Castilla y León

Question 1

Ribera del Duero

Tinto/Rosado Aging

Answer 1

• Crianza Tinto: 2 yrs, 1 yr oak (225 L), Rosado: 2 yrs, 6 mo oak (225 L)
• Reserva Tinto only: 3 yrs, 1 yr oak
• Gran Reserva Tinto only: 2 yrs oak, 3 yrs bottle

Question 2

Ribera del Duero Tinto/Rosado Blend

Answer 2

• Tinto: min 75% Tinta del País (Tempranillo), max. 5% Garnacha and Albillo Mayor
• Rosado: min 50% authorized red varieties
  
  • R: Tinta del País / Tinto Fino (Tempranillo)
  • A: Garnacha, Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Albillo Mayor

Question 3

What is the main red grape from Castilla y León?

Answer 3

Mencía

• Home in valleys of Sil River and tributaries in the Bierzo DO
• min 70% of red wines, min 50% of rosé wines
• many of the region’s newer and more serious reds are solely produced from Mencía

Question 4

Who is Alvaro Palacios?

Answer 4

Alvaro Palacios

• Younger winemaker, marquee name in Priorat
• Founded Descendientes de José Palacios with his cousin Ricardo Palacios in 1999
• Achieved instant recognition for Bierzo with their biodynamic “Corullón” bottlings: extracted, pure old vine Mencía from mountainside schist soils
• The project, along with other modern trailblazers such as Dominio de Tares and Pittacum, is commanding top dollar for its wines

Question 5

What is Spain’s largest autonomia?

Answer 5

Castilla y León

• “Old Castile” or “the land of castles”

Question 6

What is the river that flows westward through the center of Castilla y León?

Answer 6

Duero River

Question 7

Toro DO red wines

Answer 7

• min. 75% Tinta de Toro (local strain of Tempranillo)
• often solely Tinta de Toro

Question 8

Toro DO white wines may be made from what grapes?

Answer 8

Verdejo or Malvasia

Question 9

Toro DO rosados are saignée blends of what grapes?

Answer 9

Tinto de Toro and Garnacha

Question 10

What is the terrain of Castilla y León?

Answer 10

Northern edge of the Meseta Central

Question 11

What are the 9 DOs of Castilla y León?

Answer 11

• Ribera del Duero
• Rueda
• Toro
• Tierra del Vino de Zamora
• Arribes
• Arlanza
• Cigales
• Tierra de León
• Bierzo

Question 12

What are the principal towns of Ribera del Duero?

Answer 12

• Aranda de Duero (central)
• Peñafiel (west)

Question 13

What styles are permitted in Ribera del Duero?; authorized grapes?

Answer 13

• Red: 75% Tinta del País, max 5% Garnacha, Albillo Mayor
• Rosado: 50% authorized red varieties
  
  • Tempranillo is the only recommended grape; Garnacha, Malbec, Merlot, Cab Sauv, and Albillo Mayor are authorized

Question 14

Which aging requirements are allowed for Rosado?

Answer 14

Crianza only

Question 15

What is the assemblage for white wines labeled “Rueda?”

Answer 15

Rueda

• min 50% Verdejo, plus Viura, Sauvignon Blanc, Palomino Fino

Question 16

What varietal bottlings are permitted in Rueda?

Answer 16

• Verdejo
• Sauvignon Blanc

Question 17

What is the major red grape of Rueda?

Answer 17

Tempranillo

• plus Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Garnacha

Question 18

What is the min% of red grapes for Rueda Rosado?

Answer 18

50%

Question 19

What happened in 1995 that caused a major shift in Spain’s productivity?

Answer 19

Irrigation was officially legalized

Question 20

Which producer makes ‘St. Jacques - La Ultreia’?; what is the region, dominant grape and soil type of the area?

Answer 20

‘St. Jacques - La Ultreia

• Raul Perez
• Bierzo
• Mencía
• Schist

Question 21

What are Dorado wines and from where do they originate?

Answer 21

Dry fortified, oxidized wines from Rueda

Question 22

What year was the Ribera del Duero DO created?; who was its first producer?; what grapes comprise their wines?; which specific bottlings do they make?

Answer 22

Ribera del Duero

• Created in 1982
• Vega Sicilia was its 1st producer
  
  • Making wines from Tinto del Pais (Tempranillo), Cabernet and Merlot
  • Specific bottlings are Unico (aged 10 years), Valbuena, Reserva Unico Especial