Spain Flashcards
How long does a Rioja Crianza need to be aged?
2 years in total
1 year in oak
How long does a Crianza need to be aged in Spain generally? (Not in Rioja or Ribera de Duero)
2 years total, 6 months in oak
For Crianza’s from Rioja and Ribera del Duero Crianza’s need 2 years in total and a minimum of 1 year in oak
How much ageing has a Reserva wine generally in Spain?
3 years and one year in oak
In Rioja it is 3 years, 1 year in oak and a min of 6 months in bottle
In Ribera, it is 3 years, and 1 year in oak same as the rest of Spain
How much ageing had Gran Reserva wine in Spain?
5 years total minimum aging
18 months min in barrel
In Rioja, it is 5 years minimum ageing, 2 years in barrel and two years in bottle
In Ribera, it is 5 years minimum aging, 2 years in barrel and 3 years in bottle
Why will a Gran Reserva from Ribera del Duero have had more oak influence than a general Gran Reserva from Spain?
Because a Gran Reserva from Ribera del Duero will have had a minimum of 2 years in barrel (rather than 18 months for general Spanish wine) and a minimum of 3 years in bottle
What is the difference between a Reserva wine from Rioja compared to the rest of Spain?
Rioja Reserva’s must spend 6 months minimum bottle age as well as a year minimum in oak and 3 years total aging.
Where did French winemakers escaping Phylloxera settling when they crossed the Pyrenees in late 19th Century?
Rioja, Navarra and Catalonia
When did Phylloxera arrive in La Rioja, Spain?
1901 by which time the remedy of grafting European vines into American rootstocks had already been discovered
Why did the Spanish wine industry suffer in the 20th Century?
The marked civil and political upheaval.
The Franco Dictatorship only came to an end in 1975 and and Spain entered the EU (then the EEC) in 1986
Why is 1986 a key date in Spanish wine history?
It is the year Spain entered the EU (then the EEC)
How much land under vine does Spain have?
967,000ha more than any other country
It is the third largest wine producing country after Italy and France and the first wine exporting county by volume
Where is Green Spain, España Verde?
North West & North
Rías Baixas where the climate is influenced by the Atlantic
What shelters Rioja and Ribera del Duero from the Atlantic?
Cordillera Cantábrica
What are Spain’s five main rivers?
Muño Duero Tajo (Tagus) Guadalquivir Ebro
How many varieties are cultivated in Spain?
Over 600, bit only a score are commercially important
What is the most widely planted grape variety in Spain?
The hardy and drought resistant Airén
Important for manufacture of Brandy
What is Spain’s most noble variety?
Tempranillo
Known as Cencibel, Tinto Fino, Ull de Llebre (Eye of the Hare)
Widely planted in N Spain.
Early ripening variety
Prefers chalky soil and moderate climate.
Wine produced is strawberry scented and high in acidity. Blends and ages well
What are some key Spanish grape varieties?
Airén - drought resistant - brandy
Tempranillo - Northern Spain, Noble, age worthy wines, strawberry scented, high in acidity
Garnacha (Grenache) - one of the most planted black grape, high yields, high alcohol, matures early, used for rosados
Monastrell (Mourvèdre) - Darl, powerful spicy wines
Cariñena /Mazuelo (Carignan) - High in acidity, tannin and colour. Blends well with Tempranillo
Mencía - In Bierzo, dark cherry, spice and earth or soft and fruity
Albariño - grown on Atlantic coast in Galicia - crisp, aromatic wines
Verdejo - mainly in Rueda, oxidises easily but when handled carefully can produce powerful aromatic whites
Graciano - used in Rioja blends, low yielding it has powerful aromas, full body and tannins and ages well
Malvasia - full bodied whites. Used for traditional oak aged Rioja. In a blend with Viura adding richness
Viura (Rioja)/ Macabeo (Catalunya) - Macabeu from southern France. Good fruit and acidity when grown with low yields. Blended in Rioja
What is the density of plantings and training method in much of Spain?
Much of Spain is arid and infertile with low density plantings of old bush trained vines
Yields are super small, can be ~20hl/ha compared to day 100hl/ha in Germany
When was irrigation legalised in Spain?
1996
Has increased yields (which were as low as 20 hl/ha but potentially decreased quality
What has led to fresher, fruitier styles of wine in Spain?
Temperature controlled fermentation in stainless steel tanks
How are Spanish wines traditionally aged?
Long barrel ageing typically in American Oak
What was the first Denominación de Origen (DO) in Spain?
Rioja in 1930s
What are the only two Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa) in Spain?
Rioja and Priorat
What is the Spanish equivalent to France’s IGP?
Vino de la Tierra (VT)
What is Spain’s equivalent to Vin de France?
Vino de Mesa (VdM)
What are the hierarchy of wine classifications in Spain?
Vino de Mesa (VdM) - table wine, no geographical name on the label
Vino de la Tierra (VT) - Equivalent to Vin de Pays
Vino de Calidad Con Indicación Geográfica (VC) a stepping stone towards DO status, must wait 5 years for consideration for promotion
Denominación de Origen (DO) - Equivalent yo AOC - must satisfy a minimum quality. Grape varities, viticultural method, location and style specified. Must wait 10 years for consideration for DOCa
Vino de Pago (VP) relatively new category. Outstanding single estates that fall outside or inside DO areas, using only their own grapes to make wine
Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOC, DOCa and DOQ). Very high quality regions. Only two areas with this distinction, Rioja and Priorat. DOCa wines are controlled by a Consejo Regulador that test and guarantee quality
What is a DO Pago?
A denominación de Origen Pago. Awarded to outstanding single estates that fall outside or inside DO areas, using only their own grapes to make wine
What are the four levels of ageing for Spanish wines?
Vino Joven - May or May not have spent time in oak cask. Bottled in year following release. In Rioja, Joven is now being called Generico or Sin Crianza
Crianza
Aged for at least two years of which six months is in oak. White and rose Crianza aged for at least one year, at least since months in cask
Reserva
Has been aged for at least three years of which one year is in oak. White and rose Reserva has been aged for at least two years of which six months in cask
Gran Reserva
Has been aged for at least 5 years of which 18 months in cask and 36 months in bottle.
White and rose at least four years and at least six months in cask
For Rioja, Ribera del Duero and Navarra reds, Crianza has to spend at last 12 months instead of 6 in cask. And Gran Reserva at least 24 months instead of 18
What are the ageing classifications in Spanish wine which don’t call for oak?
Noble - one year
Añejo - 2 years
Viejo - three years in a distinctly oxidative style
This scale recognised that some wines are not improved and may even be harmed by lengthy barrel ageing
Why does Spain have the highest area under vine but is not the largest producer of wine?
Due to predominantly low yielding, low density plantings of bush trained vines.
New vineyards are planted with wire trained vines
Spain has 967,000 ha of vines and is the third largest wine producing country after Italy and France
How did Rioja get it’s name?
Named after the Rio Oja, a tributary of the Ebro
It extends some 100km along the Ebro as it flows SE to the Mediterranean Sea
What enclosed the Rioja region?
Mountains
The Cordillera Cantábrica to the North and West protects from the Atlantic
The South has the Sierra de la Demanda
What is the climate in Rioja?
More continental than Atlantic as the Cordillera Cantábrica protects from Atlantic influence
There is also a Mediterranean influence in Rioja Oriéntale which is warmer and drier than Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa
How much of Rioja is red?
Approx 90%
Traditionally a blend of Tempranillo (typically 60%), Grenache (20%), Graciano and Carignan (Mazuelo).
What do each of the traditional grapes in a Rioja blend contribute?
Garnacha - body and alcohol
Graciano - aroma
Carignan - colour, tannin and acidity
Tempranillo - strawberry scented, high in acidity and ages well
Where is Rioja Alavesa?
West of Logroño on the River Ebro.
What is the smallest of the three Rioja Subregions?
Rioja Alavesa
What are the growing conditions in Rioja Alavesa?
Cool maritime influence from the Atlantic, relatively high rainfall
What are the soils in Rioja Alavesa?
Chalk & limestone rich soils produce lighter bodied wines with finesse and somewhat higher acidity given cooler conditions
What are the soils in Rioja Alta?
Clay soils or red soils with high iron content
Viura suited to clay
Tempranillo to iron rich soils
Malvasia grown on alluvial soils
Where is Rioja Alta?
Stretches from Logroño in the East to Haro in the West
Owing in part to higher altitudes growing season is shorter
Where is Rioja Baja/Oriental?
To the East of Rioja extending north across the Ebro and into Navarra
What is the climate in Rioja Baja/Oriental?
Continental climate with hot summers and severe winters
Much warmer and drier than Rioja Alta
What is the soil in Rioja Baja/Oriental?
Heavy clay soils