Spain

Question 1

What are the two DOCa in Spain?

Answer 1

Rioja and Priorat

Question 2

What is the Spanish category for the highest reputation PDO wines from single vineyards?

Answer 2

VP (Vinos De Pago)

Question 3

What are the four age categories for Spanish wine? Identify the minimum length of time that each must be aged total and the minimum amount of time they must spend in oak barrel?

Answer 3

Joven - immediate release- may or may not spend time in oak before being bottled and released the year following the vintage
Crianza - red wines minimum 24 months, 6 spent in oak; white and rose min 18 months, no oak requirement
Reserva - red wines minimum of 36 months, 12 spent in oak; white and rose minimum 18 months, 6 spent in oak
Gran Reserva - red wines minimum 5 years, 18 spent in oak; white and rose minimum of 4 years, 6 months spent in oak

Question 4

What are the three main climatic zones in Spain?

Answer 4

Northwest coast - Maritime, rainfall is high
East coast - mediterranean
Central Plateau (Meseta) - continental

Question 5

What are the two white grapes in Spain that have gained the most from modern technology?

Answer 5

Verdejo and Albarino

Question 6

What are the main characteristics of Tempranillo?

Answer 6

medium acid, medium plus tannin, strawberry, plums. Semi-carbonic maceration is often used for Joven wines.

Question 7

Describe Garnacha.

Answer 7

high alcohol, high tannin, spiced red fruit flavors such as strawberry and cherry. Widely used for rosado. Important in Priorat, where low-yielding old vines enable the production of intense, complex, full-bodied reds.

Question 8

What is the main grape in Priorat? Describe its characteristics.

Answer 8

Garnacha. intense, full bodied. Priorats: Deeply colored, high tannins, medium to high alcohol, concentrated black fruit, toasty aromas. Carinena is usually part of the blend.

Question 9

What is the Spanish Monastrell known as in France.

Answer 9

Mourvedre

Question 10

Describe the characteristics of Monastrell.

Answer 10

dark, powerful, spicy wines with high tannin and alcohol and low to medium acidity.

Question 11

What is the grape mazuelo better known as?

Answer 11

Carinena (Carignon)

Question 12

What grape, grown mainly in Rioja, is used in the finest wines to add powerful black fruit aromas, acidity, and structure to help it age?

Answer 12

Graciano

Question 13

Describe the wines produced by the grape Mencia.

Answer 13

fresh fruit, medium to high acid and a hint of herbaceousness

Question 14

What is the most widely planted grape varietal in Spain?

Answer 14

Airen

Question 15

What are the six local and two international red varieties that are most commonly grown in Spain?

Answer 15

Local: Tempranillo, Garnacha, Monastrell, Carinena/Mazuelo, Graciáno, Mencia,
Intl: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot

Question 16

What are the four local and two international white varieties that are most commonly grown in Spain?

Answer 16

Local: Verdejo, Albarino, Viura, Airen,
Intl: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay

Question 17

Describe how a high diurnal range impacts grapes.

Answer 17

During cool nights, ripening stops causing the growing season to be longer. This allows for more complex aromas. Some of the most fragrant wines come from cooler climates.

Question 18

How does limestone soil impact grapes?

Answer 18

Limestone causes a lower Ph/higher acidity

Question 19

What is the typical grape variety of the Rueda DO?

Answer 19

Verdejo. Sauvignon Blanc is the other important grape.

Question 20

Describe a typical Albarino.

Answer 20

Refreshing, unbaked, high acidity, ripe stone fruit flavors

Question 21

What is the largest DO in Spain and what is its most widely planted grape variety?

Answer 21

La Mancha. Airen.

Question 22

What are the principal grapes used in the production of Rioja Reserva red?

Answer 22

Tempranillo, Grenache, Mazuelo, Graciano

Question 23

What are the principal grapes used in the production of Ribero del Duero?

Answer 23

Tempranillo, garnacha, cabernet sauvignon, malbec, merlot. Tempranillo is the only variety used in the best ones.

Question 24

What are the principal grapes used in the production of Rias Baixas? Give the location and describe the climate.

Answer 24

Albarino. Thick-skinned, able to resist fungal disease.

Northwest Spain, situated on the Atlantic Coast. Moderate, damp, humid climate means that vine diseases such as mildew and rot are a common problem. Vines are trained on pergolas to encourage air circulation.

Question 25

Describe the wines of Bierzo.

Answer 25

Elegant, red wines with naturally high acidity and red fruit aromas. Key grape variety is Mencia.

Question 26

What is Llicorella?

Answer 26

The best soils in Priorat. Layers of red slate with small particles of mica that sparkle in the sun. Help ripening by reflecting and conserving heat. Soil retains sufficient water throughout the growing season.

Question 27

Name the three parts of Rioja and explain how they differ.

Answer 27

Rioja Alavesa - lightest wines, most finesse; maritime climate
Rioja Alta - maritime, but shielded by mountains
Rioja Baja - more continental

Question 28

What grapes are used in cava?

Answer 28

Virus, xarel-lo, parellada, garnacha, monastrell