Extremadura

Question 1

Extremadura is bordered by?

Answer 1

N: Castilla y León
E: Castilla-La Mancha
S: Andalucía
W: Portugal

Question 2

Where does Extremadura rank among the 17 autonomous communities, by vineyard area?

Answer 2

2nd by vineyard (9% of Spain, largest is Castilla-La Mancha 49.5%)

(5th by total area
13th by population: 1m(

Question 3

How many provinces in Extremadura?
Bonus: name them

Answer 3

2

Cáceres
Badajoz

Question 4

Capital, largest city of Extremadura

Answer 4

Capital: Mérida 60k 6%
Badajoz 151k
(Cáceres also larger 96k)

Question 5

Climate of Extremadura

Answer 5

Continental
Some Atlantic influence in SW

Question 6

Which weather pattern is a driving force in Extremadura? What does it do?

Answer 6

Azores High / Azores anticyclone
moves north in summer (from S to N of Azores) bringing clear skies and hot, dry weather

Question 7

What are winter and summer temeratures like in Extremadura?

Answer 7

Cool winter (min 0ºC)
Hot summer (max 40ºC)

Question 8

Rainfall in Extremadura? When?

Answer 8

low to moderate (400-800mm)
mostly in spring
higher in mountainous NE 1,100mm

Question 9

Extremadura is mostly… mountainous or flat?

Answer 9

Flat

Question 10

Extremadura is framed by which two major mountain ranges? Which other mountains run through them middle? Where is the highest point?

Answer 10

N: Sistema Central
S: Sierra Morena

E/C: Sierra de Guadalupe (Sierra de Villuercas), W extension of Montes de Toledo

N border: Calvitero 2,404m

Question 11

Two main rivers in Extremadura? (Bonus: in which provinces? tributaries?)

Answer 11

Tajo (in Cáceres; Tiétar, Alagón)
Guadiana (in Badajoz)

Question 12

Soils in the main vineyards of Extremadura:
near Montes de Toledo?
near Sierra Morena?
near Guadiana River?

Answer 12

near Montes de Toledo: granite, slate, sand

near Sierra Morena: high limestone

near Guadiana River: sand, clay

Question 13

Is Extremadura mostly red or white wine country? Main grape?

Answer 13

Red
Tempranillo

Question 14

What is Extremadura’s main white grape? What is unusual about it?

Answer 14

Cayetana Blanca
Pardina

Genetically identical, but locally treated as separate varieties (grown and vinified separately)

Question 15

How many wineries in Extremadura are authorised to produce vinos espumosos? Under which DO?

Answer 15

4
DO Cava

Question 16

In the Extremadura vineyards, in which topographic areas are the elevations generally:
high
mid
lowest

Answer 16

high: near Montes de Toledo
mid: near Sierra Morena
lowest: Guadiana River basin

Question 17

Main vine training technique in Extremadura?

Answer 17

en vaso
(manual)

Question 18

When did Extremadura shift away from bulk wine into quality?

Answer 18

Still trying

Question 19

What is the name of Extremadura’s only DO? (bonus: when awarded?)

Answer 19

DO Ribera del Guadiana
1999

Question 20

How many subzones are in DO Ribera del Guadiana in Extremadura? (Bonus: name them - this is not ‘need to know’)

Answer 20

6

Montánchez
Cañamero
Ribera Baja
Ribera Alta
Tierra de Barros
Matanegra

Question 21

Which is mostly made in DO Ribera del Guadiana in Extremadura: tinto or blanco?

Answer 21

tinto (93%)

Question 22

In 1520, which prior of the Monastery of Guadalupe wrote the Book and Record of the Winery of the Monastery of Guadalupe?

Answer 22

Fray Juan Luis de Siruela

Question 23

Why did Extremadura miss out on the colonial prosperity of the 16-17C Spanish Golden Age?

Answer 23

Spain/Portugal conflict including Portugese Restoration War 1640-68. Emigration, farms abandoned.

Question 24

Which wars destroyed and killed so much in Extremadura in the 18-20C?

Answer 24

1701-14 War of Spanish Succession
1808-14 War of Spanish Independence
1936-39 Spanish Civil War

Question 25

What happened to Extremadura’s vineyards under Franco in the early-mid 20C?

Answer 25

Many grubbed up for other agriculture. 1960-70s planted to high yielding grapes for bulk wine.