Spain Flashcards
Aging requirements for Crianza in Spain:
Spain (General)- 2 years, 6 months in barrel
Rioja- 2 years, 1 year in barrel
Ribera Del Duero- 2 years, 1 year in barrel
Aging requirements for Reserva in Spain:
Spain (General)- 3 years, 1 year in barrel
Rioja- 3 years, 1 year in barrel, 6 months in bottle
Ribera Del Duero- 3 years, 1 year in barrel
Aging requirements for Gran Reserva in Spain:
Spain (General)- 5 years, 18 months in barrel
Rioja- 5 years, 2 years in barrel, 2 years in bottle
Ribera Del Duero- 5 years, 2 years in barrel, 3 years in bottle
Additionally, any DOP wines may use the following aging terminology:
Noble: 18 months in a cask of less than 600 L or bottle
Anjeo: 24 months in a cask of less than 600 L or bottle
Viejo: 36 months aging, demonstrates marked oxidative character
What year was the Vino Espumoso de Calidad category added for traditional method sparkling wine?
2018
Styles produced: Brut Nature, Extra Brut, Brut
Requires a minimum of 15 months less aging, whereas Reserva and Gran Reserva requires 24 and 36 months.
What are the five subzone sod Navarra?
Valdizarbe
Baja Montaña
Tierra Estella
Ribera Alta
Ribera Baja
What theee estates recently received their own DO Pago appellations?
Senorio de Arinzano and Prado Irache In Tierra Estella
Bodegas Otazu In Valdizarbe
What are the four DOs of Aragón?
Campo de Borja
Calatayud
Cariñena
Somontano
Rioja follows the path of the Ebro through what three climatically distinct subzones?
Rioja Alvesa
Rioja Alta
Rioja Oriental (formerly Rioja Baja)
Rioja Alvesa:
The smallest, northernmost zone located in the Basque country.
Tempranillo often produces vino joven wines for early consumption. Carbonic maceration may be employed for such wines.
Calcareous clay soil
Rioja Alta:
Southwestern zone
Slightly warmer climate producing classic age worthy Tempranillo, Mazuelo, and Graciano
Calcareous clay soil
Rioja Oriental:
Hottest subregion
Garnacha performs best in this hot climate
Alluvial soils and ferrous clay
Campo de Borja (Navarra):
Hot climate
Garnacha commands two thirds of vineyard acreage
Red and rosado wines principally from Garnacha and Tempranillo
White wines based on Viura
Calatayud (Navarra):
Garnacha
Cariñena (Navarra):
One of Spain’s long-standing delimited zones dating back to 1932 is the ancestral home of the Carignan/Mazuelo grape but today the grape is a secondary player in the regions blends.
Somontano (Navarra):
(“Beneath the mountain”) lies in the foothills of the Pyrenees near Catalonia producing wines from local grapes such as the white Alcanon and red Parraleta.
Galicia:
“Green Spain”
Borders Portugal in the northwestern corner of the country
Cooler maritime climate ideal for crisp, refreshing white wines
Includes the communities of Asturias, Cantabria, and País Vasco along the northern green coast.
What are the five DOs of Galicia?
Rías Baixas
Ribeiro
Valdeorras
Ribeira Sacra
Monterrei
What are the five subzones of Rías Baixas?
Val do Salnés
Ribeira do Ulla
Soutomaior
O Rosal
Condado de Tea
Grapes of Rías Baixas:
Whites:
Albariño, Loureiro, Treixadura, and Caiño Blanco. (Val do Salnés or Ribeira do Ulla Labeled wines must contain minimum 70% of listed varietals)
(O Rosal and Condado do Tea must contain minimum 70% Albariño combined with either Loureira or Treixadura)
Reds:
Caiño, Espadeiro, and Mencía
Ribeiro DO:
One of Spain’s oldest recognized wine regions
Located along the Miño River to the east of Rías Baixas
Treixadura is the favored white grape, replacing the neutral heavier Palomino
Caiño is preferred for reds
A dried grape wine, Vino Tostado is a local specialty
Ribeira Sacra - The “Sacred Bank”, named for its large concentration of churches has five subregions:
Amandi
Chantada
Quiroga-Bibei
Riberas do Sil
Riberas do Miño
White Grapes:
Treixadura and Godello
Red Grapes:
Mencía
What are the three principal DO zones of País Vasco?
Getariako Txakolina
Bizkaiko Txakolina
Arabako Txakolina
White Grape: Ondarrabi Zuri (Hondarribi Zuri)
Red Grape: Ondarrabi Beltza
Rosado wines traditionally known as Ojo de Gallo are blends of both white and red grapes.
Castilla y León:
Spain’s largest community
“The Land of Castles”
Continental climate slightly moderated by its proximity to the Atlantic and Mediterranean
The terrain consists of the northern part of the Maseta Central-the arid central plateau of Spain
The Duero River flows westward through the center of the region
What are the DOs of Castilla y León? (There’s 9)
Ribera del Duero
Rueda
Toro
Tierra del vino de Zamora
Arribes
Arlanza
Cigales
Tierra de León
Bierzo
Bierzo DO:
Mencía grape’s home in the valley of the Sil River
Whites from Godello and Dona Blanca show more promise, Palomino still dominates the vineyards
Biodynamic bottling “Corullon” old vine Mencía from mountain side schist soils
Tierra de León DO:
Recently upgraded from vino de la Tierra in 2007 produces reds, whites, and rosados from red grapes Mencía and the local Prieto Picudo
Ribera del Duero DO:
Surrounds the towns of Aranda and Peñafiel in the Duero Valley
Regions flagship estate has long been Vega Sicilia founded by Don Eloy Lecanda y Chaves
Domingo Txomin 1917 and 1918 vintages of Unico, Vega Sicilia benchmark wine
The region now supports a number of cult wine estates including Domino de Pingus and Aalto
Grapes of Ribera del Duero:
Reds and a small amount of Rosados. Whites are not allowed.
Tempranillo, known as Tinto del Pais and Tinto Fino is the regions premier grape
Small amounts of Garnacha and international varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are also cultivated
Albillo white grape permitted only for freshness in rosado wines
Rueda DO:
Wines labeled Rueda now require a minimum 50% of the grape, often blended with Viura.
85% of the stated grape is required for varietal wines
Red wines are dominated by Tempranillo, and rosado wines contain a minimum 50% of red grapes
Espumoso (sparkling wines), Brut and Brut Nature require a minimum of 85% Verdejo
The fortified oxidized Dorado wine is still encountered and not often found outside Spain
Toro DO:
Red wines require a minimum 75% Tinta de Toro, often produced solely from the grape. A local strain of Tempranillo
White wines may be made with Verdejo or Malvasía, Rosados are either saignee blends of Tinto de Toro and Garnacha, or 100% Garnacha
Farina, Numanthia-Termes, and Vega Sicilia’s Bodegas Pintia are top names of the appellation
Tierra del Vino de Zamora DO:
Produces red, white, rosado, and the lighter clarete (rose)
Reds require a minimum 75% Tempranillo
Arribes DO:
The Rufete red grape found in Portugal and several other red grapes join Tempranillo
White wines are produced from Malvasía, Verdejo, and Albilla
Cigales DO:
North of the old capital city of Valladolid
Red wines from Garnacha Tinta and Tinta del País (Tempranillo)
Particularly noted for its rosado and nuevo (primeur) rosado production
Arlanza DO:
One of Spain’s newest DOs dating back to 2007
A small amount of wineries produce reds and whites from Duero Valley and Bordeaux varieties
Priorat DOCa:
In the southwest of Catalonia is the site of René Barbier’s project
Garnacha and Cariñena are the traditional varietals
Llicorella, a mix of black slate and quartzite in best vineyards, requiring vines to dig deeply for water
What are the five original “Clos” wines of Priorat?
Clos Mogador
Palacios Clos Dofi
Clos Erasmus
Clos de l’Obac
Clos Martinet
Montsant:
85% of labeled variety
Previously a subzone of Tarragona DO called “Falset”
Garnacha and Cariñena are dominate
Tarragona DO:
Large area, from Catalan coast to the west of Penedes DO
Historically wines were generally fortified rancio or mistela, the Spanish version of vin de liqueur
Much of the vineyard area has been converted to white varieties for Cava
What are the three distinct altitude zones of Penedes?
Baix-Penedes
Meido-Penedes
Alta-Penedes
True or False?
95% of Cava is produced in the regions of Penedes.
True
What is the birthplace of Cava?
San Sadurni d’Anoia
When was metodo tradicional sparkling winemaking introduced to Spain?
1872 by Jose Raventós of Codorníu
True or False?
The idea for the Gyropalette originated in Spain
True
Cava DO wines may be produced from the following grapes:
Parellada
Xarel-lo
Macabeu
Chardonnay
Pinot Noir
Garnacha Tinta
Monastrell
Trepat
Malvasía (Subirat)
Cava wines require less time on the lees than Champagne at the basic level. Here are the aging requirements:
Nine months for basic bottlings
Fifteen months for reserva
Thirty months for gran reserva
How can bottles of Cava always be spotted?
By the mark of a four-pointed star imprinted on the cork
Where in Catalonia is Xarel-lo known locally as Pansà Blanca?
Alella DO
Which DO in the northeastern corner of Spain borders Banyuls in Roussillon?
Empordà DO
Pla de Bages DO
A derivative of Bacchus, the Roman god of wine. A newer DO to the northwest of Penedes
Catalunya DO
Encompasses the entire autonomia, covering wineries not included in more specific DO zones.
What are the two DO zones on Balearic Islands?
Pla i Llevant and Binissalem Mallorca
Produces wines from Manto Negro and Moll (Prensal Blanc/white varietal)
What are the DO zones within Valencia in Southern Spain?
Alicante:
Known for its dessert wines, Fondillon, a solera style, oxidative dessert wine from Monastrell grapes aged for a minimum 10 years.
Utiel-Requena:
Produced from the Bobal grape and doble pasta is a traditional style
What are the three DO zones of Murcia in Southern Spain?
Jumilla:
Sandy soils, desert like climate. Now some of Spain’s best valued wine. Monastrell, Garnacha, Petit Verdot
Yecla
Bullas
La Mancha DO:
Region: Castilla-La Mancha
Grapes: Cencibel (Tempranillo) and Airén
Hot and dry region
Airén claims more acreage than any other white grape in the world.
Méntrida DO:
The Marqués de Griñon estate planted Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Syrah, and Merlot. They adopted the illegal practice of drip irrigation, releasing wines as vino de mesa.
What is Doble Pasta?
Red wines that are macerated and fermented with twice the normal amount of grape skins
What does Doble Pasta do to the wine
Intense concentration, tannin, and color, used to strengthen weaker blends
