Northern Spain Flashcards
Who first planted vines in Spain?
The Phoenicians
List 2 of the 7 river valleys forming the Ebro Basin in Rioja
- Oja
- Najerilla
- Iregua
- Leza
- Jubera
- Cadacos
- Alhama
What 2 producers are considered the founders of modern Rioja?
- Marques de Murrieta
- Marques de Riscal
Who is credited with bringing prestige back to Bierzo?
Alvaro and Ricardo Palacios
In what autonomia is Ribera del Duero located?
Castilla y Leon
What is the only Gran Reserva rose produced in Rioja?
Vina Tondonia Gr rosado
Rene Barbier and Alvaro Palacios were pioneers in what region?
Priorat
Who founded Vega Sicilia?
Don Eloy Lecanda y Chaves
In what year was Ribera del Duero DO established?
1982
In what autonomia is Cangas VCIG located?
Asturias
What grape is used in Navarra vino di licor?
moscatel
What is the most important soil type for fine wine in Rioja?
limestone
Bierzo lies along which river?
Sil
What is the primary soil type in Val do Salnes?
alluvial over granite
How many DOs are in Castilla y Leon?
9
What is the meaning of the term Colleiteiro?
Vigneron (Galician)
In what year was Corpinatt designation approved by the EU?
2017
What was the first DO in Spain?
Sherry (1933)
Vi di Vila is a village wine category in which region?
Priorat
List 2 founding members of the Corpinatt designation
- Gramenon
- Recaredo
- Llopart
- Nadal
- Sabate i Coca
- Torello
Where is Hermanos Perez Pascuas located?
Ribera del Duero
What 2 mountain ranges separate Rioja from the Maseta?
- Sierra de la Demanda
- Sierra de Cameros
What is the term for hondurrabi based rose in Getariako Txakolina DO?
Ojo de Gallo
Rafael Palacios makes well known wine in what region?
Valdeorras
VCIGs in Spain can apply for DO status after how many years?
5
What are the 3 DO zones of Pais Vasco?
- Getariako Txakolina
- Bizkaiko Txakolina
- Arabako Txakolina
What grape dominates Rioja Baja?
grenache
Which Spanish region is historically associated with rosado?
Navarra
What is the grape makeup of Vega Sicilia Unico?
- Tinto del Pais (tempranillo)
- cab sauv
- merlot
What is the aging requirement for vino di licor in Navarra?
min 24 months with at least 18 months in oak
What are the primary white grapes in Bierzo DO?
- godello
- dona blanco
What are the grape requirements for red wine in Bierzo DO?
min 70% mencia
What type of wines are permitted in Ribeira del Duero?
- red
- rosado
What district of Rioja overlaps with Navarra?
Rioja Alavesa
What river flows through the center of Castilla y Leon?
Duero
What is the only age designation allowed for rose from Ribeira del Duero?
crianza
What are t he 5 DOs of Galicia?
- Rais Baixas
- Ribeiro
- Ribeira Sacra
- Monterrei
- Valdeorras
What is the lees aging requirement for Cava Reserva?
15 months
Ribeira Sacra is situated at the confluence of which 2 rivers?
- Sil
- Mino
Where is Muga located?
Rioja
In what decades did Rioja suffer from an interest in quantity over quality?
1970’s and 80’s
What are the 3 distinct subzones of Rioja?
- Alavesa
- Alta
- Oriental
What styles of wine is Tarragona known for?
- vi ranci
- vi di licor
What river runs through the Rioja autonomia?
Ebro
Define ‘pago/finca’
single plot
What mountain range north of Rioja protects it from wet Atlantic wind?
Sierra Cantabria
Who produces Mas del Serral?
Raventos i Blanc
What is the lees aging requirement for Cava Gran Reserva?
30 months
Ull de Llebre is an alias for what grape?
tempranillo
what is the primary red and white grape in the Txakolina DOs?
white - hondurrabi zuri
red - hondurrabi beltza
What is the predominant soil type in Carinena DO?
miocene clay with gravel, limestone, and slate
Where are the estates Pesquera and Dominio de Pingus found?
Ribeira del Duero
What is the climate of north central Spain?
continental
What does Corpinatt translate to?
Heart of the Penedes
Who is the world’s largest producer of sparkling wine?
Freixenet
What is the min RS in vino tostado?
120 g/l
Where was cava first produced?
San Sadurni d’Anoia
What is the aging requirement for Rioja Gran Reserva?
red - min 60 months with at least 24 months in oak and 24 months in bottle
white/rose - min 4 years with at least 6 months in oak
What 4 autonomias are considered green Spain?
- Galicia
- Asturais
- Cantabria
- Pais Vasco
What are the grape requirements for O Rosal blanco?
min 70 % combined albarino and loureiro
What are the 3 altitude zones of Penedes?
- Alt
- Medio
- Baix
Where is DO Pago Bodegas Itazu located?
Valdizarbe, Navarra DO
What is the basic age requirement for Cava DO?
9 months on lees
What is the smallest subzone of Costers del Segre DO?
Raimat
What are the grape requirements for Condado do Tea blanco?
min 70% combined albarino and treixadura
What was Spain’s first DOCa and when was it established?
Rioja, 1991
Other than albarino, what are the authorized white grapes of Rias Baixas?
- loureira
- treixadura
- caina blanca
- torrontes
- godello
In Spanish DO wines, what does ‘anejo’ mean?
min aging 24 months in bottle or cask < 600 L
What are the permitted training methods in Rioja?
- Cordon
- Double Guyot
- En Vaso (bush vine)
- Vara y Pulgar
List 4 of the 9 authorized white grapes in Rioja
- Viura
- Verdejo
- chardonnay
- sauv blanc
- malvasia
- turruntes
- garnacha blanca
- tempranillo blanca
- maturana blanca
What is Vino de Pago?
class for estates superior to their basic DO
What is llicorella and where is it found?
black slate and quartzite soil found in Priorat
Wines of Ribeira del Duero must be what percent tempranillo?
75%
Pena el Gato has wineries in which 3 main regions?
- La Rioja Alta
- Ribeira del Duero
- Rias Baixas
What is the climate of Castilla y Leon?
continental
Catalonia lies close to what French winemaking region?
Roussillon
What is the primary red grape of Toro DO?
tinta del toro (tempranillo)
What red grapes are authorized for use in Navarra DO?
- tempranillo
- graciano
- cab sauv
- syrah
- garnacha tinta
- mazuelo
- merlot
- pinot noir
What is the general age requirement for crianza in Spain?
red - min 24 mos with at least 6 mos in oak
white/rose - min 18 mos with at least 6 mos in oak
What are the primary white grapes of Rueda DO?
- verdejo
- sauv blanc
Ribeiro DO is located along what river?
Mino
What is the aging requirement for Rioja Crianza?
red - min 2 years with at least 1 year in oak
white/rose - min 18 months with at least 6 months in oak
What is the age requirement for Ribeira del Duero Gran Reserva?
red - min 60 months with at least 24 months in oak
white/rose - min 48 months with at least 6 months in oak
What is the age requirement for Rioja Reserva?
red - min 3 years with at least 1 yr in oak and 6 mos in bottle
white/rose - min 2 years with at least 6 months in oak
What are the age requirements for Ribeira del Duero Crianza?
red - min 24 mos with at least 12 mos in oak
white/rose - min 18 mos with at least 6 mos in oak
What is the primary white grape of Valdeorras DO?
godello
In what autonomia is Penedes DO?
Catalonia
In Spanish DO wines, what does ‘noble’ indicate?
min 18 months aging in bottle or cask < 600L
What are the Spanish geographic wine designations?
- Vino
- Vino de la Tierra
- VCIG
- DO
- DOCa
- Vino de Pago
What is vimblanc in Monsant DO?
vi di licor made from pansa grapes
In what DO are the estates Farina and Numanthia Termes found?
Toro DO
What is VDIT in Spain?
Vino de la Tierra, lowest level of quality wine, equivalent to IGP/IGT
What is the climate of Galicia?
cool, maritime
In what autonomia is Monterrei located?
Galicia
What is the dominant grape of Carinena DO?
garnacha
What is vino tostado and where is it the local specialty?
dried grape wine from Ribeira DO
What is the min abv for red Rioja Reserva and Gran Reserva?
12%
What are the 5 subzones of Rias Baixas?
- Val do Salnes
- Ribeira de Ulla
- Soutomaior
- O Rosal
- Condado do Tea
In Spanish DO wines, what doe ‘viejo’ mean?
min aging for 36 months with an oxidative character
In what year was Tierra de Leon upgraded to DO?
2007
In what year was the first vintage of Pingus released?
1995
What is the min abv for red wine from Ribeira del Duero DO?
11.5%
How long must vino espuma from Rioja age on lees?
15 months
What is the min abv in Getariako Txakolina?
9.5%
What is the min abv for varietal godello and mencia in Valdeorras?
11.5%
What are the 4 vinos de Pago of Navarra?
- La Finca Bolandin
- Pago de Arinzano
- Pago de Otazu
- Pago de Iruche
In what DO is Dehesa la Granja estate located?
Tierra del Vino de Zamora
White wine from Ribera de Duero DO must be 75% what variety?
albillo mayor
What is the dominant grape in Campo do Borjo DO?
garnacha
Who produces Finca Altura Maxima?
Colome
What is the min abv for Rias Baixas albarino?
11.3%
What is the min abv for red wines from Priorat?
13.5%
When was Rias Baixas DO established?
1988
What are the authorized grapes in Ribera del Duero DO?
- tinta del pais/tinto fino (tempranillo)
- garnacha
- malbec
- merlot
- albillo mayor
- cab sauv
What is the min percentage of mencia required in Ribeira Sacra Tinto Summum?
60% mencia (must be 85% to be labelled varietally)
Where is Terra Alta DO?
Catalonia
What 2 DO Pago estates are located in Tierra Estella?
- Senorio de Arinzano
- Prado Irache
What DO is associated with the red rufete grape?
Arribes DO
What are the primary red and white grapes of Ribeira DO?
treixadura (white)
caino (red)
When was Carinena DO established?
1932
What white grapes are considered blending grapes in Rueda DO?
- viura
- palomino fino
- viognier
- chardonnay
When was the Cava DO established?
1986
What is Vino de Aguja?
semi sparkling wine
What are the 5 subzones of Ribera Sacra DO?
- Amandi
- Chantada
- Quiroga Bibei
- Riberas do Sil
- Riberas do Mino
What are the 5 subzones of Navarra DO?
- Valdizarbe
- Tierra Estella
- Ribera Alta
- Ribera Baja
- Baja Montana
What are the requirements for Catalayud Superior?
85% old vine garnacha tinta (vines must be min 50 years old)
What are the 2 new Rioja appellations as of 2019?
Vino de Municipio - village level
Vinedo Singular - special vineyard
When was Consejos Reguladores established?
1930
What was the first DO in Castilla y Leon?
Rueda (1980)
What are the 4 DOs of the Aragon autonomia?
- Campo do Borjo
- Catalayud
- Carinena
- Somontano
What are the 5 authorized red grapes in Rueda DO?
- tempranillo
- garnacha tinta
- cab sauv
- merlot
- syrah
What is the minimum vine age in Rioja Vinedos Singolares?
35 years old
In what year was Priorat promoted to DOCa?
2009
In which DO are the grapes alcanon and parraleta found?
Somontano DO
In what year was the village designation (vi di vila) of Priorat authorized?
2009
What are the 5 original ‘clos’ of Priorat?
- Clos Mogador
- Clos Dofi
- Clos Erasmus
- Clos de l’Orbe
- Clos Martinet
What DO is associated with the prieto picudo grape?
Tierra de Leon
What are the authorized white grapes of Toro DO?
- verdejo
- malvasia
What are the top 2 wines of Bodegas Muga?
- Prado Enea
- Torre Muga
What is the general age requirement in Spain for Gran Reserva wine?
red- min 60 mos with at least 18 mos in oak
white/rose - min 48 mos with at least 6 mos in oak
How long must Rioja Espumas de Calidad Gran Reserva age on lees?
36 months
What is the age requirement for Ribera del Duero Reserva?
red- min 36 mos with at least 12 mos in oak
white/rose - min 24 mos with at least 12 mos in oak
What is the general age requirement in Spain for Reserva wines?
red - min 36 mos with at least 12 mos in oak
white/rose - min 24 mos with at least 6 mos in oak
How long must Rioja Espumas de Calidad Reserva age on lees?
24 months
What are the 9 permitted grapes in Cava DO?
- parelllada
- xarello
- macabeu
- chardonnay
- pinot noir
- garnacha tinto
- monastrell
- trepat
- malvasia
What are the primary white grapes of Ribera Sacra DO?
- treixadura
- godello
What are the 5 authorized red grapes in Rioja DOCa?
- tempranillo
- mazuelo
- maturana tinta
- garnacha
- graciano
What are the requirements for Cava de Paraje?
- single estate
- hand harvested
- vines at least 10 years old
- vintage dated
- min 36 months on lees
What are the requirements for Penedes Classic?
- organic grapes
- grower produced
- min 15 months on lees
- vintage dated
- disgorgement date on bottle
In which DO is vino tostado produced?
Ribeiro DO
What are the requirements for Corpinatt wines?
- certified organic grapes
- hand harvested
- min 90% parelladoa/xarello/macabeu
- estate vinified
- min 28 months on lees
What are the primary red grapes of Priorat DO?
- garnacha
- carinena
What is the only red dominant DO in Galicia?
Ribeira Sacra DO
What is the most widely planted grape in Bierzo DO?
Palomino
What are the lees aging requirements for cava, reserva, and gran reserva?
cava - 9 months
cava reserva - 15 months
cava gran reserva - 30 months
mazuela is an alias for what grape?
carignan
Describe Cava de Paraje Calificado
- single parcel
- min 3 years on lees
What is arrope?
concentrated grape must heated and reduced to 1/3 of its original volume
What is pantomima?
Concentrated grape must heated and reduced to 50% of its original volume
How many DOs are in Spain?
68
How many DO Pagos are in Spain?
17
What size must a Rioja cask be?
225 L
What is the hottest subregion of Rioja?
Rioja Oriental
What is the oldest winery in Haro?
Lopez de Heredia (1877)
What year did it become legal to print single vineyard names on the labels in Rioja?
2018
What are the requirements for printing a single vineyard on a wine label in Rioja?
- The vineyards soil must be assessed.
- The vines must be at least 35 years old
- The estate must have proof that it has been working with the vines for at least 10 years
- The wines must pass a tasting panel
- Grapes must be hand harvested at at least 20 hectolitres per hectares less than for regional wines
Where is Lopez de Heredia located?
Haro in Rioja Alta
What wine styles are made by Lopez de Heredia from the Vineyard Vina Tondonia?
- White
- Rose
- Red
What is the most prominent white grape of Navarra?
chardonnay
Who produces Castilla y Gay?
Marques de Murrieta
What does the name Rias Baixas mean?
The name means low estuaries and refers to the four estuaries located on the south west coast of Galicia Spain
Name the 4 estuaries in Rias Baixas
- Ría de Muros y Noia
- Ría de Arousa
- Ría de Pontevedra
- Ría de Vigo
What is Spain’s largest autonomia?
Castilla y Leon
Describe the style of Vega Sicilia’s Unico?
A blend of Tinta del Pais, (tempranillo), Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot the wine goes though long periods of sometimes more than 10 years of oxidative ageing in French and American oak barrels
Who is the winemaker of Pingus?
Peter Sisseck
Why is the 1995 vintage of Pingus significant?
It was the first vintage of the wine. Robert Parker declared it one of the greatest and most exciting wines he had ever tasted.
In November 1997 a ship transporting 75 cases disappeared somewhere in the North Atlantic Ocean. This has a dramatic reaction in the US market and prices rose significantly`
What is the second wine of Pingus?
Flor de Pingus
What is the name of the project founded by Pingus in conjunction with local producers to make an old vine tempranillo called?
PSI
What is the assemblage of Pingus?
100% Tinto Fino
What is the assemblage of Pesquera?
100% Tempranillo
Where else in the world does Pingus make wine?
- Chateau Rocheyron in St. Emilion
- Clos d’Agon in Catalonia
Where else in the world does Vega Sicilia make wine?
- Pintia in Toro
- Alion in Ribero del duero
- Oremus in Tokaji
When was Descendants de J Palacios founded? Who founded it?
1999 by Alvaro Palacios with his nephew Ricardo Palacios
What are the 2 main towns of the Ribera del Duero DO?
- Penanel
- Aranda de Duero
When did Vega Sicilias’s Unico first receive international acclaim and who was the winemaker?
First received acclaim at the Barcelona wine fair for it’s 1917 and 1918 vintages. Domingo Txomin was the winemaker
Who makes Pesquera?
Alejandro Fernandez
Who rejuvenated the Verdejo grape in Rueda?
Marques de Riscal
What is Vino Espumoso mean in Rueda DO?
Traditional method sparkling wines from the Rueda DO that must be aged for 9 months on lees. Made principally from the Verdejo grape 9min 85%)
Describe the wine style Clarete wines of the Ribeira del Duero
A lighter style of wine blended from red and white grapes
Which well known wine maker from the Ribera del Duero has an estate in the Tierra de Vino de Zamora DO?
Pesquera’s Alejandro Fernandez owns the Dehesa la Granja Estate
What wine style is Cigales DO particularly well know for?
Rosado and nuevo rosado production
Name the DOs within the Catalunya autonomia
Alella DO
Catalunya DO
Cava DO
Conca de Barberà DO
Costers del Segre DO
Empordà DO
Montsant DO
Penedès DO
Pla de Bages DO
Priorat DOQ
Tarragona DO
Terra Alta DO
In what decade did Miguel Torres introduce stainless steel fermentation to Spain?
1960’s
Name the 5 producers who were part of the Priorat project in the 1980s
Alvaro Palacios
Rene Barbier
Carles Pastrana
Jose Luis Perez
Daphne Glorian
Who is the winemaker of Clos Erasmus?
Daphne Glorian
What DO surrounds Priorat DO?
Montsant DO
What percentage of Cava is produced in Penedes?
95%
Who introduced metodo tradicional sparkling wine to Spain in 1872?
Jose Raventos
Were else in the world do Cordoniu produce wine?
Carneros Napa Valley
What are the cava sweetness levels?
Brut Nature 0-3 g/l
Extra brut 0-6 g/l
Brut 0-12 g/l
Extra Dry/Extra Sec 12-17 g/l
Dry/Sec 17-32 g/l
Semi Dry/Semi Sec 32-50 g/l
Dolce > 50 g.l
When was the Cava DO established?
1986
Which grape variety is a historical specialty of Baix Penedes?
Malvasia de Sitges
What is always printed on a Cava cork?
A four pointed star
Which DO of Spain borders Banyuls in Roussillon?
Emporda DO
What wine style is a focus in the Emporda DO?
Rosados made from Carinena
Wines aged on lees for 4 years or more can be release without disgorgement with what name?
“No Dejorhat” or “No Degollat”.
What is Elabrador Integral?
a stamp that indicates that the producer carries out the entire production themselves, from grape-growing to bottling.
“Vi de Vila” and “Vi de Finca” wines must include a what percent of recommended grapes?
- 60% if more than one grape is used
- 50% if only one is present. (Garnacha/Carignan)
What is Vi di Pararge?
100% single zone sourced
Define Vi de Vinya Classificada and Vi de Gran Vinya Classificada
Vi de Vinya Classificada - Quality vineyard designation given to single parcel wines by the Consell.
Vi de Gran Vinya Classificada - Top-Quality vineyard designation given to single parcel wines by the Consell.
Define Velles Vinyas
Classification given to vines over 75 years old
What are the subzones of Granada DO?
- Contraviesa Alpujarra
- Geoparque Norte
- Poniente
What are the indigenous white and red grapes of Somontano DO?
- white - alcanon
- red - parraleta
What are the reqiurements for Toro DO sparkling wine (new as of 2024)?
- min 11% abv
- min 9 mos on lees
- malvasia castellano, muscat blanc, verdejo, albillo real (white grapes allowed)
- tinta del toro, garnacha tinta (red grapes allowed)
- red, white, and rose sparkling allowed
What is the new DO Pago of Aragon?
Vino de Pago Urbezo
- all grape growing and winemaking must be certified organoc
What are the allowed grapes of Vino de Pago Urbezo?
white
- chardonnay
- garnacha blanco
- muscat of alexandria
red
- cab sauv
- garnacha tinta
- mazuelo
- merlot
- syrah
- tempranillo
What is the avb for albarino in Rias Baixas vs Minho?
Minho - min 11%
Rias Baixas - min 11.3%