Spain Flashcards
What are the two highest quality levels of Spanish wine
Denominación de Origen (DO) and the superior Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa)
What is Spain’s climate like?
Varied. From cool Atlantic in the north to hot Mediterranean and continental inland.
What is the Penedes climate influence?
Mediterranean climate with coastal cooling effects.
What is the Ribera del Duero climate influence?
Extreme continental climate with hot summers and cold winters.
What is the Spanish wine quality hierarchy?
Vinos de la Tierra (PGI), DO, DOCa, Vinos de Pagos.
What are Spain’s two DOCa regions?
Rioja and Priorat.
Where is Priorat?
North west Spain, Catalonia, southwest of Bacelona, west of Tarragona
Where is Rioja?
North Central Spain, south of Bilbao
What is Vino de Pago?
A single estate with its own DO status, producing high-quality wines.
What are the 12 main wine regions of Spain?
Rioja
Navarra
Ribera del Duero
Bierzo
Rueda
Toro
Priorat
Rias Baixas
Penedes
La Mancha (incl Valdepenas)
Jumilla
Montilla-Moriles
What are the main red grape varieties in Spain?
Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo (Carignan), Monastrell (Mourvedre), Mencia.
What are the main white grape varieties in Spain?
Albarino, Verdejo, Viura (Macabeo), Godello, Palomino (Sherry).
What is Tempranillo known as in other regions?
Tinta del Pais (Ribera del Duero), Tinto Fino (Toro), Ull de Llebre (Catalonia).
What are Spain’s ageing classifications for wine?
Joven, Crianza, Reserva, Gran Reserva.
What are the ageing requirements for white Rioja wines?
Crianza - 1 years total
Reserva - 2 years total
Gran Reserva - 4 years
All min 6 months in cask
No min bottle aging
What are the ageing requirements for red Rioja wines?
Crianza - 2 years total, 1 year barrels
Reserva - 3 years total, 1 year barrels, 6m bottles
Gran Reserva - 5 years total, 2 years barrel, 2 years bottle
What is the main grape of Rias Baixas?
Albarino.
What is the main grape of Rioja?
Tempranillo, often blended with Garnacha, Mazuelo, and Graciano.
What is the main grape of Toro?
Tinta de Toro (a local clone of Tempranillo).
What is the main grape of Ribera del Duero?
Tinto Fino (Tempranillo).
What is the main grape of Penedes?
Xarel-lo, Macabeo, Parellada (for Cava), plus international varieties.
What is the main grape of Rueda?
Verdejo.
What is the main grape of Priorat?
Garnacha, often blended with Carinena (Carignan).
What is the main grape of Valdepenas?
Tempranillo.
How is Cava produced?
Traditional method
What are the permitted grapes for Cava?
Macabeo, Xarel-lo, Parellada, plus Chardonnay and Pinot Noir for some styles.
What are the main sub-regions of Rias Baixas?
Val do Salnes, O Rosal, Condado do Tea, Soutomaior, Ribeira do Ulla.
What are the main sub-regions of Navarra?
Baja Montana, Tierra Estella, Valdizarbe, Ribera Alta, Ribera Baja.
What are the main sub-regions of Penedes?
Alt Penedes, Mitja Penedes, Baix Penedes.
What are the main sub-regions of Priorat?
Gratallops, Porrera, Poboleda, Vilella Alta, Bellmunt.
Where is Ribera del Duero located and what wines does it produce?
Castilla y Leon, producing powerful Tempranillo-based reds.
Where is Montsant located and what wines does it produce?
Catalonia, producing Garnacha and Carinena-based reds.
Where is Toro located and what wines does it produce?
Castilla y Leon, producing bold reds from Tinta de Toro (Tempranillo).
Where is Rueda located and what wines does it produce?
Castilla y Leon, producing Verdejo-based whites.
Where is Bierzo located and what wines does it produce?
Northwest Spain, producing Mencia-based reds with fresh acidity.
