Asturias/Cantabria

Question 1

Asturias is bordered by?

Answer 1

Galicia, Castilla y León, Cantabria, Cantabrian Sea (steep cliffs, beaches, coves)

Question 2

Capital, largest city of Asturias

Answer 2

capital: Oviedo
largest city: Gijón

Question 3

Cantabria is bordered by?

Answer 3

Asturias, Castilla y León, País Vasco, Cantabrian Sea

Question 4

Capital, largest city of Cantabria

Answer 4

Santander

Question 5

Overall climate of Asturias and Cantabria

Answer 5

Maritime

Question 6

Winter in Asturias/Cantabria: typical weather, temperature

Answer 6

mild, rainy (avg 13ºC)

Question 7

Summer in Asturias/Cantabria: typical weather, temperature

Answer 7

cool, some sun (avg 23ºC)

Question 8

Cantabria: sunnier at coast or inland?

Answer 8

coast
(one of cloudiest parts of Spain)

Question 9

Rainfall in Asturias, Cantabria

Answer 9

high-ish (1,000mm) Asturias
high (1,200mm) Cantabria

Question 10

Does it snow on the Cordillera Cantábrica?

Answer 10

Yes
(snow-capped Oct-May)

Question 11

What causes warm, dry breezes throughout Green Spain near Cordillera Cantábrica

Answer 11

Foehn Effect

Question 12

Natural boundary between Asturias/Cantabria and Castilla y León

Answer 12

Cordillera Cantábrica

Question 13

Highest mountain range in Cordillera Cantábrica

Answer 13

Picos de Europa

Question 14

Vineyard locations in Asturias

Answer 14

all in mountainous southwest

Question 15

Area under vine in Asturias

Answer 15

70 ha

Question 16

Vineyard locations in Cantabria

Answer 16

coast, and inland to foothills (up to 500m, up to 30% incline)

Question 17

Soil in Asturias

Answer 17

limestone mountains giving way to slate soils (well drained)

Question 18

Soil in Cantabria

Answer 18

limestone mountains, valley floors of shale and sandstone

Question 19

Much of Cantabria is extremely fertile, so what is often grown there instead of grapes?

Answer 19

apples and cider (sidra)

Question 20

White grapes of Asturias, and characteristics

Answer 20

Albarín Blanco
clean, bright, floral, mineral, balanced acidity

Question 21

Red grapes of Asturias, and characteristics

Answer 21

Mencía, Albarín Tinto, Carrasquín
blends, light, aromatic, fruity, floral, mineral, low alcohol

Question 22

Ageworthiness of Asturias wines

Answer 22

most to drink young, some experiments with oak

Question 23

Asturias: mostly red or white?

Answer 23

two-thirds red

Question 24

Cantabria northern areas: white grapes

Answer 24

Albariño, Godello, Treixadura, Hondarribi Zuri

Question 25

Cantabria northern areas: red grapes

Answer 25

Hondarribi Beltza

Question 26

Cantabria northern areas: wine style

Answer 26

most to drink young, fresh, high acid

Question 27

Cantabria inland areas: type of wine

Answer 27

mostly red blends with international varieties

Question 28

How many wineries in 2016 in Asturias, and Cantabria

Answer 28

10 in Asturias 15 in Cantabria

Question 29

Traditional or modern winemaking in Asturias/Cantabria?

Answer 29

traditional methods modern when they can afford it

Question 30

Typical elevation of vineyards in Asturias/Cantabria

Answer 30

high (500m avg)

Question 31

Manual or mechanised viticulture in Asturias/Cantabria?

Answer 31

Manual: rugged terrain, small vineyards on terraces

Question 32

Stainless steel or oak for vinification in Asturias/Cantabria?

Answer 32

Both

Question 33

Experimental winemakers in Asturias/Cantabria are using...?

Answer 33

no sulphur no commercial yeasts Galician oak, chestnut for ageing

Question 34

DOs and must-know areas in Asturias/Cantabria

Answer 34

none

Question 35

Who tried to come into Asturias/Cantabria up to 8C? and who succeeded?

Answer 35

Romans (unsuccessful) Suebi (Germanic, successful) Visigoths (successful) Moors (unsuccessful)

Question 36

Winemaking in Asturias/Cantabria was initiated by whom, when, why?

Answer 36

Benedictine monks 9C mass

Question 37

The Benedictine monks, over 300 years, discovered that what kind of sites were best for viticulture in Asturias/Cantabria? Where were these?

Answer 37

sun exposure protection from north wind Asturias: only deep river valleys of SW (Cangas) Cantabria: coast and mountains

Question 38

Asturias/Cantabria: What problems affected the wine industry in the 19C? By how much did the vineyard reduce?

Answer 38

powdery mildew phylloxera vineyard area reduced by over 50% before replanting on graft vineyard area never returned to pre-phylloxera size

Question 39

Decade of powdery mildew in Asturias/Cantabria

Answer 39

1850s

Question 40

Year of phylloxera in Asturias/Cantabria

Answer 40

1889

Question 41

Which side was Asturias on in the Spanish Civil War?

Answer 41

opposed the right wing

Question 42

What did Franco call Asturias?

Answer 42

Province of Oviedo

Question 43

What did Franco call Cantabria?

Answer 43

He prohibited mention of Cantabria

Question 44

Year of initial request to designate 'Wine from Cangas' in Asturia, and decade officially recognised?

Answer 44

1929 1990s

Question 45

Date when Asturias was devastated by a hailstorm, and the effect on harvest and wine industry?

Answer 45

19 June 1959 Hail the size of eggs for an hour No harvest for three years Farmers left for coal industry