Spain Flashcards
Grape Varieties in Galicia
Albarino
Godello
Mencia
Why is Rias Baixas also called green Spain?
Because of the lush land
The DO’s in Galicia/Green Spain
- Rias Baixas DO
- Ribeiro DO
- Valdeorras DO
- Ribeira Sacra DO
- Monterrei DO
Largest geographical features in Galicia
- Atlantic Ocean
- Mino River
- Rias Baixas (low estuaries)
- Steep slopes in Ribeira Sacra
Main Soil Type in Galicia
Granite
Canopy Management in Galicia
- High Canopy trellising because of the humidity
- Terraced vineyards in Ribeira Sacra
Whats the typical winemaking in Galicia?
- often stainless steel, lees agingn
- occasional barrique
Rias Baixas produces what wines?
- Dry Whites
- Albarino
- if labeled with the grape must be a 100%
Valdeorras DO makes what wines?
- Dry Whites: Godello
- Dry Reds: Mencia
What wines does Ribeira Sacra make?
- Dry Whites: Godello and Albarino
- Dry Reds: Mencia
Pazo Senrans
- Galicia
Granbazan
- Galicia
Lagar de Cervera
- Galicia
DO’s of Castilla y Leon
- Toro DO
- Ribera del Duero DO
- Rueda DO
- Bierzo DO
- Tierra del Vino de Zamora DO
- Arribes DO
- Cigales DO
- Arlanza DO
- Leon DO
Toro DO
- Tempranillo-based Red Wines / Tinta de Toro
- Emphasizing ripeness and concentratio
- Notable producers: Farina, Numanthia-Termes and Bodega Pintia
Bierzo DO
- dominated by Mencia
- Godello and Palomino for Whites
- often biodyn and with mountain side schist
- Notable producers: Decendientes de Jose Palacios
Ribera del Duero DO
- red blends based on Tempranillo at least to 75%
- Whites must include at least 75% Albillo Mayor
- Vega Sicilia
Aging Requirements in Ribera del Duero
- Crianza: 2 years (1 in cask)
- Reserva: 3 years (1 in cask)
- Gran Reserva: 2 years in cask, 5 years of total aging
- Roble: 3 months oak aging
- Joven: anything not aged for three monts
Rueda DO
- Dry Whites from Verdejo at least 50%
- Dry Reds from Tempranillo
- Sparkling wines from Verdejo (at least 75%) - Espumosos
Vega Sicilia
- est. 1864
- planted CS and Merlot and Malbec from Bordeaux, but perferred Tempranillo
- Today: 80% Temp and remaining percentage 20%
- Flagship: Unico, extensive aging
Tinto Pesquera
- 1972
- inspiration from locals: Peter Sisseck from Pingus
- 100% Tempranillo
Dominio de Pingus
- 1995
- Peter Sisseck, Bordeaux educated
- Pingus: childhood nickname
- 100% Tempranillo
Descendientes de J. Palacios
- put Mencia on the map
- Bierzo western edge
- biodyn pioneer and sustainable farming
Martinsancho
- Rueda
- founded in 1780
- King of Verdejo
- american oak
When was the first DOCa awarded?
1991 - to La Rioja
First DO’s in the 1930s
What is the most dominant soil type in Galicia?
Granite
Wine and Food Pairing with Albarino?
- shellfish, bivalves, aperitivo
Where are the Cantabrian Mountains?
Northwesteren of La Rioja, providing a rain shadow
What is the Climate in the three main regions of Rioja?
- Rioja Alta: Continental, relatively dry
- Rioja Alavesa: Continental, but cooler and wetter
- Rioja Oriental: Mediterranean
Where does the Ebro River originate from?
The Cantabrian Mountains
What River is la Rioja named after?
Oja River
What is the soil in Rioja Oriental?
- Alluvial Soils and ferrous clay
Soiltype in Rioja Alta?
Similiar to Rioja Alavesa based on calcerous clay
What are the regulations for Vinedos Singulares?
- introduced in 2017
- first vintages 2018
- must be at least 35 year old vines, 10 years of vineyard work, hand harvest
- must pass a tasting panel
What are the regulations for Rosado in Rioja?
- Require a minimum of 25% primary red grapes
- Crianza is in stainless steel
- Reserva must be aged in oak
What is a synonym to Mazuelo?
Carignan
What are the aging requirements for Red Rioja DOCa?
- Crianza: 2 years, 1 in oak
- Reserva: 3 years, 1 in oak, 6 mth in bottle
- Gran Reserva: 5 years, 2 in oak, 2 in bottle
- Oak Cask must have 225l capacity
What are the Aging Requirements for Rosado and White Rioja?
- Crianza: 18 mths, 6 in oak
- Reserva: 2 years, 6 mths in oak
- Gran Reserva: 4 years, 6 mths in oak
Marques de Caceres
- introduced new french oak in 1970s
- located in Rioja Alta
Marques de Riscal
- Don Camilo Hurtado de Amezaga founded the Bodega in 1858
- introducing Cabernet Sauvignon and using bordelaise winemaking techniques
- Baron de Chirel (Flagship Wine) aged in french barrique for extended period
Finca Allende
- Rioja Alta
- founded in 1986
- estate botteling and french oak
Bodegas Lopez de Heredia
- Rioja Alta
- Most traditional winemaking: extensive use of american oak
- gran reserva: only produced in the best vintages
La Rioja Alta SA
- est. in 1890
- traditional techniques
- 80% of the production is Reserva or Gran Reserva
Key Wine Regions in Catalonia?
- Priorat DOCa
- Montsant DO
- Tarragona DO
- Terra Alta DO
- Conca de Barbera DO
- Costers del Segre DO
- Penedes DO
- Alella DO
- Emporda DO
- Pla de Bages DO
- Catalunya DO
Climate in Priorat
- hot and dry mediterranean climate
- very important diurnal shifts
Birthplace of Cava
Sadurni d Anoia in Alt-Penedes
Jose Raventos of Codorniu introduced metodo tradicional
Today second largest Cava Producer
Canopy Management in Priorat
- Gobelet, naturally low
- no machine harvest possible
- naturally low yields
Dominant Grape varieties in Priorat
- Garnacha
- Carinena
Notable Producers in Priorat
- Rene Barbier leading to the production of Clos Wines: Clos Mogador, Clos Martinet, Clos de l’Obac, Clos Dofi, Clos Erasmus
- Alvaro Palacios
What is Llicorella?
- Soiltype in Priorat
- Black slate and quartzite
- rich in minerals, reflects sunlight - helps ripen even during strong diurnal shifts (night)
- high drainage
- Wines tend to be flinty, stony adn earthy
- Very dense and powerful
- Minerality and Freshness
- Complexity and Structure
- Aging Potential
What tool in the Metodo Tradicional was invented for Cava?
- Gyropalette instead of hand riddling
What is in Cava DO?
- Multiple regions producing Cava all over Spain
- Most in Penedes DO
- Corpinnat Movement to more restrictive rules
Cava Aging Requirements
- Min. 9 mths on lees
- Reserva: min 18 mths on lees
What is the Gratalops Project?
- Started in 1980s / early 90s
- Revitalizing Priorat’s Wine Industry (was neglected despite rich history dating back to the middle ages)
- Spearheaded by Rene Barbier, Alvaro Palacios, Daphne Glorian, Josep Perez and Carles Pastrana
- The “Clos” Wines: Clos Mogador (R.Barbier), Clos Dofi (A. Palacios), Clos Erasmus (D.Glorian), Clos Martinet (JL. Perez), Clos de l Obac (C.Pastrana)
- Going back to old Garnacha and Carinena Vines
- Terroir Driven Winemaking: singlevineyard expression, biodyn, quality over quantity
- The Vi de Vila Concept: introduced in 2009, village level designations
- Gratalops now most prestigious Vi de Vila Region
Pais Vasco
- Atlantic North Coast/Green Spain
- Moderate Maritime
- White: Hondarrabi Zuri
- Red: Hondarrabi Beltza
DO’s in Pais Vasco
- Bizkaiko Txakolina DO: dry whites, lightly effervescent, high acid
- Arabako Txakolina DO: Dry white
- Getariko Txakolina DO: Dry white
Perfect with seafood, all characetrized by low alc, high acid and light bubbles
How are Rosados from the Pais Vasco also known?
- Ojo de Gallo
Important DO’s in Murcia
- Jumilla DO: Massproduced Reds from Monstrell
- Yecla DO
- Bullas DO
What is special about Monastrell from Jumilla?
- often still ungrafted vines due to very sandy soils
General Climate in Murcia
- Mediterranean warm
Pago DO
- distributed over all of Spain
- higher concentration in Castilla-La-Mancha
- Mostly red styles
Who is Juan Gil?
- Revitalized Monstrell in Jumilla
- Atalaya, Shaya and Honoro Vera are all wineries now part of the family buisness
- Affordable but high quality
What is Vino de Pago?
- Appellation for Producers outside the regional, traditional styles
- introduced in 2003
Where is Sherry from?
- Coastal province of Cadiz
- hottest wine region in Spain
- borders the Guadalquivir River and Chiclana de la Frontera
- Key Towns: Jerez de la Frontera, El Puerto de Santa Maria, Sanlucar de Barrameda
Climate in Jerez
- cooling atlantic breezes
- Levante Wind: Hot and dry wind that cooks the grapes
- Poniente Wind: humid wind for flor growths
Soil Types in Jerez:
- Albariza: chalky, porous and limestone rich, retains moistures and allows deep rooting
- Barros: clay heavy in valley
- Arenas: sandy soils in coastal areas
Authorized Grapes for Sherry Production
- Palomino (Listan): Fino and de Jerez
- Pedro Ximenez: mainly for sweetening
- Moscatel: Muscat de Alexandria
Grape Processing for Sherry
- Palomino must be pressed quickly - prone to oxidation
- Primera yema: free run juice 60-70%
- Segunda yema: press wine
- Mosto Prensa: poorer quality press wine
- Fermentation used to be in American Oak, today mostly stainless steel
- Tumultuos fermentation vs. lenta fermentation
The Aging of Sherry
- biological aging: flor yeast, mainly for Fino and Manzanilla
- Oxidative Aging: Oloroso Sherry
Characteristics of Palomino
- low acid
- neutral grape
- 95% of acerage in Jerez
