North Central Spain

Question 1

Three Autonomies of North Central Spain

Answer 1

Navarra
La Rioja
Aragon

Question 2

Two mountain ranges that influence climate in north central Spain

Answer 2

Pyrenees Mtn (Northeast, divides france from spain)
Cantabrian mtns (NW)
both create Rain shadow effect

Question 3

Two influencing bodies of water in NC Spain?

Answer 3

Ebro River ( emerges from Cantabrian mtns and passes through Rioja)
Oja Tributary (Rioja named after)

Question 4

First region in Spain to be awarded DOCa?

What year?

Answer 4

Rioja 1991

Question 5

What happened in the 18 century in Rioja that changed everything?

Answer 5

Phylloxera struck Bordeaux and winemakers made their way to Spain, influencing a new style of wine making. Spaniards adjusted the style by using American Oak

Question 6

Rioja allowed varietals- Red

Answer 6

Tempranillo
Mazuelo (Carignan)
Maturana Tinta (2007)
Garnacha
Graciano
must comprise of 85% above varietals
95% if destemmed

Question 7

Rioja allowed varietals- White

Answer 7

Viura AKA Macabeo (primary)
Garacha Blanc
Maturana Blanc
Malvasia Riojano
Chardonnay
Sauvignon Blanc 
Verdejo

Question 8

Rioja Cask must be what size?

Answer 8

225L

Question 9

Rioja white aging requirements

Answer 9

Crianza Blanco/Rosado: min. 2 years, including at least 6 months in oak (remainder may be in bottle, oak or stainless steel)
Reserva Blanco/Rosado: min. 2 years, including at least 6 months in oak (remainder must be in bottle or oak)
Gran Reserva Blanco/Rosado: min. 4 years, including at least 6 months in oak (remainder must be in bottle or oak)

Question 10

Rioja red aging requirements

Answer 10

Crianza
1 yr oak 2yr total

Reserva
1yr oak, 6 mth btl, 3 yr total

Gran Reserva
2 yr oak, 2 yr btl, 5 yr total

Question 11

Any DOP wine may use the following terminology. Include the aging requirement for each statement

Noble
Anejo
Viejo

Answer 11

Nobel- 18 months in cask less than 600L

Anejo- 24 months “ “

Viejo- 36 months aging and demonstrates oxidative characteristics

Question 12

Single Vineyards of Lopez de Heredia

Answer 12

Bosconia

Tondonia

Question 13

Towns of Rioja

Answer 13

Haro (NW)

Alfaro (SE)

Question 14

Three climatic subzones of Rioja, give any details

Answer 14

Rioja Alvesa
Smallest-Northmost (Basque Country)- most wines produced Joven, some may have more carbonic mas.

Rioja Alta- slightly warmer- most classic producers

Rioja Oriental (formerly Rioja Baja)
Hottest- Garnacha thrives

Most producers blend from all three

Question 15

Rioja single vineyard category- (Vinedos Singulares)
passed in 2017 and effective 2018
To be single vineyard and label on bottle what must the estate do?

Answer 15

soil assessed 
35 yr min vine age
estate must prove 10yrs min of wine production from specific vineyard 
tasting panel 
hand harvest 
yield 20 hl/ha

Question 16

This category was added in rioja in 2018 for sparkling wine? give details

Answer 16

Vino Espumoso de Calidad
Traditional Method
Hand Harvest
winemaking must take place entirely in the same facility
Brut-Extra Brut-Brut Nature
less 15 mth
Aging- wines are aged in oak (see sheets for aging requirements)

Question 17

Navarra DO
Long famous for this style-
Primary varieties

Answer 17

Famous for rosato

Primary- Garnacha - Tempranillo - Chardonnay

Question 18

Navarra DO five Subzones (N to S)

Answer 18

Valdizarbe (highest in elevation)
Baja Montana 
Tierra Estelle
Ribera Alta (central)
Ribera Baja (south and hot)

Question 19

Three Estates in Navarra DO with DO pago

Answer 19

Within subregión Tierra Estelle
Senorio de Arinzano & Prado Irache

Within subregion Valdizarbe
Bodega Otazu

Question 20

Within Aragon list the four DOs and their primary varieties

Answer 20

Campo de Borja DO - Garnacha - Viura -
Calatayud DO - Garnacha
Carinena DO - Garnacha
Somontano DO - Local varieties Alcannon (white) - Parraleta (red)
this DO lies at the foothills of the pyrenees