Spain Flashcards
Spain’s climate
Warm to hot and dry causing low yields
Wine laws of Spain
- Vino de Mesa (Table wine)
- Vino de la Tierra EU designation is PGI
- Denominación de Origen (DO) EU designation is PDO for the next three classifications
- Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa) Only 2 regions have this highest designation.
- Los Pagos (small individual properties granted their own designation)
EU changes
For PGI Wines:
- Country Wines (Vinos de la Tierra)
For the PDO Wines:
- Denomination of Origin (DO)
- Qualified Denomination of Origin (DOC or DOCa or DOQ in Priorat)
- Quality Wine with a Geographical Indication (Vino de Calidad)
- Estate Wine (Vino de Pago)
- Qualified Estate Wine (Vino de Pago Calificado)
Important regions of Spain
- Galicia - Albarino
- Rioja - Napa of Spain
- Rueda - red and white wine
- Priorato - red
- Jumilla, Bierzo, and Somontano, Montsant
- Penedes - Cava
- Ribera del Duero - Tempranillo
Portugal wine classifications
- Vino de Mesa - simplest wines, non-vintage
- Vinho Regional - wines from 8 large regions
- Indicacio de Proveniencia Regulamentada (IPR) - 28 approved regions
- Denominacao de Origem Controlada (DOC) - wines from 19 of the top regions
Fortified wines
Wines which have brandy added to them, raising their alcohol content to 15- 23% ex: Sherry, Port, Madeira, Marsala
What are the classifications of Ports?
Port: from Douro region of Portugal (20% alcohol) Types of Port 1. White 2. Ruby 3. Tawny 4. Colheita 5. Vintage Port
How and when are Ports generally served?
Portion Size: 2 ½ to 3 oz. at 60-65F
Late Bottled Vintage
A single year left in wood for 4-6 years
Age-Worthiness of Port
- Vintage ports will improve with bottle age they generally need 20 years
- The best vintages will keep for well over 50 years
Solera system
Blend of numerous vintages. The solera system takes younger wines and moves it successively though barrels that are older, thereby “educating” young wines for flavor and development. The bottom barrels of the system contain the oldest wines, wine is to be bottled from these barrels.
Arresting fermentation:
technique of preserving residual sugar in wines by
stopping fermentation. There are several methods to arrest fermentation including chilling the wine to the point where yeasts become inactive and using a centrifuge to remove the yeast cells prior to completing fermentation.
Estufa system: 3 methods
heating the wine. 3 methods used:
Natural heat
Wood casks
Stainless tanks
Spain table wines
White:
1 . Albarino
2. Viura
3. Paellada
Red
- Garnarcha (Grenache)
- Monastrell
- Tempranillo
Spain Sherry
Palamino
Pedro Ximenez
Moscatel
Spain Cava
Parellada
Malvasia
Macabeo (Viura)
Portugal white and red wines
White
- Alvarinho
- Loureiro
Red
- Touriga Nacional
- Touriga Francesca
- Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo)
- Perequita
What are the most important wine regions in Portugal?
Portugal
- Douro: mostly Port, some red table wine
- Lisbon
- Bucelas: pleasant white wine
- Colares: full-bodied red wines
- Dao: Vinho Maudro – best of reds made
- Minho: Vinho Verde
- Alentejo: large area showing potential
- Ribatejo: north of Lisbon along both sides of Tagus River, milder climate
- Setubal area: south of Lisbon, known for sweet Moscatel, now other varietals, too
Regulated Terms in Rioja
- Cosecha: young wines, most without wood aging
- Vina de Crianza: wine matured for 2 years with at least 1 year in cask
- Reserva: matured for at least 1 year in oak cask and 2 years in bottle
- Gran Reserva: aged at least 2 years in oak and 3 in bottle, with a minimum of 6 years maturation at the winery
