Spain Flashcards
Consejo Regulador
Regulating council. Spanish wine law regulated through a network of consejos representing each and every DO. Comprised of vie. Growers wine producers and merchants, who between them decide on the ground rules for their region.
Bodega & Finca
Bodega - Spanish winery or tavern that sells wine.
Finca - Spanish wine estate.
Spanish labeling terms
Vino de Mesa - non-regionally specific table wine. Basic
Vino de la Tierra - table wine,eq to VdP
Vino de calidad indication geographica (vcig) - stepping stone to higher quality. 5 year wait.
Denominacion de Origin - DO, AOC eq, min quality guidelines specifying grapes, viticultural methods, location, style. 10 yr wait to jump up.
DO Pago- new category that recognizes outstanding single estates
DOCa - denominacion de origin calificada - highest quality regions. Tightest regulations. Only 2 currently: Rioja and Priorat.
Spanish aging requirements : Red
Joven - meaning young. Wine released year after harvest
Crianza - 2 years ageing, w six months min in barrel
Reserva - 3 years ageing w min 1 yr barrel
Gran Reserva - 5 years w min 18m in cask
Spanish Ageing requirements: white and rose
Crianza - 18m w six in oak
Reserva - 2 years w six in oak
Gran Reserva - 4 years six m in oak:
Torres
Spain’s largest family owned producer. Based in penedes. Son Miguel Torres studied in Dijon and brought back international vine varieties, trellis systems and modern winemaking techniques to Spain.
Vega Sicilia
Concentrated and long lived reds, Spain’s undisputed rival to bdx 1st growths. Made on single property in Ribera Del Duero DO. Currently owned by Albarez family since early 80s. 200 ha on limestone soil planted to Tempranillo (mainly) w CS merlot and Malbec. 3 wines produced from main label: Valbuena - 5yr old vintage dated red in American oak. Unico - only made in best years, released after 10 yrs age in combo of vessels like wood tanks; small new baroque, large old barrel and bottle. 3rd is rare multi-vintage Reserva Especial - made quite like unico.
Also have acquired Alion - more modern reds, 100% temp in new French oak.
Pintia - their toro winery. First vint was 2001
Galicia
Green Spain. Wet north west Atlantic region encompassing Rias Baixas, Basque Country and Costa Verde (green coast). Regionally and culturally separated from rest of Spain via mountain range. Lush green forests, vegetation and rias (estuaries) populate the area and it’s cool maritime climate makes it very different from the dry and arid areas of central and southern Spain. 5 Dos: Rias Baixas, Riberio, Valdorras, Ribera Sacra, Monterrei. Crisp refreshing whites are top for the region
Rias Baixas
Do bordering Portugal on the coast. 5 subzone, but 3 most important ones are : Val Do Salnes, O Rosal, Condado do Tea. Albariño is the white grape (100% to be Called Rias Baixas) producing light, high acid, aromatic whites. Notes of white blossom, peach, citrus and mandarin are common. Malo and barrique aging sometimes used, depending on the producer and style desired. Val do salnes - arguably most
Important subzone. Located on cool coast, wines have a marked salinity
From the salt blown off the Atlantic. Very elegant and expressive. O Rosal and Val Do Salnes, more inland, richer body less elegant and sometimes blending occurs.
All subzone share granite based subsoils on white Albariño thrives. 12 different vines permitted but Albariño makes up 90% of plantings.
Small amount of red produced on Mencia and Espadeiro.
Catalonia province
Automnia Catalonia encompasses Priorat Doca, Penedes, Costers del Segre and Tarragonia. Proud region on med coast. Capital Barcelona. Stones through from France’s Roussion and it shares common culture and lineage. Region of Catalonia exemplifies the modern face of Spanish wine making and tech innovation. Self regarded as separate entity and culture to rest of Spain. Penedes is key do due to cava production. Catalunya also big area for cork production. Miguel Torres pioneered modern wine making techniques and planted vines here
Priorat
In Cataluna. One of 2 DoCa in Spain (DOQ in Catalan). Located in sw of Catalonia. Garnacha and Carinena are the trad varietals. Rocky schist soils and dry climate produce small yields of very rich powerful wine. Lowest yields in the world. Haphazardly planted 15-20 feet apart. No rows. Unreel loses bush vines. Llicorella is name for the black slate and quarzite soils that the region is known for. Vines
Must dig deep for water and best grapes come from this soil. Alvaro Palacios seen as one of the top producers in the region and one of ye first pioneers of Priorat wines. Best usually dominated by Garnacha, old vine styles very common. French barrique treatment common in varying amounts. Due to hot climate, wines can be very full bodied and high in alcohol, managing levels is a key factor among top producers. Warm med climate can ripen happy Garnacha to 18% if allowed. Side note: Monsant Do, which surrounds Priorat offers similar style for very very good value.
Tarragonia DO
Much larger area than Priorat. Used to also encompass monstant, but now that is a separate DO since 2001. Historically, area known for fortified rancio wines known as Tarragonia Classico (tawny port like) but today much of vineyard area planted to cava production as the area sits directly west of Penedes. 70% white cava varietals. Reds done in Priorat style at lesser price. Also a big area for Christian wine production which is shipped around the world. Altitudes vary from 40-400m. Dark soils w limestone on high sites, alluvial on flats. Largest DO in catalunya. All age styles are found but joven most common for red white and rose. Tarragonia falset -high alt sites where the trad Tarragonia Classico is produced (Garnacha).
Costers Del Segre
In Catalunia. Small semi desert wine zone with severe climate. Below freeze temps in winter and 40c in summer. Very low rainfall. Ramat vineyard key to the area which amounts to 1/3 of the wine produced in the whole area of Costers. Intricate auto irrigation canals used as relief in height of summer and as frost protection in height of winter. International BDX and Burg varieties planted amongst temp parallada and macabeo. Raimat estate owned by raventos family (cordoniu cava). Irrigation self starts when temp reaches 35c.
Penedes
Largest cava production area. Although cava can be made anywhere in Spain, majority is here. Xarrel-lo, macabeo (viura) and Parrellada, key grapes of production. Largest and most important do in Catalunia due to cava. Miguel Torres - initiated mod techniques here. Reds in the area are temp as well as CS and merlot. Other international varieties white and red also planted. Reds fall in shadow of Priorat but are very good and modern/international in style.
Castilla Y Leon
Area that encompasses Ribera Del Duero, Toro, Rueda, Bierzo. Spain’s largest automomia - land of the castles. Continental climate slightly moderated by proximity to Atlantic and med but subject to extreme highs and lows. Bierzo is located in the greener north and wines are lighter and juicer in style. Castilla y Leon sits on the northern part of the Meseta Central - the arid central plateau of Spain. Harsh climate with frosts and droughts being common risks. Central mountain range separates it from the hub of Spain.
