Spain Flashcards
Factor effecting climate, hazards, Terroir
The climate is split in:
North - moderate maritime
East - mediterranean (sea and altitude moderate the hot)
Center - hot continental (Maseta Central mountain cut off the sea influence)
Low density and bush trained are the best option to tackle heat.
Newer: Vertical Shoot Positioning (VSP) - higher density planting, irrigation possible.
Gobelet training system (for bush vine), low trained vine. can, hot and dry regions, provide extra shades. but in cool and wet region can impede grape to ripen fully and promote disease.
Diurnal range: cool nights refresh the grapes getting them ready for the next day.
Summer are long and rainfall very low.
White grape varieties
Albariño, Verdejo, Viura, all citrus, peach, high acid light body
Others
Cava blend: Macabéo, Xarel-lo e Parellada.
Airén (can cope with drought)
Red grape varieties
Tempranillo,
Blend with Tempranillo:
- Graciano (black fruit, acidity and tannin = structure)
- Cariñena or Mazuelo(structure and colour)
Granacha tinta (alcohol, lower acidity, fullness of body, softer tannins with red fruit such as strawberries and cherry)
Garnacha tinta, Monastrell (can cope with drought)
Winemaking
- Cap management such as pumping over, punching down to increase colour, favour and tannin extraction.
- American oak is frequently used.
It gives hints of vanilla, dill, coconut and sweet spices to the wine. - Semi carbonic maceration can be used for early drinking wines
Classification
- Vino de Pagos introduce in 2003 is above all
Is a category reserved for prestigious single estates whose work exceeds basic DOCa requirements. - DOCa (Denominació de Origen Calificada) only Priorat and Rioja
- DO (Denominación de Origen; on par with French AOC) after 10 they can upgrade
- VC (Vino de Calidad con Indicación Geogràfica )
after 5 they can upgrade - VT (Vino de la Tierra - IGP)
- VE (Vino d’espagna)
Label Terminology
- Joven: no oak ageing, early consumption
Fresh fruity style, made by semi-carbonic - Crianza: fresh with primary fruit flavors, lightly oaked for more complexity
- red age 2 years with 6 in barrique.
- white age 1 year with 6 in oak
- Rioja is 1 year in oak and 1 year in bottle
- Reserva: complex, long maturation, controlled oxidation.
red age 3 years with 1 in barrique.
whites and rose age 2 years with 6 in oak - Gran Reserva:
red age 5 years with 2 in barrique.
white and rose age 4 years with 6 months in oak
In 2003 the following were added to VE, IGP e VCIG. :
- Noblé: age 18 month in oak or bottle.
- Anejo: age 2 years in oak or bottle
- Viejo: age 36 months with 12 in oak
Upper Ebro - Rioja DOCa
City: Logroño
River: Ebro (provide warmth and reflect sunlight
Mountain: Cantabrian Mountains protects from the rain and provides altitude to mitigate hot weather
White grape Viura (rot resistant) and Albarino
Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Verdejo
Red grape Tempranillo usually blend with
- Graciano (black fruit, acidity and tannin = structure)
- Cariñena or Mazuelo(structure and colour)
- Granacha (alcohol, lower acidity, fullness of body, softer tannins with red fruit such as strawberries and cherry)
- Mencia
3 Subzones:
- Rioja Alta (west) - Tempranillo
Vineyards are planted at a range of 500-800m, less finess then Alavesa
- Rioja Alavesa (north west) - Tempranillo
Vineyards are in the foothill of the Cantabrian Mountains
Altitude provide higher acidity and more tannin structure due to the late picking. - Rioja Oriental (east) - Granacha
Warmer continental climate. Droughts is a big issue.
Upper Ebro - Navarra
City: Logroño
River: Ebro
Mountain: Pyrenées Mountains, Cantabrian Mountains
- Navarra (North of Rioja)
Vineyard are located in the foothill of the Pyrenees.
The climate is continental, moderated by the Atlantic Ocean (Seabreeze) and the mountains (shield for rain).
Tempranillo is usually blend with Rioja grapes or Cab Sauv. and Merlot.
Garnacha, Tempranillo grapes used for rosé production.
Viura, Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc.
Upper Ebro - Cariñena and Calatayud
(South of Rioja)
Warm continental climate and low rainfall.
Garnacha, Cariñena (Carignan, Mazuelo) grow well here.
Wines are inexpensive, fruity, early drinking
Catalunya
City: Barcelona, Tarragona
Hot mediterranean climate
Hazard: Rain can dilute flavour, disrupt buds, lead to rot,
Pyrenees / altitude
- Catalunya (North east corner of Spain)
Vineyards are on the coastal plain and the hills west of Barcelona.
Blending of volumes wines.
Cava being the most famous
Cava blend: Parellada, Macabeo and Xarel-lo - Penedès (south west of Barcelona) Cava
Three different climate:
1. Mediterranean on the plain
2. Cooler inland, has mountain and sea influence
3. Moderate on the hills (800m)
White grape varieties
Parellada, Macabeo and Xarel-lo
Also: Chardonnay, sauv blanc, gewurztraminer.
Red grape varieties
Tempranillo, Pinot noir, Merlot, Cab Sauvignon.
- Priorat - Fine, Powerful, concentrated, dry reds
Vineyards are located within the hills on steep slopes, low nutrient produce lower yields.
Ideal for Garnacha and Carignan / Cariñena. Usually blend with Cab sauv
Often new french oak is used to ferment or mature the wines
Duero Valley
City: Valladolid
River: Duero
Mountain: Sierra de Gredos, Maseta Central
White grape Verdejo, Sauvignon blanc
Red grapes. Quality Tempranillo, Cab Sauvignon, malbec, merlot, garnacha (rose)
- Ribera del Duero - Tempranillo
Hot, dry climate due to ring of mountains.
The vineyards are located on the highest part of the Maseta Central (850m). Altitude and diurnal range helps cool down the hot climate and retain acidity.
Focus on red and rose wine production - Toro - Tempranillo
Hot, dry climate due to ring of mountains.
Deeply coloured, high tannin and alcohol wines. - Rueda - Verdejo and Sauvignon blanc
Continental climate with cool summer nights
Fruity simple to richer, barrel fermented.
North West
- Rías Baixas (near Vigo city) - Albarino
Lees or oak might be used.
Situated on the Atlantic coast.
Moderate maritime, humid climate.
Rot and Mildew are common problem, vines are trained on pergola, other training and trellising system
Soil Granite, Alluvial, Slate - Bierzo (near Leon city) - Mencia
Red fruits, floral like lavander, peppery
More inland then Rias baixas. Moderate continental climate benefits from a cooling maritime influence
Vineyards are planted on steep stony slopes on the mountain between Galicia and Meseta central.
The Levante - Valencia
- Valencia
Monastrell is the most planted grape variety, like granacha blanc
Merseguera is a local aromatic white grape .
Muscat of Alexandria produce the local Moscatelle de Valencia, sweet fortified wine - Jumilla and Yecla (near Alicante)
Located further inland
Hot, arid climate perfect for Monastrell in youthful and fruity style
Castilla-La Mancha
- La Mancha (south of Madrid) - largest DO
Quantity wines from Airen grape.
The majority of Vinos de Pago are from here
also Tempranillo ,cab sauv, merlot, syrah, chardonnay, sauv blanc - Valdepeñas
Quality wine, fruity, more concentrated and oak matured.
Grape varieties are Airen, Tempranillo ,cab sauv, merlot, syrah, chardonnay, sauv blanc
