Castilla y León Flashcards
What is Castilla y León, and why is it historically significant?
Castilla y León, or Old Castile, is Spain’s largest autonomía. It is historically significant as “the land of castles” and was central to the birth of the Kingdom of Spain through its dynastic union with Aragon in the 15th century
What was the only official dialect in Spain before the 1978 constitution?
Castilian Spanish
What is the general climate of Castilla y León, and what geographical feature characterizes the region?
The region has a continental climate, with extreme highs and lows, and it consists of the northern part of the Meseta Central, the arid central plateau of Spain
Name the major DOs along the Duero River in Castilla y León.
Ribera del Duero, Rueda, Toro, Tierra del Vino de Zamora, and Arribes
Where are Arlanza DO and Cigales DO located in relation to Ribera del Duero?
Arlanza DO is directly north of Ribera del Duero, and Cigales DO is to the west of both appellations
Which DOs are located in the mountainous northwestern corner of Castilla y León?
León DO and Bierzo DO
What grape variety is dominant in Bierzo DO, and what types of wine are produced from it?
The Mencía grape is dominant, and it is used to produce red and rosé wines
Which producer achieved recognition for Bierzo DO with their biodynamic “Corullón” bottlings?
Alvaro Palacios, along with his nephew Ricardo Pérez, founded Descendientes de José Palacios and achieved recognition with their “Corullón” bottlings
What types of soils are the “Corullón” bottlings sourced from?
Mountainside Schist Soils
Which modern trailblazers are also recognized for commanding top dollar for their Bierzo wines?
Dominio de Tares and Pittacum
What are the main white grape varieties in Bierzo DO, and which one still dominates the vineyards?
Godello and Doña Blanca show more promise, but Palomino still dominates the vineyards
When was León DO upgraded from Vino de la Tierra, and what types of wine does it produce?
León DO was upgraded in 2007, and it produces reds, whites, and rosados
What are the recommended red grape varieties in León DO?
Mencía and the local Prieto Picudo
What is Ribera del Duero DO known for?
Ribera del Duero DO is considered one of Spain’s top red wine-producing regions
Which towns are central to Ribera del Duero DO?
The towns of Aranda de Duero and Peñafiel in the Duero River Valley
What is the flagship estate of Ribera del Duero DO, and who founded it?
The flagship estate is Vega Sicilia, founded by Don Eloy Lecanda y Chaves
What unique varieties did Don Eloy Lecanda y Chaves plant in Vega Sicilia in 1864?
He planted Bordeaux varieties and a little Pinot Noir alongside Tinto del País (Tempranillo) to make brandy
Who achieved international acclaim for Vega Sicilia at the 1929 Barcelona World’s Fair, and with which vintages?
Winemaker Domingo Txomin achieved acclaim with the 1917 and 1918 vintages of Único
What is Único, and what makes it unique?
Único is Vega Sicilia’s benchmark wine, blended from Tinto del País, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot, and often aged for a decade or more in American and French oak barrels
What was the status of Vega Sicilia’s wines before Ribera del Duero received DO status?
They were sold as a simple vino de mesa (table wine), even though they commanded high prices
When did Ribera del Duero achieve DO status?
1982
Which estate began achieving critical acclaim in Ribera del Duero during the 1980s?
The wines of Pesquera
How has Ribera del Duero changed since the mid-1980s?
Quality, investment, and interest have skyrocketed, and the region now supports a number of cult wine estates, including Dominio de Pingus and Aalto
How many wineries were in Ribera del Duero when it received DO status, and how many are there today?
There were only 9 wineries in 1982, and today there are nearly 300
