Green Spain

Question 1

What are the 4 autonomous regions included in Green Spain

Answer 1

• Galicia
• Cantabria
• Asturias
• País Vasco

Question 2

What is a ‘cunca’?

Answer 2

A ceramic bowl that was a traditional way to serve wine in Galicia

Question 3

Who brought wine to Galicia?

Answer 3

The Romans in 137 BC

Question 4

What time frame did the Celts occupy Galicia?

Answer 4

The Celts first migrated to the area of Galicia in the 6th century BCE, and held the area until the Romans invaded in 137 BCE.

Question 5

What is the General Climate of Galicia?

Answer 5

• Temperate maritime
• Mild winters with heavy rainfall
• Summer is moderate varying slightly depending on closeness to Atlantic.

Question 6

What is a ‘Rias’?

Answer 6

A river valley formed by glaciers

Question 7

What area is known as “the country of the thousand rivers’?

Answer 7

Galicia

Question 8

What is are ‘Parrals’ and what are they used for?

Answer 8

It a horizontal trellis system that is 4-6 feet above th ground that allows for air flow below the vines as well as secondary crop.
- aka Pergolas

Question 9

Why is Granite ideally suited for the damp maritime climate?

Answer 9

It is porous and provides excellent drainage.

Question 10

What are the 3 major grape varieties of Galicia?

Answer 10

• Albariño
• Godello
• Mencía

Question 11

Most wines (red & white) in Galicia are youthful and fresh but some experiment with Oak is happening. what type of oak is being used.

Answer 11

• American, French and Galician oak
• All three are ‘Quercus’ genus.
• Galician Oak is ‘Quercus Pyrenaica’

Question 12

Where is DO Monterrei located

Answer 12

• in Galicia

- inland on the souther boarder to Portugal

Question 13

What year did DO Monterrei gain it’s DO Status?

Answer 13

1996

Question 14

What is the breakdown of wine styles in DO Monterrei?

Answer 14

Blanco: 63%
Tinto: 37%

Question 15

What are the preferred grapes types in DO Monterrei?

Answer 15

Blanco: Godello, Dona Branca, Treixadura

Tinto: Mencia, Merenzao

Question 16

What are the two sub regions of DO Monterrei?

Answer 16

• Val de Monterrei, valley floor

- Lodeira de Monterrei, the hillside

Question 17

What does the term ‘Monterrei Superior’ refer to?

Answer 17

• It is a labeling term that means 85% minimum of any native variety in DO Monterrei.
• An effort by the Consejo to help preserve indigenous varieties.

Question 18

What year did DO Rias Baixas gain it’s DO Status?

Answer 18

1988

Question 19

What is the breakdown of wine styles in DO Rias Baixas?

Answer 19

Blanco: 99%
Tinto: <1%
Espumoso: <1%

Question 20

What are the preferred grapes types in DO Rias Baixas?

Answer 20

Blanco: Albariño, Loureira/Loureiro Balnco/Marqués , Treixadura, Caiño Blanco

Tinto: Caiño Tinto, Espadeiro, Loureira Tinta, Sousón

Question 21

What are the original 3 sub-zones of DO Rias Baixas?

Answer 21

• Val do Salnés
• O Rosal
• Condado do Tea

Question 22

What are the 5 sub-zones of DO Rias Baixas?

Answer 22

• Val do Salnés. (1988)
• O Rosal. (1988)
• Condado do Tea. (1988)
• Soutomaior. (1996)
• Ribeira do Ulla (2000)

Question 23

Which is the smallest sub-zone of DO Rias Baixas?

Answer 23

• Soutomaior
• Inland and above Condado do Tea
• P\roduces 100% Albariño

Question 24

Which is the sub-zone of DO Rias Baixas that produces the best red wines?

Answer 24

• Rjust below ibeira do Ulla
• located inland and furthest north of the 5.
• Situated just below Santiago de Compostela
• Along the river Ulla

Question 25

Which 2 sub-zone of DO Rias Baixas are situated along the Miño river?

Answer 25

- O Rosal - to the east reaching the Atlantic. | - Condado do Tea - just inland from O Rosal

Question 26

Which is the warmest of the sub-zones of DO Rias Baixas?

Answer 26

- O Rosal - Located isn the most south easter corner of Galicia - Along the Miño River and reaching the Atlantic Ocean

Question 27

Which sub-zone of DO Rias Baixas is the oldest and know as 'the birthplace of Albariño'?

Answer 27

- Val do Salnés | - Located on the coast and around the Umia River

Question 28

Which is the easternmost and wettest DO of País Vasco?

Answer 28

DO Getariako Txakolina / Txakoli de Gentaria / Chacolí de Getaria

Question 29

The vineyards if DO Ribeiro border which three rivers?

Answer 29

Miño Avía Atonía

Question 30

What are the three primary mountain ranges of the Macizo Galaico / Galician Massif?

Answer 30

Serra do Eixe, Serra da Enciña da Lastra Serra do Courel

Question 31

The majority of grape varieties in Galicia are indigenous to the region True or False

Answer 31

True

Question 32

Which Rías Baixas sub-zone produces only varietal Albariño

Answer 32

Soutomaior

Question 33

What is the name of the DO Valdeorras designation for wines produced with a minimum of 85% preferred varietals?

Answer 33

Valdeorras Castas Nobles

Question 34

Which sub zone of Rías Baixas is oldest and known as the birth place of Albariño?

Answer 34

Val do Salnés

Question 35

What is the main white grape of the three Basque DOs?

Answer 35

Hondarribu Zuri

Question 36

What is the Spanish term for pergolas in Rias Baixas?

Answer 36

Parrals

Question 37

Wines produced in Asturias are primarily red. | True or False

Answer 37

True

Question 38

What is the term for warm and drying on the leeward side of a mountain?

Answer 38

Foehn effect or Foehn winds