Asturias/Cantabria Flashcards
Asturias is bordered by?
Galicia, Castilla y León, Cantabria, Cantabrian Sea (steep cliffs, beaches, coves)
Capital, largest city of Asturias
capital: Oviedo
largest city: Gijón
Cantabria is bordered by?
Asturias, Castilla y León, País Vasco, Cantabrian Sea
Capital, largest city of Cantabria
Santander
Overall climate of Asturias and Cantabria
Maritime
Winter in Asturias/Cantabria: typical weather, temperature
mild, rainy (avg 13ºC)
Summer in Asturias/Cantabria: typical weather, temperature
cool, some sun (avg 23ºC)
Cantabria: sunnier at coast or inland?
coast
(one of cloudiest parts of Spain)
Rainfall in Asturias, Cantabria
high-ish (1,000mm) Asturias
high (1,200mm) Cantabria
Does it snow on the Cordillera Cantábrica?
Yes
(snow-capped Oct-May)
What causes warm, dry breezes throughout Green Spain near Cordillera Cantábrica
Foehn Effect
Natural boundary between Asturias/Cantabria and Castilla y León
Cordillera Cantábrica
Highest mountain range in Cordillera Cantábrica
Picos de Europa
Vineyard locations in Asturias
all in mountainous southwest
Area under vine in Asturias
70 ha
Vineyard locations in Cantabria
coast, and inland to foothills (up to 500m, up to 30% incline)
Soil in Asturias
limestone mountains giving way to slate soils (well drained)
Soil in Cantabria
limestone mountains, valley floors of shale and sandstone
Much of Cantabria is extremely fertile, so what is often grown there instead of grapes?
apples and cider (sidra)
White grapes of Asturias, and characteristics
Albarín Blanco
clean, bright, floral, mineral, balanced acidity
Red grapes of Asturias, and characteristics
Mencía, Albarín Tinto, Carrasquín
blends, light, aromatic, fruity, floral, mineral, low alcohol
Ageworthiness of Asturias wines
most to drink young, some experiments with oak
Asturias: mostly red or white?
two-thirds red
Cantabria northern areas: white grapes
Albariño, Godello, Treixadura, Hondarribi Zuri
Cantabria northern areas: red grapes
Hondarribi Beltza
Cantabria northern areas: wine style
most to drink young, fresh, high acid
Cantabria inland areas: type of wine
mostly red blends with international varieties
How many wineries in 2016 in Asturias, and Cantabria
10 in Asturias
15 in Cantabria
Traditional or modern winemaking in Asturias/Cantabria?
traditional methods
modern when they can afford it
Typical elevation of vineyards in Asturias/Cantabria
high (500m avg)
Manual or mechanised viticulture in Asturias/Cantabria?
Manual: rugged terrain, small vineyards on terraces
Stainless steel or oak for vinification in Asturias/Cantabria?
Both
Experimental winemakers in Asturias/Cantabria are using…?
no sulphur
no commercial yeasts
Galician oak, chestnut for ageing
DOs and must-know areas in Asturias/Cantabria
none
Who tried to come into Asturias/Cantabria up to 8C? and who succeeded?
Romans (unsuccessful)
Suebi (Germanic, successful)
Visigoths (successful)
Moors (unsuccessful)
Winemaking in Asturias/Cantabria was initiated by whom, when, why?
Benedictine monks
9C
mass
The Benedictine monks, over 300 years, discovered that what kind of sites were best for viticulture in Asturias/Cantabria? Where were these?
sun exposure
protection from north wind
Asturias: only deep river valleys of SW (Cangas)
Cantabria: coast and mountains
Asturias/Cantabria: What problems affected the wine industry in the 19C? By how much did the vineyard reduce?
powdery mildew
phylloxera
vineyard area reduced by over 50% before replanting on graft
vineyard area never returned to pre-phylloxera size
Decade of powdery mildew in Asturias/Cantabria
1850s
Year of phylloxera in Asturias/Cantabria
1889
Which side was Asturias on in the Spanish Civil War?
opposed the right wing
What did Franco call Asturias?
Province of Oviedo
What did Franco call Cantabria?
He prohibited mention of Cantabria
Year of initial request to designate ‘Wine from Cangas’ in Asturia, and decade officially recognised?
1929
1990s
Date when Asturias was devastated by a hailstorm, and the effect on harvest and wine industry?
19 June 1959
Hail the size of eggs for an hour
No harvest for three years
Farmers left for coal industry