Spain Flashcards
What is Vino de Pago?
- single estate with high reputation
- may use their own grapes
- must be vinified and matured on their estate
Classification
Vino de la Tierra > Vino de Calidad on Indication Geografica (VC) > Denominación de Origen (DOCa)
Vino de Pago
What is the main grape used in La Mancha
Airen
What is the majority estate in La Mancha
Vino de Pago
Describe La Mancha
- largest DO in Spain
- hot continental climate as it cut off from maritime influence
- More Cencibel+Airen is planted + international varieties
- mainly inexpensive wine
Name the sweet fortified wine in Valencia
Moscatel de Valencia
What is Rias Baixas most planted grape?
Albarino
- thick-skin = resist fungal disease
Describe Riax Baixas
- moderate maritime climate dominated by Atlantic weather system = mildew and hot = vine diseases
- vines are trained on pergolas or trellising system = encourage air circulation
- Albarino = thick-skinned = resist fungal disease
What is Graciano
- black grape
- high valued-grape
- part of the blend in Rioja (fine wine)
- concentrated black fruit aromas, acidity, tannins = give structure
Describe Grancha
- low-yield old vines
- produce intense, complex, full-bodied red
- high alcohol, used for rosados in Spain
- mature early
( > 50% Rioja entry level)
Describe Tempranillo
- thick-skinned grape, medium level of acidity
- best is summer temperature, moderated by summer altitude
- hot climate with high alcohol temperature range = wine with low acidity
Why Priorat is sold in premium price?
- steep slope = mechanization is impossible = expensive and time consuming to manage the vineyards
- best vines are in older bush vine = bring concentration to the grape but yield is small = expensive
- best soil = llicorella = low fertility = help to ripening by conserving heat = complexity of the wines
Supplementary:
1. Long, hot and dry summer with low annual rainfall and cool night temperature
2. hot continental climate (dual climate and variation)
5. mainly Grenache + Carinena
Why Priorate mainly use Grenache and Carinena to blend?
- Garnacha: low-yield old vines enable to produce an intense, complex full-bodied wine = richness and structure
- Carinena: high acidity, high tannin, deep colour when it achieves full ripeness
- Grenacha and Carinena = late ripening variety = achieve good level of ripeness in Priorat
After blending:
Carinena: deeper colour, more tannin structure, high acidity
Grenacha: more red fruit flavours and softness
which grape does Jumilla and Yecla usually use?
Monastrell
- thick-skinned, deeply coloured, full-bodied, high tannin and alcohol, low-medium acidity, ripe black fruit flavour
Name the grape that Navarra usually use.
- Tempranillo
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Merlot