Cantabrian Range: Asturias/Cantabria Flashcards
Cangas
Deep river valleys
Asturias
Location
Asturias
N=Atlantic (Cantabrian sea, part of Bay of Biscay)
E=Cantabria
S=Castilla y Leon
W=Galicia
Capital=Oviedo
Largest city=Gijon
Location Cantabria
N=Cantabrian Sea
E =Pais Vasco
S=Castilla y Leon
W=Asturias
Capital=Santander
Climate
Maritime
Atlantic influence
Cloudy
1200mm rain
Foehn Effect
Cantabrican range
On upwind side of mountain- low pressure, rain/snow
On downwind side- warm dry, growing period extended
Topography
Mountains
Highest Peak
Mountains- Cantabrian plus Picos de Europa
Highest peak 2,650 Torrecerredo
Cantabria- vines on coast and foothills
Asturias- vines on mountains, steep high slopes
Soils
Asturias - limestone/slate
Cantabria- limestone/ shale, fertile
Sidra
Apple cider from Cantabria
what are the main Grapes- of Asturias
Mencia
Albariñ Tinto
Carrasquin
Albariño
What are the main Grapes - of Cantabria
Albariño
Godello
Treix’a
Hondarribi Zura
Hondarribi Beltza
What are the main characteristics of wineries
25 wineries (10+15)
Traditional
Small terraces
Considerable elevation
No mechanisation
How is wine made typically in Cantabrian range
Stainless steel tanks
Some no sulphur and natural yeasts
Experimental oak
Galician chestnut for ageing?
DOPs
VC Cangas - Austirias, 78% Tinto, mostly Tinto Albarin Tinto blend , 32ha, trying for DO
VT Costa Cantabria - most,y white Albariño
VT Liebana and- almost all red Mencia
What is a Pericote
Traditional dance
Which topographic feature forms a natural border between Asturias/Cantabria and Castile y Leon
Cordillera Cantabrica range
Wines produced in Asturias are primarily red - True or False
True
When was Asturias first settled
Celts in 5-1 BCE
What are castros
fortified hilltop settlements of the celts
When did the Romans invade
1 Century BCE
Never fully settled as area was difficult for invaders
Which tribe was replaced by the Visigoths in late 6th C
Suevi
What is the Battle of Covadonga and why is it important
Battle with defeat of the Moors 722
Marked the start of the reconquista
Who began the winemaking tradition of the area when it became christian
The Benedictine Monks of 9th C
What are Cangas and where are they found
Deep river valleys in SW
Who ruled Asturias until 1388
Kingdom of Castille and Leon. Then independent as a principality
What caused devasting mortality in Middle Ages
Great Plague (first in Santander) approx 700,000
Was Asturias pro or anti Napoleon
Anti
Was Asturias pro or anti fascism
Anti
What event happened in June 1959
Severe hailstorm wiping out vineyards - no harvest for 3 yrs
What is the term on labels for this area
Vino de cangas
How many DOs in Asturias/Cantabria
None - only DOPs
