North-Central Spain - Upper Ebro - Carinena

Answer 1

1. Most vineyards on a rocky plateau surrounded by hills that protect them from the cool winds of the Pyrenees
2. Red/brown limestone w rocky sub soil. Hi levels of calcium carbonate and slate in places.

• Continental with long, hot summers w up to 38C in summer and -8C in winter.

Answer 2

Reds

Garnacha (55% of plantings)

1. Mostly likely to originate from Northern Spain
2. Strong wood canopy & resistance to wind make it suited for dry,
3. warm & windy climates
4. Buds early and requires a long growing season to fully ripen (often the last grape after Cab Sauv to be picked)
5. Vigorous vines i.e. hi yields that prefers hot dry soils
6. Thin skins w light pigments -> pale colour
7. The wines are hi in alcohol, low in tannins w relatively light flavours of raspberries, strawberries
8. Often blended to add body and fruitiness or used for Rosados

Tempranillo (~10%)

1. Premier native black grape w thick skin that ripens early i.e. several weeks earlier vs. most Spanish red grapes (temprano: ‘early’)
2. Thrives in chalky soils & moderate climates for better acidity & elegance
3. Little resistance to pest and diseases
4. Wines are med->full bodied, low to med+ acidity, w med tannins and flavours of strawberry, cherry, raspberry & plum. Oak and ageing add flavours of herbs, mushrooms, leather & tobacco

Carinena (~10%)

1. Originates from Aragon
2. Hi yielding; late budding & ripening (-> warm climate)
3. Thick stalk that makes mechanical harvesting difficult
4. Deep colour, hi acidity, hi tannins w red fruits flavours (cherry, raspberry) and blackberry
5. Often blended

Others: Merlot, Syrah

Answer 3

Whites

1. Macabeo (20% of total plantings)
2. Originally from France
3. Floral fresh fruit character with good acidity when grown in low yields

Others: Chardonnay, Paralleda

VITICULTUREWINE STYLES

Answer 4

Viticulture

17,000ha w most vines on trellis systems. One of the oldest DO in Europe (1932).

Wine Style

1. Traditionally high in alcohol wines are being replaced with wines from improved yield & winemaking techniques
2. Quality inexpensive Reservas and Gran Reservas.
3. Whites represent 20% of the whole production. Rosés too.