North Central Spain

Question 1

What are the three Autonomias of North Central Spain?

Answer 1

North-Central Spain essentially comprises the three autonomías of Navarra, La Rioja, and Aragón.

Question 2

What are the two main Mountain regions which shelter this area and create a rain shadow affect?

Answer 2

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.

Question 3

What river is Rioja named after?

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Where is the Ebro River?

Answer 4

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.

Question 5

What are Tempranillo’s three main red grape blending partners in Rioja?

Answer 5

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.

Question 6

What is the dominant white grape of Rioja?

Answer 6

Viura - Known elsewhere as Macabeo

Question 7

Name 3 other prominent white grapes of Rioja.

Answer 7

Garnacha Blanca, Malvasía Riojano, and Maturana Blanca.

Question 8

What are the white grapes permitted for blending?

Answer 8

Chardonnay, Tempranillo Blanco, Sauvignon Blanc, Turruntés, and Verdejo are the only other white grapes permitted in blends.

Question 9

What is the category for Traditional Method Sparkling?

Answer 9

In 2018, the Vino Espumoso de Calidad category was added for traditional method sparkling wine.

Question 10

What are the guidelines for Vino Espumoso de Calidad?

Answer 10

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.

Question 11

What is the minimum lees aging requirement for Vino Espumoso de Calidad?

Answer 11

15 months

Question 12

What is the lees aging requirement for Vino Espumoso de Calidad Reserva?

Answer 12

24 months

Question 13

What is the lees aging requirement for Vino Espumoso de Calidad Gran Anada?

Answer 13

36 months: wines must be produced with fruit harvested during a single vintage, and this date must be stated on the label.

Question 14

What is Navarra DO known for?

Answer 14

Navarra has long been famous for rosado wines. However, red wine now consists of 60% of production.

Question 15

What are the top two red grapes in Navarra?

Answer 15

Garnacha and Tempranillo

Question 16

What is Navarra’s most prominent white grape variety?

Answer 16

Chardonnay

Question 17

What international red grape varieties are increasing in Navarra?

Answer 17

Red grapes of French origin, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Pinot Noir, are on the rise.

Question 18

What are the five sub zones of Navarra?

Answer 18

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.

Question 19

What is Vino de Pago?

Answer 19

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.

Question 20

What estates recently received their own DO Pago in Navarra?

Answer 20

Señorío de Arínzano and Prado Irache in Tierra Estella, Bodegas Otazu in Valdizarbe, and Bolandín in Ribiera Baja.

Question 21

What DOs are found in the Autonomia of Aragorn?

Answer 21

The autonomía of Aragon, to the east of Rioja and Navarra, contains four DOs: Campo de Borja, Calatayud, Cariñena, and Somontano.

Question 22

What is the prominent grape in the Campo de Borja DO?

Answer 22

Garnacha commands around two-thirds of the vineyard acreage.

Question 23

What are the types of wine(s) produced in Campo de Borja DO?

Answer 23

Red, white and rosado wines are produced here.
Red: Garnacha and Tempranillo primarily.
Rosado: Garnacha and Tempranillo primarily.
White: Viura.

Question 24

What is dominant grape for the Calatayud and Cariñena DOs?

Answer 24

Garnacha

Question 25

What DO is the ancestral home for the Carignan/Mazuelo grape?

Answer 25

Cariñena DO: Today the grape is a secondary player in the region’s blends.

Question 26

What DO is known for producing wines from local grapes such as the white Alcañón and red Parraleta?

Answer 26

Somontano DO (Translates to, “under the mountain.”)