Glossary Flashcards
Abrigo
Spanish for “wall” in DO Lanzarote, walls surround vines planted in hoyos and serve as windbreaks
Albariza
A water-retentive soil containing 30% to 80% chalk mixed with limestone, sand and clay found in DOs Jere-Xérès-Sherry, Manzanilla-Sanlúcar de Barrameda, and Montilla-Moriles
Albero
Absorbent sand used as flooring in sherry bodegas, also, the local name used for Albariza soil in DO Montilla-Moriles
Aloque
A semi-red wine unique to DO Valdepeñas - Clarete style with red and white grapes fermented together (Cencibel and Airen)
Añada
“Vintage” used on Sherry labels
Añejo (matured)
In DO Carineña for intensely oxidized wines >15% ABV and 24m in barrel “Mature”
Arenas
Sand, a soil type in DO Jerez-Xérès-Sherry or DO Manzanilla-Sanlúcar de Barrameda
Arrope
A dark syrup obtained by heating grape must over a slow fire until 1/5 volume
Anticyclone
A weather system with high atmospheric pressure at its center and calm rotating winds
Azores High
“Azore Anticyclone” - Impacts Iberian Peninsula & points east in summer, typically bringing blue skies, dry air, and hot temps
Barros
Clay, a soil type in DO Jerez-Xérès-Sherry or DO Manzanilla-Sanlúcar de Barrameda
Bodega
Winery
Bota
Barrel
Used in DO Jerez-Xérès-Sherry or DO Manzanilla-Sanlúcar de Barrameda
Brisats
Orange wine made in Cataluña; white wines vinified with skin contact
Cabeceo
Process of blending dry and sweet sherries to produce cream sherry
Calatayud Superior
Designation within DO Calatayud for wines made from low-yielding vines at least 50 years+ with minimum 85% Garnacha
Call Vermell
Reddish clay mixed with limestone gravels or stones found on Mallorca
Carbonic Maceration
Enzymatic fermentation that takes place inside whole grape berries for light tannins and aromatics
Cava
Spanish sparkling wine produced método tradicional
Cava de Paraje Calificado
“Qualified Vineyard Estate Cava” highest quality designation DO Cava.
- Hand harvest
- Single vineyard
- Vines 10years +
- 36m ageing on lees
- Vintage dated
- Brut, Extra Brut, Brut Nature
Cierzo
Strong, dry, cooling north/NW wind blowing through Rioja, Navara, Aragón and Cataluña in autumn and winter. Originates when there is an anticyclone over the Bay of Biscay.
Chases away humidity and moderating temperatures, this allows the grapes to ripen more gradually and with less disease pressure.
Clarete
Winemaking process where red and white grapes are crushed together and vinified as red wine for light-red/semi-red wine
Clàssic Penedès
Cava designation within DO Penedès.
- Must be 100% organic
- Aged for minimum 15 months on lees
Colleiteiro
A boutique winery with annual production under 60,000 liters utilizing estate-grown grapes in Ribeiro, Galicia
Consejo Regulador
Spanish Regulating Council
Regulates viticulture and winemaking, QC including age requirements and proof of origin
Continental
Widest diurnal and seasonal variations Strong winds High humidity Irregular rainfall Early frost
Cordón Trenzado
Found in Canary Islands
Vines are braided as the grow to form long ropes; allowing them to be moved for other crops in growing season
Cosecha
Harvest or vintage and to wines with no aging requirements
Cosecheros
Grape growers in Rioja producing red wine via carbonic maceration and wild yeast fermentation
Costers
River Banks or Steep Slopes
Criaderas
“Nurseries” - a term referring to a tier of butts within a solera that contain sherry of the same age
Crianza
Aging category
- Tintos = >24m, >6m in barrels
- Blancos = >18m, >6m in barrels
- Rosados = >18m, >6m in barrels
Denominación de Origen
“DO” Legally defined areas of grape/wine production also DOP
Denominación de Origen Calificada / Qualificada
DOs that have attained highest quality level for at least 10 years
Destilado
“Distilled”
or term used for distilled wine used in sherry production typically made from Airén
Doble Pasta
“Double Pulp”
Unique and traditional method to vinify grapes in DO Utiel-Requena & Manchuela
Skins and pulp of Bobal vino rosado added to a fermenting Bobal must for a “double maceration” = higher extract and tanic vino tintos
Embat
Soft, humid breeze on Mallorca
Wind blows over land during daylight and fades after sunset
Imparts saline notes to many island wines
En Cabeza
Vine training where the head of the vine is trained downward in order to allow the leaf canopy to protect the fruit growing underneath
En Rama
“On the Branch”
Biologically-aged sherry that are very lightly filtered to remove suspended particles but do not undergo further clarification or stablization
En Vaso
Bush Vines
Vine training where the trunk is head-pruned and kept short resembling a bush or French “gobelet”
Espaldera
Vine training where the trunk is established 1 meter off the ground, 1 or 2 permanent arms (cordons) rest on support wire; VSP
Espumosos de Calidad de Rioja
“Quality Sparking Wines of Rioja”
Optional designation DO Cava zone
Only labeling option for sparkling producers outside Rioja’s DO Cava area
Flor / Velo de Flor
In Sherry production, term used for film on the surface yeast
Foehn Effect
Warm, dry winds on the leeward side of a mountain caused by condensation of water vapor (and the heat that is generated) on. the windward side
Fondilión
Famous sweet wine from DO Alicante crafted from overripe Monastrell with 10 year aging (solera optional)
Foudres
Large wooden casks that hold 300 liters or more of wine
Garnacha del Empordà
DO Empordà’s special category for vinos de licor. Wines carrying this label are made from overripe grapes, must be a minimum 90% Garnatxa (Tinta, Peluda, and/or Roja), and are generally aged for a minimum of 2 years.
Genérico
Generic
DOCa Rioja category for wines with no minimum aging requirements
Zonal classification which a wine does not conform with a single zone, muni or vineyard
Girasol
1970s prototype of mechanized riddling machine, precursor to gyropalette
Gran Añada
Designation for Espumosos de Calidad de Rioja for extended lees ageing >36m and vintage labeling
Gran Reserva
Tintos = >60m, 18m in barrel (>24m for Rioja)
Blanco/Rosado = >48m, >6m in barrel
Gran Reserva Cava
Minimum 30m on lees finished Brut, Extra Brut or Brut Nature
Gran Vinya Classificada
Single vineyard classification in DOQ Priorat
Similar to Grand Cru
Supersedes Vi de Finca
Hoyo
“Hole”
DO Lanzarote funnel shaped holes 3m diameter, 2.5m deep
Jerez Superior
Only vineyards on Albariza soil
Subdivision
Joven
Young