Las Islas Canarias Flashcards by Rob Findlay

Where are Las Islas Canarias? How far from the Spanish mainland?

Atlantic Ocean
off S Morocco (100km)
1,000km from mainland Spain

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The seven primary islands of Las Islas Canarias are divided between two provinces. Name them, by province, west to east.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife province:
* El Hierro
* La Palma
* La Gomera
* Tenerife

Las Palmas province:
* Gran Canaria
* Fuerteventura
* Lanzarote

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Where does the autonomous community Las Islas Canarias rank by area, and by density of population? What is the population?

Fifth smallest (13/17)
Third most densely populated
More than 2.1 million

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Capital, largest city of Las Islas Canarias?

There are two capitals, one for each province.
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (18%)
Santa Cruz de Tenerife (9%)

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Climate of Las Islas Canarias? Latitude?

Subtropical
28ºN

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What are winter and summer temperatures like in Las Islas Canarias?
What is the climate like?

Warm winter (avg 22ºC)
Warm summer (avg 28ºC)
low diurnal and seasonal variation
‘best in the world’

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Las Islas Canarias can see extremes of temperature in individual islands. For instance?

Tenerife
5ºC up Mt. Tiede
37ºC elsewhere on the island

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Rainfall in Las Islas Canarias?
Where and when is it wettest? Exceptionally dry where?

Low (avg 350-500mm)
more at higher elevations
mostly November-March
Driest in Lanzarote 150mm

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What winds affect Las Islas Canarias, and how?

Trade winds from NE
all year round
bringing cool, humid air

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When and how were Las Islas Canarias created?

Millions of years ago by volcanic eruptions (which continue)

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Geologically and topographically, Las Islas Canarias fall into two groups. For each group:
What characterises it?
Which of the seven major islands are in it?
On which island is the highest peak?

Western group, rising directly from the ocean:
El Hierro
La Palma
La Gomera
Tenerife (Pico del Teide 3,718m)
Gran Canaria

Eastern group: on an undersea plateau ‘the Canary Ridge’:
Fuerteventura (800m)
Lanzarote

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Which four islands in Las Islas Canarias have volcanos that have been active since 15C?

El Hierro
La Palma
Tenerife
Lanzarote

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Where does Pico del Teide on Tenerife rank for mountain heights in Spain, and volcano heights in the world?

Highest mountain in Spain
Third highest volcano on earth
3,718m

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What are Las Islas Canarias soils generally like below, and above 800m?

Up to 800m: volcanic
Above 800m: clay, sand, volcanic elements
All are nutrient rich, and (crucially) water retentive

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What unique soil is found on which islands in Las Islas Canarias? What effect does it have?

lapilli / picón
Parts of Lanzarote and La Palma
A layer of small, porous volcanic pebbles over the topsoil.
Filters rainwater, pulls moisture from winds, prevents evaporation

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What effect did phylloxera have on Las Islas Canarias vineyards?

None, it never arrived. So Las Islas Canarias have some of Spain’s oldest vines.

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Name the five main grape varieties of Las Islas Canarias with any synonyms

Malvasía Aromática
Malvasía Volcánica / Malvasía de Lanzarote
Listán Blanco / Palomino Fino
Listán Negro / Almuñeco
Listán Prieto

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On Las Islas Canarias, what is the grape variety Malvasía Aromática’s history?

from Greece/Cyprus
historically for unfortified Malmsey
now little used

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On Las Islas Canarias, what is the grape variety Malvasía Volcánica also known as? It is a natural cross of which two indigenous grapes? Where does it like to grow, and how old are the oldest vines?

Malvasía de Lanzarote
Malvasía Aromática x Marmajuelo
Likes volcanic soils on Lanzarote (where is it more than three-quarters of plantings).
Some over 100 years old

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On Las Islas Canarias, what is Listán Blanco also known as? Where is it from? Which climatic aspects has it adapted well to?

Palomino Fino
from Andalucía
adapted to low rainfall and intense sunshine

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What is the primary red grape variety on Las Islas Canarias? What is its synonym? Where is it from? What production method does it lend itself to?

Listán Negro / Almuñeco
indigenous to Canaries
carbonic maceration

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What is the genetic relationship between these three grape varieties grown in Las Islas Canarias?
Listán Blanco
Listán Negro
Listán Prieto

No genetic relationship

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Where is the grape variety Listán Prieto from? It is grown in small quantities on Las Islas Canarias, but where else is it thought to have gone?

brought from Castilla-La Mancha by Spanish settlers
thought to be the original Mission grape of the New World

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Vineyards in Las Islas Canarias are planted up to what maximum elevation?

1,700m
among the highest in Europe

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Main vine training technique on Las Islas Canarias? How mechanised?

mostly en vaso, manual harvest

Which absolutely unique vine training method is used in Las Islas Canarias? In which DOs, on which islands? Why? Describe it

cordón trenzado DO Valle de la Orotava DO Tacoronte-Acentejo both in N Tenerife to cultivate potatoes and other crops on the same land Trunk grown to 60-80cm, with trailing canes typically 4-15m long which are braided as they grow. All hand worked. Some braided vines in DO Valle de la Orotava are 25m long.

Describe the distinctive planting method used in lapilli soils in Lanzarote (and La Palma) in Las Islas Canarias

A funnel-shaped 'hoyo' (hole) 3m wide and 2-2.5m deep is dug. The vine is planted in the bottom to find fertile soil. The funnel collects rainwater and protects from wind. Additional wind protection is sometimes added by building an 'abrigo' (semicircular wall of volcanic rock) upwind.

Volcanic soils in Las Islas Canarias, especially lapilli, produce what flavours in: vinos blancos vinos rosados/tintos

Blancos: tropical fruit, saline/mineral Rosados/tintos: mineral, overt spice-savoury, lingering finish

Which islands of Las Islas Canarias are covered by DO Islas Canarias?

All of them

Which DO do winemakers put on their labels in Las Islas Canarias?

They can choose from the specific DO they are in (if any), or DO Islas Canarias

Which wine styles are authorised for DO Islas Canarias?

All of them, including: vinos blancos vinos rosados vinos tintos vinos espumosos vinos generosos vinos dulces

What are the ageing requirements for age-designated wines in DO Islas Canarias?

The usual: Crianza, Reserva, Gran Reserva

Where is DO Lanzarote?

The entire island of Lanzarote

What is the main soil type and thickness in DO Lanzarote?

lapilli 3-5m of lava and volcanic ash above clay/sand over limestone

What is the main grape planted in DO Lanzarote? What styles of wine are made from it there?

Malvasía Volcánica / Malvasía de Lanzarote over 75% of vineyard vinos blancos (light, mineral, citrus) vinos espumosos vinos dulces

In DO Lanzarote, what grapes are used for vinos rosados and tintos? What are they like? What production technique is often used?

Listán Negro / Almuñeco light, fresh, fruity some have initial bottle stink: reductive onion-like smell from high sulphur in volcanic soils. Carbonic maceration with minimal oak agening.

Where is DO Tacoronte-Acentejo in Las Islas Canarias?

North east tip of Tenerife

Which DO is the largest and oldest in Las Islas Canarias?

DO Tacoronte-Acentejo (40% of all cultivated land on Tenerife 20% of all vineyard in Las Islas Canarias) some vines over 200 years old

What is the main soil type of DO Tacoronte-Acentejo in Las Islas Canarias?

Volcanic

Name two vine training techniques used in DO Tacoronte-Acentejo in Las Islas Canarias

espaldera cordón trenzado (among others)

Is DO Tacoronte-Acentejo in Las Islas Canarias mainly red or white wine? Which main grape? Which two others?

Red 90% Listán Negro (red) 4% Negramoll (red) 4% Listán Blanco (white) Variety of island-indigenous, Spanish, international varieties

Are most vinos tintos in DO Tacoronte-Acentejo (in Las Islas Canarias) varietal or blends? Of what? What are they like and how are they made?

Varietal Listán Negro Light, fruity, soft tannin, crisp acid, red berries / fig leaf / herbs Some carbonic maceration, others aged (with usual age designations).

Where is DO Valle de la Orotava in Las Islas Canarias?

North coast of Tenerife around historical Puerto de la Orotava (today called Puerto de la Cruz).

What is the vineyard terrain, and training technique, in DO Valle de la Orotava in Las Islas Canarias?

Terraced slopes of Mt. Teide. Cordón trenzado was pioneered here (some over 100 years old)

What are the main two grapes in DO Valle de la Orotava in Las Islas Canarias? What are they like?

Listán Blanco Listán Negro both light, fresh, mineral easy drinking for local consumption

Away from the mainstays Listán Blanco and Listán Negro, what are some producers experimenting with, in DO Valle de la Orotava in Las Islas Canarias? (5)

Varietals and blends involving: Marmajuelo/Bermejuela (white) Vijariego Blanco (white) Bastardo Negro/Baboso Negro (red) Vijariego Negro (red) Tintilla (red)

How did DO Ycoden-Daute-Isora in Las Islas Canarias get its name?

Ycoden and Daute from two Guanche kingdoms, and the territories of Princess Isora

Where is DO Ycoden-Daute-Isora in Las Islas Canarias?

North west Tenerife, nor far from Puerto de la Cruz (the historical Puerto de la Orotava)

What is the terrain like in DO Ycoden-Daute-Isora in Las Islas Canarias?

Very steep and treacherous slopes of Mt. Teide up to 1,400m. Mechanisation is impossible.

What are the two main grapes in DO Ycoden-Daute-Isora in Las Islas Canarias? What style of wine dominates?

most wines are vinos blancos from Listán Blanco also Listán Negro (together amounting to 80% of vineyard)

Apart from Listán Blanco and Listán Negro, what other varieties are popular in DO Ycoden-Daute-Isora in Las Islas Canarias? (4)

Marmajuelo (white) Gual (white) Albillo (white) Tintilla (red)

What are the grape requirements for vinos rosados and vinos tintos in DO Ycoden-Daute-Isora in Las Islas Canarias?

Rosados: min 50% red varieties Tintos: min 75% red varieties (unless carbonic maceration when 100% red)

What are vinos blancos like in DO Ycoden-Daute-Isora in Las Islas Canarias?

Easy drinking, citrus, mineral, crisp acidity. Some experiments with oak ageing

Which need-to-know DOs in Las Islas Canarias make the highest and lowest proportion of vinos tintos?

highest: DO Tacoronte-Acentejo (83% tinto, 3% rosado, 13% blanco) lowest: DO Lanzarote (12% tinto, 7% rosado, 80% blanco)

Which need-to-know DO in Las Islas Canarias has lapilli soils?

DO Lanzarote

Which need-to-know DO in Las Islas Canarias has the highest elevation vineyards?

DO Ycoden-Daute-Isora (50-1,400m)

Which need-to-know DOs in Las Islas Canarias have the largest, smallest vineyards?

DO Lanzarote 1,849 ha DO Ycoden-Daute-Isora 161 ha

Which need-to-know DO in Las Islas Canarias has the lowest rainfall?

DO Lanzarote 150mm

In which century did Las Islas Canarias come under Spanish control?

15C

The Castilians introduced single-crop cultivation to Las Islas Canarias. Name two crops introduced, in which centuries?

sugarcane and vines 15-16C

In the 16C, which 'Canary wine' was very popular in England, France, Netherlands and Spanish colonies?

Malmsey sweet, white, unfortified wine from Malvasía that is still made today

Who said that Malmsey wine from Las Islas Canarias "cheers the senses and perfumes the blood"?

William Shakespeare

How did Las Islas Canarias benefit in 16C from its strategic location?

They were on the trade and expedition routes from Europe to the New World. Puerto de la Cruz was the first port in the Canaries.

What factors drove the expansion of winemaking in Las Islas Canarias in 17C? What proportion of Tenerife wine was exported to where?

Brazil and the Carribean competed in sugar production. Rising demand for Malmsey, especially from England: by end of 17C nearly two thirds of Tenerife wine was exported to London.

What devastated Las Islas Canarias vineyards in 19C? What happened then?

1852: powdery mildew 1878: downy mildew (Not phylloxera: it never arrived and there were no vines left anyway.) Mass emigration to American territories following loss of sugar trade and wine.

What impact did wars in the Spanish mainland have on Las Islas Canarias?

Not much impact

Which side were Las Islas Canarias on during the Franco regime?

Under Franco's control early in Spanish Civil War; he was General Commandant of the Canaries. But no fighting (few people to fight).