Duero River Valley

Question 1

What is the largest autonomous region in Spain?

Answer 1

Castilla y León
Occupies about 1/5 of mainland Spain
3rd largest demarcated region in EU

Question 2

Modern day Rueda was known as what?

Answer 2

Tierra de Medina

Question 3

Why is Toro wine important historically?

Answer 3

It was on the manifest of one of the ships Christopher Columbus sailed to the new world

Question 4

Topographical features of Castilla y León?

Answer 4

Mountain ranges:
N - Cordillera Cantabrica
E - Sistema Iberico
S - Sistema Central

Duero River Basin

Question 5

How long is the Duero River?

Answer 5

890 km

Question 6

Castilla y León soils?

Answer 6

Clay, alluvium, sand, stone, limestone

Slate, quartz and granite in west near Galicia

Question 7

Tempranillo is the preferred variety in how many of Castilla y León’s regions?

Answer 7

12 out of the 13

Question 8

DO Bierzo
genreal facts

Answer 8

Continental climate with maritime influence
Mencía as dominating grape variety
Granite, slate, limestone
Some of lowest elevations, not directly on meseta
Sil River

Question 9

DO Bierzo grapes

Answer 9

83% tinto
12% Blanco
5% rosado

Mencía accounts for 75% of red plantings

Godello

Question 10

Min required content of Mencía in DO Bierzo tinto?

Answer 10

75%

Question 11

DO Cigales

Answer 11

Largest rosado production in Spain
Large temp swings
Low rainfall
700-800m
Clarete method widely used

Question 12

What does Majuelos mean?

Answer 12

Small family owned plots

Question 13

DO Cigales grapes

Answer 13

Tinta del País / Tempranillo accounts for 70% of plantings
Garnacha Tinta
Garnacha Gris

Verdejo

Question 14

Explain Clarete method

Answer 14

Red and white grapes co-macerated & co-fermented
produced as a red wine
24-72 hours skin contact
Undergo MLF
Fresh, fruity, light red

Question 15

Cigales wine styles

Answer 15

64% rosado
34% tinto
2% blanco

Question 16

Three synonyms for Tempranillo in Castilla y León

Answer 16

Tinto fino
Tinta del País
Tinto de Toro

Question 17

DO Ribera del Duero

Answer 17

Varied soils - 32 types
Sandy limestone, clay
High elevation 750-950m
110+ km east to west along Duero River

Question 18

What white grapes are authorized in Ribera del Duero?

Answer 18

Only one:
Albillo Major

Question 19

Tempranillo - grape typicities

Answer 19

Temprano = early
Early budding, early ripening
Moderate alcohol, acidity
med + tannin
Red fruits
leather, spice

Question 20

Joven is now known as what?

Answer 20

Generico

Question 21

Aging for RdD Crianza?

Answer 21

12 months barrel
24 months before release

Question 22

Aging for RdD Reserva?

Answer 22

12 months barrel
36 months before release

Question 23

Aging for RdD Gran Reserva?

Answer 23

24 months in barrel
60 months before release

Question 24

Ribera del Duero wine styles

Answer 24

99% tinto - min 75% Tempranillo
1% rosado

Question 25

What are possible blending partners for Tinto Fino in RdD and to what max percentage allowed?

Answer 25

Garnacha Tinta Albillo Major together up to max 5%

Question 26

DO Rueda

Answer 26

3rd largest producer of wine in Spain: behind Rioja, RdD Produces 40% of countries white wine Soils gravel, stone, sandy limestone Late frosts a hazard

Question 27

Which white grapes grows in Rueda but is no longer authorized to be planted?

Answer 27

Palomino Fino

Question 28

Rueda grapes

Answer 28

87% Verdejo 7% SauvBlanc 6% Viura

Question 29

Verdejo - grape typicities

Answer 29

Possibly Moorish in origin Verde = green Thin skinned low vigor Prone to powdery mildew Grassy, fennel high acid Sibling of Godello

Question 30

What does the designation "Rueda" in DO Rude implies?

Answer 30

Min 50% Verdejo

Question 31

-\> OLD

Answer 31

Min 85% Verdejo

Question 32

-\> OLD

Answer 32

Min 85% SB

Question 33

What does the designation "Rueda Espumoso" imply?

Answer 33

Use of: Min 50% Verdejo (Seco, Semi-seco) Min 85% Verdejo (Brut, Brut Nature)

Question 34

What does the designation "Rueda Dorado" mean?

Answer 34

describes an oxidatively aged Rueda wine from authorized varieties -\> mainly from Verdejo and/or Palomino Fino

Question 35

Rueda wine styles

Answer 35

97% blanco 3% tinto Rosado, espumso, dorado

Question 36

DO Toro

Answer 36

Soils sand and clay Tinto de Toro as a synonm for Tempranillo Low rainfall Often extracted and oak aged styles shifting to fresher styles

Question 37

Toro wine styles

Answer 37

93% tinto 4% blanco 3% rosado