Galicia Flashcards
Autonomias of Green Spain
Asturias
Cantabria
Pais Vasco
Mountain range beginning in Galicia parallel to Northern Coast
Cantabrian Mountains
Soils Rias Baixas
Coast: sand
Inland: slate
Principal red grapes for Ribera Sacra Tinto
Mencía, Merenzao, Brancellao, Sousón, Caiño Tinto
Recommended red grapes of Rias Baixas
Caino Tinto
Espadeiro
Loueira Tinta
Souson
aging and alcohol requirements for Blanco Barrica (ribeira sacra DO)
Min 3 mos wood
max 600L capacity
11.5% vs 11.3%
Five Subzones of Rias Baixas DO
(Established 1998)
Val do Salnes
Ribera do Ulla
Soutomaior
O Rosal
Condado do Tea
This sub zone of Rias Baixas must contain 70% Albarino and Treixadura
Condado do Tea
Main Grapes of Ribeiro DO
White: Triexadura
Red: Caino (borracal in vinho verde)
warmest and driest subzone of Rias Baixas
Condado do Tea 59F
Wettest and coolest subzone of Rias Baixas
Val do Salnes 55F
Rivers (Rias) of Rias Baixas)
Ría de Muros e Noia
Ría de Arousa
Ría de Pontevedra
Ría de Vigo
Minho (longest of Galicia, flowing from Galicia to Portugal)
Soils of Ribeira do Ulla (rias baixas subzone)
Alluvial
Soils of Val do Salnes, O Rosal and Soutomaior
Alluvial over Granite
Soils of Condado do Tea
Granite, slate topsoil
Light granite subsoil
Synonym for Bastardo (trousseau) in Monterrei DO
Merenzao
Recommended red grapes for Monterrei DO
Recommended White grapes for Monterrei DO
Synonym for Tempranillo in Monterrei DO
Red: Mencia, Merenzao
White: Dona Branca, Godello, Treixadura
Tempranillo Synonym: Araúxa
Subzones of Monterrei DO
Valle de Monterrei
Ladera de Monterrei
Recommended grapes of Monterrei (white)
Dona Branca
Godello
Treixadura (60% recommended)
Red Ribeira Sacra must have this % Mencia
75%
Red wines with “Barrica” in Ribeira Sacra must have this much time in oak
Six months max 600L
Synonym for Garnacha Tintoera in Ribeiro
Alicante Bouschet
What is Vino Tostado
Dried grape wine from Ribeiro DO (Galicia)
Min Must weight: 350g/l
Blanco: Treixadura, Loureiro, torrontes
Tinto: Caino, Ferron, Brancellao
6 mos oak, 3 mos bottle
Main grapes of Ribeiro DO
Tinto: Caino Tinto
blanco: treixadura
Subzones of Ribeira Sacra (5)
ACQRR
Amandi
Chantada
Quiroga-Bibei
Ribeiras do Sil
Ribeiras do Mino
DOs of Galicia (5)
Rias Baixas
Ribeiro
Valdeorras
Ribeira Sacra
Monterrei
Southernmost DO in Galicia on transmontano border
Monterrei
This river separates Valdeorras from Ribeira Sacra
Sil
Map of Rias Baixas
This subzone of Rias Baixas must contain 70% combined Albarino and Loueira
O Rosal
Estates in Rias Baixas are called what
Pazos
What is Xabre?
Decomposed granite found in Rias Baixas
What was the first commercial estate in Rias Baixas
Palacios de Fefinanes
Communes of production for Valdeorras DO (Galicia)
A Rúa, Carballeda, Larouco, O Barco, O Bolo, Petín, Rubiá, Vilamartín
What is Ribeira sacra DO named for?
“sacred bank” of Ribeira Sacra DO, named for its large concentration of churches
Ribeira Sacra DO has these, similar to the ones found in Northern Rhone
Steeply terraced slopes recall the better-known regions of the northern Rhône—the Romans also built these terraces, some 2000 years ago.
Galicia’s easternmost zone
Valdeorras DO
the region’s best wines are clean, fruit-driven, high-acid Godello whites
southernmost DO in Galicia
Monterrei
Some of the earliest monasteries were here in Spain
Galicia’s Ribeiro area, led English to bring wines across Bay of Biscay
Albarino was once misidentified as this
Savagnin
Caino Blanco is a crossing of Albarino and this grape
Amaral
Albarino is best suited to these soils
Granite, some vines are 300 years old
This is Galicia’s other exemplary white variety after Albarino
Godello
This single vineyard in Ribeira Sacra DO is famous for Mencía (terraced, steep slopes)
Pombeiras
The end of the Camino de Santiago (pilgrimage route) is here
Galicia
Ends at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela (Where Saint James is buried)
Who introduced quality winemaking to the Galicians?
Cistertian monks, arriving from Burgundy during their pilgrimage to Santiago or for the wedding of Queen Urraca of Léon to Raymond of Burgundy
When were pazos (local estates) created in Rias Biaxas?
early 1800s, when monasteries were dissolved
What is a Hórreo?
A granary hoisted above ground by stone pillars
Each Pazo had one (for grain)
Largest, wettest area of Rias Biaxas
Val do Salnes, marked by salinity
Val do Salnes is just North of this city
Pontevedra
Ribeira do Ulla is Northeast of Val do Salnes and is bordered to the East by this city
Santiago de Compostela
Youngest subzone of Rias Baixas
Ribeira do Ulla
Soutomaior, the smallest subzone of Rias Baixas, lies just South of this river
Verdugo River, near the beginning of the wide ría de Vigo
These subregions of Rias Baixas border Portugal
O Rosal and Condado do Tea, separated by the Mino river
These subzones of Rias Baixas touch the Atlantic
Val do Salnes
O Rosal
This subzone of Rias Baixas is known for a broader, richer style of Albarino
O Rosal
What is a minifundia? (Galicia)
A small plot of vineyard, on average 0.6 ha split into approximately 4 parcels, owned by independent growers
What is the name for pergola training in Rias Baixas
a parral.
Held up by granite posts.
The oldest old vine Albarino parcels go back this far
300 years
Albarino counts for this % of plantings in Rias Baixas
96%
To be labeled “Albarino” what % is necessary?
100%
Top Albarinos are vinified in this way
older vines, may be barrel fermented or aged, lees aging. Some may even let full malo happen
The only subzone of Rias Baixas that cant be labeled by subzone
Soutomaior
Val do Salnes and Ribeira do Ulla wines must be composed of this minimum
70% Albarino, Loureira, Treixadura and Caino Blanco
Red and sparkling wines from Rias Baixas are made from these grapes
Caino Tinto
Espadeiro
Loureira Tinta
Sousón (vinhao)
Mencia
Brancellao
Main town of Ribeiro DO
Ribadavia
These rivers converge in Ribadavia (Ribeiro DO)
Mino and Avia, with Arnoia river just south
Form river valleys at varying elevations
Soil type of Ribeiro DO
decomposed granite
In Ribeiro DO, spring frosts wiped out nearly a third of the crop in this year
2017
Ribeiro’s Southwest border connects to this Subzone of Rias Biaxas
Condado do Tea
Caino Tinto is also known as this:
also known as Caiño Bravo or Caiño Longo
What is Bianco and Tinto “Castes” in Ribeiro DO? (Galicia)
wines made with preferential varieties, 100%
Authorized grapes for Ribeiro DO (Galicia)
Blanco:
Recommended: Treixadura, Torrontés, Godello, Lado, Loureira, Albariño, Caiño Blanco
Authorized: Palomino, Albillo,
Tinto:
Recommended: Caiño Tinto (also known as Caiño Bravo or Caiño Longo), Ferrón, Sousón, Brancellao, Mencía
Authorized: Garnacha Tintorera (Alicante Bouschet), Tempranillo,
When did Ribeira Sacra become a DO?
1996
Producers of Ribera Sacra
Guímaro, Algueira, Domnio do Bibei
This subzone of Ribeira Sacra DO is at the center of the appellation on the steep northern slopes of the Sil and is often viewed as highest in quality: most historic
Amandi
This subzone of Ribeira Sacra is on the right bank of the Mino, opposite Ribeiras do Mino
Chantada
This subzone of Ribeira Sacra is on the left bank of the Sil until just after its confluence with the Mino around the town of Los Peares.
Ribeiras do Sil
This subzone of Ribeira Sacra occupies the region’s Eastern sector and carved in half by the Sil.
Quiroga-Bibei
What is drier and cooler: the Sil River Valley or the Mino River valley? (Ribeira Sacra DO)
The Sil River Valley
Difference in soil between the lower section of the Sil river valley and the Upper Sil river valley
Lower: Granitic
Upper: More slate
Ribeira Sacra Summum means this
85% of principal varietal for both red and white
What is Branco and Tinto “Garda” in Ribeira Sacra?
Branco Garda: min. 4 months in wooden tanks of no more than 8,000L, or concrete tanks of no more than 5,000L. **The use of Stainless Steel tanks is prohibited. **
Tinto Garda: min. 7 months in wooden tanks of no more than 10,000L, or concrete tanks of no more than 5,000L. **The use of Stainless Steel tanks is prohibited. **
What does Valdeorras mean?
Valley of Gold
This DO in Galicia has a more continental climate than anywhere in Galicia
Valdeorras
Main soiltype of Valdeorras
Slate (roof tiles are an important export)
Only these two varieties can be varietally labeled in Valdorreas
Mencia 85% and Godello 100% labelled
Styles of Valdeorras DO
Blanco
Tinto
Espumoso: Min. 85% Godello (think “goldello”)
Tostado: Godello and authorized red grapes
Varietal Godello (100% variety) and Mencía (min. 85% variety)
Valdeorras “Castes Nobles” (Blanco and Tinto): Min. 85% preferred varieties
Barrica, Crianza, Reserva, Gran Reserva: white or red wines
The river of Monterrei
Támega, runs south to the Douro
Best soil for white wines in Monterrei DO
granitic sand
Best soil for red wines in Monterrei DO
clay and slate
Monterrei DO
Blanco: Dona Branca, Godello, Treixadura
Tinto:
Recommended: Mencía, Merenzao (Bastardo)
Subzones of Monterrei DO
Valle de Monterrei, Ladera de Monterrei
These Galician grapes have synonyms across the border in Portugal
Merenzao=Bastardo
Carabuniera=Touriga Nacional
Sousón and Caino Tinto=Vinhao and Borracal
Ribeira Sacra DO
Blanco: Albariño, Godello, Treixadura, Loureira, Torrontés, Dona Branca
Tinto: Mencía, Merenzao, Brancellao, Sousón, Caiño Tinto
Tinto: min. 70% Mencia
Rosado: Min 85% Principal red Grapes
Súmmum: 85% principal grapes
Blanco Barrica & Garda
Tinto Barrica & Garda
What is “Castes” in Ribeiro DO?
What is Vino Tostado?
Castes: 100% Varietal
Vino Tostado (Dried Grape wine) min. 6 months in oak or cherry cask and at least 3 months in bottle
