Spain Flashcards
The three wines regions in North Central Spain
Navarra
Rioja
Aragón
Mountain ranges north of Rioja
Pyranesse Mountains in the NE
Cantabrian Mountains in the NW
they create a rain-shadow effect
River that flows through La Rioja
The Ebro river
What year did Rioja get DOCa?
1991
The four blending grapes allowed to be blended together with Tempranillo in Rioja red wines
Graciano
Garnacha
Manzuelo
Maturana Tinta
The five blending grapes must comprise a minimum percentage of ___ for red wines in rioja.
Must comprise a minimum 85% of the red Rioja blend, or 95% if destemmed.
Allowed oak barrel size for Rioja
225L maximum
Dominant white grapes of rioja
what are the other allowable white grapes?
Viura (dominant white grape)
Garnacha Blanca
Malvasía Riojano
Maturana Blanca.
Chardonnay, Tempranillo Blanco, Sauvignon Blanc, Turruntés, and Verdejo are the only other white grapes permitted in blends.
Three subzones of La Rioja
Rioja Alavesa is the smallest & northernmost.
Carbonic maceration may be employed for such wines.
Rioja Alta is the southwestern zone (slightly warmer climate zone)
Rioja Oriental, the hottest subregion, south eastern
Soils of La rioja
Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa have high proportion of calcareous clay,
Rioja Oriental contains more alluvial soils and ferrous clay.
What are ‘mallas’ and why are they important for Rioja wine bottles?
Mallas are a gold mesh in which many rioja bottles were wrapped in. This tradition began towards the end of the 19th century, by Marques de Riscal, as a form of protection against counterfeiting.
Rioja DOCa in fact traverses what four autonomous communities?
La Rioja
Basque Country
Navarra
Castilla y Leon
The Najerilla and Oja rivers are tributaries of which larger river?
The Ebro River, in Rioja Alta.
Both rivers form valleys where many of Rioja Alta’s grapes are harvested. Vineyards in the Oja Valley feature a higher concentration of chalky, alluvial soils, while those further east in the Najerilla Valley lie on iron-rich clay.
Which of the following practices is common in Rioja Alavesa?
a) co-fermentation
b) whole cluster fermentation
c) carbonic maceration
d) chaptalization
c) carbonic maceration
Rioja Alavesa has a tradition for carbonic-macerated Tempranillo that predates the introduction of Bordelais techniques.
Which of Rioja’s subzones will typically be the first to harvest?
Rioja Oriental.
It is drier and hotter than both Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa.
Garnacha does well here.
What does garnacha contribute to the red wines of Spain?
Garnacha contributes alcohol, body and fruitiness.
This is a common blending grape for tempranillos, especially in years that tempranillos don’t ripen correctly.
What does graciano contribute to red wines?
Graciano contributes acidity, tannin, and exotic spice flavors
What is the other common name for Mazuelo?
Cariñena
In which subzone of Rioja do Haro and Logroño sit?
Rioja Alta.
Haro sits in the far west, bordering Rioja Alavesa.
Logroño sits in the east, bordering Rioja Oriental.
True or Falsa:
Tempranillo is the only grape allowed to be used in single-varietal rioja red wines.
False,
the appellation allows for other varietal red wines
How long must rioja espumosos age on sur lie for prior to bottling?
a minimum 15 months sur lie
Malvasia is a common blending grape for which type of wine?
White wines from rioja.
It is often blended with Viura.
Which of the following is not allowed by the Consejo Regulador of Rioja DOCa?
a) wines labeled according to village name
b) single vineyard wines
c) tradition method sparkling wines.
d) the use of international red varietals for dry red wines.
d) the use of international red varietals for dry red wines.
Only the 5 authorized grapes may be used in the production of single-varietal or blended red wines from Rioja DOCa.
Single vineyard Rioja wines must follow what regulations?
-must come from vines that are at least 35 yrs. old.
-must be hand harvested
-vines must achieve a lower yield, almost 30% less.
-Must pass a tasting panel.
A Rioja espumante label Gran Añada must age how long on sur lie prior to disgorgement?
36 months
(24 months for reserva)
Spain sits atop this large plateau, elevated about 660 meters above sea level.
What is the name of this plateau?
What mountain ranges that surround it?
Why is this significant for the Spanish wine industry?
The MESETA central.
It is surrounded by:
1) Sierra de Cantabria NW & Pyrenees NE
2) Sierra Morena on the south.
3) Sierra de Gredos to the west
4) Sistema Iberico on the east.
5) Sistema Central crosses it SW to NE, dividing the meseta in two.
This is important because it creates a diversity of microclimates and terroirs throughout the entire country.
Describe how Spain’s climate varies from north to south.
In the north, what is known as ‘green spain’, experiences a MARITIME climate, with heavy rain and warm summers.
Central spain, known as ‘la meseta’, experiences a CONTINENTAL climate, with very hot summers and low rainfall.
Southern spain, experiences a MEDITERRANEAN climate, with hot summers and rain is very scarce here.
Describe the quality pyramid of spanish wines.
from lowest to highest
PGIs
-vino de la mesa: can bear no region on the label, but can state vintage and varietal.
-vino de la tierra: must be made within a confined area, such as one of the autonomous regions. 85% of the grapes must come from that area.
PDOs
-Vino de Calidad con Indicación Geográfica (VC or VCIG)
-Denominación de Origen (DO)
-Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa)
-Vino de Pago (VP).
What is VINO DE PAGO and how are they different from DO’s?
Vino de pago is a designation awarded to a ‘single estate’ that may fall within or outside the boundaries of an existing DO.
To qualify for this, the following are musts
-vineyards are owned by the winery
-must be estate bottled
-the estate must be in production at least 10 yrs prior to applying.
In theory, a Vino de Pago should transcend the quality of wines vinified in its broader DO, should there be one, or at least show distinction.
VINOS DE PAGO
1) When was it created?
2) How many are currently in spain?
3) Which estate was the first to receive this DO?
4) which estate is the newest to receive this DO?
1) In 2003
2) 25 estates
3) Dominio de Valdepusa in “03
4) Rosalejo, in “24
What are the aging designations for wines that fall under the DO and DOCg classification?
What important river form a natural border between galicia and portugal
the mino/minho river
Name the five wine regions that make up Galicia.
Riax Baixas
Ribeiro
Ribeira Sacra
Valdeoras
Monterei
Define ‘pazo’
The local name for an estate in rias baixas
Prior to being called Rias Baixas DO, what name was originally given to this denomination, and why was it changes to Rias Baixas?
In the 1980’s, this DO was enacted as Albariño DO, but it was forced to change its name to Rias Baixas DO upon Spain’s admission into the European Union.
According to EU law, varietal appellation names are forbidden.
It is named for the “low estuaries” that flow through the region before eventually reaching the ocean,
What is the dominant soil type of Rias Baixas?
GRANITE. also known as xabre.
This soil is low water retention, which serves well for the humid, wet climate of Rias Baixas
Five subzones of Rias Baixas
Val do Salnés: Largest and most historic
Ribeira do Ulla: most northern, and inland.
Soutomaior: Smallest and coastal
O Rosal: Coastal and borders Portugal
Condado do Tea: Inland and borders Portugal.
Where is Val do Salnes?
describe the type of wine made here
Val do Salnes is a coastal subzone of Rias Baixas. It is the largest, coldest and wettest.
Albariños here are often identified for having a marked salinity characteristic.
Rías Baixas wines (with the exception of Soutomaior) can be labeled by subzone.
If a producer decides to label their wine by subzone (rather than by varietal), what are the rules regarding each subzone’s allowable blend?
Condado de Tea: Mostly albariño & treixadura blends.
O Rosal: Mostly albariño & loureira blends.
Val do Salnes & Ribeira do Ulla: blends albariño, Loureira, Treixadura and Caíño Blanco.
Selected grapes must make at least 70% of the blends and be sourced entirely from the selected subzone.
What method must be used to in order for a wine to be labeled as ‘Rias Baixas Espumoso’?
The champagne traditional method.
In which DO of Rias baixas would most likely have red wine production?
Condado de Tea, it is the warmest and driest subzone of Rias Baixas.
What system of vine training is typically used in Rias Baixas?
Why is this training system important to use?
It is called a Parral or Pergola system.
This system of training protects the fruit from the region’s marginal weather, enables greater airflow to combat milder and rot, encourages greater photosynthesis and ripening by maximizing leaf surface, and protects grapes from sunburn.
What is the percentage of albariño that must be used to be labeled as
“Rias Baixas Albariño” ?
100% Albariño
White Grapes of Rias Baixas
Albariño
Loureira
Treixadura
Caíño Blanco
Torrontés
Godello
Name the red grapes that are grown in Riax Baixas.
Caiño Tinto
Espadeiro
Mencía
Sousón
Brancellao
Two important rivers to Rias Baixas viticulture
The Ulla river in the north
The Mino river in the south
Two important rivers of Galicia?
The Sil river
The Mino river
What is vino tostado? Where is it produced?
Vino Tostado is a naturally sweet wine whose production involves a process of natural raisining of grapes.
-Must be aged in cherry or oak casks
-Minimum 13% abv
It is produced in the Ribeiro DO, in Galicea.
White wines of Ribeiro are mostly made from what preferred grape?
Treixadura
The subzone of Amandi forms one of the five subzones of which DO?
Ribeira Sacra.
Amandi is most historic and most often viewed as highest in quality.
What wine is mostly produced in Ribeira Sacra? What is the main varietal here.
Ribeira Sacra produces predominantly red wines, with Mencia as the main grape.
What is Merenzao?
A red varietal for red wines from Ribeira Sacra.
Merenzao can also known as Bastardo in portugal and Trousseau Noir in the USA.
Which DO is named the Valley of Gold?
What are the main grapes of this region?
Valdeorras.
Godello for white wines
Mencia for red wines.
Only these two grapes are allowed for varietal labeled wines of Valdeorras.
Describe the soil and climate of Valdeorras.
Valdeorras has a continental climate rather than a maritime climate like the rest of Galicia, with drier & hotter summers.
The region is largely associated with slate soil.
Bodegas Godeval produces wines from which region?
Valdeorras.
This winery was founded in 1986, and was the winery that rescued and produced the first single varietal Godello.
What was the ReViVal project?
A project to rescue the godello grape from extinction.
This project was led by Horacio Fernandez, founder of bodegas Godeval.
RE.VI.VAL (Restructuring of the Vineyards of Valdeorras)
What wine is produced in Monterrei?
Monterrei exclusively makes white and red wines, its whites produced from Dona Branca, Godello, and Treixadura, among other regional varieties, and its reds primarily from Mencía and Bastardo, with blending grapes.
Define Chacolí.
Chacolí (Txakoli) is a light bodied, white wine, sometimes spritzy, from the Basque region of northern Spain.
Hondarrabi Zuri (Ondarrabi Zuri) is the grape used to make this wine.
DO’s allowed for the production of Txakoli
three Txakoli DOs:
-Txakoli de Getaria (Getariako Txakolina)
——- gained DO in 1989, oldest one
-Txakoli de Bizkaia (Bizkaiko Txakolina)
——- gained DO in 1994
-and Txakoli de Álava (Arabako Txakolina).
——- gained DO in 2001, youngest one
What is the name of the red grape used for Txacoli red wines?
Hondarrabi Beltza
Describe Castilla y Leon’s location and climate
Castilla y León sits on the upper portion of the Meseta, a higher plateau than neighboring Castilla-La Mancha, from which it is separated by the mountains of the Sistema Central. Elevations are high (700 to 1,000 meters), and most regions are concentrated along the banks of the Duero River, before it crosses into Portugal. Much of Castilla y León is susceptible to a dramatic continental climate, matching scorching summers with frigid winters. Frost can be a challenge at both the beginning of the growing season and harvest, as can drought in the hotter months.
DO’s of Castilla y Leon
1) Bierzo (most northern)
2) Tierra de Leon
3) Arlanza (north of RdD)
9) Ribera del Duero
4) Arribes (on the
portuguese border)
5) Tierra del vino de
Zamora
6) Toro
7) Rueda
8) Cigales
Where is Bierzo DO situated?
Bierzo is situated in the northern part of CyL, next to Valdeorras in Galicia; hence why this region has more in common with Galician wines rather than CyL wines. The Sil rivers runs through it.
Bierzo wines are made primarily from what grape?
Mencia,
When did Bierzo gain DO, and who are credited for getting it to this status?
Bierzo was given DO in 1989, largely thanks for Jose Luis Prada, and later, to Alvaro Palacios and his nephew.
Describe the landscape of Bierzo.
The landscape of Bierzo forms an amphitheater, stretching from around 450 to 800 meters in elevation and dividing the region into two general unofficial zones: the low-lying, flatter Bajo Bierzo at the base and the mountainside plantings of Alto Bierzo. Quality winegrowing is favored in the latter’s higher, sloped sites, often composed of quartz and slate. Vines in Bajo Bierzo are typically planted in deeper, clay-alluvial soils. Old vines can be found throughout the region, though are mostly owned in small plots, requiring producers to piece together sources from many growers.
Describe Bierzo’s vineyard classification system.
Enacted in 2017, full vineyard quality pyramid.
Vino de la Region
Vino de Villa (village wine) category
Vino de Paraje (designated to specific parcels.)
Those parajes might further be deemed to produce either Vino de Viña Clasificada (essentially a classified cru wine) or Gran Vino de Viña Clasificada (or grand cru).
Ribera del Duero aging requirements
Rioja aging requirements
How many DO’s are part of the Catalonian region?
9 DO’s and 1 DOCa
