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
coasts - with cliffs & Rias
Ribeira Sacra Wine Styles
94% tinto - mostly Mencía
6% Blanco - mostly Godello
Galicia soils
Along the coast:
granite-based, sandy, shallow & slightly acidic
more inland:
granitic with clay
even more inland - along the river valleys:
shallow slate, shale and granitic sand
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
Where does the majority of all Rías Baixas wine come from - subzones?
97% from:
Val do Salnés 63%
Condado de Tea
O Rosal
Which subzone authorizes only Albariño?
Soutomaior in Rías Baixas
Ribeira do Ulla
northernmost subzone of Rias Baixas
Predominately red
??? Rías Baixas minor white grapes ???
Loureira Treixadura Caiño Blanco
??? Rías Baixas minor red grapes ???
Caiño Tinto Espadeiro Sousón
What is the dominant grape variety in Rias Baixas - explain general facts?
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 - general facts
Terraced along river
100-350m
En vaso
Ribeira Sacra subzones
Chantada & Ribeiras do Miño
along the Miño River
wet climate.
Ribeiras do Sil, Amandi More slate Quiroga-Bibei
all flank Sil river, mostly S facing vineyards
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
grape focused designation within DO Ribeira Sacra
85% of preferred varieties
Min 60% Mencía
vinos blancos - 100% of preferred varieties
Mencía
grape variety native to Bierzo
Prone to wind damage, rot, mildew, botrytis
Aromatic, high alcohol wines
DO Ribeiro varieties
90% Blanco - Treixadura dominating
9% Tinto
Which DO is the oldest in Galicia?
DO Ribeiro
Ribeiro Soils
Granite dominating (70%)
Ribeiro Rivers
Miño
Avia
Arnoia
What is the signature grape of DO Ribeiro?
Treixadura
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 the windward side of mtn
thus, cooling and generating precipitation as they go up
heat combined with high pressure, creating hot dry winds on downwind side.
This warming, drying effect extends the growing season (eg País Vasco).
Cantabrian Range Grapes
Asturia:
Albarín Blanco
Mencía, Albarín Tinto, Carrasquín
Cantabria:
in N - whites
Albariño, Godello, Treixadura, Hondarribi Zuri
Hondarribi Beltza
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
white variety
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 in País Vasco
Espaldera training
100-200m
Primarily limestone
94% Blanco
DO Bizkaiko Txakolina
Coastal, western
50-200m
Espaldera, parral
99% blanco
DO Getariako Txakolina
1st DO in País Vasco
Coastal, east
Highest rainfall
Largest production of 3 areas
up to 200m
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
