Castilla y León Flashcards
What is the largest autonomía in Spain by size?
Castilla y León
What is the signature architectural landmark of Castilla y León?
Middle-aged castles built to repel the Moors.
What is the climate of Castilla y León?
Contintental climate with high diurnal shift, and slight influence from the Atlantic and Mediterranean
What are the two major geographical formations of Castilla y León?
Mesita Central (arid plateau) Surrounding mountains
What are the mountains that surround Castilla y León?
Picos de Europa (North)
Sistema Central (South)
Sistema Ibérico (East)
What is the river that drains the Mesita Central? Where does it flow to?
Duero River. Westward to the Atlantic through Portugal.
What is the Duero River called in Portugal?
Douro River.
How many DOs are there in Castilla y León?
Nine.
What are the DOs of Castilla y León?
Arlanza, Arribes, Bierzo, Cigales, Ribera del Duero, Rueda, Tierra de León, Tierra del Vino de Zamora, Toro
Which DOs of Castilla y León are along the Duero River, from east to west?
Ribera del Duero, Rueda, Toro, Tierra del Vino de Zamora, Arribes
Which DO of Castilla y León is on the Portugese border?
Arribes
What is the northernmost DO of Castilla y León? Which wine region does it border?
Bierzo. Borders Valdeorras in Galicia.
Where is Tierra de León located?
North central Castilla y León. Extending southward from the city of León in the foothills of the Cantrabrian Mountains.
What is the river that flows through the Bierzo DO?
Sil River
What kind of wine is made in Bierzo DO?
- Light, fresh, elegant reds (~80% of wine production)
- Top variety is Mencía (min 70% in red wines, and min 50% in Rosado)
- Top quality whites are made from Godello and Doña Blanca (most planted white is Palomino)
Which estate led the revitalization of the Bierzo wine region? Who founded it and when?
Descendientes de J. Palacios. Founded by Alvaro Palacios and his nephew Ricardo Pérez. 1999.
Who are the three “trailblazers” of Bierzo?
Desciendentes de J. Palacios, Dominio de Tares, Pittacum
When was Tierra de León upgraded to DO from VdlT?
2007
What are the varietal requirements for Tierra de León DO reds?
min 60% Prieto Picudo and/or Mencía
What is Tierra de León DO shortened to?
León DO
What are the towns in the center of the Ribera del Duero DO?
Aranda del Duero and Peñafiel
What is the flagship estate of the Ribera del Duero DO?
Vega Sicilia
Who founded Vega Sicilia? When? What varieties did they plant, and what for?
Don Eloy Lecanda y Chaves. 1864. Planted BDX, Pinot Noir, and Tinto del País for brandy production.
What are the synonyms for Tempranillo in Ribera del Duero?
Tinto Fino and Tinto de País
When did Ribera del Duero achieve DO status?
1982
What are the specs for Único by Vega Sicilia?
~40 ha make up Único’s vineyards
~95% Tinto Fino/ 5% Cabernet Sauvignon
-10 year minimum aging (~6 in barrel/ ~4 in bottle)
-Aged in new American & French 225L barrique & 20,000 L wooden vats
What is Único Reserva Especial?
Multi-vintage blend of the top Único wines. Typically released 10 years after youngest wine’s harvest year, and blended with 2 other preceding “quality” vintages.
What are the reds produced by Único by DO?
Alion, Valbuena 5°, Único (Ribera del Duero)
Pintia (Toro)
Macán (Rioja)
Which estate pushed Ribera del Duero toward DO status?
Familia Fernández Rivera’s Tinto Pesquera. Est 1975.
What is Janus?
Great vintage-only wines from Tinto Pesquera’s highest elevation vineyard Viña Alta.
Who are the four “cult” wine producers of Ribera del Duero?
Vega Sicilia, Tinto Pesquera, Dominio de Pingus, Aalto
What is the primary white grape of Ribera del Duero?
Albillo Mayor (min 75% of blend)
Which region is best know for it’s Verdejo? Who is leader in it’s production? When was it’s revival?
Rueda. Marqués de Riscal in the 1970s.
What are the varietal requirements for Rueda’s white wines?
Min 50% principal varieties.
Principal: Verdejo, Sauvignon Blanc
Authorized: Viura, Palomino Fino, Viognier, Chardonnay
What is Rueda Dorado?
Fortified “golden” wine made from Palomino Fino and/or Verdejo. Aged minimum 4 years (with 2 in barrel).
What is the traditional aging vessel for Rueda Dorado?
16L glass Damajuanas (“demijohn”)
What are the varietal requirements for Toro tinto?
min 75% Tinta de Toro or min. 85% Garnacha.
Only Tinta de Toro and Garnacha are authorized varieties.
What are the top 3 estates in Toro?
Fariña, Numanthia-Termes, Bodegas Pintia (Vega Sicilia)
Which DO does Tierra del Vino de Zamora DO closely resemble in terms of varietal requirements?
Toro DO
What is the top estate in Tierra del Vino de Zamora DO? Who owns it?
Dehesa la Granja. Familia Fernández Rivera (of Tinto Pesquera).
What are the varietal requirements for Arribes DO tinto?
Recommended: Juan García, Rufete, Tempranillo
Authorized: Mencía, Garnacha
What is the synonym for Rufete? Where does it originate?
Tinta Pinheira. Originates in eastern Portugal.
What is the newest DO in Castilla y León?
Arlanza DO
Which wine region surrounds the city of Valladolid?
Cigales DO
What is the traditional dish of Castilla y León?
Lechazo. Roast baby lamb. Lamb breed has IGP status.
