Northern Spain Flashcards
Place the DOs of Galicia in order from West to East
Rias Baixas Ribeiro Ribeira Sacra Monterrei Valdeoras
Which DO of Galicia is farthest north?
Ribeira Sacra and Valdeorras are both the farthest south
Which DO or DOs of Galicia are closest to Portugal and share a border?
Rias Baixas- the Condado do Tea and O Rosal subzones
Monterrei
Which of these regions is most inland?
Arabako Txakolina
Getariako Txakolina
Bizkaiko Txakolina
Arabako Txakolina is most inland, Getariako and Bizkaiko are closest to the Bay of Biscay.
What is the elevation of Rias Baixas?
0-115 meters
What are the permitted grapes of Rias Baixas?
Albariño, Loureira, Treixadura, Cainao Blanca, Torrontes, Godello.
Caiño Tinto, Espadiero, Loureira Tinta, Souson, Mencía, Brancellao
What styles are permitted in Rias Baixas?
100% Albariño Blanco Blanco Barrica Blanco with Subzone Tinto Espumoso
How long must a Blanco Barrica wine from Rias Biaxas be aged in oak?
3 months in wood
What is the soil type in Rias Baixas?
Alluvial, granite and slate.
Val do Salnes: alluvial over granite O Rosal: Alluvial over granite Soutomaior: alluvial over granite Condado do Tea- granite and slate Ribeiro Do Ulla- alluvial
What styles of wine are permitted in Ribeiro DO?
Espumoso Blanco Blanco Castes Tinto Tinto Castes Barrica Blanco and Tinto Vino Tostado
What is the soil type of Ribeiro DO?
Decomposed granite, mica and schist
What are the geographic influences on Ribeiro DO?
The Atlantic Ocean and the Miño River influence this region.
What are the rules for Vino Tostado in Ribeiro DO?
Minimum aged 6 months in oak or cherry casks with three months in the bottle. Grapes must be dried for at least 3 months. Min. RS is 120g/l
What are the permitted grapes in Ribeiro DO?
Treixadura, Torrontes, Godello, Lado, Albariño, Caiño Blanco
Caiño Tinto, Ferris, Souson, Brancellao, Mencía, Garnacha, Tintorera, Tempranillo.
What are the subzones of Ribeira Sacra DO?
Amanda Chantada Riberas do Miño Ribeiras do Sil Quiroga-Bibei
What is the minimum required of principle grapes in Ribeiro DO?
There are no miminum requirements for blends on any wines in this DO
What is the minimum amount of principle grapes required for red and white wines in Ribeira Sacra DO?
For Tinto, 70% principle red grapes are requires. There is no basic Blanco category here, only Blanco Summum which requires 100% principle white grapes, and also Blanco Barrica. For Tinto Summum and Tinto Barrica 85% of principle grapes are required, or 60% Mencía.
What are the permitted grapes for Ribeira Sacra DO?
Albariño Godello Treixadura Loureira Torrontes Dona Branca Mencía Mere Zac Brancellao Souson Caiño Tinto Tempranillo
What are the aging requirements for the wines from Ribeira Sacra?
The only wines that have an aging requirement are the Barrica wines:
Blanco: 3 months in wood barrel 600L or less
Tinto: Min 6 months in barrel of 500L or less
Where is the Monterrei DO located?
In the Galicia province, on the border of Portugal- east of Rias Baixas
What are the subzones of Monterrrei DO?
Valle de Monterrei
Leaders de Monterrei
Where would you find the River Tamega?
Running through the Monterrei DO in Galicia
Which styles of wine can be produced in the Monterrei DO?
Blanco and Tinto, both require 60% recommended grapes.
What is the soil type of Monterrei DO?
Alluvial clay
What aging requirements are dictated in Monterrei?
Same as the national requirements for Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva.
Arauxa is a synonym for which grape in Monterrei?
Tempranillo
Name a few synonyms for Tempranillo in Spain.
Arauxa
Tinto Fino
Tinto del Pais
Tinta de Toro
What are the permitted grapes in Monterrei DO?
Dona Branca, Godello, Treixadura, Albariño, Blanca de Monterrei, Caiño Blanco, Loureira
Mencía, Merenzao (Bastardo), Caiño Tinto, Souson, Arauxa
What is the soil type of Valdeorras?
Slate, Granite, Calcareous clay and Alluvial
What wine styles can be produced in Valdeorras DO?
Blanco Tinto Espumoso Tostado Varietal Godello and Mencía Valdeorras “Castes Nobles”- 85% recommended varieties
What are the DOs of Castilla y Leon?
Arlanza
Aribes
Bierzo
Cigales
Ribeira del Duero Rueda Tierra de Leon Tierra del Vino de Zamora Toro
What is the name of the river that runs through Bierzo?
The Sil River
What is the climate of Castilla y Leon?
Continental moderated by the Atlantic and the Mediterranean
The Meseta Central and the mountains that encircle it
What percentage of Mencía is required in Bierzo DO for red and rose wines?
70% for reds and 50% for roses.
Name some top bottlings of Mencía from Bierzo?
Palacios “Corrullon”
Domino de Tares
Pittacum
What does “VCIG” or “VC” stand for in relation to Spanish wine?
Vinos de Calidad con Indicacion Geografica
It is a stepping stone to DO
What are the VCIGs of Castilla y Leon?
Sierra de Salamanca
Valleys de Benauente
Valtiendas
Where is the Cigales DO?
It is in Castilla y Leon-
A white wine from Cigales DO is dominant of which grape?
Blanco must be 50% Verdejo
What wine styles are permitted in Cigales DO?
Blanco, Rosado, Tinto, Vino Dulce, and Vino Espumoso
A Tinto wine from Cigales must be what percentage of primary grapes???
Must be 50% recommended red varieties which are Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah
What are the major grapes permitted in Cigales DO?
Whites: Verdejo, Albillo, Viura, SB
Reds: Cabernet, Merlot, Syrah
What is Corpinnat?
This is a special designation for Spanish sparkling wine producers from specific parts of the Penedes region. They left the Cava DO because they wanted to protect the integrity of Cava in the heart of where it started. Corpinnat means “Born in the heart of Penedes.” 9 producers who represent only 1% of production, but 30% of the grand reserve and Paraje bottlings. Grapes must be organic, hand picked, 75% estate grapes. Native grapes must be 90%, 18 months age.
What is the minimum time on the lees for the following: Cava de Paraje Corpinnat Franciacorta Saten and Rose Austrian Sekt Grosse Reserve
Cava de Paraje- 36 months (same as vintage Champagne)
Corpinnat- 18 months
Franciacorta Saten and Rose- 24 months
Sekt- 30 months
What is the label term for a Rueda wine that has been aged in barrel?
Fermentado en Barrica
What is the oldest label designation for a port?
Muito Velho- must be minimum 40 years old
Name some Vi de Vila of Priorat
Gratallops Escaladei La Morra de Montsant Porrera Torrontes del Priorat Solanes del Terme de El Molar Bellmunt del Priorat Poboleda La Vilella Baixa La Vilella Alta
What is vina de aguja?
Semi-sparkling wine of Spain
What is the required cepage of white Rioja?
Must be 100% authorized grapes. 50% of the blend must be principle grapes which are Viura, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Verdejo.
What is the cepage of Rioja Tinto?
95% authorized grapes if destemmed and 85% if whole cluster. Tempranillo is the primary grape, secondaries are Grenache, Mazuelo, Graciano, Maturana Tinta.
What are the regions in Spain that have different age requirements than the standard for the country?
Rioja and Ribera del Duero
What are the aging requirements for Priorat?
They are the same as general Spanish regulations: Blanco: Crianza 18 months/6 in oak Reserva 2 years/ 6 in oak Gran Reserva 4 years/ 6 in oak
Tinto:
Crianza 2 years/ 6 in oak
Reserva 3 years/ 12 months oak
Gran Reserva/ 5 years/ 18 months oak
What are the aging requirements for wines from Ribera del Duero?
Crianza Blanco/Rosado: 18 months/ 6 in oak
Crianza Tinto: 2 years/ 1 in oak
Tinto Reserva: 3 years/ 1 in oak
Tinto Gran Reserva: 5 years/ 2 in oak/ 36 months bottle
There is no Reserva or Gran Reserva category for Blanco or Rosado wines here.
What are the major white and red grapes of Toro?
Verdejo, Malvasia, Tempranillo, Garnacha
What additional aging terms can Spanish producers put on their bottles?
Noble- 18 months in cask or bottle
Anejo: 2 years in cask or bottle
Viejo: 3 years and shows oxidative character
What are the aging requirements for Rioja Blanco?
Crianza: 2 years/ 6 months oak (six months longer total aging)
Reserva: 2 years/ 6 months oak (same as general Spanish)
Gran Reserva: 4 years/ 6 months oak (same as general Spanish)
What are the aging requirements for Rioja Tinto?
Crianza: 2 years/ 1 in oak (six months longe oak aging)
Reserva: 3 years/ 1 in oak/ 6 months bottle (same as genera)
Gran Reserva: 5 years/ 2 in oak/ 2 in bottle (six months longer oak aging)
What are the aging terms for Vino Espumosa Calidad?
15 months on the lees
24 months on the lees
36 months on the lees
What is Tempranillo called in Ribera del Duero?
Tinto de Pais
What is the minimum amount of Tempranillo required in Ribera del Duero?
75%
Rene Barbier was the winemaker of which original Clos of Priorat?
Clos Magador
What body of water is next to Barcelona and Catalonia?
THe Balaeric Sea. The Mediterranean is below it.
Caiño Tinto from Spain in Galicia is known as what in Portugal?
Borracal
What is the main grape varietal of Calatayud DO? Where is this?
This DO is in Aragon in Northern Spain. The main grape is Grenache. The elevation is high, 800 meters, encircled. By Sistema Iberico Ranges. The soils are loose and rocky. Calatayud Superior is the top style.
Name three regions of Spain where Grenache is the #1 grape varietal.
Calatayud
Campo de Borja
Cariñena - all in Aragon
Priorat (blended with Carignan)
Describe the DO of Campo de Borja?
This is one of the DOs in Aragon in Northern Spain. It is high elevation like Calatayud and Cariñena and also focuses on the Grenache grape. It is south of the Ebro River and north of the La Huecha River. Romans and the Cistercians were responsible for planting grapes here. Altitude is key here, 350-550 meter elevation. The Cierzo wind can be an issue here. The climate is continental.
Where is the Cariñena DO?
In Aragon. Specializes in Grenache. Winemaking since the Roman times. 400-800 meters elevation along the plains of the Ebro River. Continental climate and affected by the Cierzo northerly wind which keeps humidity low.
How does the Somontano DO differ from the other DOs of Aragon? (Campo di Borja, Cariñena, Calatayud, Navarra)
Somontano is in the foothills of the Pyrenees and isn’t at high elevation like the other areas. There is higher rainfall here, and also an abundance of rivers and creeks. The soils are clay and sandstone. Coops are big here..
Which subregion of Rioja is most influenced by the Atlantic and which is most influenced by the Mediterranean?
Rioja Alavesa is closest to the Atlantic and most influenced. Rioja oriental is in the eastern section and heavily influenced by the Mediterranean. It is dryer and warmer in Oriental and there is more emphasis on Grenache.
What three new label terms have been added to the Rioja region?
Vinos Singulares- single vineyard wines
Vino Municipio - village
Vinos de Zona - one of the subzones listed
When did Romain viticulture flourish in Northern Spain?
From 200 BC until the 6th century AD. In the 8th century the Moors ruled and viticulture suffered.
What is the ABRA organization?
Rioja Alavesa producers lobbying for a new DO to elevate their region. Highly driven by Basque producers and politics. “Rioja Vinedos de Alava,” is what is proposed.
Who makes La Faraona? What is the DO and the grape varietal?
Palacios, Mencia from Bierzo
What is the region and grape varietal for Teso La Monja?
Tempranillo from Toro
Which subregion of Rioja has the most limestone in the soil? How does this affect the wines?
Rioja Alavesa has more limestone that Rioja Alta. It is also higher in elevation and closest to the Atlantic. The wines have more acid than other subregions.
Which region is Sierra Cantabria Magijo from?
This is a top wine from Rioja. Very expensive. Was on the top 10 most expensive Spanish wine list on Wine Searcher.
Who makes the wine PSI and what is the varietal/ DO?
Dominio de Pingus, Tempranillo from Ribera del Duero
What are the permitted grapes for Cava?
Parellada Xarel-lo Macabeau (Viura) Chardonnay Malvasia
What is the minimum amount of Verdejo for Rueda blanco?
50%
What are the requirements for Verdejo in the espumante wines from Rueda?
50% for secco or semi secco
85% for brut or brut nature
What is Rueda Dorado?
This is an oxidatively aged Vino de Licor made from 50% Verdejo. Must be 15% alcohol. Must be aged for 2 years. This is like an amontillado sherry
Which subregions of Rias Baixas are on the Mino river?
O Rosal and Condado do Tea
Which subregion of Vinho Verde is across the river from Condado do Tea?
Monaco y Melgaco
Which region of Rias Baixas is farthest north?
Ribeira do Ulla
Which area of Rias Baixas has the most vineyard land planted and most producers?
Val do Salnes is the oldest subregion and has the most vineyard area under vine. Before Spain entered the EU, this region was designated for the Albariño grape. Since the EU doesn’t recognize single varietal DOs, Spain had to change this to Rias Baixas. This is also the coolest and wettest of the subregions.
What is the smallest region of Rias Baixas?
Soutomaior- sandy soils and granite rock
Which is the newest of the subregions of Rias Baixas?
Ribeira do Ulla is the newest as of 2000. Also is located inland on the Ulla river. Alluvial soils here.
What are the rules for a single vineyard wine from Rioja?
35 year old vines 10 year history with the vineyard Wines tasted and approved by a panel Hand harvested 20hl/ha
Where would most of the joven style wines be produced in the Rioja region?
Rioja Alavesa. Carbonic maceration is common. The soils structure here is the same as Rioja Alta. Lots of calcareous clay while Oriental has more alluvial and ferrous clay.
What are the main grapes of Txakolina?
Whites: Ondarrabi Zuri (Petit Corbu) Folle Blanche (Mune Mahatsa) Gros Manseng (Izkiriota) Petit Manseng (Izkiriota Ttippia) SB, Chardonnay, Riesling
Tinto: Ondarrabi Beltza
What are the main grapes in Cava production?
Parellada, Xarel-lo, Macabeu, Chardonnay, Pinot, Trepat, Monastrell, Malvasia, Garanacha Tinta.
