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