Galicia and Basque Flashcards
What Cistercian influence exists in Galicia?
The end of the Camino de Santiago is here, at the Cathedral de Santiago de Compostela. Saint James is buried there, and worshipers from all over Europe would make the pilgrimage.
From what region outside Galicia did the Cistercian monks bring viticultural influence?
Burgundy
A winery in Galicia is called what?
Pazos, it loosely means a country side house, kinda like a French chateau.
What was the first commercial winery in Rias Baixas and when?
Palacio de Fefinanes 1904
What does the name Rias Baixas mean?
What is the climate like here?
Low Estuaries, in reference to all the little rivers flowing through to the Atlantic.
Maritime, and humid
What is the dominant soil type in Rias Baixas?
Xabre, a type of decomposed granite
Out of necessity, what is the vine training technique used in Rias Baixas.
What are 2 reasons why?
Pergola (Parral)
It aids in ventilation, preventing mildew and rot, and it also increases leaf exposure to sunlight, aiding photosynthesis, and protecting against sunburn.
What are the 5 sub zones of Rias Baixas?
Val do Salnes
O Rosal
Condado do Tea
Soutomaior
Ribeira do Ulla
What river divides Rias Baixas from Portugal? What Portuguese wine region is on the other side?
Minho
Minho VR, Vinho Verde
From the Minho river, where are the 5 subzones of Rias Baixas located?
Along the river are O Rosal and Condado do Tea. Condado is further inland.
Val do Salnes is North of O Rosal, closer to the ocean than Ribeira do Ulla which is North of Condado do Tea.
Soutomaior is smack in between the 4.
What percent of acreage does the Val do Salnes account for?
What percent of plantings overall, does Albarino account for?
Over half the acreage of Rias Baixas is in Val do Salnes, the wettest and largest of the 5.
Rias Baixas is planted 96% to Albarino overall.
Are blends allowed in Rias Baixas? From what grapes?
Why don’t we see them more often?
Yes, Loureira, Treixadura, Caino Blanco, Godello, and Torrontes are grown
100% varietal is required when listing Albarino in Rias Baixas. The marketability of the grape inhibits the others.
Describe the range of styles an Albarino might be produced in.
Lightest, fresh and fruity, steel ferment, released in the Spring after harvest.
Mid-weight, lees and battonage
Fuller style, barrel ferments and full malolactic
Can you label Rias Baixas by sub zone?
If yes, what are the grapes required?
Soutomaior No
The other 4 Yes
Min 70% Alb+Loureira+Treixa+Caino Bl in Val do Salnes and Ribeira do Ulla
Min 70% Albarino+Loureira in O Rosal
Min 70% Albarino+Treixa in Condado
What other styles of wine are made in Rias Baixas?
A little red made from Caino Tinto, Espadeiro, Loureira Tinta, Souson, Mencia, Brancellao, any combo
Tiny amounts of sparkling from the authorized grapes.
Vino Tostado
How is Vino Tostado made in Rias Baixas?
Dried red or white grapes, min 3 months
min must weight 350g/L
aged 6 months in barrel, 3 in bottle
In what year did Rias Baixas become a DO?
1980
What DO is East of Condado do Tea along the Minho river?
Ribeiro DO
How are the vineyards of Galicia laid out across the landscape? Whats the name for this?
There are lots of tiny fragmented parcels with individual ownership.
Minifundias
What 3 river valleys characterize the Ribeiro DO?
Whats the climate and terroir like?
Minho, Avia, and Arnoia rivers
Humid and rainy, spring frost a concern.
Decomposed granite