Spain Flashcards
Governing body for Spain’s wine
Consejo Regulador
What seperates Spain from France
Pyrenees Mountains
Spain generally has a …. climate with 3 major exceptions:
mediterranean
exceptions:
“Green Spain” in NW
Meseta - more continental
Eastern and southern coasts hot mediterranean
5 most important white grapes
Albarino
Airen
Macabeo
Palomino
Verdejo
What does “rancio” indicate?
Oxidative aging
Mazuelo aka
Carinena
t/f: Spain is home to many old Carinena vines
true
Where is Carinena indigenous to?
Aragon
Garnacha is indigenous to …
Aragon
t/f: Monastrell is indigenous to Spain
true
5 most important red grapes
Tempranillo
Garnacha
Carinena
Monastrell
Mencia
Spain’s “table wine” quality category
Vino de Mesa
Spain’s equivalent to IGP
Vino de la Tierra (VdlT)
Spain’s 3 PDO level classifcations
VCIG
Do
DOCa
What does “Vino de Pago” indicate
single-estate DOP wines that exist outside of established DOs
Aging requirements for Spanish red wine
Crianza 2 years (6 barrel)
Reserva 3 years (12 barrel)
Gran Reserva 5 years (18 barrel)
Aging requirements for Spanish white wine
Crianza 18 (6 mo barrel)
Reserva 2 years (6 mo barrel)
Gran Reserva 4 years (6 mo barrel)
Define these terms: “noble” “anejo” “viejo”
noble - 18 months aging cask or bottle
anejo - 24 months aging cask or bottle
viejo - 36 months aging with oxidative character
“bodega” means
winery
“cosecha” means
vintage
spanish term for vintage
cosecha
“dulce” means
sweet
term for sparkling
“espumoso”
“finca” means …
farm/estate
what does “roble” indicate
oak - a young wine that has seen brief oak
“vendimia” means
vintage
vina, vinedo translate to…
vineyard
“vino tinto” means
red wine
Which autonomous community is home to the most Vinos de Pago?
Castilla-La Mancha
Galicia is best known for the production of crisp ____ wines
white
Name 4 important indigenous varities of Galicia
Albarino
Godello
Treixadura
Mencia
Name the 5 DOs of Galicia
Rias Baixas
Ribeiro
Ribeira Sacra
Valdeorras
Monterrei
What is to the north of Galicia?
Bay of Biscay
4/5 DOs of Galicia are centered around this river
River Mino
Galicia’s only DO that specializes in red wine
Ribeira Sacra
Top white grape of Valdeorras DO
Godello
Where is Valdeorras DO?
Galicia
Godello is often compared to this grape
Chardonnay
This grape native to Portugal is often used in Galicia blends to add body and alcohol
Treixadura
This native Galician grape is often blended with treixadura and albarino. Add acidity and low alcohol to blend
Loureira
This grape makes red wines known for a light, fruity style. Atypical to the Spanish style.
Mencia
Mencia is famously cultivated in these two DOs
Bierzo
Ribeira Sacra
Noteworthy plantings of this grape in Ribeiro DO. Makes light, tart red wines
Caino Tinto
t/f: wines labeled Rías Baixas Albariño must be 100% varietal
true
Rias Baixas has how many subzones
5
Name the 3 most important subzones of Rias Baixas
O rosal
Condado do
Val do Salnes
O Rosal is a subzone of …
Rias Baixas
Describe the differences between these subzones: O rosal, Condado do Tea, Val do Salnes
O rosal: ripe, floral wines
Condado do Tea: rich, full bodied
Val do Salnes: classic Albarino; acidic and salinity
Name the traditional trellis system used in Rias Baixas
Pergula
What does the term “colleiteiro” signify on a bottle of Galician wine?
winemaker
“adega” means
winery
“barrica” translates to …
barrel
What is Vino Tostado?
dried grape wine produced in Ribeiro
Which subzone of Rias Baixas produces Albarino with great acidity + salinity
Val do Salnes
Rioja is bisected by this river
Ebro
Rioja is shielded from the north by this moutain range
Cantabrian
Rioja DOCa has territory in these 3 autonomous communities
La Rioja
Basque Country
Navarra
The 3 sectors of Rioja
Rioja Alta
Rioja Alavesa
Rioja Oriental
What year did Rioja receive DOCa status
1991
tempranillo is named for …
its tendency to ripen early
tinto fino is a synonym for …
tempranillo
Tinto del Pais is a synonym for …
tempranillo
In which Rioja subregion does Garnacha dominate?
Rioja Oriental
t/f: Ribera del Duero often features international grapes in its blend
true
t/f: most wineries in Ribera del Duero have been established in the past 30 years
true
Name a classic pairing for red Rioja
Lamb
Carinena is called …. in Rioja
Mazuelo
Red grapes for Rioja
Tempranillo
Garnacha
Graciano
Mazuelo
Macabeo is known as … in Rioja
Viura
Main grape for white Rioja
Viura ( aka Macabeo)
Graciano adds … to the structure of Rioja
acidity
The historic center for wine production in Rioja
Rioja Alta
Rioja Alavesa is (north/south/west/east) of Rioja Alta
north
Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa have predominantly this soil
clay/limestone
t/f: Rioja makes a fortified wine
false
t/f: Rioja makes a rose wine
true
What town is Rioja Alta’s historic center for production?
Haro
Rioja Alavesa is located within which autonomous community?
Basque Country
Body of water east of Catalonia
Mediterranean sea
Priorat is famojus for its _____ soils
licorella
The only stylistic DO of Spain
Cava
Why is Cava DO not contiguous?
Cava DO covers pockets of land (both within and outisde of Catalonia) that coincide with the vineyards of many producers throughout Spain who were known for producing Cava when the DO was established in 1991