Green Spain Flashcards
What are the autonomous regions of Green Spain?
País Vasco, Cantabria, Asturias, Galicia
Primary topographical features in Galicia
Galician Massif, Miño River, Sil River
Ribeira Sacra Wine Styles
94% tinto - mostly Mencía
6% Blanco - mostly Godello
Galicia soils
Primarily granitic, some sand, clay, slate, shale inland
Subzones of Rías Baixas
Val do Salnés Condado de Tea O Rosal Soutomaior Ribeira do Ulla
Val do Salnés
63% of production Oldest, coldest, wettest
97% of all Rías Baixas wine is from what 3 subzones?
Val do Salnés 63% Condado de Tea O Rosal
Which Rías Baixas subzone authorizes only Albariño?
Soutomaior
Ribeira do Ulla
Predominately red
Rías Baixas minor white grapes
Loureira Treixadura Caiño Blanco
Rías Baixas minor red grapes
Caiño Tinto Espadeiro Sousón
Albariño
Med size Thick skinned Susceptible to powdery/downy mildew Bright acid, floral, peach, apricot, grapefruit
Who brought grapes to Ribeira Sacra?
Romans
Ribeira Sacra vineyards
Terraced along river 1,312-1,640 ft En vaso
Ribeira Sacra subzones
Chantada Ribeiras do Miño - both straddle Miño. More slate Ribeiras do Sil Amandi Quiroga-Bibei - all flank Sil, mostly S facing vineyards. More granite
Primary grape of Ribeira Sacra
Mencía 84% of production
Secondary grapes of Ribeira Sacra
Garnacha Tintorerra Godello 70% of white production (white production 5% of total
Ribeira Sacra Summum
85% of preferred varieties Min 60% Mencía
Mencía
Native to Bierzo
Prone to wind damage, rot, mildew, botrytis
Aromatic, high alcohol wines
Ribeiro Grapes
92% Blanco - Treixadura*, Albariño, Lado, Godello, Loureira, Torrontés, Caíño Blanco
8% Tinto - Caíno Longo, Caíno Tinto, Caíno Bravo, Sousón, Ferrón, Mencía, Brancellao
Which DO is the oldest in Galicia?
Ribeiro
Ribeiro Soils
Granite
Ribeiro Rivers
Miño, Avia, Arnoia
Treixadura
Signature grape of Ribeiro
Portuguese in origin
Thin skinned
Aromatic, herbal, citrus, floral
In blends, bring aromatics and tames acidity of other grapes
Tostado do Ribeira
Sweet fortified white wine
Hugely popular with tourists along Camiño de Santiago in 17th/18th c
Which 2 autonomous regions make up the Cantabrian Range?
Asturias, Cantabria
Which mountain range forms a natural border between Asturias/Cantabria & Castilla y León?
Cordillera Cantábrica
Foehn Effect
Warm, humid winds push up windward side of mtn, cooling and generating precipitation as they go up, heat combines with high pressure, creating hot dry winds on opposite side. This warming, drying effect extends the growing season (País Vasco).
Cantabrian Range Grapes
Albarín Blanco (A), Albariño (C), Godello (C), Treixadura (C), Hondarribi Zuri (C)
Mencía (A), Albarín Tinto (A), Carrasquín (A), Hondarribi Beltza (C)
What are the provinces of País Vasco?
Álava (Araba)
Vizcaya (Bizkaia)
Guipúzcoa (Gipuzkoa)
Which 2 autonomous regions border País Vasco?
La Rioja
Castilla y León
País Vasco Soils
Guizpúcoa - sand atop alluvium, clay
Vizcaya - clay loam atop limestone
Álava - limestone
Hondarribi Zuri
Small bunches, small berries
Prone to wind damage
Aromatic, crisp, high acid, citrus, white flowers
DNA shows could be Corbu Blanc or Crouchen Blanc
DO Arabako Txakolina
Smallest DO
Espaldera
328-656 ft
Primarily limestone
94% Blanco
DO Bizkaiko Txakolina
Coastal, western
164-656 ft
Espaldera, parral
99% blanco
DO Getariako Txakolina
1st DO
Coastal, east
Highest rainfall
Largest production of 3 areas
Up to 656 ft
Parral
Most vines within 1/2 mile from coast
93% Blanco, 6% rosado
How many subzones are in Valdeorras?
8
What is the smallest and driest subzone of País Vasco?
DO Arabako
