Spain Flashcards
What are the three subzones of Rioja?
Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Oriental (formerly Rioja Baja)
What varieties are permitted for red Rioja?
Tempranillo, Mazuelo, Graciano, Garnacha and Maturana Tinta must comprise a minimum 85% of the blend, or 95% of destemmed. The rest of the blend may be made up of ‘experimental grapes’ such as Cabernet Sauvignon.
What grapes constitute white Rioja?
- Principal grapes (on these grapes can account for more than 59% of the blend): Viura (Macabéo), Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Verdejo;
- Secondary grapes: Malvasía, Garnacha Blanca, Tempranillo Blanca, Maturana Blanca and Turrentés
What are the ageing requirements for red Rioja?
Crianza - 2 years with one year in barrel;
Riserva - 3 years with one year in barrel and 6 months in the bottle; and
Gran Riserva - 5 years with two years in barrel and 2 years in bottle
What are the ageing requirements for white Rioja?
Crianza - 18 years including 6 months in barrel;
Reserva - 2 years including 6 months in the barrel; and
Gran Reserva - 4 years including 6 months in barrel
When did the Vinedos Singulares system enter effect for Rioja? What must be satisfied before the term can be used on a label
2018.
- vineyard soil must be assessed, vines must be 35 years old, Estate must have been working with the vineyard for at least 10 years and the wines must pass a tasting panel. Finally, grapes are hand-harvested of a yield at least 20 hectolitres per hectare less than is required by regional wines.
What are the 5 subzones of Rías Baxias DO?
Val do Salnés, Ribeira do Ulla, Soutomaior, O Rosal and Condado do Tea.pl
Q
What is the primary grape of Rías Baixas DO?
Albariño
What are common varieties used in Ribeira DO?
White: Treixadura
Red: Caiño
What does Ribeira Sacra DO refer to?
‘The Sacred Bank’
What variety are red wines from Ribiero Sacra DO made from?
Mencia
What varieties is white Ribeira Sacra DO made from?
Treixadura and Godello
What is Valdeorras DO most well known for?
Still whites from Godello
What are the three principal DOs of Basque Country? What are some climatic factors for each of the DOs?
Getariako Txakolina DO, Bizkaiko Txakolina DO and Arabako Txakolina DO
Both Getariako Txakolina and Bizkaiko Txakolina are heavily influenced by the Bay of Biscay to the north, providing very humid conditions for viticulture. Disease pressure is extreme and ripening grapes consistently is difficult.
Arabako Txakolina is further inland and to the west. There is less disease pressure here.
How do you pronounce Txakolina?
chah-kuh-lee-na
What is the dominant style of wine made in Getariako Txakolina DO, Bizkaiko Txakolina DO and Arabako Txakolina DO?
Still white wine made from Ondarrabi Zuri.
Ondarrabi Beltza is the native red variety
Which river does Bierzo DO sit along?
Sil River in the mountainous Northwest of Castilla y León
What is the name of Alvaro Palacios’ project in Castilla y León? What DO is it based in and what grape are the wines made from?
Descendientes de José Palacios.
Bierzo DO. Most successful wine is made from old-vine Mencia under the cuvée ‘Corullón’
Name three key producers in Bierzo DO?
Descendientes de José Palacios,
Dominio de Tares and
Pittacum
What grapes are white wines from Bierzo DO made from?
Mencia, Godello, Doña Blanca and Malvasia
What are the two main red grapes for Tierra de León DO? Describe the characteristics of each of these grapes
Mencia and Prieto Picudo
Mencia can make medium to fuller bodied reds with red to black fruit aromas with medium to medium plus tannin and medium plus to high acid. Mencia can have a distinct meatiness to it.
Prieto Picudo is a native grape to Leon that showcases high acid and tannin with dark fruits.
What is the most well known estate in Ribera del Duero DO?
What is the most well known cuvée from that estate?
Vega Sicilia.
Único.
What is the most planted variety in Ribera del Duero DO?
Tinto del País (Tinto Fino or Tempranillo)
When did Ribero del Duero receive DO status?
1982
What are the ageing requirements for red Ribero del Duero wines?
Crianza - minimum two years with one year in cask;
Reserva - minimum three years with one year in cask; and
Gran Reserva - minimum 5 years with two years in casks and three years in the bottle.
What grape variety is white Rueda DO made from?
Minimum 50% Verdejo. Viura is a common blending component.