País Vasco Flashcards by Rob Findlay

Where are the 7 Basque provinces?

3 in País Vasco
1 is Navarra
3 in France

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Name the 3 Basque provinces in País Vasco

Álava (Araba)
Vizcaya (Bizkaia)
Guipúzcoa (Gipuzkoa)

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País Vasco is bordered by…?

Bay of Biscay
Cantabria
Castilla y León
La Rioja and Ebro river
Navarra
France

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Capital, largest city of País Vasco?

No official capital
Basque government HQ: Vitoria-Gastiez in Álava
Bilbao largest city

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Wettest Spanish wine region

Getaria in Guipúzcoa, País Vasco

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Climate of País Vasco, and how does it change moving south?

Maritime, more continental with oceanic influences towards Castilla y León

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Climate of Viscaya and Guipúzcoa?

Maritime: cool, damp, temperate

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Viscaya and Guipúzcoa: average temperatures in winter, summer

cool winter (9ºC average)
warm summer (20ºC average)

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Describe winter precipitation in Viscaya and Guipúzcoa

occasional snow, frost, much rain

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Annual rainfall in Bilbao, San Sebastián

Bilbao high (1,200 mm/yr)
San Sebastián very high (1,500 mm/yr)
Rains year-round

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Climate of Álava

continental with maritime influences (mountainous)

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How does climate of Álava compare with Viscaya and Guipúzcoa?

winters colder
summers warmer
more diurnal range
drier

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Name the three topographic zones of País Vasco

Atlantic basin
Montes Vascos
Ebro river basin

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Describe the Atlantic basin of País Vasco

North coast
cliffs, valleys, short rivers
contains majority of Vizcaya, Guipúzcoa and most txakoli vineyards

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Describe the Montes Vascos area of País Vasco

E section of Cordillera Cantábrica
(up to 1,551m)
parallel mountains separated by the high Álava plain
rivers flow S into Ebro

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Spanish name of the Ebro river basin of País Vasco, which wine region shares it, what is its climate?

Rioja Alavesa
shared with DOCa La Rioja
continental

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País Vasco soils are rich in…?

organic matter

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Describe the soils of Guipúzcoa in the East of País Vasco

sandy topsoil over alluivial clay

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Describe the soils of Vizcaya in País Vasco

shallow acidic clay-loam topsoil over limestone

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Describe the soils of Álava in the south of País Vasco

alluvial with gravelly clay
except DO in the north which is limestone

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Name the wine unique to País Vasco

Txakoli

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Likely origin of the name Txakoli

from Basque etxakoa (made at home)

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Traditional way to serve Txakoli

traditionally for personal consumption
small servings
poured from height to aerate
accompanies Basque tapas (pintxos)

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País Vasco wine: majority colour, percentage

95% blanco

País Vasco wine: majority grape, percentage

90% Hondarribi Zuri (Zuri means white)

Describe Hondarribi Zuri wines

crisp, acid pale yellow citrus / white flowers

Basque name for Petit Courbu

Hondarribi Zuri Zerratia

Basque name for Gros Manseng, Petit Manseng

Izkiriota Izkiriota Ttippia

What is País Vasco's only red grape?

Hondarribi Beltza

What does the grape name Hondarribi come from?

Hondarribia is a town in Guipúzcoa, País Vasco

Name three international grapes grown in País Vasco

Sauvignon Blanc Riesling Chardonnay

Name all the 'preferred' grapes of País Vasco

Hondarribi Zuri Hondarribi Beltza

Majority of vineyards in País Vasco are on what kind of terrain?

Near coast or on hillsides

Most common training system for País Vasco vines? Pros and cons? What is the alternative?

Parral Provides good airflow in this wet, humid, mildew prone area. Labour intensive canopy management and hand harvesting. Espaldera

Outline the production method for Txakoli wines (4 steps)

destem macerate 2-3 week fermentation (traditionally in 1,000L foudres, increasingly in stainless steel) optional lees contact for a few weeks

In País Vasco, some winemakers are experimenting with...? (6)

longer lees ageing concrete oak/acacia barrels carbonic maceration blends rosado / tinto / espumoso / dulce

Name the three DOs in País Vasco

DO Arabako Txacolina / Txakoli de Álava / Chacolí de Álava DO Bizkaiko Txakolina / Txakoli de Bizkaia / Chacolí de Bizkaia DO Getariako Txakolina / Txakoli de Getaria / Chacolí de Getaria

DO Arabako Txacolina makes 6% of what?

Espumoso

DO Getariako Txakolina makes 6% of what?

Rosado

Soil types of the three País Vasco DOs

Arabako Txacolina: limestone, stone, clay Bizkaiko Txakolina: clay-loam at coast, limestone marl inland Getariako Txakolina: sand over alluvial clay

Which País Vasco DO has the lowest average annual rainfall? And the highest?

Lowest rainfall: Arabako Txacolina (900mm) then Bizkaiko Txakolina (1,200mm) Highest rainfall: Getariako Txakolina (1,600mm)

Which País Vasco DO has the lowest elevation? and the highest?

Highest elevation: Arabako Txacolina: (100-200m) Bizkaiko Txakolina (50-200m, avg 150m) Lowest elevation: Getariako Txakolina (0-200m)

Which País Vasco DO has the smallest vineyard? Which uses mainly espaldera training?

Arabako Txacolina: smallest (95 ha), espaldera (Bizkaiko Txakolina: 403 ha, parral at coast, espaldera inland Getariako Txakolina: 427 ha, parral - most within 1km of sea)

Which DO of País Vasco is newest?

Arabako Txacolina

Which DO of País Vasco is driest?

Arabako Txacolina

Which DO of País Vasco benefits from foehn winds?

Bizkaiko Txakolina Foehn is strongest in September

Which DO of País Vasco is easternmost?

Getariako Txakolina

In which DO of País Vasco are most vines within 1km of the sea?

Getariako Txakolina

Which DO of País Vasco was expanded in 2007 to cover its entire province?

Getariako Txakolina to cover Guipúzco

Which DO of País Vasco has the highest rainfall of any wine region in Spain?

Getariako Txakolina 1,600 mm of rain annually

Which two DOs of País Vasco make txakoli that is "light and easy-drinking with floral notes and tangy citrus and green apple fruit... slightly prickly with a mouthwatering acidity"?

Bizkaiko Txakolina Getariako Txakolina

Year of earliest written record of commercial wine production in País Vasco

964

Year of first reference to vino chacolín (chacolí / txakoli) wine?

1623

List five disasters that befell the wine industry in País Vasco in the late 19C

powdery mildew phylloxera competition from foreign wines changing consumer tastes workforce shift to industry

Who did the Basques side with in the Spanish Civil War?

Republic (against Franco) gaining autonomy briefly

How did Franco suppress the Basques, and what was the reaction?

Removed all signs of Basque independence. Banned Basque language. Basque nationalism transformed into political terrorism as ETA.

In what year did the few remaining País Vasco winemakers create an association, and what was it called?

1980 Association of Txakolineros of Bizkaia (Viscaya)

In what year was the quality of País Vasco wine recognised with the first DO? Which was it?

1989 DO Getariako Txakolina