Ch. 11 - Spain Flashcards
What is a meseta?
The interior of Spain raised on a large plateau
known as the Meseta.
Which water body lies to the north of Spain?
- Bay of Biscay off the Atlantic Ocean.
Which mountains lie to the north of Spain?
- The Pyrenees
- The Cantabrian Cordillera
What is the climate of Spain?
- Continental (hot summers, cold winters, rainfall fairly evenly spread throughout the year).
- Northwest corner of the country is truly maritime in climate (mild summers, mild winters, considerable rainfall year-round).
- The southwest and Mediterranean coastal areas have
a classic Mediterranean climate (hot, dry, sunny summers and mild, wetter winters).
What climatic influence do the northern mountains have on Spanish climate?
The Pyrenees and the Cantabrian Cordillera along the north coast are particularly important in that they shield the peninsula from winter storms coming from the north.
Name the autonomous cities of Spain located on the northern coast of Africa.
- Ceuta
- Melilla
How autonomous communities are in Spain?
- There are 17 autonomous communities in Spain.
- Of these, fifteen are located on Spanish mainland
and two are island groups - the Balearic Islands in
the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands in the
North Atlantic.
Name the most planted white grapes of Spain.
- Airen
- Cayetana Blanca (Pardina)
- Macabeo
- Palomino
- Verdejo
- Pedro Ximenez
Name the most planted red grapes of Spain.
- Tempranillo
- Bobal
- Garnacha Tinta
- Monastrell
- Cabernet Sauvignon
What are the various synonyms for Tempranillo?
- Tempranillo - Rioja, New World
- Tinta de Toro - Toro
- Tinta del Pais - Ribera del Duero, Cigales
- Tinto Fino - Ribera del Duero
- Ull de Llebre - Catalonia
- Cencibel - La Mancha, Valdepefias
- Aragonez - Portugal
- Tinta Roriz - Douro (Portugal)
What is the PGI equivalent in Spain?
- Vino de la Tierra - PGI
What is the PDO equivalent in Spain?
- Vinos de calidad con indicacion geograifica (VCIG) - 2005
- Denominaciones de origen (DO)
- Denominaciones de origen calificada (DOCa)
- Vinos de pago - 2003 (Estate Wine)
When can a VCIG be promoted to DO?
VCIG becomes eligible for elevation to DO status after five years.
Name the VCIG of Spain.
- Cangas
- Valles de Benavente
- Valtiendas
- Sierra Salamanca
- Granada
- Las Islas Canarias
- Legrija
Name the DOCa of Spain.
- Rioja DOCa
- Priorat DOQ
Which ageing terms can be used for both PGI and PDO wines?
- Vino noble (noble wine): 18 months aging in barricas or in the bottle.
- Vino anejo (aged wine): 24 months aging in barricas or in the bottle.
- Vino viejo (old wine): 36 months aging in a strongly oxidative environment exposed to any combination of light, oxygen, and heat.
Which ageing terms can be used only for PDO red wines?
- Crianza - 24 months (6 months in barrel)
- Reserva - 36 months (12 months in barrel)
- Gran Reserva - 60 months (18 months in barrel)
Which ageing terms can be used only for PDO white wines?
- Crianza - 18 months (6 months in barrel)
- Reserva - 24 months (6 months in barrel)
- Gran Reserva - 48 months (6 months in barrel)
What is Joven?
Joven is a term used for PDO wines released the year after it was made and, if oak-aged at all, aged for a shorter period than the legal minimum requirement for Crianza.
Name the main DOs of Galicia.
- Rias Baixas DO
- Ribeiro DO - Albarifio.
- Valdeorras DO - Godello and Mencia.
What are the main grapes for Rias Baixas?
Albarifio grape, along with Loureira and Treixadura.
Name the main DOs of Castilla y Leon.
- Toro DO
- Rueda DO
- Cigales DO
- Ribera del Duero DO
What are the main grapes for Toro DO?
- Tinta de Toro
What are the main grapes for Rueda DO?
White - Verdejo, Sauvignon Blanc & Viura.
Red - Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gamacha,
and Merlot. (introduced in 2008).
What are the main grapes for Cigales DO?
Tinta del Pais blended with Garnacha.
What are the main grapes for Ribera del Duero DO?
Min. 75% Tinta del Pais or Tinto Fino + Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, and Garnacha.
What are the main grapes for Navarra DO?
Tempranillo and Garnacha, with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Chardonnay.
When did Rioja recieve its DO & DOCa?
DO - 1925
DOCa - 1991
Which river flows through Rioja?
- River Ebro and its tributaries.
Until which year was Navarra a seperate kingdom?
- Castilian Empire - 1512