Spain Flashcards
What are the only two DOCa in Spain?
Rioja
Priorat
What type of oak do the Spanish predominantly use?
American Oak (Quercus alba)
Name three traditionalist Rioja wineries.
López de Heredia
CVNE
La Rioja Alta
Berceo
Spanish Wine Law
Denominación de Origen (DO)
Denominacaión de Origen Calificada (DOCa)
Vinos de Calidad con Idicación Geográfica (VCIG)
Vindo de la Tierra (VdlT)
DO Pago (Vinos de Pago)
Spanish Aging Requirements (General - Red)
Crianza - 2 years, including 6 months in cask
Reserva - 3 years, including 1 year in cask
Gran Reserva - 5 years, including 18 months in cask
Spanish Aging Requirements (General - White)
Crianza - 18 months, including 6 months in cask
Reserva - 2 years, including 6 months in cask
Gran Reserva - 4 years, including 6 months in cask
Spanish Aging Requirements (General - DOP)
Noble - 18 months in cask of less than 600 L or bottle
Añejo - 24 months in cask of less than 600 L or bottle
Viejo - 36 months aging, demonstrates marked oxidative character
What are the three autonomías of North-Central Spain?
Navarra
La Rioja
Aragón
What are the mountain ranges that separate North-Central Spain from it’s bordering countries of France and Spain?
Pyrenees Mountains to the northeast
Cantabrian Mountains to the northwest
What river flows through Rioja DOCa?
Ebro River
Oja Tributary
What are the main red grapes of red Rioja and also must dictate at least 85% of the red Rioja blend, or 95% if destemmed?
Tempranillo
Mazuelo (Carignan)
Graciano
Garnacha
What “experimental” grapes can make up the remainder of the red Rioja blend?
Cabernet Sauvignon
Monastrel
What are the main white grapes of white Rioja?
Viura (Macabéo) Garnacha Blanca Malvasía Riojano Mataran Blanca Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Verdejo may ne added but cannot account for more than a combined 49% of the blend
What percentage of red grapes must be used for Rosado wines in Rioja?
25%
Rioja Aging Requirements - Red
Crianza - One year in oak, one year in bottle (Two total)
Reserva - One year in oak, two years in bottle (Three total)
Gran Reserva - Two years in oak, three in bottle (Five total)
What are the size of Rioja casks?
225 liters - the size of a barrique. This is a requirement.
Rioja Aging Requirements - White
Crianza - Two years total, 6 months in cask
Reserva - Two years total, 6 months in cask
Gran Reserva - Four years total, 6 months in cask
Three sub zones of Rioja
Rioja Alta (southwestern zone, slightly warmer climate, age worthy Tempranillo, Mazuelo and Graciano) Rioja Alavesa (smallest and northernmost zone - Vino joven) Rioja Baja (Hot climate, Garnacha performs best)
Rioja Wine Styles
Many producers will blend grapes from all 3 sub zones to impart the different characteristics into their wines. Traditionalists like López de Heredia produce single vineyard wines from estate vineyards such as Bosnia and Tondonia.
Ysios
A modern winery renowned for avant-garde architectural design - produces pure Tempranillo from its estate vineyards in the Rioja Alavesa region. At the forefront of a new movement in spectacular modern bodega design sweeping through Rioja.
What is Navarra DO known for?
Rosado Bottlings, however 60% of production is devoted to red wines
What are the four DOs located within the autonomía of Aragon?
Campo de Borja
Calatayud
Cariñena
Somontano
Where is Galicia located?
Northwestern corner of the country
What autonomías make up the Costa Verde, or green coast?
Asturias
Cantabria
País Vasco (Basque Country)
What are the five DOs of Galicia?
Rías Baixas
Ribeiro
Ribeira Sacra
Monterrei
What are the five sub zones of Rías Baixas and what is it known for?
Borders Portugal on the coast Five sub zones: Val do Salnés Ribeira do Ulla Soutomaior O Rosal Condado do Tea The are is known for it's classic representations of Albariño
What grapes produce the red wines of Rías Baixas?
Caiño
Espadeiro
Mencía
What are the País Vasco principal DO zones?
Getariako Txakolina Bizkaiko Txakolina Arabako Txakolina Wines may be red, white, or rosado. However, the white wines produced from the native Ondarrabi Zuri grape are predominant Ondarrabi Beltza is red
Castilla y León - The Land of castles
Continental climate
Slightly moderated by proximity to Atlantic and Mediterranean
Northern part of the Meseta Central (Arid, central plain of Spain)
The Duero River flows westward through the center of the region.
Which DOs does the Duero River pass in Castilla y León on it’s path to Portugal?
Ribera del Duero Ruedo Toro Tierra del Vino de Zamora Arribes
What is the predominant grape varietal and producer of the Bierzo DO?
Mencía
Alvaro Palacios created Descendientes de José Palacios with his nephew Ricardo Palacios in 1999, achieved instant recognition for their biodynamic “Corullón” bottling: extracted, old-vine Mencía-based wines sourced from mountainside schist soils.
Ribera del Duero DO
Duero River Valley
Considered one of Spain’s top red wine-producing regions
Did not achieve DO status until 1982
Vega Sicilia
Located in Ribera del Duero DO.
Founded by Don Eloy Locanda y Chaves.
Planted Bordeaux varietals, Pinot Noir alongside Tinto del País (Tempranillo) in order to make brandy.
Domingo Txomin - achieved international acclaim at World’s Fair in 1929 with his 1917 and 1918 bottling of Único, Vega Sicilia’s benchmark wine.
Ùnico
Vega Sicilia’s benchmark wine.
Blended from Tinto del País, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and often aged for a decade or more in American and French oak barrels.
Ribera del Duero - Top Producers
Vega Sicilia
Dominio de Pingus
Aalto
Ribera del Duero Aging Requirements
Crianza - One year in cask, one in bottle (two)
Reserva - One year in cask, two in bottle (three)
Gran Reserva - Two years in cask, three in bottle (five)
