Castilla y León - GuildSomm - Spain Flashcards
Spain’s largest Autonomia
Castilla y León (“old castile”/land of castles”)
Climate , terrain, and rivers of Castilla y León
Continental, moderated by Atlantic and Mediterranean but still has extreme high and lows.
Northern part of Meseta Central (arid central plateau) and Mountains surrounding it.
Rivers: Duero river, Sil River
How many DOs in Castilla Y Leon? How many DO Pagos?
9 DOs, 0 DO Pagos
Which DOs touch the Duero River as it flows westward to Portugal?
Ribera del Duero, Rueda, Toro, Tierra del Vino de Zamora, Arribes
Which is the DO that lies along Duero River and the border of Portugal?
Arribes
Which DO sits in the Northwest corner of Castilla y Leon, borders Green Spain, and is on the Sil River?
Bierzo
What Galician DO borders Bierzo?
Valdeorras DO
What is the main grape of Bierzo and what is the cepage? What are other varieties?
r) Mencia, min 70% red, min 50% rose.
w) Godello, Doña Blanca, Palomino
Where are Domino de Tares and Pittacum located?
Bierzo DO > Castilla y Leon
Who produces “Corullón”, what is it, and where?
Descendientes de José Palacios, biodynamic old vine mountainside Mencía. > Bierzo
What DO in Castilla y León was recently updated from a VdlT? What grapes are recommended?
Tierra de León DO.
white, red, rosados from
Mencia, Prieto Picudo
DO of Castilla y León home to Domino de Pingus and Aalto
Ribera del Duero
First acclaimed vintages of Único, producer, and cepage
1917 & 1918, produced by Vega Sicilia, blend of Tinto del País (tempranillo), Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot, aged for a decade in French and American oak.
Prominent producers in Ribera del Duero DO
Vega Sicilia, Domino de Pingus, Pesquera, Aalto
What style is NOT allowed in Ribera del Duero DO?
white wine
What white grape is grown in Ribera del Duero to be blended into Rosados?
Abillo
Recommended grape for Ribera del Duero and other permitted grapes
recommended: Tinto del País/Tinto Fino (Tempranillo)
others: r) garnacha, Cabernet Sauvignon, merlot. w) abillo
Aging requirements for Ribera del Duero:
crianza:
reserva:
gran reserva:
white and red same as Rioja.
crianza: 2 yr, 1 cask
reserva: 3 years, 1 cask
gran reserva: 5 years (3 bottle, 2 cask)
- whites and rosado that do not fulfill this requirement are relased as Vino Joven.
Region known for white wines to the west of Ribera del Duero, and its predominate grape
Rueda - Verdejo
What producer is credited with rejuvenating Verdejo in Rueda? Where else does this producer make wine?
Marques de Riscal
Also makes wine in Rioja (Building designed by Frank Ghery)
Cepage for Rueda white wines
“Rueda” - min 50% Verdejo + blending grapes (viura, sauv blanc, palomino)
“Rueda + varietal” - min 85% varietal listed (SB+Verdejo only)
Espumoso (secco/demisecco): min 50% Verdejo
Brut Espumoso: min 85% Verdejo
Cepage for Rueda red wines
red: Tempranillo dominant, with Garnacha, Cab Sauv, and Merlot
rosado: min 50% red varieties
What is Rueda Dorado?
fortified, oxidized wine, often dry.
aging for Rueda Dorado
Rueda Dorado: min. 4 years, including at least 2 years in wood
Tempranillo dominate region west of Rueda in a hot, continental climate. Name of clone in the region?
Toro DO;
Tinta de Toro
Recommended white grapes in Toro DO
Verdejo, Malvasia
Recommended grapes for Toro DO Rosado
Tinto de Toro, Garnacha. Saignée method.
Top names of Toro producers
Fariña, Numanthia-Termes, Bodegas Pintia
Vega Sicilia launched what Toro winery, and where else is Vega Sicilia making wine?
Toro winery: Bodegas Pintia
Vega Sicilia is home in Ribera del Duero.
Cepage for Toro reds
min 75% Tinta de Toro, but are often 100%
Newer DO located Southwest of Toro with similar grapes
Tierra del Vino de Zamoro DO
cepage for reds from Tierra del Vino de Zamoro DO
min 75% Tempranillo
producer credited with bringing fine winemaking to Tierra del Vino de Zamoro DO with the founding of Dehesa la Granja
Pesquera
Major grapes of Arribes DO
Rufete, tempranillo, malvasia, verdejo, abilla.
What is Cigales DO?
Castilla y Leon DO northwest of Rivera del Duero. red wines from min 85% combination of Garnacha Tinta and Tinto del Pais. Known for rosado and nuevo (primeur) rosado production.
What is Arlanza DO?
Castilla y Leon DO north of Ribera del Duero, one of Spain’s newest DOs. small amount of wineries making red and white from Duero valley and Bordeaux varities.
9 DOs of Castilla y Leon
Ribera del Duero, Rueda, Toro, Tierra del vino de Zamora, Arribes, Bierzo, Tierra de Leon, Cigales, Arlanza
VCIGs of Castilla y León
Sierra de Salamanca VCIG
Valles de Benavente VCIG
Valtiendas VCIG
