Slide Pack 6

Question 1

Popular Spanish style red blend?

Answer 1

Rioja Red

Question 2

Grapes common to Spanish style red blend?

Answer 2

1) Tempranillo
2) Graciano
3) Garnacha (Grenache)
4) Mazuelo (Carignan)
5) May find Cab Sauv, Merlot, Malbec and Syrah
6) Lesser known Maturana Tinta

Question 3

Rioja region (Rioja Alta, Alavesa, Oriental) is known for?

Answer 3

Age worthy reds with dominate cherry character based on Tempranillo, Graciano, Carignan

Question 4

Priorat region (West of Barcelona) is known for?

Answer 4

Dusty red wines with black cherry made primarily from Tempranillo and Grenache

Question 5

Ribera Del Duero region (south of Rioja) is known for?

Answer 5

Powerful reds based on Tempranillo but can also find Cab Sauv, Malbec and/or Merlot with extended oak aging. Home of Vega Sicilia

Question 6

La Mancha and Valdepenas region (south of Madrid)

Answer 6

Value driven reds based on Tempranillo with added Cab Sauv, Merlot, Syrah, etc

Question 7

Spanish red blend star performer?

Answer 7

Tempranillo

Question 8

Tempranillo in Spanish blend provides?

Answer 8

Medium+ body with American oak aging to beef up tannins

Question 9

Tempranillo in Spanish blend contributes?

Answer 9

Maximum to the frontend of the wine, less on mid-palate and low to medium acid levels

Question 10

Tempranillo dominates blends with?

Answer 10

Strong black cherry characteristics from tart red to black cherry going from higher to lower elevations. SAME IN TEXAS

Question 11

With more aging, Tempranillo offers?

Answer 11

Notes of cedar, tobacco and dried fig. Handles oak aging very well that brings a strong tannic edge to wines

Question 12

Spanish red blend role player?

Answer 12

Graciano

Question 13

Graciano in Spanish blends is generally under appreciated but?

Answer 13

Is the binding force in a conventional Spanish Rioja red blend

Question 14

Graciano produces?

Answer 14

1) Low yields
2) Ripens late
3) Contributes high acidity
4) Has disease issues

Question 15

Graciano provides support on the?

Answer 15

Mid-palate in red blends with tobacco and smoky nuances

Question 16

Carignan in Spanish red blends is?

Answer 16

The unsung hero

Question 17

Carignan is present in blends in amounts of?

Answer 17

Up to 10%

Question 18

In Spain, Carignan crops?

Answer 18

Well and provides both med-full body, moderate tannins and medium acidity

Question 19

Carignan characteristics?

Answer 19

1) Dried red fruits (cranberries)
2) Raspberries
3) Licorice
4) Game and baking spices
5) Under right conditions, provides ripe fruit and moderate alcohol

Question 20

Tempranillo is a Spanish rioja blend sensation with strict rules about blending and oak aging - T or F

Answer 20

True

Question 21

Spanish Tempranillo is a blend made with other Spanish varieties to do what?

Answer 21

Augment its structure and improve performance in the winery and glass

Question 22

In Rioja, Tempranillo is the dominant grape. What are others used for?

Answer 22

1) Garnacha is added for fruitiness
2) Carignan and Graciano used to add acidity and mid-palate body

Question 23

Many of the best, most expensive and most age worthy Spanish style blends are?

Answer 23

Oak aged for periods up to 5 years

Question 24

In Spain, oak from the new world was brought from the Americas including Mexico and Texas in the 1600’s starting their tradition of using American oak - T or F

Answer 24

True

Question 25

American oak aged Spanish blends were called?

Answer 25

1) Old Fashioned
2) Spicy
3) Punchy style

Question 26

Modern techniques for Spanish blends to create a softer and more sophisticated red is to use?

Answer 26

French oak

Question 27

Today in Rioja, vineyards are?

Answer 27

1) 80% Tempranillo
2) 10% Carignan
3) 2% Graciano
4) 8% other

Question 28

Single varietals of Tempranillo are hard to find in Texas - T or F

Answer 28

False

Question 29

Tempranillos in Texas are becoming more blended with varietals such as?

Answer 29

1) Graciano
2) Carignan
3) Tannat
4) Mourvedre
5) Cab Sauv
6) Merlot
7) Others

Question 30

Most Texas Tempranillos are aged?

Answer 30

1) aged in oak for 1 to 2 years
2) Held for 6 months in bottle

Question 31

In Rioja terms, Texas Tempranillos would be considered?

Answer 31

Crianza and not Reserva or Gran Reserva based on limited aging

Question 32

Five levels of Spanish Tempranillo blends?

Answer 32

1) Generic - no aging
2) Crianza - aged 1 year in barrel
3) Reserva - aged 3 years w/ at least 1 in barrel
4) Gran Reserva - 5 years aging w/ at least 2 in barrel and 2 in bottle
5) Gran Anada - Sparkling with at least 3 years aging on the lees

Question 33

Spanish blends outside of Rioja use Bordeaux varieties such as?

Answer 33

1) Cab Sauv
2) Merlot
3) Malbec

Question 34

Bordeaux varietals are used in Spanish blends to add what?

Answer 34

1) Body
2) Tannin
3) Structure

Question 35

Priorat Region vineyards are?

Answer 35

1) 10% Garnacha (Grenache)
2) 30% Carinena (Carignan)
3) 15% Cab Sauv
4) 10% Syrah
5) 5% Merlot
6) 30% Tempranillo

Question 36

Texas style Tempranillo makes wonderful roses - T or F

Answer 36

True

Question 37

Tempranillo Roses can be made with the Saignee method which is?

Answer 37

To bleed off a portion of the red wine juice after it has been in contact with the skin and seeds