Spain Flashcards
What are the 2 DOCa’s in Spain?
Rioja
Priorat (DOQ in Catalan)
What is the PGI classification in Spain?
VdIT - Vino de la Tierra
2 Important ones - VdIT de Castilla
VdIT de Castilla y Leon
What are the 4 Classifications of PDO wines in Spain?
DO - Denominacion de Origen
DOCa - Denominacion de Origen Calificada (DOs of at least 10 yrs can apply)
VP - Vinos de Pago - single estates 9
VCIG - Vinos de Calidad con Inidicacion Geografica - stepping stone from Vdit to DO.
How long must a Joven wine be aged for?
No ageing requirements. Bottled in the year following the vintage.
What are the four ageing classifications in Spain?
Joven, Crianza, Reserva, Gran Reserva
How long must a Crianza wine be aged for?
Red: min 24 months - 6 mo of that in oak
White/Rose: min 18 months - no min for oak
How long must Reserva wine be aged for in Spain?
Red: min 36 months - 12 mo small oak
White/Rose: 18 months - 6 mo in small oak
How long must Gran Reserva wine be aged for in Spain?
Red: Min 60 months - 18 in small oak
White/Rose: Min 48 months - 6 mo in small oak
What is the ageing requirements for Crianza wine from Rioja and Ribero Del Duero?
Red: 24 months - min 12 in oak
What is the ageing requirements for Gran Reserva wine from Rioja and Ribero Del Duero?
Red: 60 months - 24 in small oak
White/Rose (Rioja only) - 48 months - 12 in oak
T/F: White wine is made in Ribera Del Duero?
False
Describe the three climatic regions in Spain?
North West: moderate, maritime
East Coast: warm/hot mediterranean
Center: Hot continental
What is the name of the central plateau in Spain? And what growing conditions does it provide?
The Meseta
Removed from influence from both sea and mountains. Created an extremely hot flat desert area
T/F: White grape varieties account of the majority of plantings in Spain?
True!
What is the main grape used for rose in Spain?
Garnacha Tinto
What is the main grape of Priorat?
Garnacha Tinto
What is the main grape of Jumilla and Yecla region?
Monastrell - it is also grown in Catalunya where it is mainly used for Cava
Describe the wine style of Monastrell
Very dark, powerful spicy wines with high tannin and alcohol and med to low acidity
What is Carinena called in Rioja?
Mazuelo
Where is Mencia produced and what does it taste like?
Bierzo
med-high acid, fresh fruit, sometimes hint of herbaciousness
This grape used to be used for sherry and is highly susceptible to oxidation. It is thick skinned and resistant to fungal disease.
What is it?
Verdejo
What is the dominant grape found in Rias Baixas
Albarino
Describe the wine style of Albarino
intense peach, apricot fruit with high acid
What is the most widely planted grape in Spain?
Airen
Where is Airen most found ?
La Mancha
Which grape is used in the production of Brandy de Jerez?
Airen
Three grapes of Cava?
Parellada, Xarel-lo and Macabeo
What is Macabeo called in Rioja
Viura
What grape is used in heavily oaked white Riojas?
Viura
What are the biggest viticulture challenges in Spain?
heat and lack of water
What training system is the best way to manage heat and water in Spain?
Low density, bush trained vineyard. Maximizes use of water and shades fruit from excessive heat.
Navarra, Rioja, Calatayud and Cariena are DOCS found in what region?
Upper Ebro
Catalunya, Penedes and Priorat are DOCS found in which region?
Catalonia
Ribera del Duero, Rueda, Toro, VDiT Castilla y Leon are found in which region?
The Duero Valley
Rias Baixas and Bierzo are found in which region?
North West Spain
Valencia, Jumilla and Yelca are found in which region?
Levante
La Mancha, Valdepenas, Vinos de Pado ad VdiT de Castilla are found in which region?
Castilla-La Mancha
What is the principle city in Rioja on the river Ebro?
Logrono
What is the mountain range protect Rioja from Atlantic weather system?
Cantabrain Mountains
What are the three regions of Rioja?
Rioja Alavesa, Alta and Baja
Describe the soil in Rioja Alavesa?
Chalky and the wines are the lightest of Rioja - for finesse
What is the main grape grown in Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Alta?
Tempranillo
What is the soil like in Rioja Alta?
Limestone based clay, reddish - lots of Iron
What is the main grape grown in Rioja Baja?
Garnacha Tinto
What is the climate and soil like in Rioja Baja ?
More continental than other parts of Rioja.
Heavy clays.
What are the main white grape varieties of Rioja ?
Vieura, Malvasia, and Garnacha Blanca
What are the main red varieties of Rioja?
Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo, Graciano
What % of Rioja wine is made into Rose?
15%
What are the main grape varieties in Navarra?
Tempranillo, Garnacha, Cab Sauv and Merlot
What style of wine is Navarra known for?
Roses (Garnacha) and Temp and Garnacha with international red blends
T/F: Carinena is widely planted in Carinena
False
How do the three distinct climatic zones in Penedes affect which grapes they grow?
Costal Plain has hot dry summers/Mediterranean climate. Produces full bodied reds from Garnacha and Monastrell
Inland in the valleys, more temperate climate - white wine grapes are grown for the production of Cava.
Into the hills - higher altitudes, cooler climate - varieties such as riesling, gewurtz, pinot noir grown.
What is Mourvedre known as in Penedes?
Monstrell
What is the best known soil in Priorat?
Llicorella - red slate and mica
it sparkles in the sun
-Helps to retain warmth and are extremely low in nutrients. Because of the depth retains sufficient water during growing season
What is the wine style of Priorat?
deeply coloured, high tannins, retained alcohol levels and concentrated fruit aromas.
Fresh black fruit and new French oak.
What are the main grapes in a Priorat blend?
Garnacha and Carinena (some int’l grapes blended in)
What is the climate of Ribera del Duero?
Continental. Cut of from any maritime influence by a ring of mountains.
Where are the best vineyards located in the Meseta?
At the highest point
Compare Tempranillo from Rioja and Ribera Del Duero.
Clone grown in Ribera del Duero is Tinto Fino. It has a thicker skin and has more astringency and tannin.
Compare winemaking styles or Rioja and Ribera del Duero
Ribera del Duero naturally darkening in colour, uses more maceration and shorter ageing in new oak that tend to be more French than American. Accentuate black fruit and plum character.
Where is Vega Sicilia located?
Ribera del Duero
What is the tempranillo clone in Toro?
Tina de Toro. Thick skinnned.
What is the traditional grape of the Rueda region?
Verdejo
What are the two main white grapes found in Rueda?
Verdejo and Sauv Blanc
T/F: Rueda is white wine focused region
True
Where is Rias Baixas located?
The Galician coast
T/F: Brush trained vines are planted in Rias Baixas?
False - Vines are trained on Pergolas instead
What is the main grape of Rias Baixas?
Albarino
What is tempranillo known as in Le Mancha
Cencibel
What is a key factor in determining quality wines in Ribera del Duero
altitude
What i grapes is rose cava made from?
Garnacha and Monastrell
Describe the taste profile of a cava?
Most are dry, med acid, some character os autolysis, can be smokey, rubbery (rather than bread and toast).
T/F: Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are not permitted in Cava.
False. They are permitted
T/F: Most cava is suitable for ageing?
False
Describe vinification techniques used to make Albarino is Rais Baixas and what is the prince range?
Delicate handling and temp control - delicate fruit flavour
Some wine have added weight from oak and skin contact
mid-high priced
Describe the wine style and vinification of Rioja Rosada Joven
Made from Garnacha grape
picked early to retain acidity and limit sugar levels
dry, fruity med bodied
colour comes from limited time on skins
Temperature controlled and anaerobic environments are key to this style
inexpensive to mid priced
Describe the wine style and vinification of Douro
High priced
Rich, full bodied, black fruit and tannic
same grapes as port
best producers are using new oak
Describe the wine style and vinification of Rioja Gran Reserva
high/premium priced wine made in Northern spain Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo, Graciano 5 years ageing, 2 in oak, 3 in bottle only made in outstanding vintages med-full bodied red fruit and spicy oak
