Spain Flashcards
Name the main regions of spain
The upper Ebro
Catalunya
The north west
The Duero Valley
The Levante
Castillia-la Mancha
Castilla y Leon VdIT
Name the sub regions of the upper Ebro
Rioja, Navarra, Catalayund, Carinena
Name the main regions of Catalunya
Priorat, Catalunya, Penedes
Name the sub regions of the North West of Spain
Rias Baixas, Bierzo
Name the sub regions of the Levante
Valencia, Jumilla, Yecla
Name the sub regions of Castilla la Mancha
La Mancha, Valpenedas
What are Spain’s black Grape Varieties
Tempranillo
Garnacha
Monastrell (Mouvedre)
Granciano
Carinena (Manzuelo/Carignan)
Mencia
Merlot
Cabernet Sauvignon
What are Spain’s white Grape Varities
Verdejo
Albarino
Airen
Viura
Spain has three broad climatic zones, Name location and Climate
The north west -moderate maritime
The east coast - warm Mediterranean
The center - hot continental
The North west of Spain is defined by what climatic influence and includes which sub regions
The North West is influenced by the Atlantic: maritime, high rainfall and moderate climate
It includes Bierzo and Rias Baixas
The east coast of Spain has what climate and includes which regions/sub regions
The east coast is warm Mediterranean, moderated by sea and altitude
It includes Catalunya; Priorat and Penedes as well at the Levante; Valencia, Yecla, Jumilla
Central Spain has what climate and includes which regions/sub regions
The climate is hot continental, with high altitude sites, large diurnal range and low rainfall
Castilla y Leon VdIT
Castilla La Mancha - la Mancha, Valpenedas
Duero Valley - Ribera del Duero, Toro, Rueda
The upper Ebro - Rioja, Navarra, Catalayund, Carinena
The upper Ebro has a less hot climate
Name two common styles of Tempranillo and how they are produced
Early drinking Joven - semi carbonic maceration
Ageworthy, complex Blends - heavy extraction, maturation in American or french oak, blended with Garnacha, Graciano, Carinena/Manzuelo
Tempranillo in the Vineyard
Early budding, early ripening
sensitive to wind and drought
Needs moderation to maintain acidity and balance (ocean breezes, altitude, diurnal range)
Descripe Garnacha in Spain,
What is it used for, where is it grown, in the Vineyard and the Winery
Garnacha is used to provide Perfume, Body and Alcohol to Blends, mainly in the upper Ebro (Rioja) but also in Catalunya and the Duero Valley, Rosés are also commonly made
It is drought tolerant and needs the warmest sites to ripen
Pre and post fermentation, gentle cap management, matured in old oak
For what is Graciano mainly used in Spain
To provide black fruit Aromas, Acidity and Tannins to the best wines in Rioja
What regions is Carinena/Manzuela grown? What does it contribute to the blens
It’s grown in the hottest sites in the upper Ebro and Catalunja, it contributes Tannin, Acidity and color to blends in Rioja and Priotat
Describe the Verdejo Grape in Spain
White Grape, susceptible to oxidisation, now made anerobic into wines with light body, high to medium acidity, flavours range form green, grassy to peach and melon notes depending on picking
Mainly grown in Rueda (the Duero valley) and blended with Sauvignon Blanc
Richer styles with oak aging and lees stirring are made
Describe the Albarino Grape in Spain
Grown in the North West, Pergola trained, it’s thick skins help disease resistance
Made into refreshing wines, light body, high acidity, floral, citrus and stone fruit
Some producers use oak aging and lees stirring for enhanced texture
Name Riojas sub Regions and describe the climate
Rioja Alavesa - north west, in the foothills of the Cantabrian Mountains, warm climate is moderated by altitude and Atlantic influence
Rioja Alta - Western part of Rioja, some Atlantic influence, high Altitude sites, 5 - 800 metres
Rioja Oriental - east of Alta, south of the Ebro, no maritime influence, lower altitude, warmest, driest sites
Name the styles produced in Rioja and their Production methods
Early drinking - made by semi carbonic maceration, wines with finesse and fresh fruit mainly for the local market
Ageworthy, complex Blends - made form Tempranillo, Garnacha, Manzuelo (carginan) and Granciano, destemmed, heavy extraction, vigorous cap management, traditional fermentation, long maturation in new American or French Oak
Rioja Bianco - mainly from Viura, high acidity, deliberate Oxidation, nutty flavour from American oak, more modern wines are made without oxygen contact
Where in Spain is Navarra located, how is the climate and what Grapes are grown
In the upper Ebro north of Rioja, in the foothills of the Pyrenees, warm continental, cooler and wetter closer to the mountains
Tempranillo, Garnacha, manzuelo (Carignan), Granciano, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Viura
Where in Spain are Carinena and Calatayud located, how is the climate and what grapes are grown
Located south of the Ebro, the climate is warm continental, rainfall is low
Garnacha is the most planted, some Carinena
Where in Spain is Penedes located, what is the climate like and what wines are produced
Penedes lies in Catalunya, south of Barcelona
Grapes are either produced on the hot Mediterranean coastal plain, the slightly cooler inland valleys or the surrounding hills with moderating altitude
Great variety of styles, mainly Cava (Viura) and international varieties; Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewürztraminer, cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo, pinot noir
What are Spain’s DOCa’s
Rioja and Priotat
Where in Spain lies Priotat, describe the climate
Priorat lies in Catalunya, Inland from Penedes, the climate is warm Mediterranean, mountain ranges provide moderation, rainfall is low, the diurnal range large, summers are long and hot
What soil is found in Priorat, why is it suitable for old vine Garnacha and Carinena
The soil is called llicorella: red slate and sparkling mica it’s good water retention, low nutrients and heat reflection make it suitable for old vine Garnacha and Carinena
What wines are made in Priotat
Concentrated blends from old vine Garnacha and Carinena, deeply colored, high Tannin, medium to high alcohol, full body, concentrated black fruit and aromas of new oak
Some white and rose are made
Where in Spain lies the Duero valley and what sub regions lie within, describe the climate
The Duero Valley lies in the mountains south of Rioja on the Duero river, it contains Ribera del Duero, Toro and Rueda
The climate is warm continental, largely cut off from maritime influence, moderated by altitude, hot short summers, low rainfall, cool winters, large diurnal range
What wines are typically produced in Ribera del Duero, Spain
Tempranillo is grown, often single varietal, winemakers choose to accentuate high tannins and concentrated fruit by heavy extraction, maceration and a relatively short aging period in new french oak
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Garnacha (for Rose) are also grown
What Wines are typically made in Toro, Spain
Next to Ribera del Duero, full bodied, high alcohol Tempranillo is made from low yielding bush vines, Joven wines are produced with Garnacha
What Sub Regions are found in the North West of Spain and what wines are typically produced
Rias Baixas - fresh white wines from Albarino
Bierzo - elegant, high acidity red wines with perfumed red fruit Aromas from Mencia
How do Grapegrowers adjust to the climatic conditions in Rias Baixas, Spain
Albarino is the main Grape, it’s thick skin makes it resistant to fungal disease and rot, Vines are Pergola trained to encourage air flow
What sub regions lie in the Levante and what Wines are typically produced
Valencia - hot inland conditions, large value for money DO, Monastrell is the most planted red, Moscatel de Valencia is made here
Jumilla and Yecla - further inland, hot arid, making youthful and fruity wines from Monastrell
What sub-regions are found in Castilla La Mancha, Spain and what wines are typically produced
La Mancha - on the Mesera Centeal, inland, hot, due to investment in technology well made, value for money wines are made here mainly from Airen, producing neutral white wines, otherwise Tempranillo, cabernet, Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay
Valdepenas - south of La Mancha, mainly Airen, Tempranillo, international varieties
What are the aging requirements for red Joven, Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva Wines
Joven - no requirement
Crianza - 24 months, 6 in Barrel
Reserva - 36 months, 12 in Barrel
Grab Reserva - 60 months, 18 in Barrel
What are the aging requirements for white/rose Joven, Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva Wines
Joven - no requirement
Crianza - 18 months, 6 in Barrel
Reserva - 24 months, 6 in Barrel
Gran Reserva - 48 months, 6 in Barrel
What are the Spanish PDO and PGI Classifications
Pdo:
Denominacion de Origen (DO)
Denominacion de Origen Calificada (DOCa)
PGI:
Vino de la Tierra
