Spain 1 Flashcards
Spain Production?
0.95 million ha; 50 million hl; country with biggest acreage under the vine and in 2012 the biggest producer in the world.
Spain Regulations?
Production and labeling are governed by the Instituto de Denominaciones de Origen (INDO) which is controlled by administrative growers committees or Consejos Regulados.
Spain Quality Levels?
There are six quality levels: Vino de Mesa (VdM); Vino Comarcal (VC); Vino de la Tierra (VdlT); Vinos de Calidad con Indicacion Geografica (VCIG); Denominacion de Origen (DO); and Denominacion de Origen Calificada (DOCa).
Vino Comarcal (VC)?
Vino Comarcal (VC) is a regional wine. It is a slightly higher-quality table wine which may be sold under a region and vintage. Some growers prefer to produce higher quality wine under this category.
Vino de la Tierra (VdlT)?
Vino de la Tierra (VdlT) is country wine; similar classification to the VdP of France and IGT of Italy. These wines are from a local region with a specific local character and are expected to achieve DO status within five years of being registered.
Vinos de Pagos?
Top quality wines from single estates but are not necessarily higher quality than DO or DOCa wines. These wines must be from single estates and produced on the estate; so producers who buy in grapes or whose winery is not on this estate cannot use this categorization; these rules out a large number of the top quality wines.
Joven?
Joven means no cask aging; or less than the legal minimum for Crianza wines.
Crianza?
Red wines must be matured for two calendar years following the harvest; including a minimum of six months in barricas (225 liter oak casks); which means a 2004 vintage may be sold from January 1 2007. White and rose must be matured for one calendar year; of which six months must be in barricas. Rioja; Ribera del Duero; and Navarra require one year in barrel for reds.
Reserva?
Red wines must be matured for three calendar years following the harvest; including a minimum of one year in barricas. White and rose must be matured for two calendar years; of which six months must be in barricas.
Gran Reserva?
Red wines must be matured for five calendar years following the harvest; including a minimum of 18 months in barricas. White and rose must be matured for four calendar years; of which six months must be in barricas. Rioja; Ribera del Duero; and Navarra require two years in barrel for reds.
Noble?
Noble wine has been matured 18 months in cask (min size 60 liters). The term can be applied only to a Vino de la Tierra wine or better.
Añejo?
Añejo wine has been aged 24 months in cask (min size 60 liters). The term can be applied only to a Vino de la Tierra wine or better.
Viejo?
Viejo wine must undergo 36 months aging in cask (min size 60 liters) and the wines must show an oxidative character. The term can be applied only to a Vino de la Tierra wine or better.
Andalucía?
This is the hottest part of Spain and has traditionally been associated with strong; alcoholic wines.
Jerez?
Jerez de la Frontera is the home of Sherry; other two towns are Puerto de Santa Maria and Sanlucar de Barrameda.
Málaga?
The Consejo Regulador recognizes 16 different types of wine ranging from sweet to dry with an alcoholic strength between 15 and 23 per cent. Most wines are deep brown; intensely sweet; and raisiny; some tasting slightly burnt through the addition of too much arrope. Dry wines are paler with a rather undistinguished nutty character.
Malaga Styles?
The most common styles are as follows: Lágrima; Moscatel; and Pedro Ximénez.
Lágrima?
Intensely sweet wine made from free-run juice without any mechanical pressing.
Moscatel?
Sweet; aromatic wine made exclusively from Moscatel de Alejandría grapes.
Pedro Ximénez?
(occasionally labelled Pedro Ximen): sweet wine made exclusively from PX grapes.
Málaga Ageing Requirements?
Pálido: 0 months oak; Málaga: At least 6 months oak; Noble: At least 24 months oak; Añejo: At least 36 months oak; Trasañejo: At least 60 months oak.
Sierras de Málaga DO?
Red; rosé and white still; dry wines can be produced within Sierras de Malaga. Unlike its counterpart Malaga; which focuses on two varieties; Sierras de Malaga encompasses many.
Sierras de Málaga DO red varieties?
Rome; Cabernet Sauvignon; Merlot; Tempranillo; Syrah; Grenache; Pinot Noir; Cabernet Franc; Graciano; Malbec and Petit Verdot are all in use.
Sierras de Málaga DO white varieties?
Pedro Ximenez; Moscatel; Macabeo; Sauvignon Blanc; Chardonnay; Colombard; Airen; Riesling; Verdejo; Viognier and Doradilla are all permitted.
Montilla-Moriles DO?
Wine-making practices in Montilla parallel those for Sherry; however in the hot climate of Montilla-Moriles; far removed from the cooling winds of the Atlantic; the flor is usually less thick than in Jerez and the wines tend to have less finesse as a result.
Montilla-Moriles DO varieties?
Pedro Ximénez (70%); Lairén (Airén) and Muscat of Alexandria.
Montilla-Moriles DO labeling?
The terms Fino; Amontillado; and Oloroso are permitted on Montilla labels within Spain but may not be used in other European Union countries where is used Pale Dry; Medium Dry; Pale Cream; and Cream.
Condado de Huelva DO?
Since 2009; red wines made from Syrah; Tempranillo; Merlot; Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc may now be produced in the DO’s wines.
Condado de Huelva Joven?
Unfortified dry table wine made from the region’s predominant variety; Zalema.
Vinos Generosos?
Fortified wines aged for a minimum of three years made from Palomino; Garrido; or Listan de Huelva.
Palido?
Dry; matured in a solera under a blanket of flor.
Viejo?
Rancio style.
Vinos Generosos de Licor?
Sweet fortified wines with a higher alcohol content.
Andalucia Lesser Regions?
Granada VCIG; Cadiz VT; Laderas del Genil VT; Laujar-Alpujarra VT; Ribera del Andarax VT; Sierra Norte de Sevilla VT; Sierra Sur de Jaen VT
Aragón?
One of Spain’s 17 autonomous regions; Zaragoza is its capital. Climatically; Aragon is a land of extremes so wines are extremely versatile in style. Overall; it can be termed as moderate continental; with altitude acting as the main determinant.
Aragón DO Zones?
Somontano DO; Campo de Borja DO; Carinena DO; and Calatayud DO.
Somontano DO?
The name Somontano means ‘under the mountains’; the region sits in the foothills of the central Pyrenees Mountains less than 35 miles (60km) from France. The overall climate is continental; but the mighty Pyrénées have a profound effect on the local weather.
Somontano DO red varieties?
The red Moristel grape (no relation with Monastrell) dominates; closely followed by the newly planted varieties imported into the region such as Tempranillo; Cabernet Sauvignon; Merlot; and even Pinot Noir. Parraleta and Garnacha.
Somontano DO white varieties?
The traditional Macabeo and almost extinct Alcañón have been joined by Chardonnay and Gewürztraminer. The modern; crisp wines now produced have nothing in common with Somontano’s traditional; rustic wines.
Somontano DO Producers?
Bodega Pirineos; once the region’s co-operative; together with the ultra-modern; recently created wineries Viñas del Vero (vintage 1986) and Enate (1991); make virtually all Somontano’s wine.
Campo de Borja DO?
Although the region has an overall continental climate altitude is very important; rain is scarce; frosts and hail pose a real threat. Some locals refer to the region is El Imperio de la Garnacha (the Empire of Garnacha). Cierzo is a cool; harsh; dry; northerly wind.
Campo de Borja DO red varieties?
Garnacha reigns supreme here producing some of the best examples of this variety: concentrated; powerful and very aromatic. Other grape varieties of interest are Tempranillo; Cabernet Sauvignon; Merlot; Mazuelo (Carinena) and Syrah.
