Canary Islands Flashcards
What is Spain’s highest peak?
Pico del Teide, Tenerife
3700m
What are the Canary islands DOs?
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
What are the soil types?
Volcanic - low to medium elevations
Clay/sand/volcanic - high elevations
Main white grapes?
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
Main red grapes
Listán Negro / Almuñeco
indigenous to Canary Islands
Listán Prieto (native to CLM, came with settlers)
in small quantities
Spcial soit feature on two of the Canray Islands?
Lapilli / Picón
Parts of Lanzarote & La Palma
Small, porous volcanic pebbles
filter water and absorb moisture from trade winds blowing over the islands
What is the name of a very special training system on the Canary Islands and where is it to be found? Explain
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.
Listán Blanco
Native to Andalucia
synonym: Palomino Fino
Thin skinned
Low acid
Neutral
Low %
Listán Negro
Indigenous to Canray Islands
Not related to Listán Blanco/Prieto
Most planted
Vigorous, productive
Red fruit
pepper, licorice
Responds well to carbonic maceration
DO Islas Canarias
Covers all islands in archipelago
Aiming at creating a regional/international brand
66% Blanco
29% Tinto
5% Rosado
All wine styles and aging permitted
DO Lanzarote
Subtropical
Lapilli over sand and clay
Less than 150 mm of rain per year
75% Malvasía Volcaníca
80% Blanco
12% Tinto (Listán Negro)
DO Tacoronte-Acentejo
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
DO Valle de la Orotava
Pioneered cordón trenzado
Central Tenerife
Bumps up against Mt. Teide
Soils volcanic, sandy clay
60% Tinto (Listán Negro)
34% Blanco (Listán Blanco)
6% Rosado
DO Ycoden-Daute-Isora
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
Tenerife DOs
DO Ycoden-Daute-Isora
DO Valle de la Orotava
DO Tacoronte-Acentejo
DO Valle de Güímar
DO Abona
Canary Islands location
1000km from mainland Spain
100km from coast of Southern Morocco
Which islands have active volcanoes?
Lanzarote
Tenerife
La Palma
El Hierro
What is another name for Listán Negro
Almuñeco
What is the special planting method in Lanzarote & quote correct terms?
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.
DO Gran Canaria
67% Tinto - Listán Negro
28% Blanco - Listán Blanco, Marmajeulo , Malvasía blends
DO La Palma
Vines planted everywhere on island
54% Blanco - Malvasía Aromatíco
37% Tinto - Listán Negro
Specialty: Vino de Tea
Vino de Tea
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.
