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WSET dip Old World > Spain > Flashcards

Spain Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the three broad climate zones of Spain?

A
  1. North and north-west coast has moderate maritime climate dominated by Atlantic weather systems. Rainfall high.
  2. East coast Mediterrranean climate. Catalonia and south.
  3. The central plateau. Continental climate.
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2
Q

What is the best way of maximising the amount of water available to each vine in Spanish vineyards?

A

Low-density, bush-trained vineyards.

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3
Q

What is commonly employed to make red wine in Spain.

A

Either semi-carbonic maceration or oak maturation.

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4
Q

Talk about Tempranillo in Spain.

A

Premier black variety, grown widely throughout northern and central Spain.

  • has several synonyms
  • thick skinned
  • medium acidity
  • red fruit flavours
  • best in areas where summer temperatures are moderated by sea or altitude to allow it to ripen yet maintain acidity
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5
Q

Name six black grapes important in Spain

A 
Tempranillo
Garnacha (Grenache)
Monastrell (Mourvèdre)
Graciano
Cariñena (Carignan) - also called Mazuelo in Rioja
Mencia
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6
Q

Talk about Garnacha in Spain.

A
  • widely used for rosé

- Priorat, where low-yielding old vines allow for production of intense, complex reds

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7
Q

Talk about Monastrell in Spain.

A

Spanish name for Mourvèdre.

  • thick skinned and drought resistant
  • needs hot, sunny conditions to ripen
  • grown in south eastern DOs such as Jumilla and Yecla
  • here easily reaches full ripeness and produces deeply coloured, full-bodied wines with high tannin and alcohol, low/medium acidity and ripe blackberry flavours
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8
Q

Talk about Graciano in Spain.

A

Blended with Tempranillo in Rioja.
- small amounts bring concentrated black fruit aromas, acidity and tannin
- richly perfumed, flowery/spicy
- difficult to grow; prone to downy mildew
- varietal bottlings being made in Rioja and Navarra
- plantings on increase
[being grown in Australia, e.g. Xanadu Wines in Margaret River do a varietal, as does David Paxton in McLaren Vale]

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9
Q

Talk about Cariñena in Spain.

A

Otherwise known as Carignan.
- blended in small proportions with Tempranillo in Rioja where it is known as Mazuelo
- dark colour
- high tannin
- high acidity
Originated in Aragon but plays small part in wine named Carinena from Carinena

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10
Q

What is Carignan known as in Spain?

A

Cariñena. But Mazuelo in Rioja.

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11
Q

Talk about Mencia in Spain.

A

Now grown widely in NW Spain
- now appreciated that wine of intensity and complexity can be made from old vines
- previous reputation for making a light red only is due to planting of it on fertile plains post-phylloxera
- used to be thought to be related to Cabernet Franc as the light, fresh acidic style of wine from it not unlike that from Cabernet Franc
- is the main red grape in Bierzo
- the same grape as Portugal’s Jaen.
Oz Clarke/Margaret Rand don’t like the new complex, oaked versions, OCW does.

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12
Q

What is Mencia known as in Portugal?

A

Jaen.

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13
Q

Name four white grape varieties important in Spain.

A

Verdejo
Albarino
Airén
Viura

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14
Q

Talk about Verdejo.

A

White grape variety.

  • widely planted in Rueda
  • highly susceptible to oxidation; used to make Sherry-like wines
  • now (with protective wine making) makes high acid, melon and peach flavoured wines similar in style to Sauvignon Blanc
  • often blended with Sauvignon Blanc
  • richer style also made in which it has undergone skin contact and barrel fermentation
  • nutty and honeyed after time in bottle
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15
Q

Talk about Albarino.

A

White grape variety.

  • widely grown in Galicia
  • thick skin copes well with the damp conditions
  • citrus and stone fruit flavours
  • one of the first Spanish grape varieties produced as a varietal
  • made in both young and richer aged style
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16
Q

Talk about Bierzo.

A

Predominantly red wine area.

  • closer to Galicia than to rest of Castile and Leon
  • planted on gentle slopes
  • mountains protect from Atlantic influence
  • but maritime influence makes it cooler than rest of Castile and Leon
  • rich, fertile soil
  • Mencia for reds (high acid, fresh berry fruit, a bit Cabernet Franc-like); some oaked others not
  • small amounts of Godello for aromatic whites
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17
Q

Talk about Airén.

A

White grape variety.

  • most planted grape variety in Spain
  • most of it in La Mancha
  • can make acceptable dry white wine but most used for Brandy de Jerez
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18
Q

Talk about Viura.

A

The name for Macabeo in Rioja.

  • traditionally the main grape in heavily oaked white Riojas
  • non-aromatic
  • second most planted white variety in Spain
  • found everywhere except Galicia
  • an ingredient of Cava
  • a common lightener of potent reds (more so in past than now)
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19
Q

Talk about Viura.

A

The name for Macabeo in Rioja.

  • traditionally the main grape in heavily oaked white Riojas
  • non-aromatic
  • second most planted white variety in Spain
  • found everywhere except Galicia
  • an ingredient of Cava
  • a common lightener of potent reds (more so in past than now)
  • if picked early has good acidity but even less in way of flavour
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20
Q

Which international varieties are important in Spain?

A

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc.

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21
Q

What are the three divisions of Rioja?

A

Rioja Alta
Rioja Baja
Rioja Alavesa

22
Q

How many growers are there in Rioja? How many merchant bodegas, and how many co-operatives

A

Almost 20,000 growers.
About 500 merchant bodegas
30 co-ops

23
Q

What percentage of grapes in Rioja goes to the co-ops, and what do they do with it?

A

45%. Turned into must or wine and sold on to merchant bodegas who blend, bottle and market the wine under their own labels.

24
Q

What is the climate of Rioja?

A

Essentially maritime. Rioja Baja is the least maritime with hot summers and cold winters.

25
Q

What are the three varieties commonly blended with Tempranillo to make Rioja?

A

Garnacha
Mazuelo
Graciano

26
Q

How many varieties are permitted for white Rioja?

A

8

27
Q

How may red Rioja for early drinking be made?

A

Using semi-carbonic maceration.

28
Q

To create a heavily extracted style of Rioja what is used?

A

Vigorous cap management.

Extended maceration.

29
Q

How does practice in Navarre differ from Rioja?

A

In addition to the traditional Tempranillo blends there is some blending of it with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

30
Q

Talk about Navarre.

A

Stretches north from Ebro up to foothills of Pyrenees

  • wide variety of soil types and microclimates
  • important region for rosé
  • wire training and mechanical harvesting increasing
  • more international varieties grown than in Rioja
  • varietal wines from local and international varieties permitted
  • Garnacha predominates (makes good dry rosé - picked early when acid still high)
  • small amount of white wine, generally made from Viura, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc
  • technological improvement and new varieties promoted by the regional government and its EVENA research station
31
Q

Talk about Cariñena DO.

A

Red/brown limestone

  • high levels of calcium carbonate and slate in places
  • mainly red wines, usually blend of Garnacha and Tempranillo
  • some good quality inexpensive reservas and gran reservas
  • the variety Cariñena (alias Carignan, Mazuelo) is not the most planted variety here, Garnacha is.
32
Q

Talk about Catalonia.

A 
Mediterranean climate.
- 10 DOs of which diploma asks knowledge of 6:
Priorat
Tarragona
Costers del Serge
Penedès
Conca de Barberà
Terra Alta
33
Q

Talk about Torres SA, and Miguel A Torres.

A

Wine and brandy producer

  • founded 1870
  • 75% of wine production exported
  • Miguel A Torres studied at Dijon from 1959
  • introduced international varieties to Catalonia
  • temperature control, stainless steel, trellising, mechanical pruning all introduced by him
  • interests in Chile, California and China
  • 2nd largest wine distributor in China
34
Q

Talk about Penedès.

A

Large DO in Catalonia to south of Barcelona

  • dynamic (thanks to Torres) and varied producing area (thanks to size and geography)
  • three distinct zones: Bajo (or low) Penedès [Garnacha and Monastrell making sturdy reds]; Medio Penedès [base wine for Cava and Chardonnay and Tempranilloand Cabernet Sauvignon]; Penedès Superior [Parellada, Riesling, Muscat of Alexandria, Gewurztraminer and Chardonnay].
35
Q

Talk about Priorat.

A

DOCa in Catalonia, inland from Tarragona.

  • continental climate
  • long dry summers
  • ideal for Cariñera [Carignan] and Garnacha as both are late ripening varieties
  • old vines
  • licorella, the red slate soil, 50 cm thick over bedrock of schist
  • bush vines and steep slopes so little mechanization
  • low nutrient soils and old vines produce small yields
  • Priorat one of the few world class wines to be made from Grenache
  • produced from Garnacha and Carinena - high alcohol- long time in oak - game and mushroom flavours
  • sometimes Cabernet Sauvignon added to blend
36
Q

What is licorella?

A

Red slate soil in Priorat, includes small particle of mica. Reflects and conserves heat thus helping ripening. Depth allows for water retention during growing season.

37
Q

Talk about Ribera del Duero.

A

[‘Ribera’ means ‘riverbank’]. Entirely continental climate.

  • vineyards on highest part of Central Plateau
  • cool night time temperatures throughout the year
  • is a DO for red and rosé only, but vast majority produced is red
  • Tempranillo the dominant grape and the only variety in most of the best red wines ( a variation of Tempranillo called Tinto Fino)
  • some Garnacha grown but mainly made into dry rosé
  • started to rival Rioja in quality of reds produced in 1990s
  • best known best quality wines from bodegas Vega Sicilia and Pesquera
38
Q

Talk about Costers del Segre.

A

Small wine zone in Catalonia

  • severe continental climate
  • named after river Serge, a tributary of the Ebro, but little more than a seasonal stream
  • Raimat estate heavily invested in area including irrigation canal
  • sandy topsoil over limestone
  • international and local varieties
39
Q

Talk about Tarragona.

A

DO in Catalonia.
Continental climate inland but Mediterranean near the coast. Tarragona Campo is close to the coast; Tarragona Falset is inland and high altitude.
- dark soils with some limestone in the hills
- aluvial soil on the plains
- the largest DO in Catalonia
- modern fruity wines
- mostly joven
- mainly international varieties but some Grenacha and Cariñena

40
Q

What is Vega Sicilia?

A

Spain’s finest red wine.
A concentrated and long-lived wine made on a single property which is now part of the Ribera del Duero DO.
- long predates the 1980-founded DO

41
Q

Talk about Conca de Barberà.

A

Small, promising DO in Catalonia.

  • Miguel Torres makes two single-vineyard wines there
  • but most grapes go to make Cava
42
Q

Talk about Terra Alta.

A

‘High land’ - highest DO in Catalonia

  • influenced by Priorat styles but less improvement seen
  • Cariñena, Garnacha, Garnacha Blanca and Macabeo grown
43
Q

Talk about Toro.

A

DO adjoining Rueda and with similar continental climate to it and Ribera del Duero

  • predominantly Tempranillo
  • reds heavy, intense fruit flavour, high alcohol
44
Q

Talk about Rueda.

A

DO adjoining Toro to Toro’s east.

  • differs from Toro and Ribera del Duero in focussing on white wine production
  • Verdejo, Sauvignon Blanc and Viura [Macabeo]
  • night harvesting and cool fermentation
  • wines Verdejo alone or Verdejo with up to 50% Viura blended in or Sauvignon Blanc varietal
45
Q

Talk about Rias Baixas.

A

North Atlantic coast; a damp maritime climate. [‘rias’ is a flooded coastal valley]

  • mildew and rot a problem
  • vines trained on pergolas to encourage airflow, or now on a version of Geneva double curtain
  • Albariño - quality of harvest varies due to weather problems
  • increasing demand for fashionable Albariño means rising prices and expanding plantings
  • made in unoaked style
  • 5 subzones all share granite-based subsoils
  • immediately opposite Vinho Verde in Portugal
46
Q

Talk about the Levant.

A

The south eastern area of Spain including
Valencia
Yecla
Jumilla
- trade centred round the port of Valencia

47
Q

Talk about Valencia.

A

Large DO with wide variety of local and international varieties

  • 5 large producers dominate
  • move towards quality
  • more Tempranillo and Macabeo being planted
  • local speciality Moscatel de Valencia, a highly perfumed sweet wine that may or may not be fortified
48
Q

Talk about Yecla.

A

Mainly joven reds using Monastrell, Garnacha and Tempranillo

  • carbonic maceration common for joven reds
  • some crianza, reserva and gran reservas
49
Q

Talk about Jumilla.

A

Hot Mediterranean climate.

  • phylloxera only arrived in 1980s; led to vine pull
  • replanted with grafted stock; led to experimentation
  • mainly joven red produced
  • red and rosé must contain 50% Monastrell
  • a sweet red from 100% Monastrell produced
50
Q

Talk about La Mancha.

A

Largest DO in Spain. Centered on Madrid.
Extremely continental climate
- Airén most widely planted variety - used to produce neutral whites (but much goes to Brandy de Jerez)
- much investment in and official encouragement for Tempranillo and international varieties such as Cab Sav, Merlot, Syrah, and Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc
- stainless steel and cool fermentation now prominent
- recent moves to pick up to a fortnight early to retain acidity and fruit characters
- is where the trend for single estate wines started and is the home of the majority of estates which have been granted Vinos de Pago status

51
Q

Talk about Valdepeñas.

A

DO lying immediately to the south of La Mancha.

  • hot continental climate
  • reputation for higher quality than La Mancha
  • limestone based soils with good water retention in summer
  • white wine must be 100% Arién
  • joven and crianza minimum 20% Tempranillo (known here as Cencibel)
  • reservas and gran reservas must be 100%
  • carbonic maceration often used for young reds

WSET dip Old World (11 decks)

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