Spain Flashcards
Albarino
Grown in NW (cool) area, becoming fasionable
Thick skinned, not susceptible to fungal issues in wet area
High acid, refreshing, citrus, stone fruit
Can be made rich and full-bodied
Castilla-la Mancha - La Mancha
Largest Spanish DO
AIREN - produces neutral, fresh whites
TEMPRANILLO (Censibel) on the rise
Inernational varieties very popular here: Cab Sauv, Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay, Sauv Blanc
Good source of inexpensive, well-made reds for export
Also source of top-quality VINOS de PAGO
Castilla-la Mancha - Aldepenas
South of La Mancha, identical climate but better reputation
AIREN most widely planted
Significant TEMPRANILLO
Spanish Labelling
PGI wines - Vino de la Tierra (VdlT)
PDO wines – Demoninacion de Origen Protegida (DOP)
Denominacion de Origen (DO)
Requirements on quality, varieties, viticulture, location
Denominacion de Origen Calificada (DOCa)
DOs can apply after 10 years good standing
Currently 2 – Rioja and Priorat
Priorat: Catalan Denominacio d’Origen Qualificada DOQ
Vinos de Pago (VP)
Small number of estates with high reputations
Must be estate grown and estate made/mature
Spanish Red Grapes
Inexpensive reds made w/ no oak, semi-carbonic maceration
Better wines with new oak, traditionally American, but now some French oak
Tempranillo
Garnacha Tinta - Is Spanish for Grenache
Monastrell - Is Spanish for Mourvedre
Graciano
Carinena – Spanish for Carignan (Mazuelo in Rioja)
Mencia
Catalunya
NE Corner of Spain, vineyards South of Barcelona
Generic DO to enable blending from various areas for significant volumes
Where almost all CAVA is made
2 primary sub-appellations
Penedes
Priorat
Carinena
Spanish for Carignan
Called Mazuelo in Rioja
Wines high in acid, tannin, and color
Small portions blend nicely with Tempranillo in Rioja
Blended with Garnacha in Priorat to enhance tannin structure
Catalunya - Priorat
Summers are long and hot with little rain
Best (llicorella) soils red slate w/ mica reflect and conserve heat to help ripen and also retain sufficient water
Cool night temperatures provide some relief from the heat
Old Garnacha and Carinena vines, bush vines on steep slopes
Expensive and time consuming to manage these
Low nutrients and vine age = very small yield
White and rose are rarely made
DUERO VALLEY - RIBERA del DUERO
Short, hot, dry summers and very cold winters
Vinyards on the highest part of Meseta Central, over 850m
Cool nights even in summer retain acidity
Tempranillo primary and 100% in most of the best wines
Most trying to accentuate concentration of their wines with long macerations
Short aging in new barrels (as AO but now more FO)
Cab Sauv, Malbec, Merlot also permitted but rarely used
Garnacha also, but mostly for rose
NORTH WEST SPAIN - BIERZO
In the mountains, moderate climate with maritime influences
MENCIA
Elegant reds, high acid, red fruit
Best from old vines on steep stony slopes
Some unoaked to preserve perfumed red fruit
Many use new oak for toasty notes
DUERO VALLEY - RUEDA
By Toro DO, focuses on white production
Continental climate ideal for Verdejo and Sauv Blanc
Can make single varietal wines
Or blends of at least 50% Verdejo
Styles can range significantly
DUERO VALLEY - TORO DO
Similar climate to Ribera del Duero
Predominantly Tempranillo
Full-bodied, intense fruit, high alcohol
Joven wines: usually some Garnacha
Reservas: deeply colored and tannic, can age well
Navarra
Climate similar to Rioja, but cooler and wetter near mtns
Tempranillo most widely planted
Blends w/ other Rioja varieties or Cab Sauv and Merlot
Wines range from Joven to Gran Reserva
Garnacha for rose, picked early, refreshing, fruity, med alcohol
Very small amount of white made Viura, Chardonnay, Sauv Blanc
Graciano
Highly valued but hard to grow
Mostly in Rioja and blended with the finest wines
Small amounts used to add black fruit, acid, and structure
Monastrell
Spanish for Mourvedre
Thick skinned and drought tolerant, but needs heat and sun
Grown in SE regions
Full-bodied, high tannin, high alc, low-to-med acid, ripe blackberry
NORTH WEST SPAIN - RIAS BAIXAS
On the coast, a moderate damp climate
Pressure from mildew and rot are common
Vines trained on pergolas to encourage air circulation
ALBARINO
Refreshing unoaked style, high acid, ripe stone fruit
Some made in a richer style, maybe with oak and lees
Reds also, but not much
Catalunya - Penedes
Large DO SW or Barcelona
3 climate zones
- Hottest is coastal plain – Mediterranean
- Inland valleys – warm but cooler than the coastal plain
- Hills – vines grown up to 800m – Moderate
Most planted grapes are whites for CAVA
Significant international varietal plantings of Chardonnay, Sauv Blanc, Gewurz, Merlot, Cab Sauv…
Rioja Red Wine Styles
Early drinkers may go semi-carbonic
Wines for aging often destemmed and traditional ferment
Some producers use heavy cap mgt and extend maceration
Most are going for more elegant wines
Oak has a defining role in Rioja
Traditionally aged on AO
Now many using FO or EO for more subtle spices
Red Priorat Wines
Wines know for their complexity and intensity, NOT CHEAP
Deeply colored, high tannin, med-to-high alc, black fruit
Often toasty notes from new FO
Mostly Carnacha and Carinena but some Cab Sauv
Aging Definitions
red tot / red oak white tot / white oak
Joven 0 / 0 0 / 0
Crianza 24 / 6 18 / 6
Reserva 36 / 12 24 / 6
Gran Reserva 60 / 18 48 / 6
Anything falling outside is simply labelled VINO
Some regions have longer aging requirements (Rioja)
Note that Gran Reserva only produced in exceptional vintages
Whites and Roses rarely made as Gran Reserva
Spanish Climate
North and NW coast MODERATE MARITIME climate – atlantic weather, rain
East coast from Catalunya to Levante is WARM MEDITERRANIAN, with sea breeze and altitude impacts
MESETA CENTRAL: large plateau in central Spain, cut off from sea influences, HOT CONTINENTAL summer temperatures moderated by altitude – cool nights
Other than NW Spain, heat and lack of water are the natural challenges
Low-density, bush-trained vines for shade and water conservation
Some wire training is happening for mechanization
Carinena and Calatayud
South of Navarra, WARM CONTINENTAL
Garnacha is the main variety
Inexpensive, fruity wines for early drinking
Higher quality from old-vine Garnacha and Carinena
Note that Carinena is NOT the main varietal in DO with its name…
Mencia
Spanish RED that suits moderate climates
Fresh fruit, med-to-high acid, hint of herbaceousness
Garnacha Tinta
Spanish for Grenache
High alc, tendency to mature early
Used for Rosados
Also in Priorat, low-yielding vines make complex, full-bodied reds
