Green Spain Flashcards
Which autonomous regions make up Green Spain?
4: Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and País Vasco**
Where was Franco born?
Ferrol, Galicia, home of the 20th century Spanish Navy [Although Galicia fell under Franco’s control early in the Civil War, he was fiercely resisted in nearby Pais Vasco, e.g. Guernica]
What is the etymology of Galicia?
The native name for the land is “Galiza,” a word believed to reference the ancient Celtic mother goddess, Cailleach. (The Latin name was “Calaicia.”)
When did Celts arrive in Galicia?
in the 6th century BCE
What is the capital of Galicia?
Santiago de Compostela** [not Vigo which is 3 times larger]
When did the Romans conquer Galicia?
In 137 BCE, the Romans invaded northwestern Spain and defeated the local Gallaeci tribe (an ancient Celtic tribe)
When was Galicia incorporated into the Roman Empire?
In the late first century BCE, during the time of Augustus, ‘Gallaecia’ was incorporated into the Roman Empire.
Throughout the Middle Ages and into the 18th century, what was Galicia’s historic center of wine production?
Ribeiro** [not Rias Baixas, the modern wine hub]
During the 1980’s Galicia underwent an important shift in the focus of its wine production towards indigenous grapes. Which varieties were these?
Albariño, Godello, and Mencía** [does not include Treixadura which is probably Portugese in origin]
What are the borders of Galicia?
bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, Portugal to the south, and the regions of Castilla y León and Asturias to the east**
What is the largest city in Galacia?
Vigo [not the capital]
What was the effect of the Spanish Civil War in Galacia?
SWS: “minimal” as the area quickly became under Nationalist control [Some academics argue that the effect of the war in this region was far greater than often acknowledged as evidenced by unmarked mass graves.]
At the beginning of the 20th century, new plantings of which non-traditional grapes dominated in Galacia?
Palomino and Garnacha Tintorera were used for replanting after phylloxera [contrast to Andalucia where native local grapes were planted after phylloxera]
What is vino tostado de Ribeiro?
sweet fortified white wine from Ribeiro produced in the Middle Ages from sun dried grapes and consumed mostly by pilgrims; during the 17th and 18th centuries it was exported to England and other parts of Europe**
What are Rías?
submerged river valleys** [the preferred usage of ria by geologists is to refer solely to drowned unglaciated river valleys as ria is sometimes loosely translated to fjord which is actually glaciated]
What is the climate in Galacia?
maritime, temperate**
What is the annual rainfall in Galicia?
39 (to 55) inches, high** (especially in winter)
What are Galicia’s two most important rivers?
the Miño River and the Sil River**
What are Galicia’s most important topographic features?
3, Macizo Galaico (aka Galician Massif,) Miño River, Sil River**
What is the height of pergolas in Galicia?
5-7 feet**
What is main component of Galician soil?
granite [Galicia loves Granite]**
What are primary grape varieties in Galicia?
Albariño, Mencia, Treixadura, Godello**
What are the sub-zones of Rías Baixas?
5, non-contiguous; Val do Salnés, Condado do Tea, O Rosal, Soutomaior, and Ribeira do Ulla** [from N to S: RVSCO, but Soutomaior and Ribeira do Ulla are very, very small and were added to DO later]
What sub-zone of Rías Baixas is the most inland?
Condado do Tea**
What sub-zone of Rías Baixas is the most mountainous?
Condado do Tea**
What sub-zone of Rías Baixas is the smallest?
Soutomaior** [s>smallest]
What is the only sub-zone of Rías Baixas whose sole production is varietal Albariño?
Soutomaior** [s>single variety]
What sub-zone of Rías Baixas is the warmest?
Condado do Tea** [correction from first edition]
What sub-zone of Rías Baixas is considered the birthplace of Albariño?
Val do Salnés**
What river is associated with Val do Salnés?
Umia River**
What sub-zone of Rías Baixas is the flattest?
Val do Salnés**
What sub-zone of Rías Baixas is closest to the Atlantic Coast
2 sub-zones border ocean, Val do Salnés and O Rosal**
What is the oldest sub-zone of Rías Baixas?
Val do Salnés**
What is the northernmost sub-zone of Rías Baixas?
Ribeira do Ulla**
What sub-zone of Rías Baixas is known for red wines?
Ribeira do Ulla [R>red]**
What river is associated with Ribeira do Ulla?
Ulla [!]
What subzone of Rías Baixas is associated with Ria de Vigo?
Soutomaior [closest subzone to the city of Vigo]
What sub-zone of Rías Baixas is associated with the Miño River?
2, Condado do Tea, O Rosal**
What are the need to know (NTK) appellations in Galicia?
3, DO Rías Baixas, DO Ribeira Sacra, DO Ribeiro** (DO Valdeorras and DO Monterrei are the others, not testable, but significant)
What is etymology of Valdeorras?
The name of the region dates back to the Romans who arrived in search of mineral and metal ores. Valdeorras means “Valley of Gold.” The Romans planted grapes while searching for precious metals to mine.
What is breakdown of red/white wine in Valdeorras?
Majority blanco, 55%; the rest Tinto, 45% [all Rias Baixas DO’s are majority blanco except Ribeira Sacra]
What is the dominant red grape in Valdeorras?
Mencia **
What is the dominant white grape in Valdeorras?
Godello **
[This is where the grape was rescued.]
What is etymology of Ribeira Sacra?
In 1124, the term Rovoyra Sacrata (“sacred oak grove”) appeared in a constitutional document which was later transcribed in 1608 by a Benedictine monk who translated this term as “ribeira sacra” (sacred riverbank) which is descriptive of the numerous chapels and monasteries lining the Miño and Sil rivers.
When did the Moors gain control of Galicia?
Never. Ironically, Galicia has one of the highest admixtures of north African DNA (11%) in all of Iberia, perhaps driven by later migratory flows from Portugal.
What was the relationship between the Romans and the Basques?
Basques were strong allies with the Romans, with Basques allowed to maintain their language and customs; in the same fashion there was very little admixture of Roman and Basque DNA suggesting a separation of cultures.
Which areas of Ribeira Sacra are characterized by an extremely wet climate?
those along the Miño River, the Chantada and Ribeiras do Miño sub-zones
What is the soil type of Ribeira Sacra?
slate along Miño River, granite along Sil and Bibei rivers
What is the climate in Ribeira Sacra?
predominantly maritime; maritime along Miño River, continental in Sil Valley**
What is Ribeira Sacra Summum?
special designation created by DO for wines produced from a minimum of 85% preferred varietals (and red wines with a minimum of 60% Mencía)**
What is breakdown of red/white wine in Ribeira Sacra?
95% red, 5% white
What is the major grape in Ribeira Sacra? significant minor grapes?
Mencía; Godello and Garnacha Tintorera (aka Alicante Bouschet)
What is the oldest DO in Galicia?
Ribeiro**
How does the productivity of the Mencía grape compare between Spain and Portugal?
more productive in Portugal [but 3 times more vineyard area in Spain is growing Mencía]
What is the challenge of making wine from Mencía?
timing picking of fruit to achieve balance between maturation and acidity
What are the rivers in Ribeiro?
The vineyards of Ribeiro border the Miño**, Avia, and Arnoia rivers. [Do not confuse Arnoia river and the Catalonian city San Sadurní de Anoia at the center of Cava area.]
What is a colleiteiro?
a boutique winery in Ribeiro DO in which no more than 60,000 liters of wine are produced annually. The winery owners must manage the entire production cycle, using only grapes grown on their estates.
