Spain

Question 1

Where is Spain located?

Answer 1

Eastern majority of the Iberian Peninsula.

Question 2

What is unique about Spain’s acreage under vine?

Answer 2

Spain has the largest planted acreage of any wine producing country. However, it is third in global production behind Italy and France.

Question 3

What is the climate in Spain?

Answer 3

A variety of climates depending on the location, from cool maritime in the north to arid warm in the center of the country and to the south.

Question 4

Name the nine wine regions of Spain?

Answer 4

Question 5

What bodies of water border Spain?

Answer 5

Atlantic Ocean (north, northwest) and Mediterranean Sea (south, east).

Question 6

What characterizes the topography in Spain?

Answer 6

Very mountainous with an interior, raised plateau called the Meseta.

Question 7

What are the Spain grape varieties?

Answer 7

1. Tempranillo

Question 8

What are the four wine classifications in Spain?

Answer 8

1. Vino
2. IGP Wines
3. DOP Wines (VCIG, DO, DOCa)
4. Vinos de Pagos

Question 9

Define a IGP\Vino de la Tierra wine?

Answer 9

Similar to French Vin de Pays, noting a specific location yet with few requirements in terms of grape variety, yields, or aging.

Question 10

Define a VCIG wine?

Answer 10

Vinos de Calidad con Indicacion Geografica

A category used as a gateway for current VdlT regions to gain DO status.

Question 11

Define a DO wine?

Answer 11

Denominación de Origen

Equates to the French AOC. Each DO has a regulatory body that is responsible for creating and defining wine law and regulations for it.

Question 12

Define a DOCa wine?

Answer 12

Denominación de Origen Calificada

A step above the DO category recognizing the top quality wine regions in Spain. To date there are two wine regions recognized as DOCa, Rioja and Priorat.

Question 13

Define a Vinos de Pagos wine?

Answer 13

A single estate wine designation that can be situated outside of the DO system. The wine from a DO Pago must be made and bottled at that domain or estate. An estate within an existing DO must surpass the basic DO requirements.

Question 14

Where is Rías Baixas DO located?

Answer 14

Borders Portugal in the northwest corner of Spain. This area is called “Green Spain” because of its relatively high rainfall for Spain, which results in lush vegetation.

Question 15

What is the Rías Baixas climate?

Answer 15

Due to proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and the numerous rivers that flow through the region, the climate is humid and maritime.

Question 16

What is the Rías Baixas soil type?

Answer 16

Granite, alluvial, slate

Question 17

What are the Rías Baixas grape varieties?

Answer 17

1. Albarino

Note - Most Spanish wine labels feature a geographic name, but here the grape variety appears on the bottle.

Question 18

Describe the wine style in Rías Baixas.

Answer 18

Crisp, dry aromatic whites

Question 19

Where is Rioja located?

Answer 19

The region is located in north-central Spain and is protected by the Pyrenees Mountains to the northeast and the Cantabrian Mountains to the northwest.

Question 20

What is the Rioja climate?

Answer 20

Continental

Question 21

Name the 3 sub-regions of Rioja.

Answer 21

Question 22

Grape varieties in Rioja?

Answer 22

WHITE

1. Viura

RED

1. Tempranillo
2. Garnacha

Question 23

What type of oak is used in Rioja?

Answer 23

Traditionally, American oak was used but today producers use French oak as well.

Question 24

Rioja DOCa aging quality levels for red wines?

Answer 24

1. Crianza - Requires a total two years of aging before release
2. Reserva - Requires wines be aged for three years, including one year in oak.
3. Gran Reserva Requires that wines age for at least two years in oak and three years in the, bottle. These are generally sourced from the best sites and made only in top vintages.

Question 25

What is the Ribera del Duero DO climate?

Answer 25

• Continental (very hot summers + cold winters)
• Diurnal Shifts

Question 26

What is the Ribera del Duero topogaphy?

Answer 26

On the high central plateau (Meseta) at 2,500 feet, these are the highest elevation vineyards in Spain.

Question 27

What are the Ribera del Duero grape varieties?

Answer 27

1. Tempranillo (known locally as “Tinto Fino”)

Question 28

Aside from red wine, Ribera del Duero also produces a small amount of __________?

Answer 28

Rosé

Question 29

What is the Toro climate?

Answer 29

Continental, with extremely hot, dry summers.

Question 30

What are the Toro grape varieties?

Answer 30

1. Tempranillo

Question 31

What style of wine is Toro known for?

Answer 31

Rich, intense red wines

Question 32

What is the Rueda climate?

Answer 32

Continental

Question 33

What are the Rueda grape varieties?

Answer 33

1. Verdejo
2. Sauvignon Blanc

Question 34

Where is Penedes DO / Cava DO located and what is it known for?

Answer 34

Located in the vicinity of Barcelona, this area is most widely known as Cava country, producing an immense amount of traditional method sparkling wine.

Question 35

What is the Penedes DO / Cava DO climate?

Answer 35

Mediterranean

Question 36

What are the Penedes DO / Cava DO grape varieties?

Answer 36

1. Macabeo
2. Paralleda
3. Xarel-lo

Question 37

What is the Penedes DO / Cava DO vinification?

Answer 37

Sparkling wines in the traditional method

Question 38

Where is Priorat DOCa located?

Answer 38

A very rugged area just a few miles from the Mediterranean Sea but completely isolated and surrounded by mountains.

Question 39

What is the Priorat DOCa climate?

Answer 39

Hot and dry

Question 40

What is the Priorat DOCa soil types?

Answer 40

Stony schist soils, with the best vineyards situated on llicorella, a mix of black slate and quartzite.

Question 41

What are the Priorat DOCa grape varieties?

Answer 41

1. Garnacha (Grenache)
2. Carinena (Carignan)

Question 42

What characterizes Priorate DOCa viticulture?

Answer 42

1. Low yields due to climate.
2. Vines must dig deep for water due to soil.

Question 43

What is the wine style in Priorat DOCa?

Answer 43

Intense, concentrated, dry red wines