Galicia & País Vasco Flashcards
Where is Galicia located?
Northwestern Spain
What is Galicia’s climate?
Maritime, cooler & wetter than rest of spain.
Increasing continental influence as you move inland
What 3 DOs of Galicia must you know for certified?
Rias Baixes, Valdeorras, Ribeira Sacra
What does Rias Baixes mean?
low estuaries, a reference to the region’s coastal, estuary ridden terroir.
What are the important geographical features in Galicia?
The atlantic ocean and low estuaries, the Miño river, and the steep slopes of Ribeira Sacra
What is the important soil type to know of Galicia?
Granite!
What viticultural tools are utilized in Galicia? Why?
High canopy trellising throughout due to humidity
Terraced vineyards on steep slopes of Ribeira Sacra
What are the dominant grape varieties of Galicia?
Red: Mencia
White: Albariño, Godello
What rules govern the Rias Baixes DO?
wines labeled Albariño must be 100%
What rules govern Valdeorras DO?
White wines from Godello
Reds from Mencia
What rules govern Ribeira Sacra DO?
White wines from Albariño & Godello
Reds from Mencia
What styles of wine are made with Galicia’s 3 key grapes?
dry, crisp, aromatic whites from Albariño
fresh, neutral whites from Godello
light reds from Mencîa
Name 3 albariño producers. Can you tell me anything about them?
Pazo Señorans: estate is a 16th century castle: making gorgeous albariño since 1989
Granbazán: beautiful blue neoclassical chateau, making wine since 1981 showcasing the priveleged Sálen valley terroir
Lagar de Cervera is an iconic wine from La Rioja Alta.
They source their grapes from O Rosal to the south, where the sunshine & miño river moderate, wines explode with tropical & floral fruit flavor, and Salnés, where the cool wet influence of the atlantic helps wines take on searing acid & icy minerality
What would you pair with Rias Baixes albariño?
because of it’s a fresh, light, delicate wine, it makes a perfect foil to simply prepared shellfish & bivalves
What does Ribeira Sacra mean? What is it in reference to? To what can you compare it’s vineyards?
Sacred bank, for all the area’s churches. It’s steep slope vineyards were terraced by the romans, so it quite resembles the northern rhone.
Where is País Vasco?
On the atlantic coast of spain, directly above rioja
What is the climate of País Vasco? What geographical feature most influences its climate?
Moderate Maritime; atlantic ocean
What are País Vasco’s signature grapes?
White: Hondarrabi Zuri
Red: Hondarrabi Beltsa
What are País Vasco’s three key DOs?
Bizkaiko Txakolina DO
ArabakoTxakolina DO
Getariako Txakolina DO
What are the rules of País Vasco’s three key DOs?
they make mostly dry whites, but rosados & reds are allowed.
Wines are young, high acid, often with slight effervescence.
What production style can you link with the flavor profile of País Vasco’s wines?
The high acid, light, dry whites with slight effervescence are likely to see a modern, temperature controlled fermentation in neutral stainless steel vessels.
What would you traditionally serve a Txakolina white with?
Oily seafood.
