Murcia

Question 1

Murcia is bordered by?

Answer 1

E: Valencia
NW: Castilla-La Mancha
SW: Andalucía
S: Mediterranean 170km

Question 2

How many provinces in Murcia?

Answer 2

One
(one of seven uniprovincial autonomous communities in Spain)

Question 3

Capital, largest city in Murcia?

Answer 3

Murcia (441k 30%)

Question 4

Climate of Murcia?

Answer 4

At the coast: Mediterranean
Becoming more continental inland

Question 5

What are summer and winter temperatures like in Murcia?

Answer 5

hot summer inland (max 40ºC)
mild winter at coast (>10ºC) while cold inland (<6ºC)

Question 6

Murcia rainfall? When?

Answer 6

Low (300-350 mm) mostly spring/autumn

Question 7

Weather hazards in Murcia?

Answer 7

Summer drought
Autumn hailstorms
Torrential downpours

Question 8

Which mountain range bisects Murcia?

Answer 8

Cordillera Prebética

Question 9

30% of Murcia has elevation higher than…?

Answer 9

600m

Question 10

Highest peak in Murcia?
In which range?
Bonus: in which sector?

Answer 10

Pico del Obispo 2,014m
Cordillera Prebética
Macizo de Revolcadores

Question 11

Name the high plateau in Murcia containing some of the best vineyards. How high?

Answer 11

Altiplano de Jumilla-Yecla
reaching 800m

Question 12

Name the two main rivers in Murcia. Which mountain range do they flow from, into which sea?

Answer 12

Segura
Guadalenín

Sistema Bético to Mediterranean

Question 13

Murcia’s soils are mostly what? Why can it be difficult to work with?

Answer 13

Limestone
Some has a topsoil of clay and sand that has to be broken mechanically

Question 14

Are Murcia’s wines mostly red or white? Main grape?

Answer 14

Red
Monastrell

Question 15

Where is Monastrell thought to be native to?

Answer 15

Valencia in Spain

Question 16

Monastrell:
thin or thick skinned?
early or late ripening?
frost prone or resistant?
drought prone or resistant?

Answer 16

thick skin
late ripening
frost resistant
drought resistant

Question 17

In areas of continental climate in Murcia, Monastrell is often blended with…?

Answer 17

Garnacha Tintorera

Question 18

Name some grapes used in Murcia, in small quantities, to add complexity and/or tame Monastrell’s aggressive character. (5)

Answer 18

Cencibel/Tempranillo
Garnacha Tinta
Garnacha Tintorera
Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot

Question 19

Is much white wine made in Murcia? Which grapes? (3)

Answer 19

Only a small amount.

Macabeo
Airén
Chardonnay

Question 20

Main vine training techniques in Murcia for:
Monastrell
Tempranillo
Garnacha
Cabernet Sauvignon

Answer 20

Monastrell: en vaso
(many old vines, manual work)

the rest: espaldera
(drip irrigation, mechanisation)

Question 21

What newer winemaking techniques are being implemented in Murcia?

Answer 21

Temperature controlled fermentation
Barrel ageing
(to moderate tannins)

Question 22

Which is the southernmost DO in Murcia?

Answer 22

DO Bullas

Question 23

Which is the newest DO in Murcia?

Answer 23

DO Bullas (1994)

Question 24

Which DO in Murcia is in two non-contiguous areas?

Answer 24

DO Bullas

Question 25

Which DOs in Murcia are planted with less than 80% Monastrell?

Answer 25

None (DO Bullas >80% DO Jumilla >80% DO Yecla 85%)

Question 26

In DO Bullas in Murcia, what are the grape requirements for tintos and rosados?

Answer 26

min 60% Monastrell

Question 27

DO Bullas in Murcia was mostly bulk co-operatives. How is that changing?

Answer 27

Small producers emerging

Question 28

Which is the oldest DO in Murcia?

Answer 28

DO Jumilla (1966)

Question 29

Which DO in Murcia is located in more than one autonomous community? What two other DOs in Spain also do this?

Answer 29

DO Jumilla (with Castilla-La Mancha) DO Cava, DO Rioja

Question 30

What percentage of DO Jumilla vineyard is located in Murcia? In which region and province is the rest?

Answer 30

40% 60% in Albacete province of Castilla-La Mancha

Question 31

What percentage of wine production of DO Jumilla is in the town of Jumilla in Murcia?

Answer 31

70%

Question 32

What are the grape requirements in DO Jumilla for wine labelled: Vino Tinto? Tinto Monastrell?

Answer 32

Vino Tinto: no minimum Monastrell Tinto Monastrell: min 85% Monastrell

Question 33

What is DO Jumilla wine made from Monastrell typically like?

Answer 33

Deep colour, savoury, concentrated, high alcohol

Question 34

Which is the smallest DO in Murcia?

Answer 34

DO Yecla

Question 35

Where topographically is DO Yecla in Murcia?

Answer 35

On the Altiplano de Jumilla/Yecla

Question 36

Where were some of the oldest winemaking ruins in Spain found, in DO Yecla?

Answer 36

Fuente del Pinar near Yecla

Question 37

What helped DO Yecla in Murcia to export wine? How much is exported today?

Answer 37

Near the coast nearly 95%

Question 38

What proportion of the DO Yecla vineyard in Murcia is planted to Monastrell? To other reds? Whites?

Answer 38

85% 10% other reds 5% whites

Question 39

How do DO Yecla's Monastrell wines differ typically from DO Jumilla's?

Answer 39

Similar a little more fruit, less alcohol

Question 40

Which DO in Murcia produces the least red wine?

Answer 40

DO Bullas (but still 79%)

Question 41

Which DO in Murcia has soils that include alluvium?

Answer 41

DO Bullas

Question 42

Which DOs in Murcia are Mediterranean with continental influences, and which are continental with Mediterranean influences?

Answer 42

DO Bullas: Mediterranean with continental influences DO Jumilla and DO Yecla: continental with Mediterranean influences

Question 43

Which DO in Murcia has the highest rainfall?

Answer 43

DO Bullas

Question 44

Which DO in Murcia has the most vineyard?

Answer 44

DO Jumilla (18,682 ha)

Question 45

Ruins of Roman winemaking facilities were found near Yecla in Murcia. In which centuries were they built? Name of site? On which road?

Answer 45

1-2C BCE Fuente del Pinar on Vía Augusta

Question 46

On 15 Oct 1879 a catastrophic flood hit Murcia and Alicante after a long drought. What was it called?

Answer 46

La Riada de Santa Teresa (60cm rain in one hour)

Question 47

Phylloxera reached Murcia in the mid 1890s, but some soils were resistant. In which DO particularly? Ungrafted descendants of those vines are called what? Etymology of that term?

Answer 47

DO Jumilla pie franco (free footed) After the Franks from Germany who were free of Roman law.

Question 48

What severely disrupted winemaking in Murcia in the early 20C?

Answer 48

Second Republic (1931) and Spanish Civil War (1936), with trade blockades, and state mandated grubbing up of vineyards to plant other crops

Question 49

In Murcia, which is the only DO to list a white grape as ‘Preferred’? Which variety?

Answer 49

DO Bullas Macabeo