Paìs Vasco Flashcards
History
Basque - original inhabitants of Europe
Language unrelated to any other
Romans- Vasconia
Visigoths attacked
Franks
Independent from Moors
Navarra Kingdom controlled from Pamplona- first wine reference
Kingdom of Castile
13-15c wine
17c vino chacolin
18c Bourbon French
19c Capture of San Sebastain by British- looting
Phylloxera and mildew and lack of vineyard workers=> decline
20c industrialised and immigration
Basque with Left Republic in Civil war
Guernica bombed by German planes
Franco forbade Basque language
ETA formed
1980 Association of Txakolineros producers
After democracy in 1978 three regions formed Basque Country- Navarra separate
Fueros
Privileges granted by Kingdom of Castile to Basque Country
Local ordinances in Middle Ages
No wine to be imported until all the wine had been drunk from the current vintage
Sabino Arana
Basque writer 1865-1903
Father of Nationalism
Purity of Basque race
PNV31
=> ETA Basque terrorists
Txakoli
Local wine of Pais Vasco
Location
Basque territory includes 3 provinces in France and 4 in Spain
Paìs Vasco= Àlava, Viscaya, Guipùzcoa (Navarra independent)
N=Bay of Biscay
E=France and Navarra
S=La Rioja (Ebro river)
W= Cantabria and Castilla y Leon
Capital=Vitoria-Gasteiz
Largest city=Bilbao
Climate
Maritime= Viz’ and Guip’
Continental inland (little wine)
Atlantic influence
Temperate
1200mm rain
No dry season in North
Topography
3 areas
Atlantic basin - valleys and short rivers
Inner Mountain ranges- Montes Vasco
Alava plains
Ebro river basin
What are the main soil types found in each of the key areas of Pais Vasco
Guipuzcoa- sand and clay
Vizcaya- clay and limestone
Alava - gravelly clay and limestone
What is Txakoli
Wine of Pais Vasco
“Etxakoa”= made at home
20c association to revive wine
Which grapes are found for red and white in Pais Vasco
Hondarribi Zara = white, 3 types
Crisp, acidic, pale, citrus and flowers
Hondarribi Beltza = red
What type of VTS is found in Pais Vasco and what are the characteristics of the vineyards?
Very wet so vines on Parral system = improved airflow
Tradition of small family vineyards
Mostly coastal or hillside
Parral = labour intensive
Modern is espaldera
What are 3 key elements of vinification in Pais Vasco
1 Stem/destemmed/whole bunches
2 maceration
3 Fermentation
Destemmed grapes
Macerate on skins
2-3 week fermentation
Larges wooden barrels foudres(=> stainless steel tanks)
Experimenting - new styles - lees aging, barrel, blending
What are Foudres
1,000 litre barrel
What is the minimum requirement for red grapes in Vinos rosados
At least 50% Hondarribi Beltza
Which topographic feature marks the Southern border of Pais Vasco
Ebro River
What are the names of the three provinces of Pais Vasco
Alava
Vizcaya
Guipuzcoa
What is the Easternmost and wettest DO of PV
Getariako Txakolina
What is the sole red grape authorised in the 3 Basque regions
Hondarribi Beltza
What is the main white grape of the 3 Basque DOs
Hondarribi Zuri
The Pais Vasco coastal provinces of Vizcaya and Guipuzcoa are largely continental with some maritime influence.. True or False
False - both are maritime
Approx what % of wine made in 3 Basque DOs is white
95%
In which Pais Vasco Province did producers form the Txakoli Winemakers Association in 1980s
Vizcaya
Which is the smallest and driest DO in PV
Arabako Tzakolina
What are the 3 provinces of Pais Vasco
Alava Viscaya and Guipuzkoa
DO Arabako Txacolina/ Txakoli de Alava / Chacoli de Alava
Date awarded
2001
DO Arabako Txacolina/ Txakoli de Alava / Chacoli de Alava
wine style
94% Blanco
DO Arabako Txacolina/ Txakoli de Alava / Chacoli de Alava
Climate
Maritime
DO Arabako Txacolina/ Txakoli de Alava / Chacoli de Alava
Soils
Limestone plus stone and clay
DO Arabako Txacolina/ Txakoli de Alava / Chacoli de Alava
Grapes
Hondarribi Zuri
DO Arabako Txacolina/ Txakoli de Alava / Chacoli de Alava
Main points
Smallest area
NW of Pais Vasco under Bizkaliko
Driest and most continental
Richer and riper
DO Bizkaiko Txacolina/ Txakoli de Bizkaia / Chacoli de Bizkaia
Date awarded
1994
DO Bizkaiko Txacolina/ Txakoli de Bizkaia / Chacoli de Bizkaia
Wine Style
Blanco =99%
DO Bizkaiko Txacolina/ Txakoli de Bizkaia / Chacoli de Bizkaia
Climate
Maritime
DO Bizkaiko Txacolina/ Txakoli de Bizkaia / Chacoli de Bizkaia
Soils
Clay loam
Limestone
Marl
DO Bizkaiko Txacolina/ Txakoli de Bizkaia / Chacoli de Bizkaia
Grapes
Hondarrabi Zuri
DO Bizkaiko Txacolina/ Txakoli de Bizkaia / Chacoli de Bizkaia
Main points
Near coast
Parral VTS
Subject to Foehn effect
Winemakers Assocaition=Txakoli Winemakers Association
DO Getariako Txakolina/ Txakoli de Geteria / Chacoli de Geteria
Date awarded
1989
DO Getariako Txakolina/ Txakoli de Geteria / Chacoli de Geteria
Wine styles
93% Blanco
DO Getariako Txakolina/ Txakoli de Geteria / Chacoli de Geteria
Climate
Maritime
Highest rainfall in Spain
DO Getariako Txakolina/ Txakoli de Geteria / Chacoli de Geteria
Soils
Sandy topsoil with clay subsoil
DO Getariako Txakolina/ Txakoli de Geteria / Chacoli de Geteria
Grapes
Hondarrabi Zuri
DO Getariako Txakolina/ Txakoli de Geteria / Chacoli de Geteria
Main points
Oldest region
Easternmost
Highest rainfall
Parral VTS
Also Hondarrabi Beltza (little)
Pais Vasco OCW
The Basque country (País Vasco in Castilian, Euskadi in Basque) is the most ferociously independent of all Spain’s 17 autonomous regions. This densely populated, heavily industrialized strip of country facing the Bay of Biscay is not normally associated with wine, even though the important rioja region stretches north of the River Ebro into the Basque province of Alava where the Rioja Alavesa subregion is located—home to such important estates as Marqués de Riscal, Contino, Artadi, Martínez Bujanda, Remelluri, and Remírez de Ganuza. The three wholly Basque dos are the tiny region of Getariako txakolina on the coast 25 km/15 miles west of San Sebastián, the smaller Bizkaiko Txakolina around Bilbao, and the newest one, Arabako Txakolina.
France
Txakoli - OCW
