Spain Flashcards
What is the general layout of Spain?
36-43°N, so can be considered a warm country.
With an extensive coastline, several significant mountain ranges and a large raised plateau (the meseta) covering its central regions, climate can vary significantly throughout different regions.
What is the general climate in the North of Spain?
North west is influenced by the Atlantic: maritime climate with high levels of rainfall throughout the year.
North/NE is sheltered somewhat from the Atlantic by mountains and have more of a continental climate, though with some maritime, where the NE is more Mediterranean.
What is the general climate in the South of Spain?
S, E and SE fave directly onto the Mediterranean, and vineyards in close proximity to the sea have a moderated clime with warm, dry summers and mild winters.
What is the general climate in the centre of Spain?
The Meseta, at an altitude of 600-900m covers a vast area over central Spain.
Continental climate with high days and cool nights, though altitude helps moderate.
What is the general topography of Spain?
A high plateau tilted from NE (Pyrenees) to SW (Andalucia), with lower ground formed by several major rivers along which many vine growing regions are found.
How many ha does Spain have under production? How does this compare to production? Why?
The largest globally at 969,000.
It is only the 3rd largest producer of wine, behind France and Italy, with a 5yr avg of 39m hL per annum.
Reflecting the nature of many Spanish vineyards, where they’re bush vines planted at low density. Eg, in La Mancha, the largest DO in Spain, vines can be planted at as low as 1000 per ha.
What planting density is common in Spain? Why?
Low in many regions, due to the climate. With low avg rainfall (300mm in some regions), it is helpful to reduce competition for water in some regions.
What is the general take on irrigation?
Although irrigation was legalised in 1996 it is still controlled by the Consejo Regulador of each region.
In some regions, it is only permitted in the establishment of young vines and in extreme cases of drought, while in other regions it may only be permitted at the start of the season but not during ripening.
Aside from water availability, why are low density plantings remaining? How else does this contribute to low yields?
In many regions there’s significant plantings of old bush vines, which are increasingly being recognised as an asset, providing good quality fruit. Hence, there’s less desire to grub them up and replant at higher densities even if irrigation would permit it.
Low yields from old vines is another reason for low volume.
What are main climatic risks across Spain?
Many areas receive little rainfall in the growing season, but during this time it can often fall in heavy storms with temperatures rising quickly afterwards, which creates a risk of mildew and is a concern across many regions.
Spring frosts can be a hazard in areas with a continental climate.
What are main pests across Spain?
Of course previously phylloxera, resulting in the majority of vines being grafted onto rootstocks. (Though there are some regions with sandy soils, eg, Toro and Rueda, that were unaffected and have plantings of incredibly old ungrafted vines.
Today, the most common pest is the European grapevine moth, generally managed with pheromone traps.
What is Spains stance on organics?
Many employ practises but few seek certification as the consider few consumers, both domestic and exports are willing to pay a premium for organic wines and hence justify the cost of attaining and retaining certification.
What is the average vineyard holding in Spain? What affect does this have on viticulture techniques?
Small, 66% of vineyard plots are smaller than 0.5ha, and a further 22% are between 0.5 and 3ha.
Despite advances in understanding vineyard management in recent decades, the level of vineyard mechanisation is still limited.
What is the overview and breakdown of varietal plantings in Spain?
Almost evenly split between white and black, with marginally more black.
Airén over 200,000ha
Tempranillo 200,000ha
Garnacha 60,000ha
Bobal 55,000ha
Macabeo over 50,000ha
Monastrell 40,000ha
What can we owe Tempranillos success to?
It’s dominance is relatively recent, and thought to be associated with the growth of Spanish wine in international markets and consumers association of Tempranillo with Rioja.
It has an ability to produce medium to high yields, depending on the site, helping its favour with growers.
How do quality minded producers farm Tempranillo?
By limiting yields to produce concentrated, structured wines.
What sites does Tempranillo do best on? What styles of wine does it produce?
As its early ripening, warm climates where there’s a cooling influence such as altitude or cool winds.
Both single varietal wines, and within blends of differing varieties depending on the region.
Where is Bobal mostly grown?
A black grape variety that’s mainly grown near the east coast of Spain, producing red and rosé wines.
Where is Garnacha Tinta most commonly found?
The Central North and NE, including Rioja, Navarra, Catalunya and Aragon.
What is a synonym for Alicante Bouschet?
Garnacha Tintorera (not the same as Garnacha Tinta).
Where is Macabeo most often found? What styles of wine are produced?
Catalunya for still and Cava, and it is the main white variety in Rioja (as Viura).
Inexpensive neutral wines, and many premium wines that have been fermented and matured in oak.
