Murcia Flashcards
Name the foods Murcia is known for.
- figs
- Marcona almonds
What tragic incident plagued Murcia on October 15, 1879?
La Riada de Santa Teresa (The Flood of Saint Teresa)
The skies opened up over southern Spain. This region & Alicante received particularly violent downpours and were inundated with 24in/60cm of rain in a single hour. The rivers overflowed, destroying bridges, roads, & dams. Irrigation systems & crops were decimated as were city squares, hospitals, schools & residential areas.
Almost 800 people died, more than 7,000 families were displaced and relegated to poverty. The city of Nonduermas was completely destroyed and more than 22,000 animals drowned. Recovery took years.
This day is also commemorates Saint Teresa of Avila’s death.
What is Pie Franco?
This term became associated with ungrafted grapevines in the 18th century as the wine world grappled with phylloxera.
This expression literally means “free-footed” or “free-standing”.
The word “franco” means “free” or “independent” in Italian and is associated w/ the Franks who were considered unrestricted by Roman law.
How is it that vines in parts of Murcia were spared by the blight of phylloxera?
Pie Franco vines planted in parts of this region are rooted in highly acidic lime subsoil.
This louse cannot survive in it.
Many of today’s Monastrell vines are descendants of these original non-grafted vines.
Where is Murcia located?
This region is situated in southeastern Spain.
It is bordered by Valencia to the east, Castilla-La Mancha to the northwest, and Andalucia to the southwest.
~106mi/170km of Mediterranean coastline forms its southern border.
What is the capital of Murcia?
Murcia
Spain’s 7th largest city.
What is the climate in Murcia?
Mediterranean/Continental
* coastal: Mediterranean; temperate average temperatures; less pronounced temperature fluctuations
* inland: more continental w/ considerable diurnal temperature shifts
* summer: droughts regularly occur
* autumn/spring: rainy seasons; often w/ torrential downpours & hailstorms
* 12-14in/300-350mm average annual rainfall
* rain falls unevenly throughout the year
Which mountain range is found in Murcia?
Cordillera Prebetica; this range bisects the region resulting in 30% of the region laying at elevations greater than 1,969ft/600m.
What is the highest peak in Murcia?
Pico del Obispo (6,608ft/2,014m) in the Macizo de Revolcadores sector w/in the Cordillera Prebetica.
Name the significant plateau in Murcia.
Altiplano de Jumilla-Yecla
This high plateau in the northern part of this region is sandwiched between the Meseta of central Spain and the Mediterranean Sea. Elevations reach 2,625ft/800m.
Some of the region’s best vineyards are located here.
Name the principal rivers of Murcia.
- Segura River
- Guadalentin River
Both flow through the valleys of the Sistema Betico on their way to the Mediterranean Sea.
What is the Mar Menor?
“Minor Sea” is Spain’s largest lagoon and is located in Murcia. It is in the southeast near Cartagena and is separated from the Mediterranean Sea by a 13.7mi-/22km-long sandbar. The northern part is a natural park.
What soil types are found in Murcia?
- Predominantly limestone
- topsoils of clay & sand in some areas
- topsoils can be so hard it needs to be mechanically broken before planting in many parts of the region
Name the most widely planted variety in Murcia.
Monastrell
What are the characteristics of the Monastrell grape variety?
- thick-skinned
- late-ripening
- frost-resistant
- drought-resistant
Name the prominent grape varieties grown in Murcia.
A small amount of vino blanco is produced:
* Macabeo
* Airen
* Chardonnay
Used in small quantities to add complexity and/or tame Monastrell’s aggressive character:
* Cencibel/Tempranillo
* Garnacha Tinta
* Garnacha Tintorera (used in continental areas to add color, savory aromatics, & longeviy
* Cabernet Sauvignon
* Merlot
What vine training system is used in Murcia?
- en vaso: majority of Monastrell vineyards (many old vines); requires manual cultivation & hand-harvesting
- espaldera: other varieties including Tempranillo, Garnacha, & Cabernet Sauvignon so drip-irrigation can be installed & facilitate mechanization
What winemaking methods have been implemented in Murcia?
- temperature-controlled fermentation
- barrel aging
These processes manage to soften Monastrell’s forceful nature by moderating tannin.
Name the DOPs of Murcia.
- DO Bullas (1994)
- DO Jumilla (1966): Murcia/Castilla-La Mancha
- DO Yecla (1975)
Where is DO Bullas located?
This DOP is the southernmost & westernmost in Murcia.
It consists of 2 non-contiguous growing areas.