Castilla-La Mancha Flashcards
What is Castilla-La Mancha bordered by?
N: Castilla y León, Madrid
E: Aragón, Valencia
S: Murcia, Andalucía
W: Extremadura
Castilla-La Mancha is divided into how many provinces?
Bonus: name them
Five
Albacete
Ciudad Real
Cuenca
Guadalajara
Toledo
Capital, largest city in Castilla-La Mancha?
Capital: Toledo (83k 4%)
Largest city: Albacete (double that)
Climate of Castilla-La Mancha?
Continental
Eastern parts have Mediterranean influences
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
In which parts of Castilla-La Mancha is the climate more extreme?
Western and central
What are winter and summer temperatures like in Castilla-La Mancha?
Cold winter (min -10ºC)
Hot summer (max 40ºC)
Rainfall in Castilla-La Mancha? When?
Low (200-500mm)
Mostly winter and early spring
How much of Castilla-La Mancha is the central plateau? How high is it?
Most (approx 80%)
High (610-760m)
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)
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
Are the soils of Castilla-La Mancha varied or homogenous?
Homogenous
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
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)
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
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
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
The dry growing season in Castilla-La Mancha is allowing a rise in what kinds of vine treatments?
Organic
Castilla-La Mancha has historically produced mainly what style of wine?
Low-end, bulk
In Castilla-La Mancha, what was Airén mostly used for? And nowadays increasing used for?
Oxidative, alcoholic blanco; brandy.
Simple fresh varietals
DO Jumilla in Castilla-La Mancha extends into which other region? How much?
40% of vineyard and 70% of production is in Murcia
Name the largest wine-growing region (DOP) in the world
DO La Mancha
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)
Style of Cencibel (Tempranillo) in Castilla-La Mancha?
Wide range, but mostly simple, ripe black fruit, soft tannin
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 it 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 some 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
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
