Other Spain Flashcards
Basque Country
AKA Euskadi or Pais Vasco
Stretches along the north coast of Spain.
Main vineyard area split by Cantabrian cordillera. In the sheltered area in the south are vineyards of Rioja Alavesa (Rioja). In the north around Bilbao and San Sebastian are three DO’s that make Txakoli.
The Txakoli DO’s are not sheltered from the Atlantic and have a moderate maritime climate. Rainfall as high as 1,600mm. Canopy ventilation to prevent fungal disease very important.
Main white grape is Hondarrabi Zuri. Fermented in stainless and bottled soon after with high acid, med minus body, low alcohol, pear, lemon, sometimes a slight spritz.
Some are making examples with more texture and complexity either with lees contact, oak maturation (old wood or small bit of new), or bottle aging before release.
Vast majority is white but rosado, red, sweet white and sparkling also made.
Sierra de Gredos
Mountain range to the west of Madrid. No DO of its own and depending on grape origin may be labeled: Vinos de Madrid DO, Mentrida DO (within Castilla La Mancha), Cabreros DO, or Castilla y Leon VT.
Mostly inexpensive high vol wines with a few producers focusing on quality.
Old vine Garnacha at 600 - 1,200m. Continental climate with altitude cooling. High diurnal range for acid retention. Lighter style with lighter tannin, med plus acid and fresh strawberry and cherry. Alcohol levels can still be high. Low intervention, ambient yeasts, low SO2. Good to very good and mid to prem.
Albillo Real most common white. Full bodied, citrus, floral, med to med plus acid. Some are fermented and/or matured in oak. Others fermented on skins.
The Islands
Balearic Islands: Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, Formentara. 60 miles from east coast of Spain. Mallorca has two DO’s and a number of VT’s on the other islands. Mant Negro (light colored, high alcohol, red fruit) and Callet (med to med plus acid, med alcohol, red fruit), Monastrell, Tempranillo, Malvasia as well as Cab Sauv, Merlot, Syrah, Chard.
Canary Islands: off the coast of Morocco and 500km south of Madeira. 28 deg north for an element of tropical (hot and humid). Many islands are mountainous and vineyards as high as 1,500m for cooler days and wide diurnal ranges.
Rugged topography makes mechanization impossible. Wide variety of grapes on original rootstock as phylloxera never arrived.
Each island has its own DO and Tenerife (largest island) has five. Here most common grapes are Listan Negro, Malvasia, Listan Bianco (Palomino) with a wide variety of others often in field blends.
Listan Negro is light to med body, med tannin, raspberry and plum. Carbonic often used to make fruity early drinking wines. Some undergo traditional fermentation and oak aging.
Viticulture of Valle de Orotavo in Tenerife is distinct with several vines twisted together to form long ropes trained on low wires and growing up and down the hillsides.
Island of Lanzarote is dissimilar with flat terrain covered in a layer of volcanic ash. Vines are planted in craters dug into the ash and surrounded by stone walls to protect them winds and capture any moisture. This leads to very low density planting and low yields. Malvasia is the dominant grape made in dry and sweet styles
