Spain Flashcards
Historically, what kind of oak is used in Rioja?
American oak
What Spanish regions have adopted more stringent labeling laws than required/accepted across the rest of the country?
Rioja
Ribera del Duero
What are the standard labeling laws for Spain (Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva)?
- Crianza:
- Red wine: 2 years, 6 months in cask
- White wine: 18 months, 6 months in cask - Reserva:
- Red wine: 3 years, 1 in cask
- White wine: 2 years, 6 in cask - Gran Reserva:
- Red wine: 5 years, 18 months in cask
- White wine: 4 years, 6 months in cask
What are the 3 autonomias of North-Central Spain?
Navarra
La Rioja
Aragon
What two mountain ranges shelter the North-Central region of Spain, creating a rain shadow?
Pyrenees Mts to the NE (dividing France and Spain) and the Cantabrian Mts to the NW
What river runs from the Cantabrian Mts all the way through Rioja?
The Ebro River
After what tributary of the Ebro is Rioja named?
Oja
What is the main red grape of Rioja?
Tempranillo
What other red grapes are allowed in Rioja for blending?
Mazuelo (carignan)
Granciano
Garnacha
What is the dominate white grape of Rioja?
Viura (Macabeo)
What other white grapes are allowed in Rioja?
Garnacha Blanca Malvasia Riojano Maturana Blanca Sauvignon Blanc Chardonnay Verdejo
What are the aging requirements for labeling in Rioja?
- Crianza:
- Red wine: 2 years, 1 year min in oak
- White wine: 2 years, 6 months in oak - Reserva:
- Red wine: 3 years, 1 in oak
- White wine: 2 years, 6 months in oak - Gran reserva:
- Red wine: min 2 years in cask, 3 years in bottle
- White wine: 4 years, 6 months in oak
What are the 3 subzones of Rioja?
Rioja Alta
Rioja Alavesa
Rioja Baja
Where is Rioja Alavesa and what does it produce?
The northernmost subzone of Rioja, it’s in the Basque country and tempranillo produces vino joven wines for early consumption.
Of the 3 subzones of Rioja, which is the hottest and what grape performs best in this climate?
Rioja Baja is the hottest and garnacha is best here.
Where is the autonomia of Galicia?
It’s in Green Spain, bordering Portugal in the northwest corner
What are the 5 DOs within the autonomia of Galicia?
- Rias Baixas
- Ribeiro
- Valdeorras
- Ribeira Sacra
- Monterrei
What wine characterizes Rias Baixas and is blending allowed?
Albarino–a Rias Baixas Albarino cannot contain any blending grapes.
If it’s labeled Albarino with a subzone attached, it must contain a min 70% Albarino
What red grapes are grown in Galicia?
Mencia
Caino
Espadeiro
Ribeiro is located along which river?
Mino River
What white grapes are favored in Ribeiro DO?
What about red?
Treixadura
Palomino
Caino
Ribeira Sacra DO produces red and white wines from what grapes?
Mencia
Treixadura
Godello
What grape varietal predominates wines from Getariako Txakolina, Bizkaiko Txakolina, and Arabako Txakolina?
Ondarrabi Zuri
What is Spain’s largest autonomia?
Castilla y Leon
What river flows through Castilla y Leon, passing through Ribera del Duero, Rueda, Toro, Tierra del Vino de Zamora, and Arribes?
The Duero River
What grape dominates the wines produced in Bierzo DO, comprising a min 70% of red wines and 50% of rose wines?
Mencia
What white grapes are planted in Bierzo?
Palomino–dominates
Godello
Dona Blanca
What is the flagship estate of the Ribera del Duero?
Vega Sicilia
What wines can be produced in Ribera del Duero?
Reds predominate but a small of rosados are produced as well. Whites are not allowed
What grapes are produced in Ribera del Duero?
Tempranillo (Tinto del Pais, Tinto Fino)
Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
What grape essentially has a monopoly on Ribera del Duero vineyards and what are 3 synonyms?
Tempranillo (Tinto del Pais, Tinto Fino)
Aging requirements for Ribera del Duero differ from normal DO standards. What are the requirements?
- Crianza: 2 years, 1 in oak
- Reserva: 3 years, 1 in oak
- Gran Reserva: 2 years in cask, 3 in bottle
What grape varietal dominates Rueda?
Verdejo
Wines labeled as Rueda must contain what % of ______ and what other grapes are allowed?
50% Verdejo
Viura (Macabeo) is common in blends
Where is Priorat?
SW Catalonia
What are the traditional grapes of Priorat?
Garnacha
Carinena
What is the soil blend of black slate and quartzite called in Priorat?
Llicorella
Where is Tarragona DO and what style of wine is it known for today?
A region along the Catalan coast, it produces many white grapes for Cava.
What grape is produced in Alt-Penedes?
Parellada (white) grape used for Cava
Despite having it’s own DO, 95% of Cava is produced in what other DO?
Penedes
What grapes are authorized for Cava?
Parellada** Xarel-lo** Macabeo (Viura)** Chardonnay Pinot Noir Garnacha Tinta Monastrell Trepat Malvasia
**The traditional 3 grapes
What are the aging requirements for Cava?
- General bottlings: 9 months on lees
- Reserva: 15 months
- Gran reserva: 30 months
What is unique about Cava DO that is different than all other Spanish DOs?
Cava DO covers a style of wine, not an area.
What differentiates bottles of Cava from other sparkling wines?
A 4-pointed star imprinted on the cork.
