Spain 3 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.
Galicia?
The region is often referred to as the “green corner” of Spain; most of the region’s vineyards are located in the valleys of the River Miño. Exposed on two sides to the Atlantic Ocean. Galician wines bear striking similarities to those of Minho (particularly Vinho Verde); just across the border in Portugal.
Galicia red varieties?
Red wines are produced only in warmer inland areas - typically light in style and made from Mencia.
Galicia white varieties?
Apart from Albarino; the main white grape varieties are Loureiro; Torrontes; Godello; Treixadura and Caiño Blanco - a Galician obscurity often mistaken for Albarino.
Galicia DO Regions?
Rias Baixas DO; Ribeiro DO; Ribeira Sacra DO; Monterrei DO; Valdeorras DO.
Rias Baixas DO?
The Atlantic Ocean is a key influence on the Rias Baixas climate. Average rainfall is very high here; sometimes exceeding 71 inches (1800 millimeters) a year. These conditions help the Albarino grapes to retain crisp; mouth-watering acidity - vital for the distinctive style of the local wines.
Sub-zones of Rias Baixas?
Val do Salnes (Soils here are largely granite and rock with alluvial top-soil; the best wines); Condado do Tea (warmest part); Rosal; Soutomaior (smallest); and Ribera do Ulla.
Rias Baixas white varieties?
For a wine to be labeled Rías Baixas; its varietal composition must be at least 70% Albarino. Depending on the sub-zone it comes from; the other grapes used are Treixadura; Torrontes; Loureiro and Caiño Blanco; a rarely-seen Galician grape which is often mistaken for Albarino.
Rias Baixas red varieties?
Minute quantity of red wines are made in under the Rias Baixas; predominantly from Mencia and Sousao (Vinhao).
Ribeiro DO?
Soil is mostly sandy/alluvial on the terraced sides of river valleys; granite bedrock on altitude between 100 to 350 meters. The maritime influence of the Atlantic Ocean is evident in Ribeiro; with relatively high rainfall and humidity
Ribeiro DO wines?
85 per cent production is white wines from Treixadura; Torrontes; Godello; Loureiro and Albarino. Reds are produced from Caino; Mencia; Brancellao and Tempranillo.
Ribeiro DO rivers?
Four rivers - the Barbatino; Avia; Arnoia and Miño - converge here.
Ribeira Sacra DO?
Specializes in the production of dry red wines from the Mencia grape on slate and granite soils. There are three main types of wine here; all of them varietal: red Mencía Joven; and white Albariño and Godello.
Ribeira Sacra DO sub-regions?
Ribeira Sacra is divided into five sub-regions: Amandi; Chantada; Quiroga-Bibei; Ribeiras do Mino and Ribeiras do Sil.
Monterrei DO?
Climatically; the region is very different from the rest of Galicia. Monterrei’s inland location makes it warm and dry during summer and very cold in winter; more in line with the vineyards of Castilla y Leon to the east. This is largely due to the rain shadow effect produced by the Sierra de Larouca mountain range.
Monterrei DO sub-zones?
Monterrei is divided into two sub-zones: Ledeira de Monterrei (Slopes of Monterrei) and Val de Monterrei (Monterrei Valley).
Monterrei DO varieties?
The principal white-wine varieties; in descending order; are Godello (Verdelho) Treixadura; Dona Blanca and Albarino; and for the red wines Mencia and Merenzao (Trousseau).
Monterrei Wine Types?
Monterrei Blanco; which must contain 60 percent of the preferred varieties (Godello; Treixadura; Doña Blanca); with the remaining 40 percent from other permitted grapes; and Monterrei Tinto; which must contain 60 percent Mencía and/or Merenzao.
Monterrei Superior?
The Monterrei Superior label is given to wines with 85% of grapes from preferred varieties.
Valdeorras DO?
As Galicia’s most inland region; Valdeorras has a predominantly continental climate. The whites; produced from Godello (Verdelho) grapes; are particularly well known.
Valdeorras Castas Nobles?
Valdeorras Castas Nobles wines are produced containing a minimum of 85% of the preferred grape varieties of the region: Loureira; Treixadura; Dona Branca; Albarino; Torrontes and Lado. If Palomino (an authorised grape) is added; the wine is classified as Valdeorras Blanco.
Valdeorras DO red wine?
Mencia forms the basis of most of the red wines produced in Valdeorras. It can appear as a varietal or blended with Garnacha or Cabernet Sauvignon.
Valdeorras Espumoso?
Consejo Regulador; also allows the production of sparkling Valdeorras Espumoso from 85 percent Godello grapes; and of Valdeorras Tostado; a sweet wine made from Godello or approved red-wine varieties.
Madrid?
The region of Madrid has a temperate continental Mediterranean climate with cold winters and warm summers; average rainfall is 500 mm.
Vinos de Madrid DO sub-zones?
Arganda (the largest; Tinto Fino; Airen and Malvar for whites; mixture of clay and lime). San Martin (Garnacha and Albillo; weathered-rock soil); Navalcarnero (clay-based soil; Garnacha and Malvar).
Vinos de Madrid DO other approved varieties?
There are a number of other grape varieties permitted in every sub-zone: Cabernet Sauvignon; Merlot and Syrah for reds; and Moscatel; Parellada; Viura and Torrontes for whites.
Murcia?
The climate here is divided between coastal influences of the nearby sea and the continental influences of Spain’s hot; arid interior.
Murcia wine?
The classic Murcian wine is a robust; fruit-driven red made from Monastrell. Apart from Monastrell; other notable grape varieties include Tempranillo; Cabernet Sauvignon; Merlot and Syrah for reds and Macabeo; Airen and Merseguera for whites.