Castilla y León

Question 1

Identify where Castilla y León is on this map of Spain.

Answer 1

Question 2

Where is Castilla y León located in Spain?

Answer 2

North Central Spain

Question 3

Which mountain range creates a rain shadow for Castilla y León?

Answer 3

Cantabrian Mountains

Question 4

What is the climate of Castilla y León?

Answer 4

Continental climate with extreme seasonal and diurnal shifts.

Question 5

What exactly is Castilla y León?

Answer 5

A high-altitude meseta.

Question 6

What is the river that runs through Castilla y Léon?

Answer 6

Duero River

This river is called the Douro in Portugal.

Question 7

What are the 4 DOs of Castilla y Léon you need to know for the CMS 2 exam?

Answer 7

1. Rueda DO
2. Bierzo DO
3. Toro DO
4. Ribera del Duero DO

Question 8

Rueda DO makes fresh white wines based on these two grape varieties.

Answer 8

1. Verdejo
2. Sauvignon Blanc

Question 9

What is the style of wine made in Bierzo DO?

Answer 9

Red, Mencía-based wines that can be enjoyed young or aged for a few years.

Question 10

How would you describe the wines made in Toro DO?

Answer 10

Primarily red wines based on Tempranillo, often emphasizing ripeness and concentration.

Question 11

How would you describe the red wines made in Ribera del Duero DO?

Answer 11

Tempranillo-based blends made in styles that range from fresh for early drinking to long-aged in American or French oak.

Question 12

Ribera del Duero
What are the quality tiers based on minimum required time (in ascending order) red wine spends in oak barrel and bottle?

Answer 12

1. Crianza
2. Reserva
3. Gran Reserva

Question 13

What are the aging requirements for Ribera del Duero Crianza?

Answer 13

Minimum 2 years, including 1 year in oak.

Question 14

What are the aging requirements for Ribera del Duero Reserva?

Answer 14

Minimum 3 years, including 1 year in oak.

Question 15

What are the aging requirements for Ribera del Duero Gran Reserva?

Answer 15

Minimum 5 years, including 2 years in oak.

Question 16

Name 4 important Ribera del Duero producers.

Answer 16

1. Vega Sicilia
2. Pesquera
3. Pingus
4. Viña Sastre

Question 17

Name 1 important Bierzo producer.

Answer 17

Descendientes de J. Palacios

Question 18

Name 1 important Rueda producer.

Answer 18

Martinsancho

Question 19

What foods would you pair with a white wine from Rueda?

Answer 19

• Roast chicken
• Fresh cheeses
• Grilled fish
• Tomato salads

Question 20

What foods would you pair with a white wine from Toro and Ribera del Duero?

Answer 20

• Roasted meats - beef, lamb especially - these wines need fat
• Mushroom dishes
• Tomato-based meat stews