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
What types of wines does Ribera del Duero produce?
Ribera del Duero produces reds, as well as small amounts of whites, rosados, and claretes
What is the primary grape used in Ribera del Duero’s white wines?
White wines must contain at least 75% of the early-ripening Albillo Mayor grape
What is the composition requirement for Ribera del Duero’s rosados and claretes?
They must be composed of a minimum of 50% authorized red grapes for the area
What is the premier grape of Ribera del Duero, and what percentage is required in red wines?
Tempranillo, known locally as Tinto del País or Tinto Fino, is the premier grape, and a minimum of 75% is required in red wines
What other grape varieties are cultivated in Ribera del Duero?
Small amounts of Garnacha and international varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
What are the aging requirements for crianza red wines in Ribera del Duero?
Reds labeled crianza must be aged for 24 months prior to release, including one year in cask
What are the aging requirements for reserva red wines in Ribera del Duero?
Reds labeled reserva must be aged 36 months prior to release, including one year in cask
What are the aging requirements for gran reserva red wines in Ribera del Duero?
Gran reserva reds must be aged for a minimum of 24 months in cask, with a total of five years of aging altogether
What is the significance of the “roble” label in Ribera del Duero?
Roble may be used for wines that see a minimum of three months of oak aging
What does “joven” indicate on a Ribera del Duero wine label?
Joven indicates wines that are aged for less than three months
Is it mandatory to state the aging classification on Ribera del Duero wine labels?
No, there is no rule mandating that an aging classification needs to be stated on the label
When did Rueda receive its DO status?
1980
Which grape is central to Rueda’s white wines, and who helped rejuvenate it?
The white Verdejo grape is central, and it was rejuvenated by Marqués de Riscal in the 1970s
How was Verdejo traditionally prone to be used, and how did handling change its style?
Verdejo was prone to oxidation and traditionally used for sherry-style wines. Careful handling, controlled temperatures, and an anaerobic environment now produce fresh, crisp, aromatic wines
What are the requirements for white wines labeled as Rueda?
They require a minimum 50% of Verdejo or Sauvignon Blanc, often blended with Viura, and may include Chardonnay and Viognier
What grape dominates red wines in Rueda?
Tempranillo
What is the minimum red grape content for Rueda’s rosado wines?
Rosado wines must contain a minimum 50% of red grapes
What types of sparkling wines (Espumoso) are produced in Rueda?
Espumoso wines are produced in both rosado and white styles
What are the requirements for Brut and Brut Nature Espumoso wines in Rueda?
They require a minimum 75% Verdejo or Sauvignon Blanc
What is Dorado wine, and how is it perceived in modern Rueda?
Dorado wine is a dry, fortified, oxidized style, which is now a dying style in a region energized by fresh, crisp wines
Are Dorado wines commonly found outside Spain?
Nope
What types of wines does Toro DO produce?
Toro DO produces red, white, and rosado wines, with red wines attracting the most international interest
What are the requirements for red wines in Toro DO?
Red wines require a minimum of 75% Tinta de Toro or 85% Garnacha, but they are often made solely from Tinta de Toro
What is Tinta de Toro?
Tinta de Toro is a local strain of Tempranillo that ripens easily in Toro’s extremely hot, dry continental summers
Which grapes are used for white wines in Toro DO?
White wines may be made with Verdejo, Malvasia, Albillo Real, and Muscat à Petit Grains
What are some notable producers in Toro DO?
Fariña, Numanthia-Termes, and Vega Sicilia’s Bodegas Pintia
Where is Tierra del Vino de Zamora DO located, and what types of wines does it produce?
It lies to the west of Toro and produces red, white, rosado, and clarete wines
What are the requirements for red wines in Tierra del Vino de Zamora DO?
Reds require a minimum of 75% Tempranillo
Which notable estate was founded by Alejandro Fernández in Zamora?
The Dehesa la Granja estate
What benefits do Toro and Zamora DOs gain from their location?
They benefit from their proximity to Ribera del Duero
What red and white grapes are used in Arribes DO?
Reds include Rufete and Tempranillo, while whites are made from Malvasia, Verdejo, and Albilla
Where is Cigales DO located, and what wines is it noted for?
Cigales DO is located north of Valladolid and is particularly noted for its rosado and nuevo (primeur) rosado production
What is Arlanza DO known for, and when was it established?
Arlanza DO, established in 2007, produces reds and whites from Duero Valley and Bordeaux varieties
What significant achievement occurred in Castilla y León in 2022?
Castilla y León received its first DO Pagos, Abadía-Retuerta and Dehesa Peñalba
