Fundamentals Flashcards
When was the Spanish DO system established by the wine Statue?
1932
The current DO system was established when?
1970
Which org. does each Consejo Regulador report to?
Instituto Nacional de DO’s (National Institute)
To be considered a DOCa/DOQ, how many years as DO?
10
What are 4 quality standards set by the consejo regulador to become a DO?
Use of authorized varietals, production levels, winemaking methods and aging times
When can a VC apply for a promotion do DO?
After 5 years
Can a VP set its own production rules and standards?
YES
What extra info must be listed on a cava label?
Sugar content
What are the 2 significant lowlands in Spain?
Ebro Basin (covers 1/5 of Spain’s landmass) and Andalusian Plain (heart is the Guadalquivir, which runs across nearly the entirety of Andalusia)
Longest river on the Iberian penninsula?
Tajo
how many autonomous communities in Spain?
17
Which 3 autonomous regions produce approximately 60% of the wine?
Castilla La Mancha, La Rioja and Cataluña
3 most common vine training methods
Parral (pergola), vaso (gobelet) and espaldera (VSP)
Planting method with chessboard-like pattern?
Marco Real. Vines are trained en cabeza (where head of vine is trained down to protect from sunburn)
Top 5 most planted varietals
Airen, Tempranillo, Bobal, Garnacha, Macabeo/Viura
Mixture of year and sugar used to initiate second fermentation in sparkling wine
Licor de Tiraje
DO dedicated exclusively to vinos dulces
DO Malaga
Where is the largest expanse of Malvasia plantings in Europe?
DO Lanzarote
Who started Vega Sicilia (in 1864) with cuttings of Cab Sav, Malbec and Merlot?
Eloy Lecanda
Where was drip irrigation pioneered in the 70’s?
Estate of Marques de Griñon (VP Domino de Valdepusa)
Who is known for modernizing Rioja’s wine industry?
Baldomero Espartero and Colonel Luciano Murrieta
When was the first supervisory board of Rioja created?
1926
What percentage of Spain is covered by the Meseta Central?
45%
Montes de Toledo
separate the Guadiana and Tajo rivers
Highest peak in Sierra Nevada
Mulhacen (part of sistema penibetico) - highest peak in mainland Spain
Main rivers in Spain
Ebro, Tajo, Guadiana, Guadalquivir and Duero. Tajo is longest on the peninsula, Ebro longest in Spain
Ideal soil for high quality tempranillo
Limestone & chalk
Examples of metamorphic rock
shale, slate and schist. Usually found in mountainous areas
Examples of sedimentary rocks
sand, clay, alluvial deposits, limestone, chalk. Much of the coastline of Spain and Meseta Central are sedimentary
Leveche
hot, dry dust-laden wind from N. Africa. Felt strongly in Valencia and Alicante in the Srping
Levante
Aka Solano, strong, hot, easterly wind from N Africa. Brings dry and clear, hot weather to Andalusian plain (namely Costa del Sol and Cadiz)
Poniente
Blows from the West though S. Andalucia, bringing humidity to the Sherry Triangle
Tramontana
Strong wind that comes down from France to Emporda region and then down to Balearic islands.
What percentage of the worlds wine production does Spain account for?
14.7% (3rd in the world)
Predominant training system in continental Spain and the islands
En vaso
Mutage
The process of adding spirits to must to obtain a stable, sweet wine. The discovery of this in 1285 launched a massive trade in sweet wines, 400 years before port was invented.
Where did fermentation of grape must take place, historically?
In Tinajas
Traditional Aging Requirements
Crianza - RED: 6 months oak, 24 months pre-release. WHITE: 6 months, 12 months
Reserva - RED: 12 months oak, 36 pre-release.
Saignée
“bleeding” the tank. Red grapes are crushed and placed in stainless steel. The skins and juice macerate until desired color is achieved (usually 2 to 24 hours)
Girasol
Developed in the 1970’s in Spain. A palette holding 504 bottles within a hexagonal frame, riddles sparkling wine in an automated manner
Vino Generoso
fortified wine. Moors introduced distillation in the 8th century.
Fondillón
A sweet wine made from overripe, raisinated grapes. From Alicante.
First official DO’s of 1932
Rioja
Jerez-Sherry
Malaga
Tarragona
Priorat
Penedes
Alella
Alicante
Valencia
Utiel (Utiel-Requena)
Cheste (now part of DO Valencia)
Valedpeñas
Cariñena
Rueda
Ribeiro
Manzanilla-Sanlucar de Barrameda
Malvasia-Sitges (now part of DO Penedes)
Noblejas (now part of DO La Mancha)
Conca de Barbera
When was DOCa classification created?
1988
What requirements must be met for a wine to be considered for a DOCa certification?
At least 10 years as a DO, wine must be produced and bottled within the region and wine must cost at least double the national average for DO wines
VC (Vino de calidad con indicacion geografica)
The limbo between VT and DO. Wines produced within a certain region demonstrate qualities of the geographic environment.
Vino de Pago
Single estate vineyard with a unique soil or mesoclimate. Each pago has the ability to set its own rules.
Vino de la Tierra
Spains IGP/PGI. Must posess identifiablw local characteristics,
