Master Spain Flashcards
What are the permitted red grapes of Rioja? What is the min% combined they must be? What if they’re destemmed?
Tempranillo with Garnacha, Mazuelo (Carignan), Graciano, and Maturana Tinta.
Min 85% if whole cluster
Min 95% if destemmed
What are the permitted white grapes for Rioja Blanco? Which grapes may account for more than 50% of blend?
Principal: Viura, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Verdejo
Secondary: Malvasia, Garnacha Blanca, Tempranillo Blanca, Maturana Blanca, Turruntés
Only Principal grapes may account for more than 50% of the blend
What are the grape requirements for Rioja Rosado?
min 25% combined Tempranillo, Mazuelo, Garnacha Tinta, Maturana Tinta, and Graciano
What’s the min alcohol for Rioja Red and White?
- 5% (12% for Reserva and Gran Reserva) for red
10. 5% (11% for Reserva and Gran Reserva) for white
What are the aging requirements for all Rioja Vino Espumosa Calidad levels?
Vino Espumosa Calidad:
min 15 months on lees
Vino Espumosa Calidad Reserva:
min 24 months on the lees
Vino Espumosa Calidad Gran Añada:
min 36 months on the lees
What are the sweetness levels and values for Rioja Vino Espumosa Gran Añada?
Brut Nature: less than 3g/L
Extra Brut:Max 6g/L
Brut: Max 12g/L
What is the synonym for bush training in Spain?
en vaso
What is the traditional training style of Rioja? What are three other permitted techniques?
Vara y Pulgar
Cordon, En Vaso, Double Guyot
What is the min vine age for Rioja Single Vineyard wines? What is the min age for production history?
min 35 years of age
min 10 years of production
Which winemaker is often credited with the rebirth and success of the wines of Priorat?
René Barbier
The climate of the Rías Baixas can be best described as?
Maritime
What are the aging requirements for Rioja Tinto at all levels?
Crianza:
min 2 years including 1 in oak
Reserva:
min 3 years including 1 in oak
Gran Reserva:
min 5 years including 2 in oak and 2 in bottle
What are the aging requirements for Rioja Blanco/Rosado at all levels?
Crianza:
min 2 years including 6 months in oak (remainder may be in bottle, oak or stainless steel)
Reserva:
min 2 years including 6 months in oak (remainder must be in bottle or oak)
Gran Reserva:
min 4 years including 6 months in oak (remainder must be in bottle or oak)
In addition to the Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva terms what 3 other aging designations may be listed for DOP wines? What are the requirements?
Noble: min 18 months aging in cask of less than 600L or bottle
Añejo: min 24 months aging in cask of less than 600L or bottle
Viejo: min 36 months aging and must show oxidative character
Cava and Rioja Vino Espumoso Calidad are produced by what method?
Traditional Method
Which geographical feature separates Rioja from Pais Vasco?
Cantabrian Mountains
What is the quality hierarchy for wine in Spain?
DOCa
DO
VCIG
Vino de la Tierra
What are the 2 DOCa of Spain?
Rioja DOCa
Priorat DOCa/DOQ
Which body of water most influences Rioja?
Ebro River
Main grape of Navara?
Garnacha
Main grape of Jumilla?
Monastrell
What are the three sub-regions of Rioja? Which is the coolest? Which is the warmest? Which is in Navarra? Which is in País Vasco?
Rioja Alavesa (coolest) in País Vasco
Rioja Alta in La Rioja
Rioja Baja/Oriental (Warmest) in Navarra
What are the three sub-regions of Rioja? Which is the coolest? Which is the warmest? Which is in Navarra? Which is in País Vasco?
Rioja Alavesa (coolest) in País Vasco
Rioja Alta in La Rioja
Rioja Baja/Oriental (Warmest) in Navarra
Min % of Tinta del País (Tempranillo) for Ribera del Duero? Max % of Garnacha and Albillo Mayor?
min 75% Tinta del Pais
max 5% Garnacha and Albillo Mayor
What are the two main blending grapes for Ribera del Duero? What other 3 International grapes are permitted?
Garnacha and Albillo Mayor (max 5% for both)
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Malbec are also permitted
Min alcohol for Ribera del Duero Tinto vs Rioja?
Ribera del Duero: 11.5%
Rioja: 11.5% (12% for Reserva and Gran Reserva)
Ribera del Duero permits Reserva and Gran Reserva for which style?
Tinto only
Rosado may be Crianza
What are the aging requirements for Ribera del Duero Tinto for all levels?
Crianza:
2 years including 1 year in oak (approx. 225L)
Reserva:
3 years including 1 year in oak (225L)
Gran Reserva:
5 years including 2 years in oak and 3 years bottle.
Aging requirement for Ribera del Duero Rosado Crianza? Rioja Rosado Crianza?
Ribera:
min 18 months including 6 months in oak.
Rioja:
min 2 years including 6 months in oak.
What are the provinces of production for Ribera del Duero?
Valladolid
Burgos
Soria
Segovia
What islands (containing DOs) make up the Canary Islands archipelago from west to east? Which has 5 DOs?
El Hierro La Palma La Gomera Tenerife (5 DOs) Gran Canaria Lanzarote
What are the 5 DOs of Tenerife clockwise from the southernmost?
Abona Ycoden-Duarte-Isora Valle de la Orotava Tacoronte Acentejo Valle de Guimar
What is the capacity of traditional barrels used in aging red wines in Rioja? What are they called?
225L
Barrica
What is the primary red grape of Manchuela?
Bobal
What is Cencibel?
Synonym for Tempranillo
What is Cencibel?
Synonym for Tempranillo in central and southern Spain especially in Castilla-La Mancha
What is the primary grape of Manchuela DO?
Bobal
What geographical feature separates Spain from France?
Pyrenees Mountains
What are the permitted red (4) and white (5) grapes for Cava production? Which may only be used for rosé styles?
Red:
Pinot Noir, Monastrell, Garnacha Tinta, Trepat (only for rosé)
White:
Parellada, Macabeo, Xarel-lo, Chardonnay, Subirat Parent (Malvasia)
Trepat is only used for rosé
What are the aging requirements for all levels of Cava?
Cava/Cava de Guarda
min 9 months on the lees
Reserva/Cava de Guarda Superior
min 18 months on the lees
Gran Reserva/Cava de Guarda Superior Gran Reserva
min 30 months on the lees
Cava de Paraje:
min 36 months on the lees and from single estate
What is the sweetest sweetness level for Cava Reserva? Value?
Brut
Same for Champagne
0-12g/L
What is the sweetest sweetness level for Cava Reserva and Cava de Paraje Calificado? Value?
Brut
Same for Champagne
0-12g/L
What is the name for trellis training in Cava DO?
En Espaldera
True or False all Cava de Paraje Calificada is vintage-dated? Hand harvested?
True for both
What is the min vine age for Cava de Paraje?
Min 10 years
When were the following established: Rioja DOCa Ribera del Duero DO Toro DO Priorat DOCa/DOQ Cava DO Jerez DO Rías Baixas DO Penedes
Rioja DOCa (1991) Ribera del Duero DO (1982) Toro DO (1987) Priorat DOCa/DOQ (2009; 2000 as DO) Cava DO (1986) Jerez DO (1933) Rías Baixas DO (1988) Penedes (1960)
What is Tempranillo called in Catalonia?
Ull de Llebre
What are the aging designations for Penedes at all levels for Tinto?
Crianza:
2 years including 6 months in oak
Reserva:
3 years including 1 year in oak
Gran Reserva:
5 years including 2 years in oak