D3 - Spain 1: Galicia, Castilla y Léon, Rioja, Navarra, Aragon Flashcards
Examines the region, grapes, method of production, and styles of Galicia, Castilla y Léon, Rioja, Navarra, and Aragon.
Spain is considered a warm country generally, but it does have varying climates over several regions. Describe.
- Northwest – more maritime (influenced by the Atlantic), has high rainfall throughout the year;
- North – more continental (mountains shelter from the Atlantic) with some maritime;
- Northeast – Mediterranean influences;
- South and east – directly faces the Mediterranean, so vineyards in close proximity have a moderated climate with warm, dry summers and mild winters;
- The meseta – continental; a large raised plateau in the center of the country, at an altitude of 600–900m covers a vast area over central Spain. Hot days and cool nights, though altitude can help moderate the heat.
While Spain has the largest vineyard plantings under production (964,000 ha), it is only the world’s _____ largest producer of wine by volume.
Third
Many Spanish vineyards are planted at low density with vines trained how?
Bush trained.
Why is low density planting beneficial in Spain?
The (mostly) dry climate.
With as little as 300 mm in some parts of the country, it is helpful to reduce competition between vines for soil water.
In what year was irrigation nationally legalized in Spain? Who oversees control of irrigation?
- 1996
- The Consejo Regulador for each wine region.
Why do Toro and Rueda have some plantings of incredibly old ungrafted vines?
They were unaffected by phylloxera thanks to their sandy soils.
Why is vineyard mechanization still relatively limited in Spain?
Spain remains a country of small vineyard holdings, with about 68% of vineyard plots being <0.5 ha in size and a further 20% between 0.5 and 3 ha.
The two grape varieties with the largest plantings in Spain are:
- Airén
- Tempranillo
What are some characteristics of Tempranillo (when does it ripen, etc.)?
- Early ripener;
- Able to produce medium to high yields;
- Best in warm climates where there is some cooling influence.
It is common in Spain for wines of all quality levels to go through primary fermentation in this type of vessel.
Temperature controlled stainless steel.
National aging legislation in Spain says that oak barrels have a maximum capacity of ____ L.
330 L
Under the national aging legislation in Spain, what are the minimum total aging times (and time spent in barrel) for Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva REDS?
This question is asking about national legislation, NOT legislation for individual DOs, e.g. RIoja, which may be stricter than the national legislation.
- Crianza - min 6 mos in barrel, min 24 mos total aging;
- Reserva - min 12 mos in barrel, min 36 mos total aging;
- Gran Reserva - min 18 mos in barrel, min 60 mos total aging.
What do roble and joven mean on a bottle of Spanish wine?
- Roble: wines that have been matured in oak for an unspecified duration, usually less than the requirements for Crianza.
- Joven: used to denote wines that are released young, often with no or minimal oak aging.
What are the two Spanish wine regions that are DOCa?
Rioja and Priorat
What is needed for a region to apply to become a DOCa?
- Region must be established for a minimum of ten years;
- All wines must be bottled at the producer’s own property;
- The denomination must have various quality regulations in place including a tasting assessment by an external panel and a process to audit these extra restrictions and regulations.
What is Vino de Pago? Where are most located in Spain?
- A category that applies to a small number of single estates with high reputations;
- These wines are also within the PDO category;
- The majority are in Castilla-La Mancha, with others in Navarra, Valencia and Aragon;
- Approved estates may only use their own grapes, which must be vinified and matured on their estate.
The Spanish equivalent of PGI is ______.
Vino de la Tierra (VT)
Regulations of each denomination are generally set and controlled by their specific Consejo Regulador.
What are the regulations a Consejo Regulador oversees?
- Maximum yields;
- Permitted grape varieties;
- Vineyard practices such as irrigation;
- Winemaking regulations (including minimum aging requirements);
- Packaging regulations;
- Bottling within the region is specified for the DOCa/DOQs of Rioja and Priorat and the majority of DOs.
In Spain, why is production dominated in many regions by co-operatives?
It’s a country of many producers with tiny landholdings.
Select the correct answer.
- As of 2021, Spain is the world’s:
a. Largest exporter of wine in terms of volume
b. Smallest exporter of wine in terms of volume - What percentage of Spain’s total exports in 2018 was bulk wine?
- a. Largest exporter of wine in terms of volume
- 56%
The climate of Rías Baixas is ______.
Maritime.
The Atlantic moderates annual temperatures, giving warm summers and mild winters.
- How much rain does Rías Baixas get annually?
- When does it fall?
- 1700mm annually
- Rains throughout the year.
Because rain falls throughout the year in Rías Baixas, what hazards are present?
- Fungal diseases are a constant risk;
- Rain just prior to harvest.
Why is Albariño well suited to Galicia (and Rías Baixas more specifically)?
It has thick skins which makes it less prone to damage from rot.
Other white grapes of Rías Baixas include:
- Loureira;
- Treixadura;
- Caiño Blanco.
What are the 5 subzones of Rías Baixas?
- Val do Salnés (oldest);
- Soutomaior (smallest);
- O Rosal (usually blends);
- Condado do Tea (inland, warm);
- Ribeira do Ulla (newest).
- The popular (and older) trellising system in Rías Baixas is _______.
- What does it allow for?
- Pergola (here called parral)
- Allows for air circulation underneath it and for other crops, if desired to be planted underneath.
Select the correct answer.
The winemaking style in Rías Baixas is generally:
a. protective
b. oxidative
a. Protective
Cool fermentation in stainless steel is typical; some producer do partial malo in cooler years.
Name 4 other wine regions in Galicia.
- Ribeiro DO;
- Ribeira Sacra DO;
- Monterrei DO;
- Valdeorras DO.
Ribeiro DO:
- What is its climate?
- What color wine does it mostly make and from what grape?
- Maritime climate (high rainfall);
- Produces mainly white wines made from Treixadura.
Ribeira Sacra DO:
- What is its climate?
- What is its most important red grape variety?
- Continental mainly but there is some maritime influence;
- Mencía
Valdeorras DO:
- What is its climate and altitude?
- How much rain does it get?
- What white grape is it known for?
- Continental, ~300m elevation;
- 700-1000mm per year;
- Godello.
Select the correct answer.
Ribeira Sacra DO is known for its:
a) flat land and cool, clay-based soils
b) stony slopes with good drainage
c) extremely steep slopes with Portlandian soils
Stony slopes with good drainage
Monterrei DO:
- What is its climate (what shelters it)?
- What grapes is it known for?
- Continental (Sierra de Larouca mountains);
- Mencía and Godello.
What are the four DOs to know of Castilla y León?
- Bierzo DO;
- Rueda DO;
- Toro DO;
- Ribera del Duero DO.
What is the main red grape of Bierzo DO?
When does it ripen?
- Mencía;
- Early to mid-ripening grape.
Mencía must contribute a minimum of ___% to any red wine blend in Bierzo DO, with this grape making up the difference.
- 70%
- Alicante Bouschet
Only 2% of plantings in Bierzo are Alicante Bouschet, so many wines are made from 100% Mencía.
- Where are the best vineyards in Bierzo DO located (valley floor, slopes)?
- How does their location benefit the wine?
- Hillside slopes at 500–850m asl that have good drainage, and shallow, poor slate soils (limits vigor).
- Benefits: cooling influence, large diurnal range (slows sugar accumulation, retains acidity). Also, the vines are are old and bush trained (so machine harvesting rare).
Toro DO:
- What are its climate and altitude?
- What is the benefit of its altitude?
- Continental climate, 620–750m elevation;
- Benefit: large diurnal range (cool nights = acidity retention)
- What is the main red grape variety in Toro DO?
- What are some of its characteristics?
- Tinta de Toro;
- Thick skin (deeper color, higher tannin).
Toro DO red wines must be a minimum ___% of Tinta de Toro with the remainder being this grape.
- 75% Tinta de Toro;
- Garnacha.
- What is the rainfall in Toro DO?
- Is irrigation permitted there?
- Low rainfall;
- Irrigation is permitted but not between June and harvest.
The maximum abv for red wines in Toro DO is ___%.
15%
The first winery to be established in Ribera del Duero was ______ in the late 1800s.
Vega Sicilia