Aragón Flashcards
What is the significance of the Monasterio de Nuestra Señora de Piedra? (Monastery of our Lady of Stone)
The original Garnacha de Aragón might have been planted there by Cistercian monks in 11-12C
When was a new railway opened between Cariñena and Zaragoza, to ship wine in response to demand abroad?
1887
When in the 20C did the late 19C economic growth in Aragón end?
1936
End of Second Spanish Republic and Franco’s uprising
Aragón is bordered by?
N: France
W: Navarra, La Rioja, Castilla y León
SW: Castilla-La Mancha
SE: Comunidad Valenciana
E: Cataluña
What are Aragón’s three provinces, and their capitals?
Provinces and capitals have same names:
Huesca
Zaragoza
Teruel
Capital and largest city of Aragón?
Zaragoza (660k >50%)
Climate of Aragón
Continental
Aragón broadly divides into two climatic zones. What are they?
Ebro Basin
Mountains
Which zone in Aragón has the more continental climate?
Ebro Basin
Average annual temperature in the two climatic zones of Aragón?
Ebro Basin: 14-15ºC
Mountains: 10-12ºC but depends on elevation
Average rainfall overall, and in the two climatic zones of Aragón?
Aragón: 550 mm
Ebro Basin: up to 400 mm
Mountains: as much as 2,000 mm
Four climatic hazards to viticulture in Aragón?
Cold NW Cierzo wind
Frost
Drought
Hail
Name the mountain ranges that flank Aragón
Pirineos
Sistema Ibérico
The Sistema Ibérico separates Aragón from what?
Meseta
Elevation of Ebro Basin in Aragón
150-300 m
Name five tributaries to the Ebro in Aragón
Jalón
Huerva
Gállego
Martín
Guadelope
Aragón has diverse topography. Are the soils similarly diverse?
No they are surprisingly similar
Soils of Aragón vineyards
Limestone and clay dominate.
Surface scree of pebbles, stones, rocks.
Some pockets of slate and granite.
Why are both Sardinia and Aragón possible birthplaces of Garnacha? Why is Aragón more likely?
The Kingdom of Aragón ruled Sardinia and the S of France in 15C, both longstanding bastions of Garnacha. But Aragón has more clonal variations, and Madrid documents from 1513 mention its historic synonym Aragonés.
Why was Garnacha rarely seen outside blends after being replanted in Aragón after phylloxera?
Prone to oxidation and ‘rustic’ wines. Winery hygiene needed to improve.
What factors led to Garnacha’s success today in Aragón?
Winery hygiene
Long-lived vines: old vines produce quality
In 1990s Aragón’s DOP wineries collectively saved their centenarian vines from EU subsidised grubbing up
Where generally in Aragón is Garnacha most planted?
DOPs south of Ebro river: Calatayud, Campo de Borja, Cariñena.
Where in Aragón are international varieties more planted than Garnacha? Which varieties?
DO Somontano (northernmost DO).
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay (65%)
What are the majority vine training and harvesting techniques in Aragón?
en vaso (bush) trained
manual harvest
When were the oldest vineyards in Aragón planted?
1890
Production vessels and wine styles in Aragón for: vinos blancos and rosados?
stainless steel
fresh wines to drink young
Production vessels and wine styles in Aragón for: vinos tintos?
many stainless steel to drink young
some complex barrel-aged
What ageing designations are used on labels for vinos tintos in Aragón?
The usual: crianza, reserva, gran reserva
A wine storage vat found in DO Calatayud dates back to 2C BCE. Which tribe and settlement was it from?
Celtiberians
Segeda
DO Calatayud is near the foothills of which mountains?
Moncayo Massif
(in Sistema Ibérico)
DO Calatayud: percentage red plantings? of which percentage Garnacha Tinta?
92% red
of which 62% Garnacha Tinta
True/false: DO Calatayud reds are typically varietal Garnacha Tinta?
True
(deep colour, concentrated, mineral, fresh acidity)
DO Calatayud has two ‘old vine’ designations. Names, minimum age of vines, maximum yields (kg/ha), any other restrictions?
Vinas Viejas, 35yo, 4,500 kg/ha
Calatayud Superior, 50yo, 3,500 kg/ha and 85%+ Garnacha Tinta
DO Campo de Borja (Aragón):
percentage planted to Garnacha Tinta?
oldest vines planted when?
half the vines are how old?
who dominates production?
55% Garnacha Tinta
oldest planted 1890
half are 30-50yo
six co-operatives dominate production
DO Cariñena - percentage planted to:
Garnacha Tinta?
Tempranillo?
Cariñena?
Garnacha Tinta 32%
Tempranillo 23%
Cariñena 5%
Which DO has the most old vines in Spain?
DO Cariñena
Main training technique in DO Cariñena?
en vaso
Styles of blanco, rosado, tinto in DO Cariñena?
All as young and fresh, some tinto barrel aged
Ageing designations used in DO Cariñena?
The usual crianza, reserva, gran reserva… and also
Añejo: tinto, min 15% alcohol, intensely oxidative, 24mth+ barrel, no bottle age requirement
How did DO Cariñena fare from the Spanish Civil War?
Suffered greatly, didn’t recover until 1980s
Northernmost DO in Aragón?
DO Somontano
Wettest and greenest DO in Aragón?
DO Somontano
DO Somontano in Aragón is in the foothills of which mountains?
Pirineos
What is unusual (for Aragón) about the grape varieties planted in DO Somontano? How did this happen?
Mostly planted to French varieties (especially Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay).
Bordelais settled here after phylloxera.
There are 15 authorised grape varieties in DO Somontano in Aragón. How many are indigenous to Spain, with what percentage of plantings?
Bonus: Which are born of the region?
7 of the 15 are indigenous to Spain.
17% of plantings.
Local: Moristel, Parraleta, Alcañón
In DO Somontano in Aragón, which are generally varietal and which blended: vinos blancos, vinos tintos?
Vinos blancos: generally varietal
Vinos tintos: frequently blended
In Aragón, which DO has the lowest percentage of vinos tintos?
DO Somontano (57%, all others over 80%)
In Aragón, which of the four DOs are known for varietal Garnacha Tinta, and which for blended reds?
Varietal Garnacha Tinta:
DO Calatayud
DO Campo de Borja
DO Cariñena
Blended reds: DO Somontano
In Aragón, which of the four DO soils is not largely limestone? What is it?
DO Calatayud
slate
Which DO in Aragón is least influenced by the Cierzo wind?
DO Calatayud
All four DOs in Aragón have a continental climate. Which has another influence, and what is it?
DO Somontano is continental with Mediterranean influences
Which DO in Aragón has the largest vineyard?
DO Cariñena (13,768 ha)
