscatel de Alejandria used for?
Vinification, fruit, raisins, sweetening agent, varietal wines and some still wines
Primera Yema?
Free run juice, very light, 65% of total volume, production of Fino sherries
Segunda Yema?
Extracted via pneumatic press, more color and tannin than free run, 23% total volume, for production of Oloroso sherries
What type of yeast is used?
Indigenous yeasts
Wines with distinct paleness/finesse are destined to be aged as?
Finos or Manzanillas
Tank/barrel marked with a slash
These wines will undergo biological aging under a film of surface yeasts
Wines with greater structure will age as?
Olorosos
Tank/barrel marked with a circle
These wines will undergo pure physio chemical oxidation in direct contact with air
What happens after classification?
Wines are fortified with mitad y mitad
What % are wines destined to be Fino or Manzanilla fortified to?
15-15.5% (If fortified above 17%, Flor will die)
What percentage are Olorosos fortified to?
Min 17% to ensure flor doesn’t develop
Sobretable?
After fortification, wines are moved from tanks to wooden butts
How long until the tasters reanalyze Finos and Manzanillas and confirm or change original classification?
3 months to 1 year
What happens after fermentation and fortification for Finos and Manzanillas?
They are put into barrels for biological aging
Blanket of surface yeasts develops on the wine
This surface yeast is known as the Velo de Flor
What should the temperature for yeasts be in Biologically aged sherries?
Cool/stable 18-20C
Humid atmosphere >65%
Bodega doors are closed, floor is hosed down with water
How long does it take Flor’s food source to be depleted?
12-18 months
Wines must be refreshed via Solera system
Biologically aged wines aging requirement?
Min 2 years
A sherry pulled out from underneath a living floor is bottled as?
Fino or Manzanilla
Lifespan of flor?
7-8 years
Manzanillas can live a little longer due to humid conditions in Sanlucar
When Fino/Manzanilla flor dies off, if the wine is allowed to stay in barrel what happens?
It comes into direct contact with air and an Amontillado can be created by refortifying the wine to a min 17% and aging it further
Aromas of hazelnuts develop
Max alcoholic strength an old oloroso can pickup?
22%
What are Rayas?
Oloroso sherries
Butts which have lighter wines that can age outside in the sun for 1-2 years.
15% of volume will evaporate each year concentrating flavours
Usually blending with sweetening agents to make dessert sherries
What does latin word Solum mean?
“Floor” “Suelo” (Bottom row of butts in a vertical stacking)
What are criaderas also known as?
“Scales”
How many criaderas in a solera are there?
3-20
However, the number of butts within a criadera is unlimited
Preferred barrel for criaderas system?
600L American Oak Cask “Bodega Butt”
How much is the Bodega butt filled?
5/6 capacity
Where do Finos mature best?
Bottom tiers of the stack, where temps are coolest and humidity is highest
Where do Olorosos mature best?
Warmer, higher tiers, as warmer temps accelerate oxidation
At bottling how much of the oldest wine in the solera is removed for bottling?
No more than 1/3rd
What is “Running the scales”
Replacing the vacuum with an equal portion of wine from the 1st criadera (oldest tier) then replacing with an equal portion of wine from the 2nd criadera (younger tier) and so on
Do all sherries lose water as they age?
Yes
What do Olorosos gain as water evaporates?
Alcohol
What do Finos lose?
Water due to evaporation
Alcohol because it’s a food source for the flor
Finos must be refortified to a min 15% before bottling
How is vinos de color produced?
Producing an arrope and then adding it to Palomino Fino must in a 1:3 ratio and aging it in a solera to gain the appropriate style.
Used in Vinos generosos de licor
Can you add sweetening agents to dry sherries?
Yes
What 2 needs should architecture address?
Retention to humidity (vital to devlop flor)
Reduction of heat
What shape are Bodegas?
What axis are they on?
Rectangular
Northeast/Southwest axis, which allows entry of beneficial Poniente winds, while blocking strong Levante winds
Vino Generosos (Dry sherries)?
Dry sherries which are biologically and/or oxidatively aged
Driest fino to rich/nutty oloroso
All produced from Palomino grapes grown within boundaries of Do Jerez and aged within sherry triangle
Fino?
“Fine”
Fortified, dry sherry made from Palomino grape, which has undergone biological aging under a velo de flor
One of the least acidic wines in the world
Light/elegant Fresh dough/roast almonds
Manzanilla?
“Chamomile”
Fortified dry sherry, made from Palomino grape, which has undergone biological aging, must be produced/matured in humid coastal town Sanlucar
Aromatic/light
Salty finish
Amontillado?
Fortified dry sherry made from Palomino grape which undergoes a dual aging process
Starts as a biologically aged fino, but after the death of flor, the wine is refortified and develops further in direct contact with air
Dark/nutty
Cashews/Hazelnut
Palo Cortado?
Rare dry sherry made from palomino grape
Initial classification designates wine for biological aging, but after sobretable stage, it’s refortified about 17% and redirected to oxidative aging
Removed from flor sooner than Amontillados
Aroma of Amontillado
Flavour/color of Oloroso
This was a natural occurrence
Oloroso?
Dry sherry from Palomino grape
Fortified to min 17%, undergoes oxidative aging
Dark/full flavored
Walnut
Vino Dulces Naturales (Naturally sweet sherries)?
Made from Moscatel de Alejandria or PX which are overripe or sundried
PX grapes can originate in DO Montilla
Fermentation is halted by addition of grape spirit
The wines then age oxidatively
Moscatel (de Alejandria)?
Naturally sweet wine made from min 85% overripe or sundried moscatel grapes whose fermentation has been halted by the addition of grape spirit
Orange blossom/honey
Sometimes blended with PX or arrope to create darker color
PX?
Naturally sweet, made from 85% overripe or sundried PX grapes whose fermentation has been halted by the addition of grape spirit
Vinified in DO Montilla, then transported to Jerez for maturation (this transfer allows them to be labeled sherry)
Dark color, syrupy, figs
Among the sweetest wines in the world
400g/L RS
What are Vinos Generosos De Licor?
Blended sherries
Blending dry and naturally sweet sherries
Known as “cream” sherries
4 categories are authorized
Blended sherry DRY?
Fino or Manzanilla to which RCGM has been added Pale yellow Fresh dough/almonds AKA-Pale or Pale dry <45G/L
Blended sherry PALE CREAM?
Fino or Manzanilla to which RCGM has been added
Pale gold/Bread dough/Hazelnut
4.5%-11.5%
Blended sherry MEDIUM?
A wine made by blending an Amontillado with Moscatel, PX, or RCGM
Further divided into medium dry (0.5%-4.5%)
and medium sweet (4.5%-11.5%)
Golden/Abocado/Amoroso/Brown/Milk/Rich also authorized
Amber/Baked apple
0.5%-11.5%
Blended sherry CREAM?
Blending an oxidatively aged wine (oloroso) with PX which creates a full bodied wine (11.5%-14%)
Mahogany/Walnut/dried fruit
How many categories of aged designated sherries?
3
What is Vinos de Vejez Calificada?
ONLY Amontillado, Oloroso, Palo Cortado, and PX are eligible
Judgement of independent tasting commitee
Extreme age analysis by Estacion de Viticulture, which limits sales by requiring a certain amount of wine to remain in the Solera
What does Vinos de Vejez Calificada refrence?
The wine drawn and bottled, not the entire solera from which it is drawn
Age designation only applies to the wine in the bottle, not the solera itself
Wine itself does have an average age, which when drawn is the same as the solera
VOS?
Very Old Sherry
Wines with an average age of more than 20 years
VORS?
Very Old Rare Sherry
Wines with an average age of more than 30 years
What is Vinos con Indicacion de Edad?
2 designations in this category?
Sherry wines with indication of age
Amontillado, Oloroso, Palo Cortado, PX
Subject to tasting committee/age related analytical tests
HOWEVER…This age certification applies to the ENTIRE Criadera Y Solera from which the wine is drawn
12 years old/15 years old
What is Anada?
“Vintage sherry”
Only Amontillado, Oloroso, Palo Cortado may qualify
From specific years of harvest
Aged oxidatively and are NOT part of the solera system
Barrels holding vintage sherries are sealed strictly and monitored by Consejo
What is East India Sherry?
Produced by Lustau
Created to pay homage to the style of cream sherry carried by trading ships traveling to the Indies
Butts of sherry were stored below deck, motion of ship and humid conditions created a mature/smoother wine that was originally put into cask
Oloroso and PX are aged separately for 12 years
These 2 wines are blended then returned to a 45 cask solera for an additional 3 years of aging
2nd aging takes place in a location with elevated humidity
Soils in DO Jerez and DO Manzanilla?
Albariza (Chalk, limestone, clay, sand)
Barros (Clay)
Arenas (Sand)
Where is DO Jerez and DO Manzanilla located?
Cadiz
Where does the name DO Jerez and DO Manzanilla come from?
Combination of 3 areas where it’s popularity was the highest
Spain (Jerez)
France (Xeres)
England (Sherry)
Is DO Manzanilla located within the geographic boundaries of DO Jerez?
Yes
Production techniques are the same
Share same Consejo
What is Marco De Jerez?
Area encompassing 9 towns allowed to produce grapes for sherry production
DO Malaga is dedicated to?
100% Dulce
Preferred white grapes in DO Malaga?
PX, Moscatel de Malaga
In 17th, 18th, 19th, centuries, what was Spain’s 2nd largest wine region?
DO Malaga
Indigenous grapes that are allowed to be incorporated into Vino Dulce bottlings in DO Malaga?
Rome, Doradilla, Lairen
Combined max 30%
What is Pajarete wine from DO Malaga?
Fortified sweet wine, produced from PX and/or Moscatel grapes
Fermented and oxidatively aged for min 2 years in oak barrels
Sugar content between 4.5%-14%
Some make non fortified sweet Moscatels-drink young
What DO lies within DO Malaga that only makes raisins?
DO Pasas de Malaga
What is DO Malaga using DO Sierras de Malaga for?
To craft dry still wines with indigenous and international grapes
Soil types in DO Montilla-Moriles?
Albero (Albariza)
Ruedos (Sand over clay)
What 2 rivers are found in DO Montilla?
Guadajoz to the NE
Genil to SW
They encompass 17 towns
Why are Montila and Moriles the 2 most important towns in the DO?
Elevation and soil
What grape is #1 in DO Montila?
PX
Where are vineyards of Sierra de Montilla and Moriles Altos planted?
Highest elevations within the DO on Albariza
What grape thrives in heat and reaches sugar levels/phenolic ripeness not achieved closer to coast?
PX
In DO Montilla-Moriles, wines grown in clay soils tend to have a more accelerated aging/oxidative track than those grown on Albariza?
True
What can wines in DO Montilla NOT be labeled as
Sherry
What term originated in DO Montilla-Moriles?
Amontillado
Are Fino style wines in DO Montilla fortified?
No, because PX naturally ripens to 15% potential alcohol, unlike Finos and Manzanillas in Jerez
Where does vinification take place in DO Montila?
Temp controlled stainless steel tanks for fermentation, prior to moving them to tinajas to age
What is Do Montilla-Moriles most famous for?
Sweet wine PX
- Grapes are hand harvested in August and dried on straw mats for 4-10 days
- Clusters are turned regularly
- The drying process is known as Soleo
- Min sugar in juice must be 400G/L, special basket presses are used to extract the thick juice from the dried grapes
- Sugar levels in juice are so high, yeast struggles to ferment to more than 3-4% abv, so the juice is fortified with a neutral grape spirit to 15%abv
- Wine is then put into tinajas or casks and categorized as Vintage or Solera
Sweet PX wines that age via the Criaderas Y Soleras system spend how many years in wood?
They are put into casks that are filled to a max capacity
Min 2
Wines are consumed young, but vintage counterparts can age
Are the vintage versions of PX topped off?
No, hence why the wines become concentrated over time
Extremely sweet/Can age for decades
Viscous/Caramel
