Las Islas Baleares Flashcards
Which is the smallest autonomous community in Spain?
Las Islas Baleares
How many provinces are in the autonomous community of Las Islas Baleares? What are they called?
One
Same: Las Islas Baleares
Capital, largest city of Las Islas Baleares?
Palma de Mallorca (400k 37%)
Climate of Las Islas Baleares? What is it like?
Mediterranean
Moderate, warm summers, mild winters
Which group of islands in Las Islas Baleares is warmer?
Mallorca and Menorca 4-37ºC
(Ibiza and Formentera 12-26ºC)
Rainfall in Las Islas Baleares? When?
Low (300-650mm)
autumn, winter
(among the lowest rainfall in Spain)
Weather hazards in Las Islas Baleares?
Violent autumn downpours
Occasional hailstorms
What is the mountain range called in Las Islas Baleares? Where is it?
Serra de Tramuntana Mountains
NW Mallorca
Where is the coolest and wettest place in Las Islas Baleares?
Serra de Tramuntana Mountains
(1,500mm) can snow on peaks
Which wind affects Las Islas Baleares? Where does it come from? What is it like?
Tramontana
Western France
Strong, cold, dry
Which islands are most hit by the Tramontana wind? Which is more affected and why?
Mallorca and Menorca
Menorca, because Mallorca is partly shielded by the Serra de Tramuntana Mountains
Other than the Tramontana, what other named wind affects which island? What is it like? When does it blow? What effect does it have?
Embat
Mallorca
Localised thermal wind, soft humid sea breeze
Sunniest part of the day, starting from 12 nooon, tapering off at sunset
Carries actual sea salt onto grape skins
Las Islas Baleares are an extension of which mainland Spanish mountain range?
Sistema Bético
Are most islands in Las Islas Baleares flat or mountainous?
Mostly fairly flat
The Serra de Tramuntana Mountains, on the island of Mallorca run:
in what direction?
for how far?
where?
SW-NE
90 km
NW coast of Mallorca
Las Islas Baleares: lots of rivers or hardly any?
Almost none
Name a significant river in Las Islas Baleares, and its host island? What is it like?
Santa Eulalia River
Ibiza
A stream usually, bigger after a storm (17km long)
Where do people on Las Islas Baleares source their fresh water?
Freshwater lakes
Desalination plants
Is irrigation permitted on Las Islas Baleares?
Yes, as necessary, to avoid hydric stress
What is the general soil typs in Las Islas Baleares? What are they poor in? High in? What one feature is most important to viticulture?
Generally calcareous
Poor in nutrients
Rich in calcium, magnesium carbonate
Water retention (low rainfall)
In Mallorca, what often has to be done to work the soil for vine roots?
The limestone-rich soils form hardpans which must be broken
DO Pla i Llevant in central and eastern Mallorca has which unusual topsoil? What is it like? What is its water retention like?
call vermell
Reddish clay, often with limestone gravels and stones
Free draining
What are the soils generally like on Menorca?
Marl over limestone and sandstone
What are the soils generally like on Ibiza and Formentera?
Ibiza: clay-loam over limestone
Formentera: limestone, sand
What effect did phylloxera have on Las Islas Baleares?
Decimated the vineyards, replanted with indigenous and international varieties
Name four indigenous and three international grapes grown on Las Islas Baleares, and their colours
Indigenous:
W: Prensal Blanc / Moll
R: Manto Negro
R: Callet
R: Fogoneu
International:
W: Chardonnay
R: Cabernet Sauvignon
R: Merlot
Which grapes are most popular in the Serra de Tramuntana production zone on Mallorca?
Malvasía
Chardonnay
On islands other than Mallorca, are the grape varieties mostly red or white?
Red
What are the main grapes grown on:
Menorca
Ibiza
Formentera
Menorca: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon
Ibiza and Formentera: Monastrell
Vine pruning techniques on Las Islas Baleares? Manual or mechanical?
Traditionally: en vaso
Increasingly: espaldera
Increasingly mechanical on these mostly flat islands (the exception is the Serra de Tramuntana Mountains)
What styles of wine are made on Las Islas Baleares? To be drunk young or aged?
All of vinos tintos, rosados, blancos, espumosos.
Majority for early consumption, some experiments with lees and barrel ageing.
Which white grape is increasingly getting lees and barrel ageing on Las Islas Baleares?
Prensal Blanc
Which two red grapes are increasingly made in high quality, age-worthy styles on Las Islas Baleares?
Manto Negro
Callet
Name the DOs of Las Islas Baleares, and their host islands?
DO Binissalem
DO Pla i Llevant
Both on Mallorca
When did phylloxera reach DO Binissalem on Mallorca, and with what effect?
1891
Destroyed the industry, recovering in recent decades
When did DO Binissalem have its largest wine production?
During the initial outbreak of phylloxera in France
Where is DO Binissalem on Las Islas Baleares? Big or small? Near what topographical feature, which has what effect?
West-central Mallorca
Small 155 sq km
Near Serra de Tramuntana Mountains which shield from brutal Tramontana winds
Is DO Binissalem on Mallorca planted more to red or white grapes? Top varieties?
Red (75%)
Top grape is Manto Negro (37%),
then Cabernet Sauvignon (26%)
What proportion of the DO Binissalem vineyard is planted to white grapes? What is the most common?
25% white
Prensal Blanc/Moll (56%)
What are the grape restrictions for red wine in DO Binissalem on Mallorca?
Min 35% Manto Negro
Max 30% Gorgollassa
What age designations are used for DO Binissalem wines on Mallorca?
the usual: crianza, reserva, gran reserva
What are wines made from Manto Negro like, in DO Binissalem on Mallorca?
pale colour
berry fruit and flowers
light
low tannins
high alcohol
What are the grape restrictions for white wine in DO Binissalem on Mallorca?
Min 50% Prensal Blanc/Moll or Moscatel
What are the grape restrictions for sparkling wine in DO Binissalem on Mallorca?
Min 50% Prensal Blanc/Moll
What are the grape restrictions for rosado wine in DO Binissalem on Mallorca?
No blending requirement
On which island is DO Pla i Llevant in Las Islas Baleares? What language is Pla i Llevant and what does it mean?
Mallorca
Catalan
Plain and east coast
What is the landscape like in DO Pla i Llevant on Mallorca? The climate, including any winds and their effects?
The flat eastern part of Mallorca.
Warmer, drier side of the island.
Embat sea breezes temper the climate, moisture in warm months, and carries sea salt.
Is DO Pla i Llevant in Mallorca planted more to red or white? Indigenous or international? Makes more varietals or blends?
More red (58% )
Most international (77%)
Majority blends (varietals mostly from international grapes)
In DO Pla i Llevant on Mallorca, what are the three most planted red grapes, and two whites?
R: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, then Callet.
W: Cardonnay, Prensal Blanc/Moll
Comparing DO Binissalem and DO Pla i Llevant on Mallorca:
which makes a higher proportion of tinto?
which has ‘call vermell’ soils?
which is higher elevation?
which has higher rainfall?
which is larger?
DO Binissalem 64% tinto
(DO Pla i Llevant 43% tinto)
DO Pla i Llevant is unique for call vermell
DO Binissalem is in the foothills of the Serra de Tramuntana Mountains, so…
DO Binissalem 70-140m
(DO Pla i Llevant 0-100m)
DO Binissalem 550mm rain
(DO Pla i Llevant 450mm)
DO Binissalem 605 ha
(DO Pla i Llevant 439 ha)
In 73 CE, Pliny the Elder commented that the wines of Las Islas Baleares could be compared to the best in Italy. In which book?
Historiae Naturalis, Book XIV
In which decade was wine production highest in Las Islas Baleares, and why?
1860s
high demand after phylloxera hit France
1891 phylloxera devastated Las Islas Baleares, which were largely replanted to almond trees
In the 1980s-90s, what influences led to vineyards being pulled up and replaced with almond trees, and then replanted to vineyards with investment?
1980s EU subsidies to replace vines with alternative crops.
Tourism provoked producers to replant vines. Investment in research into local grapes.
