Spain Flashcards
Vineyard management in spain
Low density planting - 1k per hectare as low rainfall
Irrigation allowed but diff rules in the regions
Old bush vines - low yields
Small holdings so mechanisation limited
Contolling legislative body
Conserjo regulador
Climate in NW spain
Moderate maritime - Atlantic influence, high rainfall
Climate in N spain
Continental
Mountains give shelter from Atlantic influence
Climate ne spain
Mediterranean
What are the main hazards in growing grapes in Spain
Grape moths - pheromone traps Heat Lack of water - not NE Spring frosts - continental areas Heavy storms in growing season with sharp increase in temp - increases mildew risk
What is the recent popularity of Tempranillo thought to be closely associated with
Growth of Spainish wines internationally
Consumer association of Tempranillo with Rioja (leading wine region)
Characteristics of Tempranillo grape
M- H yields depending on site
Early ripening so best where cooling influence
Thick skinned
M acidity- best diurnal range so can ripen & retain acidity
Wine making for youthful fruity red, white and rose styles in general in spain
Protective
Fermented stainless steel temp controlled inert gas
Cultured yeasts
Fining &/or filteration
Some inexpensive to mid priced reds may have carbonic/semi carbonic to enhance fruit
Wine making premium red & ehite wines in general in spain
Temp controlled
Stainless steel fermentation- some use concrete tanks/eggs
Oak common mid priced & red wines
Top whites generally fermented & matured in oak
Minimum ageing and time spent in barrel for criantha red & white rioja
Red
24m ageing
12m oak (6m national nth)
White/rose
24m ageing (18m natiomal nth)
6m barrel
Min ageing and time in barrel Reserva Rioja
Red
36m ageing
12m oak
6m bottle (n/a for national nth)
White/rose
24 ageing
6 barrel
Min ageing and time doent in barrel gran reserva
Red
60m ageing
24m oak (18m national nth)
2 in bottle (n/a national)
White/rose
48 ageing
6 barrel
What term means no ageing requirement in spain
Generic
What does legislation specify about osk vessels
Max size
225l barrique Rioja
330l general
Why have the minimum ageing requirements been criticised
Suggests quality hierarchy but not necessary appropriate some styles and misleading for some wines
No quality requirements specified- age or oak origin
Provides little indication of style, quality for customer
No vineyard or winery practices specified
Regions ageing requirements commonly used
Rioja
Navarra
Name a region ageing requirement not really used
Priorat
Rose wines in spain are mainly
Inexpensive Bulk wines
Classically deep in colour
Some pale provence style
Rose wine making Spain
Fermented stainless steel
Bottled soon after
More expensive maybe fermented and matured oak or stored on lees
Traditional style done by a few producers: Black & white grapes Macerated Pressed Fermented together Aged long time in oak
What is the spanish term for pdo
DO denomination de origin
What is the Spanish term for pgi
VT Vino de la Tierra
What is VP Vino de pago
Category applies to small number of single estates with high reputations
Majority in castilla la mancha
Which 2 wine regions have staus DOCa - denomination de origin califocada
Rioja
Priorat
Bottling within region specified for DOCa & most DOs. name a DO which doesn’t have to bottle in region
La mancha - allows to be bulk shipped
Route to market spanish wines
Co-ops
Negociants common some regions
Spains is the largest exporter of wine but average prices is one of the lowest why
Large amount of inexpensive wine
Largest export of bulk wines
Main export markets spain
France
Germany
Beliw less volume but imp for higher priced wines
Uk
Usa
China
Climaye rias baixas
Maritime
High annual rainfall
Fungal disease risk
Rain @ harvest risk
Soils rias baixas
Free draining
Sand over granite rock bed
Characteristics Albariño grape
Thick skin- less prone to rot
Early to mid ripening
Style Albariño
H acidity M abv M- to m body Apple lemon grapefruit peach Good to v good
Viticulture rias baixas
Pergola granite supports - humid, air circulation, decrease fungal risk
Vsp trellissing - bigger growers for mechanisation
Wine making rias baixas
Protective
Maybe macerated few hours to enhance flavour & add texture
Cool fermentation stainless steel
Mlf - sometimes partial mlf to reduce malic acid in cool yrs
Inexpensive released early
More expensive lees ageing 1-2 yes not stirred (do aboids O2)
Some ferment oak to old add texture & new for toast
Market rias baixas
Domestic (75%)
Usa
Uk
Galician wine regions with a continental climate
Ribeira Sacra DO Monterrel DO (mencia & godello) Ribeiro DO (local grapes) Valdeorras DO godello
General rule &/or godello, mencia grapes
Style mencia
Red cherry, raspberry M tannins M body M+ acidity Mid priced Early drinking
Where is the commune castilla y leon
N spain Includes: ribera del duero do Rueda do Toro do Bierzo do
Climate bierzo do
Moderate Continental
Some maritime influence
Soils & wine type on flat plains bierzo do
Fertile silty loam - high yields
In expensive to mid priced
Early drinking style
Best vineyards bierzo do
Slopes - gd drainage, dirunal range, poor slate soil limits vigour
Old vines - lower yields (usually bush trained)
Main grape bierzo do
Mencia
Price & wuality wine from bierzo do
Mid to premium
V good to outstanding
Usually oaked
Main grape variety Toro do
Tinta de toro
Like Ribera del duero climate and wines
red grape like tempranillo but thicker skins so more colour & tannin
Climate toro do
Continental
Altitude
Risk spring frosts
Viticulture toro do
Limited water - low density planting
Bush vines
Sandy soul so many ungrafted
Winemaking toro do
Inexpensive to mid - early drinking, piss carbonic maceration
Premium + oak
Ribera del duero do had an increase in popularity in 80’s why and what are the potential issues
Near Madrid popular fine wine drinkers
International acclaim
Danger of quality of production decreasing with new winery finding feet
Mkt riberia del duero do
Domestic 80%
Swiss
Mexico
Usa
Climate Ribera del duero do
Continental warm
Altitude & aspects
Risk frost soring & autumn - heaters, sprinklers, helicopter
Low rainfall - irrigation permitted
Vine training ribera del duero do
50:50 bush vine & trellis newer vineyards
Style ribera del duero do red
F body H abv Blackberry, plum, vanilla, chocolate Good to outstanding Mid to premium
Climate rueda do
Continental
Altitude - diurnal range
Low fertility, free draining soil - (limestone, Sandy clay, stoney soil)
Main grapes rueda do
Verdejo
Sauvignon Blanc
Style verdejo
M to m+ acit
M abv
Apple peach fennel
Viticulture rueda do
Vsp trellised - harvest @ night
Wine making rueda do
Protective Cool temp Cultured yeast Mid priced have lees ageing Mlf avoided
Mkt rueda do
Mostly domestic
Netherlands
Germany
Who uses castilla y leon vt
Producers outside do boundaries
Producers in do boundaries making style or grape varieties not permitted in do
Plantings for castilla y leon vt
Low most wine is do
Climate rioja
continental with maritime influence
Seirra de cantabria mountains in N protect from Atlantic weather
Mountains in S shelter from warmer weather centre of country
Risk climate change - drought
What are the 3 zones in Rioja
Rioja alta
Rioja oriental
Rioja alavesa
Why have some peeps suggested re-mapping & naming rioja zones
Topography snd soils eithin zones v diff
Rioja alta area
Largest area
Some maritime influence
Around ebro - low altitude, alluvial soil, warm
NW- cooler wetter calcareous clay soil
S - altitude, cool & wet, ferrous clay patches
Rioja alaresa area
Cool, wet, calcareous clay soil
Like NW alta
Rioja oriental area
N around ebro - low altitude, warm, driest rioja area
S - altitude m, calcareous clay & ferrous clay soil
Climate change rioja
Altitudes more viable as previously would have struggled to ripen
Low altitude rioja oriental most at risk ss warm & already suffers drought
Vine training in rioja
Trellised with vsp for mechanisation
Old bush vines
In rioja oriental what have quality producers started doing
Replanting grenache - better suited to drought conditions than early ripening tempranillo
(Other rioja regions cooling influence so suited to tempranillo)
What does Tempranillo add to rioja
Black plum raspberry
M to m+ tannins & acidity
What is Grenache known as in Spain
Garnacha
What does grenache add to blends
Ripe strawberry
Lower tannins
Full body
What does graciano add to blends
H tannins & acidity
Fresh black fruit flavours
Characteristics graciano
Late ripening
Drought resistant
Small yields
Susceptible fungal disease
What is macabeo known as in rioja
Viura
Characteristics viura/macabeo
Late budding
Late ripening
Susceptible botrytis- best warm sites
Neutral - range of styles
Styles of viura
High yields - early drinking , simple
Low yields & oak - complex with long ageing ability
General wine style trends in rioja red
Highlight characteristics & quality grape
Harvest dates often earlier
Gentle extraction
Old or larger oak or concreete or amphora
Shorter maceration
French oak more common
Are diff grape varieties and diff Rioja zones blended
Yes - lots if co-ops & small growers
Grenache best oriental
Tempranillo alto & alavesa
Some si gle vineyards made - LAN
Style inexpensive white rioja
Simple Unoaked Early drinking Protective wine making cool temps Acceptable to good M acidity
Style mid priced to premium white rioja
Oaked Lower yields- more concentration & body M + body & acidity Citrus, smoke, nuts Good to v good
Oxidative clasdic style white rioja
Outstanding
H acidity
Nuts, honey, dried fruit
Super premium
Regulator body spain
Conserjo regulador there is a governing body in each region
What new terms can be added to rioja labels from 2018
Vino de zona
Vino de municipio
Single vineyard
What is vino de zona
85% grapes sourced ftom single zone e.g rioja alto
15% can come from outside zone if been doing 10 years
Vinified, bottled, ageing all in zone
What is vino de muncipio
Grapes sourced muncipio (village, or group of villages)
Same 15% rule as vino de zona
Vinification, bottling, ageing all in muncipio
What is single vineyard Rioja
Grapes sourced one of the formal named vineyards/estates Vinifier, bottled, aged same winery Vineyard min 35 years old Producer owned 10 years min Hand harvested Sustainable practices Wine authorised by a panel
Vineyard holdings in rioja are mostly ….
Small vineyard plots
Route to market rioja
Co- ops to merchants
Or co-ops for own brand
Mkt rioja
Domestic 63% (mainly criantha) Export more gran & reserva Uk Germany Us
Why is there good value inexpensive rioja
Land cheap
Grape prices cheap in warm/flatter areas
Do Rioja wines sell at prestigious italy & french prices
No there are few super premium wines
What message does the conserjo regulador highlight in local mkts for rioja
Value for money
Diversity
Which wine region is navarra nxt to
Rioja - is NE of it
Main grape varieties navarra
Tempranillo - varietal Cab sav - blend Merlot - blend Garnacha - historically most planted Chardonnay
Styles of red wine navarra
Fruity light bodied early drinking
Fuller bodied, concentrated oaked wines (french & american)
Good to v good
Inexpensive to mid
What do critics argue about Navarra’s diversity
Focus single signature variety
Old vine granache highest potential
Navarra rose grapes
Garnacha
S/times blended with tempranillo, cab sav or merlo
Navarra rose style
Deep coloured
Dry
Navarra rose winemaking
Picked early - higher acidity Short maceration on skins (direct press not allowed) 3-4 hour for pale, 6-12 deeper coloured Stainless steel ferment Bottled soon after so fresh Some use oak
NTH What are the 4 principal do’s in aragon ne Spain
Carinena do *
Campi de borja do
Calatayud do *
Somontano do
Climate aragon
Warm continental
Vineyards altitude & high plateaus - diurnal range
Cold wind - moderates temp, slows ripening
Risk spring frost
Low rainfall
Low disease pressure
Msin grape varieties aragon ex somontano do
Grenache
Viticulture aragon ex somontano do
Bush vines
Low density planting
Rocky soil
Majority of wine in aragon ex somontano do
High volume inexpensive red
Early drinking
Nth Some old vine Grenache and Carignan premium
What is helping to transform aragons ex somontano image
Quality focused old vine garnacha producers
Mid to premium priced lightly Oaked
NTH Main grape varieties somontano do in aragon
Cab sav
Chardonnay
NTH Styke & price somontano do aragon
Mid priced
Good to v good
Issue for somontano do wines
Competition larger better known regions around the world for these grapes
Main do’s in catalunya
Catalunya do Penedes do Priorat doq Montsant do Costers del segre do
Who uses Catalynya do and what are the requirements
Used by large producers for inexpensive & mid priced wines
Grapes anywhere in region
More grape varieties permitted
Widely recognised in export mkts
Penedes do climate
Warm Mediterranean Varying altitudes: Flatter & warmer nearer the sea Inland flat plains altotude cooling influence Inland cooler mountains altitude
Grape variety penedes
Xarel lo Macabeo (Cava area) Chardonnay Merlot
Climate in priorat
Warm continental Mountains in N protect from cool wind Mountains S protect Mediterranean sea Risk spring frost Dry - irrigation permitted in driest yrs Altitude - diurnal range
Viticulture priorat
By hand - steep slopes - increases costs
Old vineyards - low density bush vines
New vineyards - vsp trellised where can
Soils priorat
V poor & stoney, low nutrients
Slate based (llicorella, red slate over schist, reflects light & heat)
Roots can grow deep
Where are the vineyards in priorat
Steep slopes
Ir narrow terraces - reduce erosion & rain soaks in better
Max yields priorat
Low (39)
Can be 5-6 crazy low
Main grapes priorat
Grenache
Carignan
International
Red wine making priorat doq
Traditional
Old basket press, large oak fermentation vats
Modern
Optical sorting, stainless steel
Cultured yeasts - high potential abv so can be diff if ambient
Matured french oak 1-2 years
Min 13.5% abv
4 classifications in priorat what are they
Vi de vila - subzone
Vi de paratge - lieu dit, named site
Vinya classificado - cru equivalent vineyard site
Gran vinya classificado - grand cru equivalent vineyard
to qualify for priorat classification what criteria expected of producer
Own vineyard or rented 7+ years
NTH Which area is montsant do similar to
Priorat but flatter & higher yields
Warmer as closer to coast - warm Mediterranean
(Ring around priorat)
NTH Costers del segre do climate & grapes
Catalunya inland
Warm continental
Irrigation required - low rainfall & sandy soil
Cava & international grapes
Valencia do climate
Warm Mediterranean
Cooling influence- altitude & coast
Low rainfall - irritation
wine style Valencia do
Fruity Early drinking Inexpensive Acceptable to good Co-op wines
Monastrall
Tempranillo
Cab sav
Red & rose
White local variety & macabeo
NTH Main grape variety in utiel-requena do
Bobal
Characteristics bobal grape
Mid to late budding (avoids spring frost) V drought tolerant Retains acidity Can ripen unevenly- grippy tannins Vigorous High yields
NTH Utiel requena do climate
Continental- hot summer cold winter
Low rainfall
Altitude- cooling influence but spring frosts
Bobal style
Semi carbonic - l body, m tannins
Concentrated M+ tannins M+ to f body H acidity Blackberry cherry chocolate Acceptable to good Inexpensive to mid
NTH Climate alicante do
Warm Mediterranean
V low rainfall
Main grape alicante do & viticulture
Monastrall (mouvedre)
Low density bush vines
What is the grape in the historic medium sweet red wine in alicante do
Late harvest monastrell
Fondillon
Jumilla do climate
Warm continental
Altitude- diural range
Low rainfall - irrigation NOT widely practised
Sandy limestone soil - good. Water retei
Main grape jumilla do
Monastrell
What led to the quality increase in the 80’s in jumilla
Vineyards replanted higher quality & disease free monastrall clones
Vineyard mgmt - earlier harvest
Improved wine making - cooler temps
What is the main generic style of jumilla do
Red inexpensive high volume
F body
H abv
Ripe black fruits
Yecla do is similar to which area
Jumilla do
But slight cooler due to Mediterranean sea
Wine price & quality yecla do
Inexpensive to mid
Good to v good
Climate la mancha
Extreme Hot continental (+45 to -20c)
Low rainfall- irrigation
Flat plain at altitude 500m
Viticulture la mancha do
Limestone & chalk soil
Bush trained low density no irrigation (1k per hectare)
Trellised & irrigated (3k per hectare, still low)
Main grapes la mancha do
White - airen / brandy
Red Tempranillo- fruity light oak
Market la mancha
Domestic
China
Areas under castilla la mancha
La mancha do
Vino de pago
Valdepenas do
Castilla vt
NTH In basque county, txakoli do climate
Moderate maritime
High rainfall- Canopy aeration imp to reduce fungal risk
(N Spain above Rioja)
NTH Main grape variety basque county/txakoli do
Local - hondarrabi zuri
NTH Style hondarrabi zuri in basque county/txskali do
H acidity
L abv
Apple pear lemon
M - body
NTH Sierra de gredos wines
Inexpensive high volume
Dome old vine Grenache st altitude, low intervention style
Not a pdo
Valdepenas climate like which region
La Mancha
Valdepenas main grate and style
Tempranillo
Good quality
Inexpensive to mid priced
Ripe red fruits, oak spice
