Spain Flashcards
Who first established viticulture in Spain and when?
The Phoenicians in 1100BCE
When was sherry popularised in England?
15th century
When did phylloxera hit Europe?
1850s and 1860s
When Phylloxera hit Bordeaux, which 2 Bordelais winemakers came to Rioja?
Marques de Riscal
Marques de Murrieta
What 2 important lessons did the Bordelais teach Rioja in the mid 1800s?
Barrique aging and estate bottling
Why did Spain choose to use American oak rather than French oak?
It was more economic because Spain would be trading with their own colonies
What famous Spanish wine came to fruition in the second half of the 19th century in Spain?
Cava
When did Phylloxera arrive in Spain?
Early 20th century
When were Consejos Reguladores first established?
1930s
What winemaking advancement did Miguel Torres bring to Spain in the 1960s?
Temperature controlled fermentations and stainless steel vats
What are Spains quality tiers?
Vino de la Tierra (VdlT)
Denominacion de Origen (DO)
Denominacion de Origen Calificada (DOCa)
DO Pago
What quality level is VdlT?
Equal to table wine or IGP in Europe. The lowest quality level
What quality tiers are DO and DOCa?
Regional quality tiers equivalent to European DOPs. They regulate production and stipulate rules for producers. DOCa is higher quality
What are DO Pagos?
A superior appellation to just a normal DO. It lies within an existing DO, and is often applied to a single vineyard or collection of vineyards which surpass basic DO requirements. To apply, estate which produce wines from these vineyards should show international praise and a decade worth of quality production
What are the national wide DO aging regulations?
Crianza
Reserva
Gran Reserva
What are the general DO aging requirements for Crianza?
Red = minimum 2 year including 6 months in oak
White/Rosado = minimum 18 months including 6 months in oak
What are the general DO aging requirements for Reserva?
Red = minimum 3 years including 1 year in oak
White/Rosado = minimum 2 years including 6 months in oak
What are the general DO aging requirements for Gran Reserva?
Red = minimum 5 years including 18 months in oak
White/Rosado = minimum 4 years including 6 months in oak
What mountains protect Rioja to the northeast and northwest respectively?
Pyrenees to the northeast
Cantabrian to the northwest
Which river flows through Rioja DOCa?
Ebro River
Where does the name Rioja come from?
The Oja tributary coming off the Ebro River
When was Rioja given DOCa status?
1991, the first do be given this status
In what year was Rioja officially recognised as a region by the King of Spain?
1102
What is the different between traditional and modernist Rioja?
Traditional Rioja is soft with muted fruit, firm acidity, and American oak
Modernist Rioja is riper and darker with more extraction and more French oak
What is the main grape of Rioja?
Tempranillo
What are the 5 authorised red grapes of Rioja?
Tempranillo
Garnacha
Mazuelo (Carignan)
Graciano
Maturana Tinta (from 2007)
How much of a red Rioja blend must the permitted red grapes make up?
85%
95% if destemmed
What other grapes can be used in red Rioja blends if they make up less than 15% of the blend?
Experimental grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon
What are the 4 main white grapes of Rioja?
Viura is the dominant grape
Garnacha Blanca
Malvasia Riojano
Maturana Blanca
What are the grapes requirements for Rioja Rosado wines?
Minimum 25% of the 4 primary red grapes of Rioja
What are the respective aging requirements for Rioja DOCa?
Crianza = 2 years including 1 year in oak
Reserva = 3 years including 1 year in oak
Gran Reserva = 5 years including 2 years in oak and 2 years in bottle
What type of casks must Rioja be aged in?
225 litre barriques
What are the 3 subzones of Rioja?
Rioja Alta
Rioja Alavesa
Rioja Oriental
What types of wines typically come from Rioja Alavesa?
Joven wines for early consumption
What is the northernmost subregion in Rioja?
Rioja Alavesa
Which subzone is in the southwest of Rioja?
Rioja Alta
Which 3 grapes dominate Rioja Alta?
Tempranillo
Mazuelo
Graciano
What are the general soils of Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa?
Calcareous clay
What are the soils of Rioja Oriental?
More alluvial and ferrous clay
Which grape performs best in Rioja Orientel?
Garnacha
When blending all 3 regions to create a standard Rioja, what does each region give to the blend?
Alta gives acidity
Alavesa gives freshness
Oriental gives alcohol and extract
When was the Vinedos Singulares officially introduced to Rioja?
2017
What is the Vino Espumoso de Calidad in Rioja, and when was it formed?
Formed in 2018, its an appellation for traditional method sparkling wine from Rioja
What are the aging categories for Vino Espumoso de Calidad?
Crianza = 15 months on lees
Reserva = 24 months on lees
Gran Anada = 36 months on lees
Where is Navarra DO?
Directly northeast of Rioja
What style of wine is Navarra best known for?
Still, dry rosado wine
When did Navarro DO first receive recognition for its rosados?
15th century
How much of production do rosados make up nowadays?
30%
What are the 2 dominant red grapes of Navarra?
Tempranillo and Garnacha
What is the dominant white grape of Navarra?
Chardonnay
How many subzones and DO Pagos does Navarra have?
5 subzones
3 DO Pagos
What are the 5 subzones of Navarra?
Valdizarbe
Baja Montana
Tierra Estella
Ribera Alta
Ribera Baja
Where is Aragon located?
East of Rioja and Navarra
How may DOs does Aragon have?
4
What is the main grape of Aragon?
Garnacha
Which grape is used for the white wines of Aragon?
Viura
Which subzone of Aragon is one of the oldest DOs in Spain and the ancestral home of Mazuelo?
Carinena
Where is Catalonia?
Northeast Spain bordering France just south of the Pyrenees
Which French region does Catalonia share a culture and lineage with?
Cote de Roussillon
Which 2 important wine advancements made their Spanish debuts in Catalonia?
Traditional method sparkling wines
Stainless steel fermentation
What is the DOCa of Catalonia?
Priorat
Where does the name Priorat come from?
Priorato de Scala Dei, a Carthusian monastery
What are the 2 traditional grape varieties of Priorat?
Garnacha and Carinena
What are the soils of Priorat?
Llicorella, which is a mix of black slate and quartzite, requiring vines to dig deep for water and creating more complex flavours
Who initiated the Priorat movement in 1979?
Rene Barbier
When were the first vines planted by Barbier in Priorat?
1979