Canary Islands

Question 1

What is Spain’s highest peak?

Answer 1

Pico del Teide, Tenerife
3700m

Question 2

What are the Canary islands DOs?

Answer 2

DO Islas Canarias - all of Canary Islands
DO La Palma
DO El Hierro
DO La Gomera
DO Gran Canaria
DO Lanzarote

Tenerife:
DO Ycoden-Daute-Isora
DO Valle de la Orotava
DO Abona
DO Valle de Güimar
DO Tacoronte-Acentejo

Question 3

What are the soil types?

Answer 3

Volcanic - low to medium elevations
Clay/sand/volcanic - high elevations

Question 4

Main white grapes?

Answer 4

Malvasía Volcanica / Malvasía de Lanzarote
Main grape of Lanzarote
natural indigenous white crossing of:
Malvasía Aromatico x Marmajuelo
3/f4 of total plantings on Lanzarote

Malvasía Aromática
used to produce unfortified, sweet white Malmsey

Listán Blanco / Palomino Fino

Question 5

Main red grapes

Answer 5

Listán Negro / Almuñeco
indigenous to Canary Islands

Listán Prieto (native to CLM, came with settlers)
in small quantities

Question 6

Spcial soit feature on two of the Canray Islands?

Answer 6

Lapilli / Picón
Parts of Lanzarote & La Palma
Small, porous volcanic pebbles
filter water and absorb moisture from trade winds blowing over the islands

Question 7

What is the name of a very special training system on the Canary Islands and where is it to be found? Explain

Answer 7

Cordón Trenzado
“Braided vines”
Used in DOs Valle de la Orotava & DO Tacoronte-Acentejo. Vines are braided as they grow, then moved to accommodate alternative crops underneath (usually potatoes).
Can only be hand worked.

Question 8

Listán Blanco

Answer 8

Native to Andalucia
synonym: Palomino Fino
Thin skinned
Low acid
Neutral
Low %

Question 9

Listán Negro

Answer 9

Indigenous to Canray Islands
Not related to Listán Blanco/Prieto
Most planted
Vigorous, productive
Red fruit
pepper, licorice
Responds well to carbonic maceration

Question 10

DO Islas Canarias

Answer 10

Covers all islands in archipelago
Aiming at creating a regional/international brand

66% Blanco
29% Tinto
5% Rosado

All wine styles and aging permitted

Question 11

DO Lanzarote

Answer 11

Subtropical
Lapilli over sand and clay
Less than 150 mm of rain per year
75% Malvasía Volcaníca

80% Blanco
12% Tinto (Listán Negro)

Question 12

DO Tacoronte-Acentejo

Answer 12

Largest/oldest DO on Tenerife
NE part of Tenerife
90% Listán Negro
Subtropical climate
Volcanic soils
40% of Tenerife’s vineyards here
20% of all islands vineyards here
100-1000m

Question 13

DO Valle de la Orotava

Answer 13

Pioneered cordón trenzado
Central Tenerife
Bumps up against Mt. Teide
Soils volcanic, sandy clay

60% Tinto (Listán Negro)
34% Blanco (Listán Blanco)
6% Rosado

Question 14

DO Ycoden-Daute-Isora

Answer 14

NW Tenerife
name derives from two ancient kingdoms of the indigenous Guanches people & their princess

Subtropical climate
50-1400m
80% planted to Listán Blanco & Listán Negro

78% Blanco
21% Tinto

Question 15

Tenerife DOs

Answer 15

DO Ycoden-Daute-Isora
DO Valle de la Orotava
DO Tacoronte-Acentejo
DO Valle de Güímar
DO Abona

Question 16

Canary Islands location

Answer 16

1000km from mainland Spain
100km from coast of Southern Morocco

Question 17

Which islands have active volcanoes?

Answer 17

Lanzarote
Tenerife
La Palma
El Hierro

Question 18

What is another name for Listán Negro

Answer 18

Almuñeco

Question 19

What is the special planting method in Lanzarote & quote correct terms?

Answer 19

Vineyards are often planted in hoyos (holes dug 3m wide and 1,5m deep)
with surrounding abrigo (wall)
Semi circular wall built of volcanic rock to protect vines on Lanzarote from wind.

vines are planted on Lanzarote, at bottom of hoyos for roots to find fertile soil.

Question 20

DO Gran Canaria

Answer 20

67% Tinto - Listán Negro
28% Blanco - Listán Blanco, Marmajeulo , Malvasía blends

Question 21

DO La Palma

Answer 21

Vines planted everywhere on island
54% Blanco - Malvasía Aromatíco
37% Tinto - Listán Negro
Specialty: Vino de Tea

Question 22

Vino de Tea

Answer 22

Local special wine to north part of DO La Palma
wines aged max 6 months in barrels constructed of Canary Island pine trees (locally called “teas”)
all wine styles - vino blanco, rosado, tinto

made of Islands primary grapes;
Listán Blanco/Albillo, Negramoll, Listán Prieto, Listán Negro/ Almuñeco

Wines have a resinous, mineral and menthol character, but still light and fresh w balanced acidity.