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.
What are two varietal wines that may be released in Rueda DO?
Verdejo and Sauvignon Blanc
What is the main variety used for red Rueda DO wines?
Tempranillo
What variety are red Toro DO wines made from?
Tinto de Toro (local strain of Tempranillo)
What are white wines predominantly made from in Toro DO?
Verdejo or Malvasia
What are rosado wines made from in Toro DO?
Tinto de Toro, Garnacha or blends of the two varieties
Which autonomía is Tierra del Vino de Zamora DO in?
Castilla y León
What is the main red variety used in Tierra del Vino de Zamora DO?
Tempranillo
Which Ribero del Duero estate established Dehesa la Granja in Tierra del Vino de Zamora DO?
Alejándro Fernández of Pesquera.
Which French wine region is Catalonia adjacent to and shares historical ties?
Roussillon
Who pioneered Garnacha based red wines in Priorat? Which year did the project begin?
René Barbier. 1979
What is the most common soil profile in Priorat?
Llicorella: a mix of black slate and quartzite
What are the common red varieties of Priorat?
Garnacha and Cariñena. Supported by French varieties such as Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot.
What were the five original ‘Clos’ wines of Priorat? Who made each of the wines?
Clos Mogador - René Barbier; Clos Dofi - Alvaro Palacios; Clos Erasmus; Clos de I’Obac - Charles Pastrana; and Clos Martinet - Mas Martinet.
In what year did Priorat establish official village classifications?
2009
What is the name of the DO that surrounds Priorat DOCa?
Montsant DO
What was the historic style of wine made in Tarragona DO?
Fortified styles, rancio or mistela in style.
What are the three subzones of Penedès DO?
Baix-Penedès, Medio-Penedès and Alt-Penedès
Describe the climate of Alt-Penedès? What varieties are commonly planted?
Very high altitude in the north-west of Penedès. Altitude cools the region+some protection from the heat/moisture provided by the Mediterranean. Parellada is the most planted variety (Cava grape).
What are the main varieties authorised for Cava production?
White: Parellada, Xarel-lo, Macabeo and Chardonnay
Red: Pinot Noir, Garnacha Tinta and Monastrell
Describe the climate of Medio-Penedès?
Inland from the Mediterranean coast. Warmer temperatures and a lower diurnal range than Alt-Penedès. Provides ideal conditions to grow Ull de Llebre (Tempranillo).
Describe the climate of Baix-Penedès. How does this affect wha varieties are commonly grown?
Hottest sub-region of Penedès. Close proximity to the Mediterranean provides significant warmth. The low altitude also reduces the diurnal range.
Only the sturdiest Mediterranean varieties can survive in these conditions. For reds, Garnatxa and Monastrell thrive. For whites, the variety Malvasia de Stiges is seeing a revival when made in a sweet fortified style.
where is the birthplace of Cava?
San Sadurni d’Anoia, Alt-Penedés.
Who introduced traditional method sparkling to Spain?
Jose Raventós of Codorníu
What is the largest producer of sparkling wine in Penedés?
Freixenet
What are the minimum ageing requirements for Cava?
9 months on Lee’s.
What are the ageing requirements for Reserva Cava?
15 months
What are the ageing requirements for Gran Reserva Cava?
30 months
Where is Empordà DO? What styles of wine is it well known for
Northeastern corner of Spain, bordering Banyuls in Roussillon, France.
Styles: rosado made from Cariñena. Still red wines from Garnacha and international varieties.
What wine is Valencia DO most known for?
Still white wines made from the Merseguera grape.
What style of wine if Alicante DO most known for?
Dessert wines, particularly Fondillón. This is a solera-style, oxidative dessert wine produced from overripe Monastrell aged for a minimum10 years. Fondillón is not fortified
Describe the style of wines from Utiel-Requena DO
Still red wines made from Bobal grapes. The double pasta method, macerating and fermenting juice with twice the normal skins and pulp, is common in this area. It gives wines intense concentration, tannin and colour.
Describe the wines of Jumilla DO
Still red wines made from Monastrell. The sandy soils and Mediterranean climate make it ideal for producing ultra-ripe wines from Monastrell
What are the principal grapes of La Mancha DO?
Cencibel (Tempranillo) and Airén
What are the three towns that make the ‘Sherry triangle’?
Jerez de la Frontera, Sanlúcar de Barrameda and El Puero de Santa Maria
What are the three authorised grapes for Sherry production?
Palomino, Pedro-Ximénez and Moscatel
What are the key soil profiles of Sherry?
Albariza - chalky, porous and limestone-rich soil. Arguably the best soil for Sherry. Found out on the gentle slopes of Jerez Superior (a subregion between Sanlúcar de Barrameda and the Guadalupe River)
Barros - high proportion of clay, harder to work with.
Arenas - more sandy than chalk
Describe the styles of wine produced in Montilla-Moriles DO.
Pedro Ximénez is the major grape, made in various styles: fino, oloroso and amontillado.
The ability of Pedro Ximénez to ripen allows wines to get to 15.5%, ideal for flor development. As such, only oloroso and dessert styles are fortified.
Describe the styles of wines Málaga DO.
Pedro Ximénez and Moscatel are the principal varieties. Sweet wines made from two methods: natural sweet from overripe grapes; and fortified styles.
What are the 5 age categories of Málaga DO?
Málaga Pálido - maximum 6 months in oak;
Málaga - 6 to 24 months in oak;
Málaga Noble - 2 to 3 years;
Málaga Añejo - 3 - 5 years; and
Málaga Transañejo - minimum 5 years.
Name the sub-zones of Navarra. What are some climatic differences between these sub-zones?
Tierra Estella - most northernly sub-zone. Very similar to Rioja Alavesa. Higher attitudes makes site selection a necessity. High quality Tempranillo blended with international varieties can be found here
-Valdizarbe - similar to Tierra Estella though without some of the fame
Ribera Alta - the heartland of Navarra. The middle ground between the warmth of the southern Ribera Baja and the cooler mountainous zones to the north
Baja Montana - coolest zone, noted for its rosado wines
Ribera Baja - most southerly are by far the warmest zone. The rain shadow created by the Sierra del Moncayo to the south makes irrigation necessary to ripen warm climated Garnacha.
