Spain 2 Flashcards
Spain Production?
0.95 million ha; 50 million hl; country with biggest acreage under the vine and in 2012 the biggest producer in the world.
Spain Regulations?
Production and labeling are governed by the Instituto de Denominaciones de Origen (INDO) which is controlled by administrative growers committees or Consejos Regulados.
Spain Quality Levels?
There are six quality levels: Vino de Mesa (VdM); Vino Comarcal (VC); Vino de la Tierra (VdlT); Vinos de Calidad con Indicacion Geografica (VCIG); Denominacion de Origen (DO); and Denominacion de Origen Calificada (DOCa).
Vino Comarcal (VC)?
Vino Comarcal (VC) is a regional wine. It is a slightly higher-quality table wine which may be sold under a region and vintage. Some growers prefer to produce higher quality wine under this category.
Vino de la Tierra (VdlT)?
Vino de la Tierra (VdlT) is country wine; similar classification to the VdP of France and IGT of Italy. These wines are from a local region with a specific local character and are expected to achieve DO status within five years of being registered.
Vinos de Pagos?
Top quality wines from single estates but are not necessarily higher quality than DO or DOCa wines. These wines must be from single estates and produced on the estate; so producers who buy in grapes or whose winery is not on this estate cannot use this categorization; these rules out a large number of the top quality wines.
Joven?
Joven means no cask aging; or less than the legal minimum for Crianza wines.
Crianza?
Red wines must be matured for two calendar years following the harvest; including a minimum of six months in barricas (225 liter oak casks); which means a 2004 vintage may be sold from January 1 2007. White and rose must be matured for one calendar year; of which six months must be in barricas. Rioja; Ribera del Duero; and Navarra require one year in barrel for reds.
Reserva?
Red wines must be matured for three calendar years following the harvest; including a minimum of one year in barricas. White and rose must be matured for two calendar years; of which six months must be in barricas.
Gran Reserva?
Red wines must be matured for five calendar years following the harvest; including a minimum of 18 months in barricas. White and rose must be matured for four calendar years; of which six months must be in barricas. Rioja; Ribera del Duero; and Navarra require two years in barrel for reds.
Noble?
Noble wine has been matured 18 months in cask (min size 60 liters). The term can be applied only to a Vino de la Tierra wine or better.
Añejo?
Añejo wine has been aged 24 months in cask (min size 60 liters). The term can be applied only to a Vino de la Tierra wine or better.
Viejo?
Viejo wine must undergo 36 months aging in cask (min size 60 liters) and the wines must show an oxidative character. The term can be applied only to a Vino de la Tierra wine or better.
Cantabria?
Along with its neighbors Asturias (to the west) and the Basque Country (to the east); this lush and mountainous area is known fondly as Espana Verde; (‘Green Spain’). The climate is strongly influenced by Atlantic Ocean winds trapped by the mountains; the average precipitation is about 1;200 mm (47 inches). Viticulture has not traditionally been important here; as the local soils are too fertile and the climate too wet and windy for quality viniculture.
Cantabria Regions?
There are now two Vino de la Tierra (VT) titles in Cantabria: Liebana VT and Costa de Cantabria VT.
Cantabria Varieties?
A wide range of local and international varieties are cultivated in Cantabria; including Hondarrabi Zuri and its dark-skinned variant Hondarrabi Belza. Other varieties of note include Picapoll; Albarin Tinto (Alfrocheiro Preto); Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
Liebana VT?
Only red and dry whites can be produced and bottled under the Liebana VT. Red wines are predominant here; and blends are more common than single-variety styles. But a handful of varietal Palomino and Mencia wines are also made.
Liebana VT white varieties?
Chardonnay; Palomino; Godello; Verdejo; Albillo and Albarin Blanco.
Liebana VT red varieties?
Mencia; Tempranillo; Garnacha; Graciano; Merlot; Syrah; Pinot Noir; Albarin Tinto (Alfrocheiro Preto) and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Costa de Cantabria VT?
Most grapes used in Costa de Cantabria wines are light-skinned varieties that produce crisp; refreshing white wines with crisp acidity. These include northern Spanish favorites such as Albarino; Godello; Hondarrabi Zuri and Treixadura and also a handful of varieties from further north in Europe; notably Riesling and Gewurztraminer.
Costa de Cantabria VT red wines?
The only red-wine variety of note here is Hondarrabi Beltza; which is almost always used in single-variety wines.
Castilla-La Mancha?
Castilla-La Mancha is a large region which lies south and east of the Spanish capital Madrid. Its capital city is Toledo; and its most populous city is Albacete. Despite very harsh climate; Castilla-La Mancha produces half of all the wine made in Spain but significant proportion goes into the inexpensive mass-produced sector and distillation into brandy.
Castilla-La Mancha Climate?
At altitudes between 500 and 700 m above sea level; this is Spain at her most extreme. Winters are long and cold; in summer the heat is grueling; and little if any rain falls between May and September.
Castilla-La Mancha Varieties?
Airen tops the list and is still the most commonly planted but many producers have broadened their portfolios by planting Tempranillo; Cabernet Sauvignon; Garnacha; Alicante Bouschet (known here as Garnacha Tintorera); Monastrell; Syrah and Bobal.
Castilla-La Mancha DO Zones?
Castilla-La Mancha is home to nine DOs; including Europe’s largest officially delimited wine zone; La Mancha. Others are: Almansa DO; Manchuela DO; Mentrida DO; Mondejar DO; Ribera del Jucar DO; Ucles DO; Valdepenas DO;
La Mancha DO?
La Mancha is the largest delimited wine region not only in Spain; but in the whole of Europe; with more than 500;000 acres (202;350ha) of vineyard here. The finest vineyards are those with high limestone and chalk content in the sub-soil. These semi-porous stones retain precious moisture and help to even out the vines’ water supply.
La Mancha DO white varieties?
Airen is a local favorite; accounting for the bulk of production; ideal for distillation into brandy. The most popular white-wine grapes are Chardonnay; Viognier; Macabeo; Torrontes and Verdejo.
La Mancha DO red varieties?
Tempranillo (known locally as Cencibel) is by far the most popular red-wine variety; often accompanied by Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Spanish varieties such as Graciano; Bobal and Monastrell and international varieties Grenache; Syrah and Petit Verdot.
Almansa DO?
The dominant grape variety is the regional specialty Monastrell (Mourvedre). Garnacha Tintorera (Alicante Bouschet) is also widely grown; and produces deep-colored wines with plenty of dark-fruit characters. Other important varieties include Cencibel (Tempranillo); Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.
Almansa DO white varieties?
The authorized white varieties are Chardonnay; Sauvignon Blanc; Verdejo and Moscatel de Grano Menudo (Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains).
Manchuela DO?
Red wines dominate; native Bobal grape variety goes into unoaked reds and rosés. Cencibel (Tempranillo) produces some of the best barrel-matured wines; while Monastrell; Garnacha and Cabernet Sauvignon are used in blends. Syrah has done extremely well here in recent years and the future for varietal wines based on this grape looks promising.
Manchuela DO white?
Some fragrant and fresh whites are produced mostly from Macabeo). Sparkling wines may also be produced together with “doble pasta” local speciality from Bobal variety.
Mentrida DO?
Garnacha is the most favored grape variety here; accounting for almost 80% of total production. Other red varieties include Cencibel (Tempranillo); Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
Mondejar DO?
Climatically; Mondejar is different from the other wine regions of Castilla-La Mancha in that; despite being inland; it is strongly influenced by the Mediterranean Sea. Red wines are certainly the most promising and prevalent here; particularly those made from Tempranillo and oak-aged reds based on Cabernet Sauvignon.
Mondejar DO white wines?
Viura; Malvar and Airen.
Ribera del Jucar DO?
Slightly cooler climate; reds dominate the region. Tempranillo; Bobal plus French imports Cabernet Sauvignon; Merlot and Syrah; while Moscatel and Sauvignon Blanc are the main white-wine varieties.
Ucles DO?
The overall climate is continental; although the extreme summer temperatures of the central Iberian plateau are moderated by the high altitudes; which also contribute to greater quality and elegance in the wines. Red wine produced from vines less than six years old are not permitted to have ‘DO Ucles’ on their labels.
Ucles DO red varieties?
Cencibel thrives in these conditions and produces both young; fruit-forward wines and more complex oak-aged examples; Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are also increasingly popular.
Ucles DO white varieties?
Prominent white varieties include Verdejo; Moscatel; Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
Valdepenas DO?
Reds dominate production; from Tempranillo; and international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon; Merlot and Syrah. The light-red wines upon which the reputation of Valdepenas was founded are slowly giving way to more-serious reds; both aged and unaged. Oak-aged Crianzas; Reservas and Gran Reservas can all be found.
Valdepenas DO white wine?
Some white wines are made using Airén; Chardonnay; Macabeo; Moscastel de Gran Menudo; Sauvignon Blanc and Verdejo. The production of sparkling and sweet wines is also permitted by the local Consejo Regulador.
Castilla VT?
Castilla is the region-wide Vino de la Tierra title for Castilla-La Mancha in central Spain.
Castilla VT red varieties?
The long list of permitted red-wine varieties includes Cabernet Sauvignon; Merlot; Syrah; Petit Verdot; Tempranillo; Garnacha; Graciano; Monastrell; Mencia and the lesser-known Moravia; Prieto Picudo and Forcallat Tinta.
Castilla VT white varieties?
Macabeo; Verdejo; Pedro Ximenez; Torrontes; Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc as well as more obscure grapes such as Verdoncho; Albillo and Malvar.
Castilla-La Mancha Rivers?
Tagus; Guadiana; Guadalquivir; Júcar and Segura.
Castilla y Leon?
The largest of Spain’s 17 administrative regions; capital is Valladolid. Hot; dry summers here are followed by sharp; cold winters; when temperatures regularly drop well below freezing. Diurnal temperature shifts are equally pronounced; and play a vital part in the local wine styles. The region is deprived of any maritime influence by the Cordillera Cantábrica; the mountain range that separates it from the Bay of Biscay.
Castilla y Leon Rivers?
Douro; Pisuerga; Tormes; Carrión; Adaja.
Castilla y Leon Varities?
Tempranillo is the king; Mencia in Bierzo; white varieties are Verdejo and Viura.
Castilla y Leon DO Zones?
Castilla y Leon’s has nine DO wine zones: Ribera del Duero DO; Rueda DO; Toro DO; Bierzo DO; Arlanza DO; Arribes DO; Cigales DO; Tierra de Leon DO; and Tierra del Vino de Zamora DO.
Ribera del Duero DO?
The region’s inland location; coupled with the sheltering effects of the nearby Sierra de la Demanda and Sierra de Guadarrama mountain ranges; creates an extreme climate in which hot and dry summers are followed by harsh winters. Layers of limestone; marl and chalk under silt and clay topsoil.
Aranda de Duero?
The capital of Ribera del Duero is the historic town of Aranda de Duero.
Ribera del Duero DO Varieties?
According to DO regulations; Tempranillo must make up a minimum of 75% while the balance is made up of Cabernet Sauvignon; Merlot and Malbec (varieties that were introduced by Vega Sicilia well over a century ago) or up to 5% of Albillo or Garnacha (used for rose). Only red and rosé wines are covered by the DO.
