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.
What is Albariza?
A unique type of chalky soil found in Jerez. It is an extremely light-coloured soil (“alba” means “white”) which contains 30 to 80 percent chalk mixed with limestone, sand & clay.
It has the ability to absorb & retain large amounts of water during the rainy season. It then forms a crust during the hot summer which reflects sunlight & helps retain much needed moisture.
What soil type is ideal for growing high-quality Tempranillo?
- Limestone
- Chalk
How are volcanic soils formed?
These soil types are the result of ages of volcanic eruption and subsequent weathering.
Igneous rocks, such as granite, are formed as magma cools slowly under the earth’s crust.
They are poor in organic matter with high concentrtaions of carbonates & sulfates. A sub-soil of porous volcanic rock holds both air & water, allowing the vines to stay hydrated & healthy in times of drought.
Wines produced in these types of soil tend to have more pronounced aromatics.
Where in Spain will you find volcanic soils?
- Islas Canarias: topsoils vary from volcanic sands to clay but are uniformly quite fertile
- Lanzarote (eastern-most island of Islas Canarias): boasts extremely fertile topsoil/volcanic subsoil combinations; its vines are planted in shallow holes with larger volcanic stones balanced around the rims to form windblocks
- Rias Baixas: granite
What are the 3 climatic zones found in Spain?
- maritime
- continental
- Mediterranean
What is the climate in Green Spain?
Maritime
* lowest variance of diurnal/seasonal temperatures
Name the autonomous regions of Green Spain
- Galicia
- Asturias
- Cantabria
- Pais Vasco
What area has the lowest average temperatures in all of Spain and experiences the most frequent/highest amount of rainfall?
Green Spain
What is the climate in the Meseta?
Continental
* widest diurnal/seasonal variations
* extremely hot summers
* freezing cold winters
* strong winds
* high humidity
* irregular rainfall
* rainy season in spring in the north
* rainy season in autumn in the south
* rain on the plains is irregular/unpredictable
Name the autonomous regions of the Meseta.
- Castilla-La Mancha
- Castilla y Leon
- Comunidad de Madrid
- Extremadura
- Aragon (parts)
- Navarra (parts
What areas in Spain are subject to a Mediterranean climate?
From the Andalusian Plain stretching along the southern & eastern coasts up to the Pirineos.
* Cataluna
* Comunidad Valenciana
* Region de Murcia
* Andalucia (southern half)
* Islas Baleares
What is the Leveche?
A hot, dry, dust-laden southwest wind originating over North Africa.
What cities are most affected by the Leveche?
- Valencia
- Alicante
Mostly in springtime.
What is the Levante?
- Also known as the Solano, this is a strong, hot, easterly wind which is funneled between the Cordillera Penibetica & the Atlas Mountains in North Africa.
It can blow for days at a time & heralds dry, clear weather.
It also brings unbearably hot & dry weather over the Andalusian Plain in the spring & summer.
What is the Poniente?
This wind blows from the west through southern Andalucia, bringing much-needed humid air to the sherry producing regions of Jerez de la Frontera and Manzanilla-Sanlucar de Barrameda.
What is the climate in the Islas Canarias?
Subtropical
* temperate winters
* moderate summer
* eastern islands are dry w/ low rainfall
* western islands are more rainy
What are the 3 primary vine training systems used in Spain?
- pergola
- gobelet
- vertical shoot positioning (VSP)
What is the preferred method of pruning?
Spur pruning (regardless of vine training method)
What is parral?
Also called pergola, this is an overhead, trellis, vine training system that allows for max. air circulation within & around the canopy.
The vines are trained on a wire trellis called a parra anchored by stone posts up to 7ft high. Grapes form a ceiling-like canopy and are picked by people standing underneath.
What are the benefits of parral vine training?
- higher yields
- mildew prevention
- even ripening
- cultivation of other seasonal agricultural products
What is en vaso?
Also known as Gobelet, this is a “bush vine” training system that involves no wires or other support systems; the trunk is head-pruned & kept short so that it resembles a small bush.
What are the benefits of planting vines en vaso?
To protect vines from sunburn
Where in Spain is the en vaso method commonly used?
- Continental climates
- the islands
What is the marco real?
This is a method of planting vines in a chessboard-like pattern spaced ~8ft/2.5m apart in all directions.
This wide spacing minimizes hydric stress.
This vines are typically trained en cabeza.
What is en cabeza?
This is a vine training method where the head of the vine is trained in a downward position allowing the leaves to protect the fruit growing below from sunburn.
This is commonly used in tandem with the marco real planting method.
What are the cons of pergola & gobelet vine training methods?
They are labor-intensive.
What is espaldera?
This is a modernized vine training method in which the vine trunk is typically established 3 feet off the ground with 1-2 permanent arms (cordons) resting on a support wire. These arms are spur-pruned.
Each spring, shoots grow from these spurs & are trained upward with catch wires to form a narrow, vertical curtain.
What are the benefits of the espaldera method?
- maintenance mechanization
- harvest mechanization
- installation of drip irrigation
- less expensive to manage & maintain in the longrun (although expensive in start-up costs)
Where in Spain is the espaldera method becoming popular?
In parts of northern & central Spain where en vaso-trained vines were traditionally grown.
How many different individual, indigenous grape varieties are present in Spain?
200
However, some argue as low as 85 and others claim closer to 600.
89% of all wines in Spain are produced from how many varieties?
20
This includes both indigenous & international varieties.
Cabernet Franc is the result of the crossing of which 2 very old cultivars from Spanish Basque Country?
- Morenoa
- Hondarribi Beltza
Cabernet Franc crossed with which grape variety to produce Carmenere?
Gros Cabernet
Which 2 Spanish Basque grapes were crosssed to create Gros Cabernet?
- Hondarribi Beltza
- Fer
Name the Spanish grape varieties that are dominant in the wines of France?
- Cabernet Franc (Bordeaux)
- Mazuelo/Carinena/Carignan (Languedoc)
- Garnacha/Garnatxa/Grenache (Rousillon/Languedoc/Rhone/Provence)
- Monastrell/Mourvedre (Rousillon/Languedoc/Rhone/Provence)
Name the international varieties that Spanish farmers have come to favor and have adapted well to local conditions.
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Merlot
- Syrah
- Chardonnay
- Sauvignon Blanc
What percentage of vineyard area is represented by Spains top 6 indigenous varieties?
65%
Rank the grapes planted in Spain from most to least.
- Airen (22.28%): most planted grape & white grape
- Tempranillo (20.84%): most planted red grape
- Bobal (6.37%)
- Garnacha Tinta (6.37%)
- Mababeo/Viura (4.72%)
- Monastrell (4.41%)
- Garnacha Tintorera (2.67%)
- Cayetana Blanca (2.57%)
- Cabernet Sauvignon (2.05%)
Others (25.67%)
