North Central Spain Flashcards
What three autonomías are in North-Central Spain?
Navarra
La Rioja
Aragón
What two mountain ranges line the Northern border of Spain
Cantabrian (NW)
Pyrenees (NE)
What river flows through Rioja and where does it originate?
The Ebro river from western Cantabrian on SE course toward Mediterranean
What river is Rioja named after?
The Oja, a smaller tributary off the Ebro
When was Rioja demarcated?
1991 - 1st region to be DOCa
How long has wine been produced in Rioja?
2000 yeras
What is the dichotomy in style in Rioja?
- Since 19th C, classic style due to aging in American oak is soft, with muted red fruit, firm acid and aroma of dill, vanilla, cedar
- Modern style as more producers use French oak is more extracted, riper, dark fruit
also in whites - some clean, fruity, modern, others wood toned, oxidative, textural.
Traditional blending partners and percentages with Tempranillo in Rioja?
- Mazuelo (Carignan)
- Graciano
- Garnacha
- Maturana Tinta (as of 2007)
These must be 85% of blend, or 95% if destemmed
the rest can be “experimental”grapes like cab sauv
What is Mazeulo?
Carignan
What is the main white grape of Rioja and its synonym
Viura - Macabéo
Authorized white grape for Rioja and which may comprise more than 50% of blend?
Viura** Garnacha Blanca Malvasía Riojana Maturana Blanca Chardonnay** Sauvignon Blanc** Verdejo** Tempranillo Blanca Turruntés
**May be more than 50% of blend
What % of red grapes required in rosados in Rioja?
minimum 25% red grapes
What is the size of the cask in Rioja?
225 L - Barrique (Same as BDX)
What are the cities in the NW and SE corner or Rioja?
Haro - NW
Alfaro - SE
Name the three subzones of Rioja
Rioja Alta
Rioja Alavesa
Rioja Baja
Describe differences in soil and wines from three subzones of Rioja
Rioja Alta: ACID AND STRUCTURE
- southwestern zone, slightly warmer climate
- classic ageworthy tempranillo, mazuelo, graciano
- northern areas are characterized by yellow calcareous clay (arcillo-calcareo), whereas the lower slopes south of the Ebro River contain reddish, iron-rich clay soils (arcillo-ferroso)
Rioja Alavesa: FRESHNESS
- Smallest, northernmost
- often vino joven wines for early consumption
- sometimes carbonic
- highest concentration of calcareous clay soils, the dominant soil type between the Cantabrian Mountains and the north bank of the Ebro River
Rioja Baja: EXTRACT AND ALCOHOLIC WARMTH
- hottest subregion
- garnacha performs best
- some iron-rich clay, but most of the lower, flatter areas in Baja are characterized by alluvial, silty soils
Name a modern winery known for avant garde architerture
Ysios - Rioja Alavesa
Where is Navarra DO in relation to Rioja
Northeast
What was Navarra historically famous for, what is more prominent now?
Rosado, reds
Main red and white grapes of Navarra?
Red - tempranillo, garnacha
(cab sauv, merlot, PN on rise)
White - Chardonnay
(white only 6% of vineyard area)
5 subzones of Navarra? (by altitude/location)
- Valdizarbe (higher altitude - North)
- Baja Montaña (higher altitude - North)
- Tierra Estella (higher altitude - North)
- Ribera Alta (Center)
- Ribera Baja (South - hot)
Three DO Pagos of Navarra?
Señorio de Arínzano (Tierra Estella) Prado Irache (Tierra Estella) Bodegas Otazu (Valdizarbe)
Where is Aragon in relation to Rioja/Navarra?
East (and south…)
4 DOs of Aragon and primary grapes
- Campo de Borja - hot - garnacha/temp, viura
- Calatayud - garnacha
- Cariñena - garnacha - **ancestral home of mazuelo
- Somontano - local grapes (Alcañón, Parraleta) and other spanish and international - up and coming
What is the ancestral home to Mazuelo? When was the area delimited?
Cariñena delimited 1932
