Ch 30 - Spain Flashcards
What are the three climatic zones in Spain? Describe any relevant moderating factors or hazards.
North and NW coast - moderate maritime dominated by Atlantic weather systems. Rainfall and associated risks high.
East coast from Catalunya to Levante has warm Mediterranean climate. Moderated often by influence of sea or altitude depending on site location. Climate gets hotter further south.
Meseta Central - large plateau in center of Spain - cut off from influence of sea by mountains has hot continental climate. Winter - temps fall below freezing and summer very high and rainfall limited. Summer temps can be moderated by cool nights in high altitude sites.
What are the main challenges in Spain? How are these managed?
Except in NW, heat and lack of water. Fungal disease is low but there is heavy stress on vine. Low density, bush trained vines are used to maximise water available to vines and shade fruit from excessive heat. Where practical and affordable wire training is being introduced to facilitate machine harvesting.
What winemaking is used for inexpensive wines in Spain?
No oak, carbonic maceration to enhance fruity nature of wines.
What would you expect of winemaking for more premium wines in Spain?
Almost always see oak maturation with some new oak. American traditionally used but French is now common too.
What is the premier black grape in Spain?
Tempranillo - has many synonyms though.
What is the nature of the Tempranillo grape and what climatic conditions does it thrive in?
Thick skinned with medium acidity so while it needs warmth to develop flavours, hot climates without high diurnal temp range cause lack in acidity and decrease balance. At its best in areas where summer temps are moderated by sea and or altitude.
How is Tempranillo often made to produce Joven wines?
Fermented on its own, using semi-carbonic maceration to produce fresh strawberry scented wines.
In ageworthy Tempranillos what is it typically blended with in Spain?
Oaked blends with traditional varieties like Garnacha, Gracian and Carinena or with Cab Sav.
What is Garnacha Tinta and what wines does it produce in Spain?
Grenache - high in alcohol, matures early. Often used for rosados and v important in Priorat where low yielding old vines enable the production of intense, complex, full bodied reds.
What in Monastrell and what conditions does it like?
Mouverdre - thick skinned grape that is drought tolerant but needs hot, sunny conditions to ripen. Grown in SE DOs like Yecla and Jumilla - easily reaches full ripeness and produces deeply coloured, full bodied wines with high tannin and alcohol, low to medium acidity and flavours of ripe blackberry fruit.
What are some otehr grapes grown in Spain, describe them.
Graciano - challenging to grow. Mainly in Rioja in blends of the finest wines. Small amounts used to add concentrated black fruit aromas, acidity and tannins to the structure and help wines age.
Carinena - Mazuelo in Rioja - gives high tannin, high acidity and colour. Small amount ideal with Tempranillo. Also in Priorat to blend with Garnacha and enhance tannic stucture.
Mencia - suits moderate climates giving wines with fresh fruit, medium to high acidity and sometimes hint of herbaceousness.
Describe how producers retain fresh and fruity characters of Spanish white wines? What other winemaking techniques might some use and why?
Harvesting at night or early morning and fermentation in temp controlled stainless steel to retain delicate aromas. Some may use oak fermentation and maturation as well as lees stirring to add texture and flavours.
What is Verdejo and what wines is it used for?
White variety - highly susceptible to oxidation so used in Sherry like wines. Can also be made into a light high acid melon and beach flavour like Sav Blanc when protective wine making is used. Often blended with Sav Blanc. Can make richer fuller bodied style when has undergone skin contact and barrel fermentation.
What is Albarino and what wines does it produce? What factors allow it to thrive in Spain?
Grown in NW and is thick skinned and thus able to resist fungal disease, useful in the damp climate. Naturally high in acidity and can produce refreshing wines with citrus and stone fruit. Can be made richer and fuller bodied as well.
What is Airen?
Most widely planted variety in Spain - mostly in La Mancha in central Spain. Copes well with extreme heat and drought conditions of the Meseta Central. Mostly used for Brandy de Jerez.
What are Parellada, Xarel-lo and Macabeo used for in Spain? Where are they planted?
Cava - in Catalunya.
What is Macabeo also known as and what is it used for (where)? What style of wine does it make?
Aka Viura - used for still wines in Rioja. Can be made unoaked with subtle herb and spice. Used to make heavily oaked white Riojas.
What International wines are present in Spain?
Cab Sav, Merlot, Sav Blanc and Chardonnay are very established especially in the NE. Sometimes in blends with local varieties.
What are the 6 principal DO regions in Spain? What is the most extensive region for Vino de la Tierra?
Upper Ebro, Catalunya, Duero Valley, NW, Levante, Castilla-La Mancha. There are also regions designated for VdT - e.g. Castilla y Leon near north of Meseta Central.
What are the regions of teh Upper Ebro?
Rioja, Navarra and Carinena and Calatayud.
What are the three sub regions in Rioja? What are the main natural features of each?
Rioja Alavesa - on north bank of the Ebro in foothills of the Mountains. WInes are the lightest and often have most finesse.
Rioja Alta - south of the Ebro and planted at altitudes from 500-800m with climates moderated by the Atlantic Ocean - the mountains shield Rioja from the worst of the Atlantic weather.
Rioja Baja - south bank - climate is less maritime with hotter summers and more severe winters. annual rainfall can be low, making drought an issue.
What grapes are planted in Rioja? What wines do these grapes produce and what do they contribute?
Dominated by black grapes. Tempranillo most widely planted, does best in the cooler regions. Main component of most blends giving red fruit flavours and medium tannins. Benefits from body and alcohol with Garnacha added - that grows best in Rioja Baja. Mazuelo and Graciano less widely planted but support in blends.
What are the styles made in Rioja?
Depends on style winemaker desires. Those designed for early drinking might undergo semicarbonic maceration to retain red fruit flavours and low smooth tannins. Long term maturation wines are destemmed and crushed - traditional fermentation. Some may use vigorous cap management and extended maceration to produce heavily extracted wines, deep colour and full fruit but many make more subtle, elegant styles.
How is oak used in Rioja?
Oak has a defining role in Rioja. Traditionally American oak was used to age wines and gave aromas of vanilla. Many now use French or other European oak for more subtle spice.
What white varieties are approved for use in white Rioja? What style of wines are made?
Viura (aka macabeo) - traditionally white wines were aged for extended periods in American oak to give golden colour and nutty flavours. Now made wit minimal contact with oxygen to preserve fruit. Some also make barrel fermented wines but in less oxidative style than traditional ones.
What is the climate in Navarra?
SImilar to Rioja but gets cooler and wetter near the mountains - stretches from Northern and Eastern borders of Rioja into foothills of Pyrenees.
What is the most widely planted variety in Navarra and how is it used? What styles of wine are made?
Tempranillo - production focused on red. Blended with other Rioja varieties or with Cab Sav and Merlot. Range from good value Jovens to top quality premium Gran Reservas.
What is Garnacha used for in Navarra? How is it handled both regarding harvest and winemaking?
Rose. Picked earlier when acid is higher and sugar lower. Handled protectively to create refreshing, fruity wines with medium alcohol.
