Spain * Flashcards
What is significant about Spain’s early wine history?
Phoenicians introduced wine around 1100 AD. Later, Moorish rule banned alcohol but introduced distillation, aiding Spanish brandy and fortified Sherry.
How did Sherry and rancio styles become prominent historically?
New World trade routes boosted demand for fortified wines like Sherry and oxidative rancio styles from Spain.
What impact did the Bordeaux phylloxera crisis (1850s–60s) have on Spanish winemaking?
French winemakers fled to Spain, bringing advanced techniques such as trellising, French oak barrels, and improved fermentation methods. Over time, American oak also became common.
Why was Spain’s international wine recognition delayed in the 20th century?
Under Franco’s dictatorship (1930s–1975), Spain was isolated, hindering wine export and global awareness.
Name key Spanish wine regions often cited for top quality.
Rioja, Priorat, Ribera del Duero, Rías Baixas, Cava (Catalonia), and Sherry (Andalucía) are the most renowned.
Explain Spain’s main quality tiers.
DOCa (highest, only Rioja and Priorat), DO (regulated but not guaranteed top quality), VCIG (step below DO), Vino de la Tierra (IGP), and then table wine.
When was the first DO created in Spain, and how did the system expand?
The first DO was in 1932, with more DOs granted post-1975 after Spain’s political changes.
Which regulations do Spain’s DOs and DOCa enforce?
They govern approved grape varieties, aging, yields, viticulture techniques, and require a consejo regulador (regulatory council).
Describe Spain’s standard aging terms for red wines: Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva.
Crianza: 2 years total (6 months in oak), Reserva: 3 years total (1 year oak), Gran Reserva: 5 years total (18 months oak).
Standard aging terms for white and rosé wines?
Crianza: 18 months (6 in oak), Reserva: 2 years (6 in oak), Gran Reserva: 4 years (6 in oak).
What do the DOP-specific aging terms (Noble, Añejo, Viejo) signify?
Noble: 18 months in cask <600L or bottle; Añejo: 24 months; Viejo: 36 months with oxidative aging in small casks.
Define Vinos de Pago.
A special DO category for single estates of very high quality (10+ years recognized), with stricter rules and estate-focused production.
What does Joven mean on a Spanish wine label?
It indicates a young wine released the year after harvest, typically with minimal or no oak aging.
What does Viñas Viejas refer to?
It means “old vines,” often 35+ years old, though the definition can vary by region.
Where is most Cava produced, and how is it classified?
Cava is a style, not a single region, but ~95% is from Catalonia. DO Cava covers all producers following the traditional sparkling method.
Which broad region is considered the “North Central” of Spain?
It includes the area around Rioja, Navarra, and Aragón, influenced by the Ebro River and surrounding mountain ranges.
Why is Rioja historically Spain’s most famous DOCa?
It combines long tradition, French winemaking influence (1850s), prestigious bodegas, and it was the first DOCa recognized (in 1991).
Which grape varieties dominate in North Central Spain?
Tempranillo and Garnacha are the key reds. Whites include Viura, Malvasía, and others.
What role did Benedictine monks and French exiles play in Rioja’s wine history?
Monks cultivated Rioja in the 13th century; mid-19th-century French exiles introduced modern techniques (barrel aging, short macerations).
When did Rioja first gain DO status, and when did it become DOCa?
1933: Rioja gained DO status; 1991: Elevated to DOCa.
Which grapes are authorized for Rioja DOCa’s red wines?
Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo (Carignan), Graciano, and Maturana Tinta.
What are the three Rioja subregions from highest to lowest altitude?
Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa, and Rioja Oriental (formerly Rioja Baja).
Describe the standard oak aging requirements for Rioja red wines.
Crianza: 2 years (1 in oak), Reserva: 3 years (1 in oak + 6m bottle), Gran Reserva: 5 years (2 in oak + 2 in bottle).
Name the white grapes allowed in Rioja DOCa.
Viura, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Verdejo, Malvasía, Garnacha Blanca, and others.
