Castilla y Leon Flashcards
What river runs through the middle of Castilla y Leon?
The Duero
What new DO’s were established in Castilla y Leon in 2007?
Arlanza
Arribes
Leon
Tierras del Vino Zamora
State the altitude and climate of Castilla y Leon.
High on the Spanish Meseta, 700-1000 meters (2296-3280ft)
Dramatic Continental Climate, scorching hot summers and frigid winters.
Drought an issue, as is Frost in Spring and Fall
What Spanish DO in Castilla y Leon sits closer to Galicia, in the transition zone up to the Spanish Meseta?
Bierzo DO
Who first colonized the Bierzo region?
The Romans
What producers helped Bierzo make a name for itself in the 90’s, following its promotion to DO in 1989.
Raul Perez and his friend Alvaro Palacios
Bierzo’s top sites are higher up in the appellation, on which 2 soil types?
Quartz and Slate
In what year did Bierzo announce its own classification heirarchy?
What are its 4 levels?
2017
Bierzo DO
Vino de Vila - named village
Vino de Paraje - lieux dit
Gran Vino de Vina Clasificada - Grand Cru
What percentage of Bierzo rosado must be Mencia?
What percentage of vineyards are planted to Mencia?
50%
75%
What 2 grapes does white Bierzo focus on?
Godello and Dona Blanca
Bierzo is split into two areas by what body of water? Name all three items.
Bajo Bierzo
Alto Bierzo
The Sil river and its tributaries
Red Bierzo must be 85% what grape(s)?
Mencia, Garnacha Tintorera, Esaldina, Merenzao
How can a wine qualify for the top Bierzo quality levels?
100% of grapes must come from the stated place at any level.
For Vino Clasificada, it must be in production for 5 years, and approved by a tasting panel.
Achieving Gran Vino will require another 5 years as a Vino Clasificado and passing a tasting panel.
From West to East, what three DO’s does the Duero river pass through before it enters Rueda?
Arribes, Tierra del Vino Zamora, Toro
What is the historical specialty wine of Rueda? How were they made?
“Dorado” wines, palomino, maderized and oxidized, fortified. (sometimes flor)
These were aged in solera or demi john.
Who suggested that Rueda might be a perfect spot for white wine production?
Marques de Riscal (Rioja) was looking to add a white wine to its portfolio and enlisted the help of Emile Peynaud, the famed Bordeaux Oenologist, to identify locations.
What soils exist in Rueda that Emile Peynaud pointed to as an ideal spot for white wine?
What did he suggest be planted?
Limestone (acid) and Gravel (drainage)
Sauvignon Blanc and Verdejo
Whats grapes make up the white wines of Rueda? Whats the main rule?
A Rueda white must be 50% Verdejo or Sauvignon Blanc.
Viura, palomino, viogner, and chard are blended
In Rueda, what is a Vino de Licor?
What two sub categories are there?
A fortified wine
Palido (aged under flor)
Dorado (aged oxidatively)
Rueda Tinto will be produced from what grapes?
Any of the authorized grapes.
Tempranillo is the only recommended, while Cab Sauv, Syrah, Merlot, and Garnacha are approved.
Other than Red, white, and fortified wines, what else is made in Rueda?
Sparkling white (75% Verdejo/Sauv Bl)
Sparkling rose (50% alllowed red grapes)
Still rose (same as sparkling)
Whats the production method and lees time for Rueda espumoso?
What is the lees time for a Vina Espumoso Gran Anada?
traditional method, 9 months lees
aged 36 months on lees
What was the first DO in Castilla y Leon?
Rueda 1980
A Rueda fortified wine will age for how long if:
Palido
Dorado
3 years in barrel
4 years in barrel
A Rueda ‘Vino de Pueblo’ entails what?
And ‘Gran Vino de Rueda’?
When were these quality designations approved?
allows naming a village, provided 85% of the fruit is from there.
wine from vines at least 30 years old
2019
The Toro DO is known for what red grape? What is its nickname?
Tempranillo
Tinta de Toro, Bull’s Blood
The reds of Leon DO come from Mencia, as well as this local specialty.
Prieto Picudo
The Cigales DO is located _____ of Rueda, and _____ of Ribera del Duero.
The Arlanza DO is located _____ of Ribera del Duero.
Cigales: NE of Rueda, NW of Ribera
Arlanza: North of Ribera
Not much heralded throughout history, who planted Bordeaux grapes alongside Tempranillo in Ribera del Duero, and when, setting the stage for what would become this all star producer.
Who conceived the blend for Unico?
Don Eloy Lecanda y Chavez 1864
Vega Sicilia
Cellarmaster, Domingo Garramiola Txomin
When did Ribera del Duero achieve DO status?
1982
Other than Vega, name 6 quality producers in Ribera del Duero.
Tinto Pesquera
Pingus
Aalto
Dominio de Es
Emilio Moro
Hacienda Monasterio
Bodegas Valduero
Dominio del Aguila
Hermanos Sastre
Tempranillo accounts for what % of Ribera del Duero plantings?
What are its nicknames here?
95%
Tinto Fino, Tinta del Pais
In what year was white wine approved for production in Ribera del Duero, and what is the min % required of the grape involved?
2019
Albillo Mayor, min 75%
Is rosado allowed in Ribera del Duero?
Yes, min 50% approved red grapes.
Other than Tempranillo, what grapes are blended into the reds of Ribera del Duero?
Whats the minimum % Tinto Fino?
Cab Sauv, Merlot, Malbec, Garnacha
75%
A red from Ribera del Duero labeled Crianza has been aged how?
2 years, 1 in oak, the rest must be in bottle
barrel not bigger than 330L
A red from Ribera del Duero labeled Reserva has been aged how?
3 years, 1 in oak, the rest must be in bottle
barrel not bigger than 330L
A red from Ribera del Duero labeled Gran Reserva has been aged how?
5 years, 2 in oak, the rest must be in bottle
barrel not bigger than 330L
Describe the climate of Ribera del Duero.
Extreme Continental, sweltering summers, icy cold winters.
Wide diurnal swings at night which help.
Frost is a big problem, especially in Fall with grapes that require long hangtimes.
Describe the soils of Ribera del Duero.
Extremely varied, over 30 types, but in general, limestone in the Eastern and Western thirds, Clay heavier in the West, sandy silty top soils
Stylistically, how do the wines of Ribera an Rioja compare?
Ribera wines are typically denser and darker fruited, with more prevalent tannin.
This is not only because you might have Bordeaux varieties blended in, but also because the biotypes of Tempranillo in Ribera exhibit those traits.
Use of American and French oak is more or less the same in both regions.
A Ribera del Duero wine labeled ‘Roble’ indicates what?
at least 3 months in oak
Vega Sicilia Alion: grapes and ageing regimen
100% Tinto Fino, new French oak
Vega Sicilia Pintia: grapes and ageing regimen
From Toro, Tinta de Toro, French and American
Vega Sicilia Valbuena no5: grapes and ageing regimen
Tinto Fino and Merlot, French and American oak, aged 5 years, hence the name.
Vega Sicilia Unico: grapes and ageing regimen
Tinto Fino and Cab Sauv, French and American oak, aged 10 years, 6 in wood, 4 in bottle
How is Unico Reserva Especial produced?
Typically a blend of select vintages, held in reserve of Unico, often of wines 20-30 years old, or more.
What is Rufete?
A red grape in Arribes DO
Descendientes de Jose Palacios helped jump start what DO in Spain?
Bierzo
DO Pago Dehesa la Granja is located in what DO, owned by who?
Tierra del Vino Zamora, Pesquera
