Spain Flashcards
Who established the value of viticulture and wine as a commodity in Andalucía and when?
The Phoenicians
1100 BCE
When did phylloxera hit Spain and where?
near the dawn of the 20th century
Rioja
Who brought stainless steel and temperature-controlled fermentations to Catalonia in the 1960s?
Miguel Torres
When Denominación de Origen regulations finally approved for Rioja?
1970’s
What represents the two highest tiers of quality wine?
Denominación de Origen (DO)
Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa)
When were the first DO’s awarded?
1932
What are the aging requirements for General DO and Doca?
What is the additional terminology used for aging of DOP wines?
Noble: 18 months aging in a cask of less than 600 L or bottle
Añejo: 24 months aging in a cask of less than 600 L or bottle
Viejo: 36 months aging in a cask of less than 600 L or bottle, demonstrates marked oxidative character
Map of Rioja
What are the regions of North - Central Spain?
Navarra
La Rioja
Aragon
What are the mountain ranges near North Central Spain?
Pyrenees Mountains to the Northeast (which divide France and Spain)
Cantabrian Mountains to the northwest
Which river emerges from the western Cantabrian Mountains and flows southeasterly passing through Rioja?
Ebro River
In the middle ages who guided viticulture in Rioja?
Christian monks
Who is The 13th century Benedictine clergyman that is famous in Rioja?
Gonzalo de Berceo
What are the four main red grapes of Rioja?
Tempranillo (the main grape)
Mazuelo (Carignan), Graciano, and Garnacha are the blending grapes
What is the synonym of Carignan?
Mazuelo
Which blending grape was authorized for Rioja in 2007?
Maturana Tinta
These 5 main red grapes must make up how much of the blend?
85% or 95% if destemmed
Cab Sauv or other experimental grapes may make up the rest
Viura is the name of the grape in Rioja. What is known as anywhere else?
Macabeo
What are the main white grapes of Rioja?
Viura (Macabeo) (the main grape)
Garnacha Blanc,
Malvasia Riojano
Maturana Blanca
What are the white grapes of Rioja that are permitted in blends?
Chardonnay Tempranillo Blanco Sauvignon Blanc Verdejo Viura
What are the Red wine aging requirements in Rioja?
Red
Crianza wines require a total two years of aging prior to release, with a minimum year in oak.
Red reserva wines are aged for three years, including one year in oak.
Gran Reserva red wines must age for at least two years in cask and two years in bottle, with a total aging of at least 60 months.
Rioja casks must be what size?
225 liters
size of a barrique
What are the white and rose aging requirements in Rioja?
crianza wines age for eighteen months
reserva wines for two years
gran reserva wines age for four
All three categories require a minimum six months in cask.
Whereas producers may age white and rosado crianza wines in a non-oxidative environment like stainless steel, reserva wines must remain in oak or bottle for the the minimum period of aging.
What are the subzones of Rioja?
Rioja Alta
Rioja Alavesa
Rioja Oriental (formerly known as Rioja Baja)
Which subzone is the smallest in Rioja?
Rioja Alavesa
Which subzone is the northernmost in Rioja?
Rioja Alavesa
Which subzone is the southwestern zone in Rioja?
Rioja Alta
Which subzone of Rioja is this?
its slightly warmer climate the zone is capable of producing classic, ageworthy Tempranillo, Mazuelo and Graciano.
Rioja Alta
Which subzone in Rioja is the hottest?
Rioja Oriental
What is the soil types of Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa?
high proportion of calcareous clay
What is the soil type of Rioja Oriental?
contains more alluvial soils and ferrous clay
Which grape performs best in Rioja Oriental?
Garnacha
When blending wines from all three subzones of Rioja what characteristics are they getting from each subzone?
combining the freshness of Rioja Alavesa
the extract and alcoholic warmth of Rioja Oriental
the acidity and structure of Rioja Alta.
Which subzone is Lopez de Heredia in?
Rioja Alta
When did the single vineyard category in Rioja pass?
2017
As of 2018 what can winemakers register their single vineyard wines as?
Viñedos Singulares and print official single vineyard names on their labels
What needs to happen in order to be registered as a single vineyard bottling in Rioja?
To be a single vineyard, the vineyard’s soil must be assessed, the vines must be at least 35 years old, the estate must have proof that it has been working with the vineyard for at least 10 years, and the wine must pass a tasting panel.
The grapes must also be hand-harvested at a significantly lower yield than what is typically required of regional wines.
What other category besides single vineyard was added in 2018 in Rioja?
Vino Espumoso de Calidad category was added for traditional method sparkling wine
What does it take to be labeled as Vino Espumoso de Calidad?
To be labeled as such, the grapes must be hand-harvested, and the entire winemaking process must take place at the same facility (that is, it cannot be moved at any stage of the process).
Brut Nature, Extra Brut, and Brut styles are allowed.
What are the aging requirements of Vino Espumoso in Rioja?
requires a minimum of 15 months lees aging, whereas
Reserva and Gran Anãda require 24 and 36 months, respectively.
Gran Anãda wines must be produced with fruit harvested during a single vintage, and this date must be stated on the label.
Where is Navarra DO located?
Navarra DO is adjacent to the northern and eastern borders of Rioja
What is Navarra DO famous for?
Rosado
What are the main red grapes of Navarra DO?
Garnacha and Tempranillo
What is the most prominent white grape in Navarra DO?
Chardonnay
What are the five subzones of Navarra DO?
the higher altitude: Valdizarbe Baja Montaña Tierra Estella in the north
in the center of the zone:
Ribera Alta
in the hot southern sector:
Ribera Baja
As a testament to the rising quality of Navarra’s red wines, three estates recently received their own DO Pago appellations: What are they?
Señorío de Arínzano
Prado Irache in Tierra Estella
Bodegas Otazu in Valdizarbe
Where is Aragon located?
to the east of Rioja and Navarra
What are the four DO’s of Aragon?
Campo de Borja
Calatayud
Cariñena
Somontano
What is the main grape of Camp de Borja DO?
Garnacha
What styles of wine are made in Aragon?
White
Rosado
Red
What are the main grapes of Aragon?
Virua
Garnacha
Tempranillo
What are main grapes of Somontano DO?
local grapes such as the white Alcañón and red Parraleta, as well as a larger complement of Spanish and international varieties.
What rain shadow is Ribera Baja in?
SIERRA DEL MONCAYO
When was Rioja DOCa Status?
1991
How long has Rioja been a viable wine producing area?
Over 2000 years
What river is Rioja named after?
The Oja, a smaller tributary of the Ebro
How much of the blend must the primary white grapes make up in Rioja?
50% of the blend
Name the 4 principal white grapes of Rioja?
Viura
Chardonnay
Sauvignon Blanc
Verdejo
Name the 5 authorized red grapes of Rioja
Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo, Graciano, Maturana Tinta
Which sub region of Rioja does Ysios produce it’s wines?
Rioja Alavesa
What is the oldest winery in Haro?
Lopez de Heredia
When was Lopez de Heredia founded?
1877
What wine styles are made by Lopez de Heredia from the Vineyard Vina Tondonia?
White
Rosado
Red
What wine styles are allowed in Navarra DO?
Blanco
Rosado
Tinto
Vino de Licor
The Carinena DO is the ancestral home of which grape variety?
Carignan/Mazuelo grape
Who produces Castilla y Gay?
Marques de Murrieta
What is VdIT?
Vino de la Tierra. The lowest level of quality wine falls within the Eu’s IGP which is slowly replacing it.
What is Galacia’s nickname?
Green Spain
What is the climate of Galacia?
Maritime
Name the 5 DO’s of Galacia?
- Rias Baixas
- Ribeiro
- Ribeira Sacra
- Valdeorras
- Monterrei
What are the 5 subzones of Rias Baixas?
Ribeira do Ulla Val do Salnés Soutomaior Condado do Tea O Rosal
What is the main grape of Rias Baixas?
Albarino
When a wine is labeled Rias Baixas Albarino what does that mean?
it will be 100% Albarino
If the wine label has a subzone on it that means how much Albarino needs to be in the blend?
70%
What are the blending grapes of Rias Baixas?
Northern Subzone Albariño Loureiro Treixadura Caiño Blanco
Southern Subzone
Loureira
Treixadura
Name some characteristics of Albarino.
Albariño wines tend to show stone fruit and citrus flowers, with an undercurrent of minerality.
What are the red grapes of Rias Baixas?
Caiño
Espadeiro
Mencía
but nearly 96% of the vineyard acreage in Rías Baixas is devoted to Albariño.
Blank is one of Spain’s oldest recognized wine regions, and the wines have always been popular with Spaniards.
Ribeiro DO
Where is Ribeiro located?
Along the Miño River to the east of Rías Baixas
What is the main white and red grape of Ribeiro?
Treixadura
Caiño
What is a local specialty in Ribeiro called?
Vino Tostado
What are the 5 subregions of Ribeira Sacra?
Amandi Chantada Quiroga-Bibei Riberas do Sil Riberas do Miño