Fundamentals Flashcards
Who is Don Manuel Quintano?
A young priest in the late 18th century from a grape-growing family in Alava (Rioja Alavesa) who traveled to Bordeaux to study the entire winemaking process and compared French practices to those used in Spain.
Among the techniques he learned and adopted was the practice of racking for clarification. He also began aging the wines of Rioja in oak barrels.
His wines gained in popularity due to their ability to age, but was limited by local legislation. At the times wines designated for export must be uniform in price and his winemaking practices were cost-prohibitive. These techniques were abandoned for almost a century.
Who is Baldomero Espartero?
A Spanish general and bodega (winery owner) from mid-19th century who worked with Colonel Luciano Murrieta to contribute significant technological advancements to Spain’s wine industry to compete in the large British wine market.
Who is Colonel Luciano Murrieta?
He spent considerable time in Bordeaux, France, learning their winemaking techniques and adopted some of them. In Rioja, he introduced large vats for crushing & fermentaion in order to reduce heat & oxidation. He also re-introduced small oak barrels (decades after Quintano).
As a result of his efforts to advance the quality of wine in northern Spain, he was named “Marques de Murrieta.” His namesake winery is still in operation today and is one of the oldest in Rioja.
Who is Don Eloy Lecanda y Chaves?
In 1864, he purchased cuttings of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, & Merlot, and planted them at the Vega Sicilia estate in Ribera del Duero.
Revolutionary at the time, he excelled at marrying indigenous Spanish grapes with international varieties and, over time, went on to win numerous awards worldwide.
Today, Vega Sicilia is considered one of Spain’s most iconic wineries.
Who is Josep Raventos i Fatjo?
He created the first Spanish sparkling wine, cava, using the same methodology as Champagne.
True of False: Spain has maintained more land under vine than any other country.
True
And 85% of this is suitable for the production of PDO wines.
How many autonomous communities/regions are there in Spain?
17
Each with its own capital city & the right to self-government (within constitutional limits).
Name the official languages found throughout Spain.
- Castilian Spanish
- Catalan
- Basque
- Valencian
- Galician
How large is Spain?
It is the 3rd largest country in Europe and occupies 85% of the Iberian Peninsula.
Name the mountain ranges in Spain.
- Pirineos (Pyrenees): in the northeast running from the Bay of Biscay to the Mediterranean Sea
- Cordillera Cantabrica/Cantabrian Range: stretches east to west from the western end of the Pirineos along the Cantabrian coast to the Macizo Galaico/Galician Massif in Spain’s northwestern corner
- Sistema Iberico/Iberian System: running northwest to southwest, beginning close to the Cordillera Cantabric, separating the Meseta from El Valle del Ebro, and terminating near the Mediterranean coast; made up of 2 primary mountain ranges: Sierra de Guadarrama and Sierra de Gredos
- Cordilleras Costero-Catalanas/Catalan Mediterranean System: a dual system of mountain ranges rnning northeast to southwest parallel to the Mediterranean coast, stretching from the Pirineos to the southern border of Cataluna
- Montes de Toledo/Toledo Mountains: representing multiple mountain ranges situated on the Meseta, it extends east to west, separating the Tajo & Guadiana rivers, culminating in the Sierra de Guadalupe
- Sierra Morena: stretching east to west along the southern border of the Meseta, situated near northern Andalucia and separates it from the plains of Extremadura and the Meseta
- Sistema Betico/Baetic System: located in the southeastern part of Spain extending southwest to northeast from the Gulf of Cadiz through Murcia to the southern coast of Valencia where it dips below the sea and resurfaces as the Islas Baleares; it is subdivided into 3 primary mountain ranges: Prebetica, Subbetica, & Penibetica
- Pico del Teide/Mount Teide: an active volcano located on the island of Tenerife in the Islas Canarias
Which mountain in Spain boasts the highest peak?
Pico del Teide/Mount Teide at 12,198ft/3,718m
Which mountain in mainland Spain boasts the highest peak?
Sierra Nevada at 11,414ft/3,479m.
This mountain range is located within the Sistema Penibetico/Penibetic System.
Name the highest point in the Pirineos mountain range.
The peak of Aneto (located in Aragon) at 11,168ft/3,404m.
Name the 2 significant lowland areas in Spain.
- Ebro Basin: located in the northeastern part of the peninsula & covering one-fifth of Spain’s landmass. It is surrounded by Cordillera Cantabrica to the northwest; the Pirineos to the northeast; and the Sistema Iberico to the southwest.
- Andalusian Plain: lies in the southwestern portion of Spain and is bounded by the Sierra Morena range to the north & the Sistema Betico to the south/southeast.
Mainland Spain is bordered by which 3 primary bodies of water?
- Atlantic Ocean: to the west of Galicia (& Portugal); the Islas Canarias are situated here off the western coast of Africa.
- Mediterranean Sea: bordering almost the entire east & south of mainland Spain.
- Balearic Sea: a smaller sea completely encompassed within the Mediterranean Sea; the Islas Baleareas are located here.
Name the 5 primary rivers in Spain.
- Tajo/Tagus River: flows south & westward towards the Atlantic Ocean
- Ebro River: flows into the Mediterranean, exiting in Tarragona, in southern Cataluna
- Duero River: flows south & westward towards the Atlantic Ocean
- Guadiana River: flows south & westward towards the Atlantic Ocean
- Guadalquivir River: flows south & westward towards the Atlantic Ocean
What is the longest river in the Iberian Peninsula (not Spain)?
Tajo (626mi/1,007km)
It begins approx. 90mi/145km inland from eastern Spain and runs along the Spanish & Portuguese borders cutting through narrow valleys with deep canyons to eventually empty into the Atlantic Ocean near Lisbon.
What is the largest river within the borders of Spain?
Ebro
Beginning in the Cordillera Cantabric in northern Spain, it runs in a southeasterly direction for 565mi/910km to Tarragona where it drains into the Mediterranean.
More than 200 tributaries flow into the Ebro, many of which originate in the Pirineos.
Name the 3 primary categories of soil types found in Spain.
- Metamorphic:
- Sedimentary
- Volcanic
How is Metamorphic soil characterized?
Substances that have been modified by heat & pressure while buried below the surface of the earth.
Clay, mud or basalt when subjected to high pressure and high temperatures morph into shale, slate & schist.
These are predominantly found in areas where mountain ranges are prevalent.
Where in Spain can metamorphic soil be found?
Primarily in the northern part of the country near:
* Cordillera Cantabrica
* Sistema Iberico
* Cordilleras Costero-Catalanas
Including:
* Galicia
* Pais Vasco
* Castilla y Leon
* Rioja (some parts)
* Aragon
* Navarra
* Cataluna (parts)
What is llicorella?
A type of metamorphic soil unique to the area of Priorat (Cataluna).
It is a thin layer of decomposed Devonian & Carboniferous slate/shale with low organic content. The vines must dig deep to find moisture, water & nutrients.
How is sedimentary soil formed?
This soil type is formed by water or wind deposits. Mineral and organic particles settle into place as a result of weather and erosion or as a result of sedimentation in large bodies of water.
Name some sedimentary soils.
- Limestone: has high concentrations of the mineral calcite; most commonly formed in warm, shallow water as shells, coral, & other marine matter settle & compact.
- Chalk: a soft, white, porous form of limestone, formed by minute shells & micro-organisms which also compact over time.
- Sand
- Clay
- Alluvial deposits
Where in Spain will you find sedimentary soils?
The vast coastline of Spain and the Meseta are predominantly sedimentary. Including:
* Castilla-La Mancha
* Madrid
* Cataluna (the majority of it)
* Murcia
* Extremadura
* Andalucia: high concentrations of chalk
The Islas Baleares are primarily limestone & alluvial deposits.