Spain Flashcards
What are the northernmost & southernmost latitudes of Spanish Vineyards?
43°N Basque Country (Txakoli)
36°N Andalusia (Jerez)
Name the 3 broad climatic zones of Spain?
The North & Northwest coast (Atlantic Coast)
- The East Coast (Mediterranean Coast)
- The Meseta Central. High plateau averaging 660 m Alt
What is the climate of the North & Northwest coast of Spain?
What is one notable region of Northwest Spain?
Moderate maritime climate dominated by Atlantic weather systems: Rainfall & associated risks is high
Region: Rías Baixas
What is the climate of the East Coast of Spain?
What are some notable regions of the East Coast?
Warm Mediterranean climate. Moderation are provided by sea or altitude. The climate becomes increasingly hot further south.
Regions: Catalunya & the Levante
What is the climate of the Meseta Central?
What are some notable regions of the Meseta Central?
Hot continental. Freezing winters, hot summers, low rainfalls but COOL NIGHTS provided by ALTITUDE.
North Meseta: Bierzo, Ribera del Duero, Toro, Rueda
South Meseta: La Mancha, Valdepeñas
(Except in the Northwest) how have Spanish growers historically dealt with the heat and lack of water in the country?
-Low density planting (for water access to each plants)
-Bush-trained vineyards (for shading fruits)
What is Spain’s premier black grape variety?
Tempranillo
Cencibel in Valdepeñas
Ull de Llebre in Penedès
What are 5 other notable Spanish black grapes and their regions?
Garnacha: Rosados everywhere and reds of Priorat
Monastrell: Yecla & Jumilla
Graciano : Supporting role in Rioja
Mazuelo/ Cariñena: Rioja & Priorat
Mencia: Bierzo
What are 4 notable white grapes indigenous to Spain?
Verdejo (Rueda)
Albariño (Rías Baixas)
Airén (La Mancha) mostly for Brandy de Jerez
Viura (Rioja) also called Macabeu in Catalunya
What are 4 international grape varieties widely grown in the north-east of Spain especially?
-Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot
-Sauvignon Blanc & Chardonnay
What is the Spanish translation for PDO?
Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP)
What is the traditional term used in Spain for PGI wines?
Vino de la Tierra (VdlT)
What are Vinos de Pago (VP)?
A small number of single estates with high reputation (using their own grapes only, wines are vinified and matures on the estate)
What is DOCa?
What are the only 2 regions concerned by this classification?
Denominación de Origen Calificada
Rioja & Priorat are the only 2 DOCa
What are DO?
Denominación de Origen.
Guarantees a certain minimum quality, satisfying specifications covering grape varieties, viticulture and location.
What Spanish term indicates no minimum ageing?
Genérico (Previously named “Joven” translating as “young”)
In Spain, what are the minimum ageing for RED wines labeled
Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva
(Expressed in months with minimum in oak)
Crianza 24 months 6 of which must be in oak
Reserva 36 months 12 of which must be in oak
Gran Reserva 60 months 18 of which must be in oak
What are the principal city, main river and mountain range of Rioja?
- Logorño city
- Ebro River
- Cantabrian Mountains (Cordillera Cantábrica)
What are the 3 distinct sub-regions of Rioja?
Rioja Alavesa (North of the Ebro, at the foothills of the Calabrian Mt.)
Rioja Alta (to the west, on altitude 500 to 800m & receiving mild atlantic influences)
Rioja Oriental (Previously called “Baja”) to the east, with more Mediterranean influence (dry)
What 4 key grapes make the red wines of Rioja?
Tempranillo (for black & red fruit and structure)
Garnacha (for red fruit & high alcohol potential)
Mazuelo & Graciano (supporting role)
What are some typical winemaking options for a producer in Rioja?
Different styles are possible from Joven to Gran Reserva
Semi-carbonic maceration for early drinking fruity styles
De-stemmed, crushed, vigorous cap management & extended maceration for extracted examples
Oak from France or America
What region, located to the north of Rioja (and the Ebro River makes Tempranillo-based reds and Garnacha-based Rosados as well as tiny quantities of white wines?
Navarra
What 2 regions located south of the Ebro river have warm continental climate suitable for Garnacha & Cariñena
Cariñena & Calatayud
Which region has a generic DO for still wines covering the north-east of Spain?
Catalunya
What hilly region, inland from Tarragona has a dry & hot climate and llicorella soils particularly suited for the late ripening old vine Garnacha and Cariñena?
Priorat
What are some reasons why Priorat wines are never cheap?
-Bush vines & steep slopes mean that meccanization is impossible; therefore extremely labor intensive and expensive
-Pour soils giving very small yields mean that tiny quantities of concentrated and complex wines are available to the market.
What river taking its source in the south of Rioja flows through Spain and Portugal?
The Ribera del Duero (in Spanish) Douro (in Portugese)
What are the key topographic features in the Riebera del Duero and their impact on the red wines produced there?
The Meseta Central (continental) means hot summer suitable for Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot and Garnacha for rosados
The Altitude 850 m provokes COOL nights to help retain acidity and fresh fruit characteristics.
What other Meseta region has a similar climate to the Ribera del Duero and produces principally Tempranillo-based red wines?
Toro
It focuses on the production of white wines (Verdejo & Sauvignon blanc- based wines sometimes blended together. (Styles range from simple fruity to rich, barrel-fermented versions)
It focuses on the production of white wines (Verdejo & Sauvignon blanc- based wines sometimes blended together. (Styles range from simple fruity to rich, barrel-fermented versions)
What region at the north west limit of the Meseta Central receives some cooling maritime influences enabling the production of Mencia-based fruity reds, which are sometimes aged in new oak for toasty aromas?
Bierzo
How have producers of Rias Baixas been able to offset the impact of wet humid conditions provided by the Atlantic to produce refreshing white wines?
Choice of a thick skin white grape: Albariño
Pergola for air circulation around fruit bunches
Choice of winemaking (mostly but not always unoaked)
What is the main grape planted in Valencia, Jumilla and Yecla for the production of value-for-money red wines.
Monastrell (Mourvèdre)
What is the largest DO in Spain?
What does it produce mostly?
La Mancha
Production of Airén for neutral white wines
Tempranillo & international grape for inexpensive but well-made wines
Home of many Vinos de Pago
What region, located south of La Mancha has build a reputation for quality Tempranillo/ Cencibel-based wines from fruity to oak-matured in style.
Valdepeñas DO
