Fundamentals: Glossary Flashcards
Spanish for ‘wall’
Abrigo
What is Albariza?
A kind of soil. 30-80% chalk with limestone, sand, clay. Water-retentive, found in sherry country and DO Montilla-Moriles
What is Albero?
Two meanings:
Absorbent sand flooring in sherry bodegas.
The name for albariza in DO Montilla-Moriles.
What is Aloque?
A semi-red wine unique to DO Valdepeñas. Also known as clarete.
Traditionally red and white wines were blended and aged/stored in tinajas: large earthernware jars. Today it’s a red and white field blend fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel. Usually Cencibel and Airén.
What is the Spanish for ‘vintage’, used on sherry labels?
Añada
What is Añejo? How is the term applied in Cariñena?
Spanish for ‘mature’ with 24 months ageing.
For example, añejo in DO Cariñena is for intensely oxidised wines of minimum 15% alcohol, with 24 months in barrel (no bottle ageing requirement). The DO also permits the usual ageing designations.
What is Arenas?
Sand. A soil in sherry country.
What is Arrope?
A dark syrup made by heating grape must over a low fire until it reduces to one-fifth volume. Used in making vinos de color.
What is Barros?
Clay. A soil in sherry country.
What are Botas?
Spanish for barrels
What are Bodegas?
Spanish for wineries
What are Brisats?
Orange wines made in Cataluña, for instance in DO Terra Alta
What is Cabeceo?
The process of blending dry and sweet sherries to produce cream sherry.
What is Calatayud Superior? (3)
A designation in DO Calatayud for wines made from:
low yielding vines (3,500kg/ha)
at least 50 years old
with minimum 85% Garnacha
What is Call Vermell?
A soil found on Mallorca. Reddish clay, often mixed with limestone gravels or stones.
What is Cava?
Spanish sparkling wine produced using método tradictional
What is Cava de Paraje Calificado?
Spanish for ‘Qualified Single Vineyard Cava’?, the highest quality designation in DO Cava. Requirements include:
hand harvested grapes
from a single vineyard
minimum 10 year old vines
aged on lees for minimum 36 months
vintage dated
Brut, Extra Brut, or Brut Nature
(as amended in SWS corrections)
What is the highest quality designation in DO Cava?
Cava de Paraje Calificado
What is Cierzo?
A wind. Strong, dry, cooling, north/northwest wind blowing through Rioja, Navarra, Aragón, Cataluña in winter
What is Clarete?
Wine made by crushing red and white grapes together, and vinifying like red, to make a pale red wine.
What is Clàssic Penedès?
A cava designation in DO Penedès. Regulations include:
100% organic
sourced within DO Penedès
método tradicional
minimum 15 months lees ageing
What espumoso quality designation is available in DO Penedès, other than cava?
Clàssic Penedès
What is a Colleiteiro?
A boutique winery in Ribeiro, Galicia. Annual production below 60,000L using estate-grown grapes.
What is a Consejo Regulador?
Spanish for the ‘regulating council’ of a DOP, which regulates viticulture and winemaking, sets quality standards, and provides proof of origin.