Central Med Flashcards
How history helped to shape the Valencia’s modern wine industry
significant outpost on Via Augusta (trade of wine and olive oil). Was biggest port city, so wine important in trade. Also benefited from Phylloxera, but it fell behind other regions in replanting, many vineyards never replanted. Became known for producing bulk wine.
Main topographical features (mountain ranges, rivers, etc.) of Valencia
Coast is fertile plain, inland more elevation due to Sistema Iberico and Sistema Betico - both terminate here. Two main rivers: Jucar and Segura.
The factors influencing the Valencia’s climate
Mediterranean. Coastal heat moderated by breezes blowing off water. Continental influences inland, best wine-producing areas here. Both Valencia and Murcia affected by springtime warm southerly wind called Leveche, which comes from North Africa, producing hot, dry and dusty conditions. Torrential downpours can split grape and cause rot.
Dominant soil types in Valencia
Wine regions closer to the coast: marl, clay and sandstone, regions inland: limestone and loamy sand.
The “need to know” (NTK) grape varieties and their regional synonyms in Valencia
Bobal and monastrell. Some white, but only notable is Moscatel de Alexandria (called Moscatel de Valencia)
Dominant wine styles in Valencia
Bobal for blends but more varietal wine. Takes well to carbonic mac. Monstrell for varietal wines both dry and late-harvest styles (Fondillon from Alicante)
What is doble pasta?
DO Utiel-Requena has unique and traditional method of vinifying grapes - double pulp. The skins and pulp of Bobal vino rosado production added to a fermental Bobal must. Resulting wine is “double macerated” - produces highly extracted tanic vino tinto. Now rather uncommon.
The following regional special wine(s)/designation(s): Fondillón
Accompanied Magellan on voyages. Protection under EU law. Made from over-ripe Monastrell from years when summer is long and humidity is low. Must achieve 16% abv w/o fortification. Oxidized over 10 years in solera. Some can age more than a century.
The climate, topography, and soils of DO Alicante
Limestone and clay. Med with continental influences. La Marina, on NE coast, where moscatel de Ale thrives. Vinalapó to south, from coast to inalnd mts - western reaches planted with moscatell.
The grape varieties and the principal wine styles of DO alicante
white: Moscatel de Alejandria, red: Monastrell. Mostly red. Shifting from bulk to high quality.
Date DO Alicante
1957
DOs of Valencia
Alicante, Utiel-Requena
How history helped to shape Murcia’s modern wine industry
Benefitted from phylloxera, esp because of it’s deeply pigmented wines. Plantings increased. Louse came too, but parts of Murcia spared due to the soil’s highly acidic lime subsoil - phylloxera couldn’t survive. So these vines and non-grafted descendants are called pie franco. Still cultivated in region. Spanish civil war hard - vineyards replaced.
Main grape, and The main vine training systems in Valencia and Murcia
Monastrell. Majority of monastrell en vaso. Tempranillo, Garnacha and Cab on espaldera (for drip irrigation and mechanization). Temp controled fermentation and barrel aging have softened Monastrell’s forceful nature by moderating tanni.
The climate, topography, and soils of Murcia
Mediterranean on the coast, continental inland. Land of topographic contrasts. Coastal - plateaus, mts. Cordillera Prebetica bisects region. Also high-altitude Altiplano de Jumilla-Yecla - some of best vineyards. Two principal rivers: Segura and Guadalentin. Spain’s largest lagoon: Mar Menor. Soils are limestone, some parts topsoils of clay and sand. Drought and extreme heat a problem (that’s why monastrell does well)
