Pais Vasco

Question 1

1. What is the language of the Basques?
2. What are fueros?
3. 1623 first reference to what wine?

Answer 1

1. Euskera
2. Certain privileges in exchange for loyalty (e.g. to Kingdom of Castile)
3. vino chacolin (chacolil taxkoli wine)

Question 2

1. Who is the father of Basque nationalism?
2. What is the ETA?
3. What 3 provinces reunified as Euskadi in 1978? Which refused to join?

Answer 2

1. Sabino Arana
2. Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (vs. Franco,, 1959)
3. Alava, Vizcaya, Guipuzcoa. Navarra went its own way

Question 3

1. Which is the unofficial capital?

2. Largest city?

Answer 3

1. Vitoria-Gasteiz in Alava

2. Bilbao (345K)

Question 4

Climate:

1. VIzcaya and Guipuzcoa?
2. Alava?

Answer 4

1. Maritime

2. Continental with maritime influences

Question 5

What are the 3 distinct areas of Pais Vasco?

Answer 5

Atlantic Basin (most of Vizcaya and Guipuzcoa), inner mountain ranges/Montes Vascos, Ebro River Plan (Alava)

Question 6

Soils:

1. Guipuzcoa?
2. Vizcaya?
3. Alava?

Answer 6

1. sandy topsoil with alluvial clay subsoils
2. shallow clay-loam topsoil with limestone subsoil
3. alluvial with gravelly clay, but DO area is limestone

Question 7

1. Pais Vasco: Red or white, and which grape?
2. What type of wine style and how served?
3. Which is the only red grape?

Answer 7

1. white (95%), Hondarribi Zuri (90% of planting)
2. crisp, high acid, aromas of citrus and white flowers. poured from height to help aerate
3. Hondarribi Beltza

Question 8

Pais Vasco:

1. Dry or wet?
2. Majority of vineyards on coast, plains, or hillsides?
3. Dominant method of vine training?

Answer 8

1. one of the WETTEST areas in Spain
2. Coast and on hillsides
3. Parral (some espaldera)

Question 9

1. How is Txakoli produced?
2. in DOs, varietal wine must have minimum ___ % of stated varietal.
3. Vinos rosados must have minimum ___ % of ___.

Answer 9

1. destemmed grapes, macerate on skins first, then 2-3 week fermentation. Traditionally in 1L foudres, but not more SS tanks.
2. 85%
3. 50% Hondarribi Beltza

Question 10

DO Arabako Txakolina/Txakoli de Alava:

1. Wine styles?
2. Soils?
3. Climate?
4. Preferred grapes?
5. Dry or wet?
6. Training method?
7. Wine traits?

Answer 10

1. White 95%, Espumoso 6%
2. Limestone with stone/clay
3. Maritime
4. Handarrribi Zuri and Beltza
5. Driest and most continental of Pais Vasco regions
6. Espaldera
7. Riper, richer, fuller bodied than other 2 regions

Question 11

DO Bizkaiko Txakolina/Txakoli de Bizkaia: (Vizcaya)

1. Wine styles?
2. Soils?
3. Climate?
4. Preferred grapes?
5. Coast/low foothills training method?
6. Inland vineyards training method?
7. Wine traits?

Answer 11

1. White 99%
2. Clay-loam, limestone, marl
3. Maritime, rain 47”/year
4. Hondarribi Zuri and Beltza
5. Parral
6. Espaldera (subject to Foehn wines in September)
7. Light, easy drining, floral, citrus, prickly palate with high acidity

Question 12

DO Getariako Txakolina/Txakoli de Getaria (Guipuzcoa)

1. WIne styles?
2. Soils?
3. Climate?
4. Preferred grapes?
5. Training method?
6. Wine traits?

Answer 12

1. White 93%, Rosado 6%
2. Sandy topsoil with alluvial clay subsoil
3. Maritime, rain 63”/year
4. Hondarribi Zuri, Beltza
5. Parral
6. Similar to Bizkaiko