Spain Flashcards
What are the traditional levels based on oak aging in Spain, particularly Rioja?
Vino joven– no aging
Crianza 2 years, incl. 1 in barrel
Reserva 3 years, incl. 1 in barrel
Gran reserva 5 years, incl. 2 in barrel
What are main grapes of Spain?
Tempranillo Albariño Xarel-lo Garnacha Cab Sauv Chardonnay Verdejo ...
What are the new levels of aging in barrel or bottle in spain?
Noble 18 months
Anejo 24 months
Viejo 36 months, shows oxidation
What are vinos de pagos?
Single estates within DOs or DOCas in Spain.
Estate bottled.
Aiming to be like grand Cru system in France.
What are the quality levels in Spain?
Vinos de mesas
Vinos de calidad con indicacion geografica
Denominacion de Origen
Denominacion de Origen calificada
How does a DO become a DOCa in Spain?
They need to have maintained DO status for a decade and have a track record of high quality.
Name three DOCas in Spain.
Ribera del Duero
Rioja (1991)
Priorat (2009)
Which quality level makes up half of Spain’s wine production?
DO
What are good vintages in Spain?
2001
2003
2004
What pairs well with Spanish reds?
Lamb
How are Spanish wines labeled?
By region, except for 100% Albariño from Rias Biaxas
What is the name of a famous 100% cab Sauv wine from penedes, Spain?
Gran Coronas Black Label by the Torres Family
What is the general climate of Spain?
Arid with little rainfall.
northern and western Spain are temperate to warm, moderated by the Atlantic.
Souther and eastern Spain are warmed by the Mediterranean.
What type of oak is traditionally used in Spain?
American
Which grapes are often blended in Rioja?
Tempranillo, garnacha, graciano, mazuelo
What was Spain’s relationship with phylloxera?
Not effected as much as other countries due to isolation and the fact that grafting had already been discovered by the time phylloxera hit Spain. French winemakers came to Spain when they were put out of work by the louse in France.
What is the climate and geography of Rias Biaxas? What grapes are grown there and how are they aged and bottled?
Cool, maritime. Steep River banks and sloped Vineyards in the northwest of Spain in an area called Galicia. Famous for expensive 100% Albariño wines, fermented in stainless steel.
What grape is grown in the Toro DO in Span?
Tempranillo
Name an all-white grape DO in Spain. Which grapes are grown there?
Rueda DO.
Verdejo
Sauv Blanc
Viura
Which grape is grown in the Bierzo DO?
Mencia
Where is the Ribera del Duero DO?
In north central Spain in an area called Castilla y Leon
What is the difference between Ribera del Duero wines and riojas?
More heavy and powerful wines in the Ribera del Duero
Which grape is solely responsible for reds and roses from Ribera del Duero DO?
Tempranillo
what are two other names for Tempranillo in Ribera del Duero DO?
Tinto fino
Tinto del Pais
Which mountains protect the Rioja DOCa?
Cantabrian Mountains
Where is Rioja and what is the climate there?
North central Spain.
Dry, continental.
It gets warmer and drier as you move southward.
What are the three subregions of Rioja?
Rioja alavesa
Rioja Alta
Rioja baja
What fare good vintages in Rioja?
1994
1995
2001
2003-2006
What grapes are grown in Rioja?
Tempranillo Garnacha Graciano Mazuelo Viura Malvasia ...
Which region of Spain is known for roses?
Navarro
Roses made from Tempranillo, garnacha, cab Sauv, Merlot, viura
What is Tempranillo called in penedes?
Ull de llebre
Where is cava traditionally made in Spain?
penedes/cava DO
What region of Spain is known for iceWine?
Penedes
Where is penedes?
The northeast region of Spain called Catalonia
What grapes go into cava?
Xarel-lo
Macabeo
Parellada
Chardonnay
Describe cava.
Most are nonvintage blends made in the methode traditionelle. They have a sweetness scale based on champagne but have a heavier body and lighter acidity. Traditionally made with xarel-lo, macabeo, parellada and chardonnay grapes.
Where is Priorat DOQ?
Northeast Spain in Catalonia. Isolated, rugged, mountainous area.
What kind of soil is there is Priorat DOQ?
Stony, schistous soil called licorella.
What kind of barrels are Priorat wines aged in?
Small French oak barrels.
What kind of grapes grow in Priorat DOQ?
Garnacha Cab sauv Syrah Merlot Carinena
What are good vintages in both penedes and Priorat?
1998-2005
What is cencibel?
The alternate name for Tempranillo in Castilla La Mancha, Spain.
Where is Jerez DO and what is the climate there? Which three cities form the triangle it encompasses?
In souther Spain in the province of Andalusia.
Hot climate tempered by the ocean.
Jerez de la frontera, el puerto de Santa Maria, Sanlucar de Barrameda
Which two winds converge at the seaside town of Sanlucar de Barrameda?
The cool Poniente wind from the Atlantic and the hot Levant wind from North Africa.
What is the solders system?
A system of fractional blending of different vintages in American oak barrels leading to oxidation, caramel and dried fruit favors in the resulting sherries. The new wine (ananda) is added to the top/newest layer of the solders system (criadera) once wine has been taken from the lowest/oldest level (suelo). In this way, sherries are nonvintage blends with a consistent flavor profile. Up to 30% may be taken from the suelo every year.
Which grapes are grown in Jerez DO?
Palmino
Moscato or Muscat of Alexandria
Pedro ximenez
What kind of soil exists in Jerez DO?
Bright white chalky soil called Albariza, clay (barro) and sand (arena)
How is sherry served?
3/4 full in a glass called a copies. Differing temperatures depending on the type of sherry.
How much sherry may be taken from the bottom of the solera system each year to be bottled and sold?
30%
What are the two major styles of sherries?
Finos and olorosos
What types of Spanish wine are good to serve as aperitifs?
Fino and manzanilla sherries
What is the alcohol in fino sherries?
15.5 % ABV
What is flor and what is its function?
It is a wild yeast that grows on the surface of fino sherries, protecting the wine from major oxidation and consuming acids.
Which sherry is salty, briny, and what does it pair well with?
Manzanilla Sherry. It pairs well with garlic shrimp, or light/fried fish.
What is the alcohol of oloroso sherries?
17% (flor cannot survive)
Which sherry is technically an amontillado fino but starts taking on characteristics of an oloroso?
Palo cortado
What type of oloroso Sherry is exposed to the sun for a year or two?
Rayas
Cream sherry contains what percentage of the Pedro ximenez grape as a sweetening agent?
15%
Which DOs specialize in sweet, dark, oxidized white wines made from Pedro ximenez and/or moscatel?
Malaga DO and Mongolia-Moriles DO
Which sherries should be served room temp?
Olorosos
Describe palomino.
A bland, impressionable white grape used to make Sherry in the Jerez DO of Spain. Sweetened with Pedro Ximenez (as vino dulce) and moscatel (as vino de color).
When are grapes from Jerez DO harvested?
August
Where is Valdepenas DO and which grapes are grown there?
Castilla La Mancha in central Spain.
Airen and Cencibel (Tempranillo)
