Spain

Question 1

what are the 3 climate zones of spain?

Answer 1

north and northwest - moderate to maritime, high rainfall

east coast - warm mediterranean climate

the meseta central - no cooling influence from sea, hot continental climate, cold winters, high altitude is moderated by aspect

Question 2

how are vines planted in spain?

Answer 2

low density bush trained, maximizing water supply and shading fruit

wire training is being introduced to facilitate machine harvesting

Question 3

describe tempranillo

Answer 3

thick skinned, medium acid, needs heat to develop, lacks acidity if there is no diurnal range, does best near the sea or at altitude

usually semi carbonic maceration is used, producing fresh strawberry Joven wine

Question 4

describe a monastrell from Yecla or Jumilla

Answer 4

because of the heat here it can reach full ripeness and produce deep full body wines with high tannin and high alcohol, low to medium acidity and ripe black fruit

Question 5

what is the high valued grape in rioja that is challenging to grow?

Answer 5

Graciano, used in blends to add concentrated black fruit, acidity, and structure to help wine age

Question 6

what is the spanish name for carignan?

Answer 6

carinena

mazuelo in rioja

high acidity and tannin, blend with tempranillo or in priorat blend with grenache to enhance tannic structure

Question 7

Describe mencia

Answer 7

moderate climate grape, fresh fruit, med to high acidity, herbaceous

Question 8

what winemaking techniques is spain using for whites?

Answer 8

fermenting in stainless and harvesting at night to keep the fruit aromas

some oak is used as well as lee stirring to add texture and different flavours

Question 9

describe verdejo

Answer 9

susceptible to oxidization, used to make sherry style wines but with protective wine making it can be high acid light body melon and peach style, skin contact may give it a richer and full body style with barrel fermentation

Question 10

describe albariño

Answer 10

grown in the northwest, thick skin, able to resist fungal disease, high in acid,refreshing citrus and stone fruit

Question 11

what is the most widely planted grape variety in spain

Answer 11

airen- majority in la mancha because it can withstand the heat, makes acceptable wine but mostly used in the production of brandy de jerez

Question 12

what are the main variety’s of cava production?

Answer 12

parellada, xarel-lo, macabeco

Question 13

which of the cava grapes are also used for still wine production?

Answer 13

macabeco- known as Viura in rioja, traditionally it was heavily oaked but dan be unoaked, subtle herb, spice

Question 14

what are the international variety’s being made in spain?

Answer 14

Cab sauv, Merlot, Sauvignon blanc, chardonnay

Question 15

what is the spanish term for PDO

Answer 15

DOP

DO is also used
DOCa - DOs of 10 years (rioja and priorat) priorat uses DOQ
VP - single estates with high reputations

Question 16

what is the spanish term for PGI?

Answer 16

VdlT

Question 17

what are the aging and oak requirements for red

Answer 17

Joven - 0
Crianza - 2 years / 6 m in oak
Riserva - 3 years / 12 m in oak
Gran riserva - 5 years / 18 m in oak

Question 18

what are the aging requirements for white?

Answer 18

Joven- 0
Crianza - 18m / 6 m in oak
Riserva - 2 years / 6 m in oak
gran riserva - 4 years / 6 m in oak

Question 19

what are the regions in the upper ebro

Answer 19

Rioja
Navarra
carinena/calatayud

Question 20

what are the 3 sub regions of Rioja

Answer 20

Rioja Alavesa - north bank of Ebro in foothills of cantabrian mountains - 500/800m

Rio alta - 500/800 m

Rio Baja - hotter summers and more severe winters low rainfall

Question 21

what are the cooling influences of Rioja

Answer 21

altitude
atlantic ocean
cantabrian mountains shield from atlantic weather

Question 22

what is the most widely planted grape in Rioja and the style and winemaking choices

Answer 22

tempranillo

does best in cooler, main component of most blends, adding red fruit flavours and medium tannins, it benifits from the body and alcohol from grenache and mazuelo and graciano are also in the blends

early drinking wines undergo semi carbonic maceration for red fruit and low tannins

wines designed for long term maturation are de stemmed crushed and undergo traditional fermentation - some have cap management and extended maceration for for heavily extracted wines

previously american oak was heavily used now more commonly french oak

Question 23

describe a traditional white from Rioja vs a Modern and what is the most common grape?

Answer 23

Viura

traditionally they were aged in american oak, deliberately oxidized and and developed deep golden colour with nutty flavours

modernly they are made with minimal oxygen contact

Question 24

what is the most widely planted variety of Navarra and what style are they making?

Answer 24

Tempranillo

blended with other rioja varieties or with Cab and Merlot

Question 25

what is the style of Rose in Navarra

Answer 25

grenache grapes picked early when acid is high and sugar is low, handled protectively to create refreshing fruity wines with medium alcohol

Question 26

what are the white grapes in Navarra

Answer 26

Viura Chardonnay Sauvignon blanc

Question 27

what is the climate of Carinena and Calatayud and what is the main grape?

Answer 27

warm continental low rainfall garnacha - fruity and inexpensive blends of garnacha and carinena old vines have greater structure and fruit intensity

Question 28

what are the regions of Catalunya

Answer 28

Pendes | Priorat

Question 29

why does catalunya have a generic DO

Answer 29

to enable blending to create high volume branded wines

Question 30

what are the 3 climate regions of the pendes

Answer 30

coastal plain - hot/mediterranean valleys - slightly cooler further up the hills - 800 m moderate climate

Question 31

what are the grapes grown in the pendes

Answer 31

majority is cava production grapes ask chardonnay, sauv blanc, gewurtrazimer, merlot, cab sauv, tempranillo, pinot noir

Question 32

what is tempranillo in pendes

Answer 32

ull de llebre

Question 33

what is the climate of priorat

Answer 33

long. hot dry summers low annual rainfall

Question 34

priorats warm conditions are best for which grapes?

Answer 34

old vine garnacha and carinena

Question 35

what are the soils in priorat?

Answer 35

llicorella - red slate soils with small particles of mica they reflect and conserve heat and retain water

Question 36

why are priorats wines expensive?

Answer 36

the steep slopes and bush vines make mechanisation hard, vineyards are expensive and time consuming low nutrient soils and age of vines produce low yields

Question 37

describe red priorat

Answer 37

deep colour, high tannins, med- high alc, black fruit new french oak Garnacha and carinena are the core blends and cab sauv can be added

Question 38

what are the regions of The Duero Valley

Answer 38

ribera del duero toro rueda

Question 39

what is the climate of ribera del duero

Answer 39

short hot dry summers cold winters 850 m elevation for cool nighttime temperatures to retain acidity and freshness

Question 40

what is the main grape of ribera del duero?

Answer 40

tempranillo other grapes: cab, merlot, malbec, granacha for rose

Question 41

describe a ribera del duero wine making process

Answer 41

long macerations and ageing in new french oak

Question 42

describe wines from toro

Answer 42

full bodied and intense fruit high alcohol tempranillo

Question 43

what are the 2 important varieties in rueda

Answer 43

verdejo sauvignon blanc

Question 44

white blends from rueda must contain?

Answer 44

at least 50% verdejo

Question 45

what are the regions of the north west

Answer 45

rias baixas | bierzo

Question 46

what is the climate of rias biaxas

Answer 46

moderate/damp climate

Question 47

describe albariño from rias biaxas and the growing conditions

Answer 47

mildew and rot are a problem so vines are trained on pergolas for air circulation it’s high acid and ripe fruit typically unoaked some oaked / lees style

Question 48

what regions make up the levante?

Answer 48

valencia jumilla yecla

Question 49

what is the predominant grapes in valencia

Answer 49

monastrell merseguera muscat - to produce moscadel de valencia - a sweet fortified wine

Question 50

what is the majority grape in jumilla and yecla

Answer 50

monastrell

Question 51

what is coming from la mancha

Answer 51

airen - neutral fresh wines tempranillo, cencibel, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, syrah, chardonnay inexpensive well made reds and whites for export