Castilla-La Mancha Flashcards by Rob Findlay

What is Castilla-La Mancha bordered by?

N: Castilla y León, Madrid
E: Aragón, Valencia
S: Murcia, Andalucía
W: Extremadura

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Castilla-La Mancha is divided into how many provinces?
Bonus: name them

Five

Albacete
Ciudad Real
Cuenca
Guadalajara
Toledo

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Capital, largest city in Castilla-La Mancha?

Capital: Toledo (83k 4%)
Largest city: Albacete (double that)

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Climate of Castilla-La Mancha?

Continental
Eastern parts have Mediterranean influences

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Which named wind influences which parts of Castilla-La Mancha? What are its synonyms? What effect does it have? When does it mainly blow?

Levante in eastern parts
aka Solano / Levanter
Becomes strong, hot and dry over land, lowers humidity to 70-30%
mainly May-October

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In which parts of Castilla-La Mancha is the climate more extreme?

Western and central

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What are winter and summer temperatures like in Castilla-La Mancha?

Cold winter (min -10ºC)
Hot summer (max 40ºC)

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Rainfall in Castilla-La Mancha? When?

Low (200-500mm)
Mostly winter and early spring

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How much of Castilla-La Mancha is the central plateau? How high is it?

Most (approx 80%)
High (610-760m)

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Which mountains border Castilla-La Mancha?

N: Sistema Central, Sistema Ibérico
S: Sierra Morena, Sistema Bético

(W: Montes de Toledo bisects part of Castilla-La Mancha
E: relatively flat up to Valencia)

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Which four of Spain’s main rivers flow through Castilla-La Mancha?

West to the Atlantic:
Tajo, Guadiana (region’s largest)

East to the Mediterranean:
Júcar, Segura

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Are the soils of Castilla-La Mancha varied or homogenous?

Homogenous

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Soil in most quality wine regions of Castilla-La Mancha? Challenges? Exceptions?

Limestone
Much limestone hardpan under topsoil, which needs breaking up.
Limestone is well-drained and climate is dry

W,NW: pockets of clay, sandy-clay
NE: clay, alluvium, granite
Clay more water retentive

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Most planted grape in Castilla-La Mancha? Where does it rank in Spain? In the world?

Airén (217,000 ha)
also most-planted in Spain (22.3%)
4th most planted in the world
(and most-planted white)

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Name the 7 main red grapes of Castilla-La Mancha. Which two red grapes are gaining ground?

Cencibel (Tempranillo, most-admired)
Garnacha Tintorera (local favourite)
Garnacha Tinta
Monastrell
Bobal
Cabernet Sauvignon
Syrah

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In 2017, Castilla-La Mancha was what proprtion of the Spanish vineyard? Where does that rank among autonomous regions of the world?

49.5% (473,331 ha)
Largest of any autonomous region in the world

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Main planting technique in Castilla-La Mancha? Also what, and why?

En vaso, in marco real
Investment from Spain, EU to replant espaldera for mechanisation and irrigation

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The dry growing season in Castilla-La Mancha is allowing a rise in what kinds of vine treatments?

Organic

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Castilla-La Mancha has historically produced mainly what style of wine?

Low-end, bulk

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In Castilla-La Mancha, what was Airén mostly used for? And nowadays increasing used for?

Oxidative, alcoholic blanco; brandy.
Simple fresh varietals

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DO Jumilla in Castilla-La Mancha extends into which other region? How much?

40% of vineyard and 70% of production is in Murcia

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Name the largest wine-growing region (DOP) in the world

DO La Mancha

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What proportion of DO La Mancha is planted to white grapes? What is the most common, at what proportion of whites?

Most common red, at what proportion of red grapes?

71% white grapes
of which Airén 88%

29% red grapes
of which 65% Cencibel (Tempranillo)

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Style of Cencibel (Tempranillo) in Castilla-La Mancha?

Wide range, but mostly simple, ripe black fruit, soft tannin

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Outline the unusual history of DO Manchuela's recognition, in Castilla-La Mancha

Split from DO La Mancha in 1982 and regulated as a DOP, following pressure from quality-minded producers. But only formally recognised in 2000.

Where in Castilla-La Mancha is DO Manchuela? Which rivers frame it?

on the eastern border beside DO Utiel-Requena in Murcia Rivers: Júcar, Cabriel

Which need-to-know DOs in Castilla-La Mancha have a climate: Continental with Mediterranean influences

DO Jumilla DO Manchuela

What effect do winds from the Mediterranean have on grapes in DO Manchuela in Castilla-La Mancha?

They humidify and cool the dry climate and slow ripening

What is the main wine style of DO Manchuela in Castilla-La Mancha?

Varietal Bobal

What unusual winemaking technique is used in DO Manchuela in Castilla-La Mancha. Which other DO uses it?

Doble pasta Also in DO Utiel-Requena in Murcia

What proportion of red wine plantings in DO Manchuela is Cencibel (Tempranillo)? What is this grape especially known for?

10% of red plantings and rising, especially as varietal wine

Apart from Bobal and Cencibel, what are other grapes in DO Manchuela mostly used for?

Blends (red and white)

In DO Manchuela in Castilla-La Mancha, what are the grape restrictions on vinos rosados?

Min 85% authorised red varieties

What does Valdepeñas mean?

Valley of Stones

When was DO Valdepeñas in Castilla-La Mancha officially recognised?

It's an original DO from the 1932 Wine Statute

Which river flows through DO Valdepeñas in Castilla-La Mancha?

Jabalón

Climate of DO Valdepeñas in Castilla-La Mancha?

Continental (fully)

In DO Valdepeñas in Castilla-La Mancha, which mountain range blocks Mediterranean influence?

Sierra Morena to the south

'Sophisticated' winemaking facilities were found archeologically in DO Valdepeñas in Castilla-La Mancha, dating back to when?

700 BCE

How did Valdepeñas in Castilla-La Mancha continue producing wine during Arab rule?

Special dispensation from the Caliphate of Toledo

Which unique style of wine has Valdepeñas in Castilla-La Mancha been known for, since the late 16C? How was it made, and how is it today? From which grapes?

Aloque aka Clarete Traditionally by blending red and white wines (after fermentation), and ageing in tinajas (large earthernware jars). Nowadays red/white field blends in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks. Cencibel and Airén

In DO Valdepeñas in Castilla-La Mancha, what are the grape restrictions on: vinos tintos? vinos rosados?

tintos: 85% authorised red grapes rosados: 25% authorised red grapes

What ageing designations are used in DO Valdepeñas in Castilla-La Mancha? What barrels are often used, to produce what flavour?

The usual crianza, reserva, gran reserva. Neutral barrels for dried fruit (not oak) flavours

Name the two need-to-know Vinos de Pago in Castilla-La Mancha. What were they first for?

VP Dominio de Valdepusa VP Finca Élez The first two Vinos de Pago in Spain

Where is VP Dominio de Valdepusa?

A Vinos de Pago in the Montes de Toledo, northwest Castilla-La Mancha

Who owns VP Dominio de Valdepusa in Castilla-La Mancha? How did the family come to own it?

Carlos Falcó, Marques de Griñón gifted by King Sancho IV of Castile in late 13C

Most Vinos de Pago focus on what grape varieties?

International

VP Dominio de Valdepusa in Castilla-La Mancha makes varietal wine from which grapes? What is also planted? What is notably not planted?

Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon (planted first in 1974), Syrah, Petit Verdot, Graciano Also: Merlot Not: Tempranillo (makes three blends)

Name four innovations that have been trialed at VP Dominio de Valdepusa in Castilla-La Mancha

High density planting Various canopy management Drip irrigation Tube planting to bypass top 25cm clay

Where is VP Finca Élez in Castilla-La Mancha?

Southeast border of DO La Mancha in the heart of the Sierra de Alcaraz

Who owns VP Finca Élez in Castilla-La Mancha?

Viñedos y Bodegas Manuel Manzaneque

Main grapes at VP Finca Élez in Castilla-La Mancha? How did they get there?

Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Syrah Chardonnay Personally brought from Bordeaux, Rhône, Burgundy Also Tempranillo

VP Finca Élez in Castilla-La Mancha makes eight wines. How many varietal and from which grapes? Which are the most celebrated?

Four varietal: 3 Chardonnay (celebrated) 1 Syrah the other 4 wines are blends

VP Finca Élez in Castilla-La Mancha is most celebrated for its varietal Chardonnay. What proportion of its production is white wine?

only 5% blanco

Which need-to-know DO in Castilla-La Mancha makes the most rosado? Grape restrictions?

DO Manchuela 30% rosado min 85% authorised red varieties

What proportion tinto is produced by VP Dominio de Valdepusa in Castilla-La Mancha?

100% tinto

Which DO in Castilla-La Mancha has the largest vineyard? And the smallest?

DO La Mancha (165,470 ha, largest DOP in the world) DO Manchuela 6,709 ha

When did the Phoenicians arrive in Castilla-La Mancha with wine culture?

1100 BCE

How did Castilla-La Mancha fare during the Spanish Civil War?

Bloody battleground, mass emigration abroad or to industrialised parts of Spain

When did Castilla-La Mancha start to recover after the Spanish Civil War?

late in the Franco regime; industry and agriculture recovered, people returned home