Spain Flashcards
What are the 3 sweeping climatic zones of Spain?
Moderate Maritime - north and northwest coasts enjoy Atlantic influence and high rainfall (e.g. Galicia).
Warm Mediterranean - eastern Spain is moderated by the sea influence and altitude. The climate becomes increasingly hot further south.
Hot Continental - the center of Spain (Meseta Central) does not have any ocean or sea influence. Rainfall is low. In winter, temperatures fall below freezing and summertime heat is high. However, the summer temperatures = moderated by the cool nights of high altitude sites.
What are the main climate challenges that affect viticulture in Spain?
Hot weather and drought
What is a viticultural benefit of the lack of rainfall in Spain?
What is a viticultural benefit of the lack of rainfall in Spain?
Training system of Spain
Newer: Vertical Shoot Positioning (VSP)
Traditional: Bush trained - low density planting
=
・Maximizing the mount of water available to each vine.
・Shading the fruit from excessive heat.
・Facilitate machine harvesting.
Traditionally, what type of oak is used in Spain?
American oak
There are several wineries experimenting with French oak today.
Black grape varieties in Spain
Tempranillo
Garnancha
Monastrell
Graciano
Mazuelo
Tempranillo in Spain
4,10,12
4 Medium acidity
10 Fermented on its own.
Blended with Garnancha, Graciano, Carinena
12 Semi-carbonic maceration
Suitable climate to Tempranillo
・Need sufficient warmth to develop its flavours
・ Where summer temperature is moderated by sea/altitude.
・High diurnal temperature range =(Without it, the wines lack necessary acidity for an ideal balance.)
Tempranillo is the main grape of Rioja DOCa.
Which grapes are traditionally blended with Tempranillo in Rioja DOCa?
Garnacha: adds body + alcohol
Graciano: adds black fruits, tannin + acidity
Cariñena (aka Mazuelo): adds tannin + acidity
What is the range of styles, or designations, Tempranillo can be made into?
Joven*: made for early consumption (1-2 years of age) displaying punchy fruit; no oak treatments, no aging requirements, and occasional semi-carbonic maceration is used to soften tannin and texture.
Crianza: lightly oaked and fresh with primary fruit flavors, sessionable.
Reserva and Gran Reserva: highly complex wines due to a long maturation process and controlled oxidation.
*In Rioja, instead of Joven the term Genérico is used
What is the most planted red grape in Spain?
Tempranillo
Why is Monastrell particularly well suited to a warm or Mediterranean climate?
Monastrell has thick skins and needs a hot, sunny climate to ripen. It is also well adapted to drought conditions.
Where in Spain does Monastrell grow best?
Monastrell grows best in Jumilla DO and Yecla DO.
Both DOs have hot, arid climates.
Monastrell
1,3,4,5,6,7
1 Deeply coloured
3 Full bodied
4 Low to medium acidity
5 High tannins
6 High alcohol
7 Ripe blackberry fruit
What is the hierarchy of wine quality in Spain?
From highest to lowest:
PDO level
Vinos de Pago
DOCa/DOQ
DO
PGI level
Vino de la Tierra
What is Vinos de Pagos?
Vinos de Pagos is a category reserved for prestigious single estates whose work exceeds basic DO requirements. These estates can only use their own grapes which must be grown, vinified and aged on their estate.
Estates which have earned the Vinos de Pago classification lie within established DOs – notably, though, they do not exist within Rioja or Ribera del Duero – and they aren’t necessarily superior to DOCa.
What is the most planted white grape in Spain (it’s also the most planted grape in Spain, period)?
Airén
Airén is generally a low-quality white grape used for bulk wine and is mostly grown in La Mancha DO.
Airen Climate condition
It is one of the few varieties that is able to cope with the extreme heat and drought conditions of the Meseta Central.
What international grape varieties grow successfully in Spain?
Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Sauvignon Blanc
Chardonnay
These varieties were mostly planted in the 1980s and 1990s to suit the international market.
White wines making methods in Spain
When are the grapes harvested?
Oak/unoaked
Other techniques
・Harvesting at night or early morning
・fermenting in temperature controlled stainless steel vessels to help retain delicate aromas. However, some producers use oak (Oak fermentation and maturation is common practice in Spain for both whites and reds).
・Lees stirring to add texture and different flavors.
Which white grape varieties are known to make high quality, dry wines in Spain?
・Viura in Rioja DOCa
・Verdejo in Rueda DO
・Albariño in Rías Baixas DO
Viura
7,9
7 Herb and spice aaromas
9 Unoaked, however, traditionally it was mainstay of heavily oaked white Riojas.
What are the 6 geographical regions of Spain?
・Upper Ebro (Rioja, Navarra, Cariñena, Calatayud)
・Catalunya (Penedès, Priorat)
・Duero Valley (Ribera del Duero, Toro, Rueda)
・North West (Rías Baixas, Bierzo)
・The Levante (Valencia, Jumilla, Yecla)
・Castilla-La Mancha (La Mancha, Valdepeñas)
Where is Rías Baixas DO and what is its climate like?
・Northwestern Spain;
・Moderate, damp climate (cool and wet).
What style of wine and grape is Rías Baixas DO best known for?
Still, dry, unoaked white wines based on Albariño
Some Albariños from Rías Baixas have a touch of oak, but they do not represent the predominant style
Is Albariño resistant to fungal disease?
Yes, Albariño is resistant to fungal disease, thanks to its thick skin.
Albarino
4,7
4 Naturally high in acidity
7 Citrus and stone fruit flavours
It can be made in a richer, fuller-bodied as well.
How is Albariño typically trained in Rías Baixas?
Albariño is trained using the pergola system in Rías Baixas.
Having the grapes situated high off the ground allows for breezes to lower humidity and the threat of rot and mildew.
Some VSP-wired trellised vineyards are also seen, which are easier to maintain.
What white grape variety is planted in Rías Baixas that’s also planted in Vinho Verde?
Albariño, known as Alvarinho in Portugal.
Albariño from Rías Baixas - is it usually aged in oak or stainless steel?
Albariño is usually aged in stainless steel because oxidative aging environments, like oak, reduce aromatic characters.
However, examples of Albariño aged in oak do exist.
What are the two DOCas of Spain?
・Rioja DOCa
・Priorat DOCa
Name all 3 subzones of Rioja DOCa.
・Rioja Alta
・Rioja Alavesa
・Rioja Oriental
Renamed in 2018, previously called Rioja Baja
What are the climate influencers of Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa?
Elevation and Atlantic Ocean breezes
Cantabrian Mountains protect Rioja from the worst weather coming off the Atlantic.