North Central Spain Flashcards
What are the three Autonomias of North Central Spain?
North-Central Spain essentially comprises the three autonomías of Navarra, La Rioja, and Aragón.
What are the two main Mountain regions which shelter this area and create a rain shadow affect?
Sheltered by the Pyrenees Mountains to the northeast, which divide France and Spain, and the Cantabrian Mountains to the northwest, the region’s highlands are in a rain shadow, and summer temperatures rise further inland.
What river is Rioja named after?
Rioja, named not after the Ebro but for the Oja, a smaller tributary, was the first region in Spain to be christened as Denominación de Origen Calificada—in 1991
Where is the Ebro River?
The Ebro River emerges from the eastern Cantabrian Mountains, and flows on a southeasterly course toward the Mediterranean, passing through the historic Rioja DOCa, Spain’s premier red wine region.
What are Tempranillo’s three main red grape blending partners in Rioja?
Tempranillo is the main grape of red Rioja; its traditional blending partners are Mazuelo (Carignan), Graciano, and Garnacha. Together, these three grapes (along with Maturana Tinta, authorized for Rioja in 2007) must comprise a minimum 85% of the red Rioja blend, or 95% if destemmed.
What is the dominant white grape of Rioja?
Viura - Known elsewhere as Macabeo
Name 3 other prominent white grapes of Rioja.
Garnacha Blanca, Malvasía Riojano, and Maturana Blanca.
What are the white grapes permitted for blending?
Chardonnay, Tempranillo Blanco, Sauvignon Blanc, Turruntés, and Verdejo are the only other white grapes permitted in blends.
What is the category for Traditional Method Sparkling?
In 2018, the Vino Espumoso de Calidad category was added for traditional method sparkling wine.
What are the guidelines for Vino Espumoso de Calidad?
To be labeled as such, the grapes must be hand-harvested, and the entire winemaking process must take place at the same facility (that is, it cannot be moved at any stage of the process). Brut Nature, Extra Brut, and Brut styles are allowed. Vino Espumoso requires a minimum of 15 months lees aging, whereas Reserva and Gran Anãda require 24 and 36 months, respectively. Gran Anãda wines must be produced with fruit harvested during a single vintage, and this date must be stated on the label.
What is the minimum lees aging requirement for Vino Espumoso de Calidad?
15 months
What is the lees aging requirement for Vino Espumoso de Calidad Reserva?
24 months
What is the lees aging requirement for Vino Espumoso de Calidad Gran Anada?
36 months: wines must be produced with fruit harvested during a single vintage, and this date must be stated on the label.
What is Navarra DO known for?
Navarra has long been famous for rosado wines. However, red wine now consists of 60% of production.
What are the top two red grapes in Navarra?
Garnacha and Tempranillo
What is Navarra’s most prominent white grape variety?
Chardonnay
What international red grape varieties are increasing in Navarra?
Red grapes of French origin, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Pinot Noir, are on the rise.
What are the five sub zones of Navarra?
Navarra contains five subzones: the higher altitude Valdizarbe, Baja Montaña and Tierra Estella in the north, Ribera Alta in the center of the zone, and Ribera Baja in the hot southern sector.
What is Vino de Pago?
A Vino de Pago is an outstanding type of wine due to its uniqueness and careful production. Besides a physical location, the word Pago (estate) refers to a specific category within Spanish wine law.
What estates recently received their own DO Pago in Navarra?
Señorío de Arínzano and Prado Irache in Tierra Estella, Bodegas Otazu in Valdizarbe, and Bolandín in Ribiera Baja.
What DOs are found in the Autonomia of Aragorn?
The autonomía of Aragon, to the east of Rioja and Navarra, contains four DOs: Campo de Borja, Calatayud, Cariñena, and Somontano.
What is the prominent grape in the Campo de Borja DO?
Garnacha commands around two-thirds of the vineyard acreage.
What are the types of wine(s) produced in Campo de Borja DO?
Red, white and rosado wines are produced here.
Red: Garnacha and Tempranillo primarily.
Rosado: Garnacha and Tempranillo primarily.
White: Viura.
What is dominant grape for the Calatayud and Cariñena DOs?
Garnacha
