Spain Flashcards
Important dates in Spain wine history:
Early 1960s - Miguel Torres returned from studying wine in France; implemented methods
1986 - Spain’s accession to EU
1996 - Irrigation legalized - production significantly increased
General Spain climate:
Warm
NW - maritime, high rainfall
SE - Mediterranean
Meseta (Central) - continental
Global contribution:
Largest vineyard plantings globally - almost 1mil ha under production
3rd largest producing country by volume
Largest exporter by volume
39mil hL/year
Vineyard management in Spain:
Low density plantings
Bush vines + old bush vines common
Low rainfall - reduce competition
Irrigation controlled by Consejo Regulador
Mildew, spring frost, European grapevine moth issues
Organic practices common, certifications uncommon
Mostly hand harvesting
Primary grapes in Spain:
Airen
Tempranillo
Bobal
Garnacha Tinta
Macabeo
Monastrell
Describe Airen:
Inexpensive, neutral whites from Castilla-La Mancha
Most of production goes to Brandy de Jerez
Describe Tempranillo:
Medium/high yields
Early ripening
National legislation for aging whites and reds?
Oak must be 330L or less
Reds:
Generic - none
Crianza - 24 total, 6 oak
Reserva - 36 total, 12 oak
Gran Reserva - 60 total, 18 oak
White/rose:
Generic - none
Crianza - 18 total, 6 oak
Reserva - 24 total, 6 oak
Gran Reserva - 48 total, 6 oak
What is roble?
“Oak”
Red wines aged in oak for an unspecified time - unclassified
DO’s?
70 total
Make up vast majority of vineyards
DOCa/DOQ’s?
Rioja and Priorat are the only ones
Must be an established DO for min. 10 years
Bottled on estate
Pass tasting assessment
VP’s?
VIno de Pago
A small number of single estates with high reputations
Mostly in Castilla-La Mancha
May use only their own grapes, vinified/matured on estate
An association of prestigious estates in Spain?
Grandes Pagos de Espana
VT’s?
Vino de la Tierra
PGI wines
40 VT’s
Largest is Castilla
What does the Consejo Regulador:
Max yields
Grape varieties
Irrigation/vineyard practices
Aging requirements
Packaging regulations
Wine business in Spain:
Co-ops dominate
Low domestic consumption
Bulk wine 56% of exports
France, Germany, UK, USA, China
Foods and Wines from Spain - promotional body
DO’s of Galicia and their key varietal:
Rias Biaxes (Albarino)
Valdeorras (Godello)
Ribeiro (Treixadura)
Ribeira Sacra (Mencia)
Monterrei (Mencia + Godello)
Describe Rias Biaxas:
High rainfall, maritime climate
Sand/granite free-draining soils
95%+ Albarino
5 subzones: O Rosal, Val do Saines, etc.
Pergola trellising (Parral)
25% Export (US biggest)
Describe Albarino:
Early/mid ripening
Thick skins
High acid
Med-/Med body
Med alcohol
Lemon, grapefruit, peach, floral
Winemaking for Rias Biaxas:
Protective - retain fruit
Stainless steel, cool fermentation
Partial malolactic in cool years - not to the point of buttery
Stored on lees but not stirred
Describe Castilla y Leon and name DOs:
Continental climate
Bierzo
Toro
Ribera del Duero
Rueda DO
Describe Bierzo:
Adequate rainfall
75% Mencia of plantings; 2% Alicante Boushet, then Godello and whites
Mencia min. 70% of blend but often 100%
Describe Mencia:
Early/mid ripening
Med+/high acid
Quickly accumulates sugar
Range of styles
Young wines often (semi)carbonic and unoaked
Describe Toro:
Continental
TInta de Toro primary varietal (possibly related to Tempranillo)
Garnacha, Malvasia, Verdejo
Low rainfall, irrigation not permitted after June
Bush vines, ungrafted vines
Sandy soils
Describe Ribera del Duero:
Vega Sicilia was first winery
Continental
Low rainfall
Frost issues in spring and autumn
Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) is primary grape - min 75% of blend
White wines only allowed since 2019
20% export
Describe Verdejo:
Drought tolerant
Med/Med+ acid
Med alc
Apple, pear, peach, herbal/fennel, bitterness
Describe Rueda:
Whites based on Verdejo and Sauv Blanc
Hot and dry
Limestone - free draining, poor nutrients
Production quadrupled from 2000-2019
13% export
Rioja Topography?
River Ebro
Sierra de Cantabria - protects from the North
Sierra de la Demanda - protects from South
Sub-regions of Rioja:
Rioja Alta: Largest; south of Ebro; continental with some maritme; alluvial/clay
Rioja Alavesa: Smallest; north of Ebro, cool and wet; calcareous clay
Rioja Oriental: Large; East of Logrono, N+S of Ebro; clay; at risk for climate change due to low altitude
Grape varietals in Rioja:
Tempranillo
Garnacha
Graciano
Mazuelo (Carinena)
Maturana Tinta (Trousseau)
Cab Sauv
Viura (Macabeo)
Tempranillo Blanco
Malvasia
Garnacha Blanca
Verdejo
Sauvignon Blanc
Describe Viura:
Late budding
Late ripening
Susceptible to botrytis
Neutral
Oak use in Rioja:
Traditionally American
French now more common
Only 225L barrels can be used for Crianza, Reserva, Gran Reserva
Describe white Rioja profile:
Med+ body
Med+ acid
Citrus fruit
Smoky, nutty from oak
Castillo Ygay: oxidative style with intense, complex tertiary of nuts, honey, and dried fruits with high acid
Rioja wine labelings:
Vino de Zona (85% from one zone)
Vino de Municipio (85% from one village/group of villages listed)
Vinedo Singular (single vineyard owned min 10 yrs); hand harvested and sustainable
All must be vinified/aged/bottled in area listed
Changes to aging requirements in Rioja:
Crianza red - 12mo in oak
Gran Reserva red - 60 mo total
Crianza white - 24mo total
Rioja wine business?
Small vineyard plots - Co-ops dominate
Average bottle price substantially higher than most DO
Sales increasing
37% export - UK, Germany, US
Describe Navarra:
5 sub-regions
Tempranillo (main)
Garnacha
Cab Sauv
Merlot
Chardonnay (main)
Regions of Aragon?
Carinena
Campo de Borja
Calatayud
Somontano
Primary wines of Aragon:
Mainly red wines
Old vine Garnacha common
Somontano: Cab, Chard, and Gewurz
Describe Penedes:
DO within Catalunya
Mostly known for Cava grapes
Three climatic zones: Penedes Maritim, Penedes Central, Penedes Superior
30% export
DOQ in Catalunya?
Priorat
Promoted from DO to DOQ in 2009
Climate and viticulture in Priorat?
Warm continental
Moderate rainfall - spring and winter; irrigation for new vineyards and dry years
Hand harvesting
Licorella soils - slate/thin/rocky/low nutrients
Max 39hL/ha
Varietals in Priorat:
Garnacha
Carinena
Cab Sauv
Syrah
Merlot
Garnacha Blanca + Macabeo = 6%
Classifications of Priorat:
Vi de Vila - from one of 12 subzones
Vi de Paratge - from a single named site
Vinya Classificada - single vineyard (cru)
Gran Vinya Classificada - single vineyard of exceptional merit (grand cru)
Regions in Catalunya:
Catalunya DO
Penedes DO
Priorat DQ
Monsant DO
Costers del Segre DO
Regions in Valencia, and what are they known for?
Valencia DO (Moscatel de Alejandria, Merseguera)
Utiel-Requena DO (Bobal)
Alicante DO (Monastrell)
Bulk wines
Main grape of Murcia and regions?
Monastrell
Jumilla DO
Yecla DO
Regions of Castilla-La Mancha, key varietals, and key climate feature:
Extreme continental climate
La Mancha DO (Airen)
Valdepenas DO (Cencibel(Tempranillo))
Vino de Pago (18)
Castilla VP
Describe Txakoli:
Three DOs in Basque County
High rainfall
Hondarrabi Zuri is main grape
High acid, med- body, low alc, slight spritz
Lemon, apple, pear - fresh
