C30 - Spain (Reviewed) Flashcards
Describe Spain climatic zones?
The north and north-west coast
- Moderate maritime climate, dominated by Atlantic weather systems
- Rainfall and associated risks is high
East coast - From Catalunya in the north to Levante further south
- Warm Mediterranean climate
- Many of the vineyards are moderated by sea or altitude Climate becomes increasingly hot the further south it goes
Central Spain - The Meseta Central
- Hot continental climate
- Cut off by mountains from the cooling effects of the sea
- Winter temperatures below freezing and summers are very hot and dry
- Summer temperatures can be moderated by altitude in certain sites
What are the biggest challenges to grape growing in Spain? What’s the exception? What is the benefit?
- Challenge: Heat and lack of water
- Exception: North-west Spain of the exception
- Benefit: The incidence of fungal disease is low
What is the main disadvantage of lack of water for grape growing in Spain?
It places a heavy stress on the vine, Water stress can cause:
- vines may stop transpiration in order to preserve its resources
- photosynthesis will stop
- leaves wilt, causing grapes not to ripen;
- drought can kill a vine.
What is the best way of managing the heat and lack of water availability in Spain? Explain
- Low density - to maximize the amount of water available to each vine
- Bush-trained vineyards - to increase shading the fruit from excessive heat
- Wire training is slowly being introduced to facilitate machine harvesting
Summarise the inexpensive red wines of Spain
- Often made without oak
- Semi-carbonic maceration is used to enhance the fruity nature of these wines
is oak ptyically used for Spain’s best red wines?
Yes, they almost always see oak maturation, usually with at least a proportion of new oak
Traditionally American oak was used, but now French oak is also common
What is Spain’s premier red grape variety?
Tempranillo
What are the main white grapes used in Spain?
- Viura (know as Macabeo in Catalunya)
- Verdejo
- Albarino
- Airen
What are the main red grapes used in Spain?
- Tempranillo
- Garnacha Tinta (Grenache)
- Monastrell (Mourvedre)
- Graciano
- Carinena (Carignan, known as Mazuelo in Rioja)
- Mencia
Where in Spain is Tempranillo grown most widely?
Throughout northern and central Spain
What are Tempranillo’s key grape characteristics?
- It’s thick-skinned with a medium acidity
- Due to its medium acidity, hot growing areas without a high diurnal range can cause the wine to lack the necessary acidity for an ideal balance
- It is at its best in areas where summer temperatures are moderated by sea and/or altitude
How is Joven Tempranillo wine made and taste like?
- Fermented on its own
- Semi-carbonic maceration
- Early drinking style A fresh, strawberry scented Joven wine
With which grapes is Tempranillo most commonly blended in Spain?
- Garnacha
- Graciano
- Cariñena/Mazuelo
- International varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon
What is Grenache in Spanish?
Garnacha Tinta
Describe the general profile of Garnacha Tinta in Spain
- High alcohol
- Early mauration (with some exceptions)
- Most important Rosados and Priorat
What are the wines of Priorat? How do they achieve this style?
Intense, complex, full-bodied reds from Garnacha Tinta From low-yielding, old vines
Describe Mourvedre in Spain
- Known as Monastrell in Spain
- It is drought tolerant and needs hot sunny conditions to ripen
- It is most commonly grown in South-eastern DOs such as Yecla and Jumilla
Monastrell in South-eastern Spain is genreally:
- Deeply coloured
- Low to medium acidity
- High tannins
- High alcohol
- Full-bodied
- Flavours of ripe blackberry fruit
Describe Graciano
- Mostly cultivated in Rioja
- As part of the blend in many of the best wines
- Add to a blend to add: tannins, acidity and concentrated black fruit aromas to help the wine age
Describe Carignan in Spain
- Cariñena - also known as Mazuelo in Rioja
- Wines that are high in tannin, colour and acidity
- Used as a blending partner for Tempranillo
- Blended with Garnacha Tinta in Priorat to add tannic structure
Describe Mencia in Spain?
- Red grape variety
- Coming to prominence in Spain - Bierzo DO
- Requires moderate climates
- Medium to high acidity
- Fresh fruit flavours
- Sometimes a hint of herbaceousness
How can most of Spain’s white varieties be described?
- Fresh and fruity
- Harvesting at night or early morning
- Fermenting in temperature-controlled stainless steel
- Some use Oak vessel for fermentation and maturation as well as lees stirring for the addition of texture and flavours
Describe Verdejo
- White grape variaty in Spain
- Particularly susceptible to oxidation => was used to make Sherry-like wines
- With protective wine makeing it can be made in a light-bodied, high acid melon and peach flavour, similar to Sauvignon Blanc (often blended with SB)
- Can be made in a richer, fuller-bodied style if undergoes skin contact and barrel fermentation
Describe Albariño.
- It’s thick-skinned and thus able to resist fungal disease
- Grown in North-west of Spain (which is a humid / damp climate)
- Naturally high in acidity Citrus and stone fruit flavours
- Can be made into a richer, fuller-bodied style
Describe Airén
- Most widely planted variety in Spain
- The vast majority of Airén planted in La Mancha in central Spain
- able to cope with the extreme heat and drought conditions of the Meseta Central
- Most of the production is used to produce of Brandy de Jerez (although it can be made in acceptable dry whtie wine)
Which other local varieties are planted widely in Catalunya?
- Parellada, Xarel-lo and Macabeo
- Cava Wine
- Macabeo is also often used for still wine production
How else is Macabeo known? Where?
Viura in Rioja
Describe the Viura grape variety.
- White variety
- Can be make unoaked and if so has subtle herb and spice aromas
- Is the mainstay of heavily oaked white Riojas
Which international varieties are successful in Spain? Where?
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Merlot
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Chardonnay
- Most successful in North-east
What are the geographical DO regions of Spain?
- The Upper Ebro - Rioja, Navarra, Carinena, Calatayud
- Catalunya - Penedès, Priorat
- The Duero Valley - Ribera Del Duero, Toro, Rudea
- The North-West - Rías Baixas, Bierzo
- The Levante - Valencia, Jumila and Yecla
- Castilla-La Mancha - La Mancha, Valdepeñas - valley of sorrow
What is the most extensive Spanish region designated for the production of Vino de la Tierra
Castilla y León, located towards the north of the Meseta Central
Describe Rioja’s region
Located around city of Logroño and has 3 main sub-regions
Rioja Alta
- West of Logroño and south of the Ebro river, planted at a range of altitudes from 500 to 800 metres
Rioja Alavesa
- West of Logroño on the north bank of the Ebro
- in the foothills of the Cantabrian Mountains, planted at a range of altitudes from 500 to 800 metres
- The lightest of Rioja; they often have the most finesse
Rioja Baja
- East of Logroño, mainly on the south bank
Describe the climate of Rioja sub-regions ?
Rioja Alta & Rioja Alavesa
- Moderated by altitude and the Atlantic Ocean
- shielded from the worst of the Atlantic weather byThe Cantabrian Mountains
Rioja Baja
- Less maritime
- Hotter summers and more severe winters
- Low annual rainfall - making Drought a potential issue
What is the most widely planted variety in Rioja?
Tempranillo, but total of 8 varieties are permitted
Describe the general features of Tempranillo in Rioja
- it does best in the cooler western sub-regions - Alta and Alavesa
- Medium tannins
- Red fruit flavours
Describe how an red Rioja may be made. What kind of result will this have on the wines?
Blending partners:
- Garnacha, it adds body and alcohol, grows best in Rioja Baja
- Mazuelo and Graciano - less planted supporting grapes
Early-drinking style
- Using semi-carbonic maceration
- Wines with vibrant red-fruit flavours
- Low levels of smooth tannins
Desgined for aging:
- Usually destemmed and crushed
- Undergo traditional fermentation
Oak:
- Historically aged in American oak, giving pronounced aromas of vanilla
- Many producers now use oak from France /EU for at least some of their wine for a more subtle, spicy aromas
What style of Rioja are many makers now producing?
More subtle, elegant styles
What is the most widely planted white variety in Rioja?
Viura
Describe traditional and modern white Rioja-making and wines
Traditional
- Aged for extended periods in American oak
- Deliberately oxidised
- Developed a deep golden colour and nutty flavours
Modern
- Made with minimal oxygen contact to preserve the maximum amount of fruit
- Some also use barrel fermenation but with less oxydation
Describe Navarra
- Located in upper Ebro streching from the northern and eastern borders of Rioja into the foothills of the Pyrenees
- Similar climate to that of Rioja, but cooler and wetter nearer the mountains
- Mostly red wine made from Tempranillo (most planted grape), blended with other Rioja grapes (Garancha, Mazuelo, Graciano), or increasingly with Cabernet or Merlot
- Qulity range from good value Joven wines to top quality, premium Gran Reservas
- Very small amount of Rose and white wine (tend to be from Viura, Chardonnay and SB)
Describe winemaking for Garnacha-based rosés in Navarra
- Garnacha is picked earlier when acid levels are higher and sugar levels are lower
- They are handled protectively to create refreshing, fruity wines with medium levels of alcohol
Describe Cariñena and Catalyud DOs
- Location: Neighbouring Rioja, the south of the Ebro
- Climate: Warm continental with low rainfall
- Main grape variety planted: Garnacha
- Higher quality wines: made from old-vine Garnacha and Cariñena and have great flavour intensity and structure
- Cariñena is NOT the most planted variety in Cariñena
Describe Catalunya region
- In the north-east corner of Spain
- Most of the vineyards are South-west of Barcelona on the coastal plain and On hills to the west of Barcelona
- Catalunya is the only administrative region that has a generic DO for still wines that covers the entire region - Largely to enable the blending of wines from the various areas to provide the opportunity to create significant volumes of branded wine
- Where nearly all Cava is produced
- Penedès and Priorat are the two main sub-regions
Where is Penedès? Describe its climate and implications
- Immediately to the south-west of Barcelona, from the Mediterranean coast up into the hills
-
Three areas
- Coastal plain - warm Mediterranean climate
- Inland valleys - warm climate, but slightly cooler
- The hills - vines are grown up to 800m - moderate climate
- As a result, there a wide variety of styles and grapes in Penedès
What are the most widely planted varieties of Penedès?
Those used for Cava
Besides Cava varieties, what are other significant plantings in Penedès?
International varieties, such as
- Chardonnay
- Gewurztraminer
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Merlot
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Tempranillo (Ull de Llebre - Rabbit eye)
- Pinot Noir
What is Tempranillo called in Penedès?
Ull de Llebre (Rabbit eye)
Descrive Priorat sub-region and its climate
- Priorat is in Catalunya, within the hills inland from the city of Tarragona
- Summers are long, hot and dry
- Annual rainfall is very low
- Soils:
- Llicorella: layers of red slate with small particles of mica that sparkle in the sun
- Help ripening by reflecting and conserving heat
- Because of their depth, they retain sufficient water throughout the growing season
- They are cool at night
For which grapes is the climate of Priorat ideal?
Garnacha and Cariñena
Mostly old vines
Why are Priorat wines never cheap?
- Bush vine trained and steep slopes mean that mechanisation is nearly impossible in Priorat, making vineyards expensive and time-consuming to manage
- Low nutriant soils and older vines mean very lower yield (although it contributes to the complexity and intensity)
Describe wines of Priorat
Mostly red:
- High tannins
- Deeply coloured
- Medium to high alcohol
- Concentrated black fruit with toasty aromas from new French oak
What varieties can be added to wines of Priorat (besides Garnacha and Cariñena)
Some international varieties, especially Cabernet Sauvignon
What is the Portuguese name for the River Duero?
The Douro
What is the climate of Ribera del Duero?
- Short, hot and dry summers and very cold winters
- Cut off from any maritime influence by a ring of mountains
Describe the Ribera del Duero
Climate:
- Short, hot and dry summers and very cold winters
- Cut off from any maritime influence by a ring of mountains
VineyardsL
- They are situated on the highest part of the Meseta Central Some vineyards are at over 850 metres
- Due to altitude, night-time temperatures are cool which helps retain acidity and fresh fruit flavours
What colours of wine are made in Ribera?
Red and rosé only, although vast majority is Red
What is the grape variety of Ribera Del Duero?
- Mostly Tempranillo and the only grape variety in most best red wines
- Garnacha - only for dry rosé production
- Also permitted: Cabernet, Merlot and Malbec
Describe a typical red wine from Ribera del Duero
Dark with high levels of tannins
What aspects of grapes are modern winemakers in Ribera Del Duero trying to accentuate? How are they doing this?
- Concentrated fruit flavours and tannins
- Long macerations and short ageing periods in new oak, increasingly from new French oak rather than American
Describe the climate of Toro DO
Climate:
- Similar to that of its neighbour, Ribera del Duero.
- Short, hot and dry summers and very cold winters
- Cut off from any maritime influence by a ring of mountains
Main grape variety: Tempranillo
Describe the typical red wines of Toro DO
- Full-bodied
- Intense fruit flavours
- Full body / high alcohol due to high daytime temperatures, sunny conditions and often low-yielding bush vines
What is different about the Joven wines of Toro DO compared with its other wines?
There is often a proportion of Garnacha
Describe Reservas and Gran Reservas of Toro
- Exceptionally deeply coloured and tannic when young
- Ability to age well
What wines other than reds can be made in Toro?
Rosé and white wines in small quantities
Describe Rueda region
- Location: in-between Toro and Ribera del Duero
- Climiate: Continental Cool summer nights
- Wine: focuses on white wine production based on Verdejo (traditional variety) and Sauvignon Blanc
How may wines be labelled in Rueda?
- For SB and Verdejo, they may be made and labelled as single varietal wines
- For blends: at least 50% of must be Verdejo by law
Describe the range of styles made in Rueda
From simple and fruity to richer, barrel-fermented versions
Describe north-west of Spain
- Climate: cooler and wetter than the rest due to the influence of the Atlantic ocean
- Wine: known for many of Spain’s best white wines, the most celebrated one coming from Rías Baixas made of Albariño
Describe Rías Baixas
- Location: On Spain’s Atlantic coast
- Climate: Moderate maritime and damp, meaning that vine diseases such as mildew and rot are a common problem
- Viticultral practices: diseases and mildew combated by training vines onto pergolas to encourage air circulation. Some producers use other training and trellising systems which are easier to maintain
- Wine: Mostly white wines, red wine is a minority concern
Describe the winemaking choice/style for Rías Baixas Albariño
- Most are made into a refreshing unoaked style to take advantage of the grape’s naturally high acidity and ripe stone fruit flavours
- Some wines are made in a richer style, occasionally with a touch of oak or lees-stirring
Describe Bierzo
- Location: North-west Spain, in the mountains that mark the boundary between Galicia and the Meseta Central
- Climate: Moderate with a cooling maritime influence
- Wine styles: Mostly red
What is the key grape variety of Bierzo? Describe dominant wine style.
- Mencía.
- Elegant red wines
- Naturally high acidity
- Red fruit aromas
- Many use new oak to add toasty aroma but some dont
- Best wines come from old vines, grown on the region’s steep stony slopes
Describe Levante
- Location: On the Mediterranean coast south of Catalunya
- The port of Valencia is the distribution hub for wines from the Levante and La Mancha
Describe Valencia DO
- Location: large spread-out DO that is a source for value-for-money wines
-
Wines:
- A large number of local and international varieties
- Main red grape variety is Monastrell
- White grape variety domintated by Merseguera
- Also signficant plantings of Muscat of Alexandria for the local Moscatel de Valencia, a sweet fortified wine
Describe Jumilla and Yecla
- Location: In the Levante, further inland
- Climiate: Hot and arid
-
Wines:
- Perfect for Monastrell
- Majority of wine are youthful and fruity in style
From which region does almost half of Spain’s total wine production originate?
Castilla-La Mancha
Describe Castilla-La Mancha
- Location: A vast central area of the Meseta Central to the south of Madrid
- Wines: Largest DO in Spain that produces almost half of Spain’s total wine
Describe La Mancha
- Climiate: Hot continental climate
-
Wine:
- Airén is the most widely planted grape used for neutral, fresh white wines
- Airén is in decline, as authorities have encouraged producers to plant Tempranillo, known as Cencibel
- Other grape varieties planted: Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Syrah Chardonnay Sauvignon Blanc
- Due to significant investment in technology and expertise, it’s an excellent source of inexpensive, well-made reds and whites for the export market
- It is where top-quality pagos wines began and where majority of the estates that have been awarded the appelation Vinos de Pago reside
Describe Valdepeñas
- Location: Part of the Castilla-La Mancha region, Immediately to the south of La Mancha
- Climate: Hot continental
-
Wines:
- Better reputation for quality wine compared to La Mancha
- Most planted grapes is Airén but there is Tempranillo (Cencibel) which is the main red grape variety (either single grape or belend with international grape varieties)
- Wines range from fruity to more concentrated and oak matured
Besides offering a hierarchy of PGI and PDO wines, what else can Spanish wine law define?
Specific ageing criteria for red and white wines
How are wines labelled if they fall outside of Spanish PGI/PDO law?
Vino
What is the Spanish for PDO?
Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP)
What are the three Spanish PDO qualities in ascending order?
Denominación de Origen (DO)
- They should be of a certain minimum quality
- They must satisfy specifications covering grape varieties, viticulture and location
Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa) - Must’ve been a DO for at least ten years and then can apply
Vinos de Pago (VP)
- Only applies to a small number of single estates with high reputations
- Estates may only use their own grapes, which must be grown, vinified and matured on their estate
How many DOCa are there in Spain? What are they?
Two:
- Priorat DOCa
- Rioja DOCa
What is DOCa called in Priorat?
Denominació d’Origen Qualificada (DOQ)
What is the traditional Spanish term for PGI wines?
Vino de la Tierra (VdlT)
What are the four age categories for wines in Spain?
- Joven
- Crianza
- Reserva
- Gran Reserva
- Only wines from exceptional vintages
- White and rosé wines are rarely made in this
What are the ageing requirements for white wines in Spain?
- Joven - no requirement
- Crianza - 18 months total, 6 months in barrel
- Reserve - 24 months total, 6 months in barrel
- G Reserva - 48 months total, 6 months in barrel
What are the ageing requirements for red wines in Spain?
- Joven - no requirement
- Crianza - 6 months in barrel, 24 months total
- Reserve - 12 months in barrel, 36 months total
- Gran Reserva - 18 months in barrel, 60 months total
When in Spain are there exceptions to the general ageing requirements?
In some regions such as Rioja, there are even longer requirements for total ageing and barrel ageing
