Spain Flashcards
What is Rancio style wine?
Wines with a pungent aroma due to oxidation/Maderization (i.e. Madeira)
What two prominent figures were instrumental in updating and modernizing the Rioja Region?
Marques de Murrieta and Marques de Riscal
Introduced Barrique aging and estate bottling
What is Quercus Alba?
American Oak
Name Four traditionalist producers of Rioja
CVNE
Lopez de Heredia
Berceo
La Rioja Alta
Where was Cava Born?
San Sadurni d’Anoia
What three regions saw the first Consejo Reguladores?
Malaga
Jerez
Rioja
What is a Consejo Reguladores?
A governing body for a DO, controlling the laws around its production.
What did Miguel Torres bring to Spanish Wine Production?
When and where?
Temperature controlled Fermentation
Stainless Steel Vats
1960’s Catalonia
Typically, what is necessary to qualify for DO Pago status?
It requires a decade of quality wine production, and rules stricter than the DO they are within that indicate quality wine making.
In General, what are the aging requirements for Spain?
Crianza: 2 Years aging, with 6 months in Barrel
Reserva: 3 Years aging with 1 Year in Barrel
Gran Reserva: 5 Years aging with 18 Months in Barrel
What are the Aging requirements for Rioja?
Crianza: 2 Years aging, with 1 Year in Barrel
Reserva: 3 Years aging, with at least 1 Year in barrel and 6 months in bottle
Gran Reserva: 5 years aging, with 2 Years in Barrel and 2 Years in Bottle
What are the aging requirements for Ribera del Duero?
Crianza: 2 Years aging with 1 Year in Barrel
Reserva: 3 Years aging with 1 Year in Barrel
Gran Reserva: 5 Years aging, with 2 Years in Barrel, and 3 Years in Bottle
Aside from Crianza to Gran Reserva, what other aging designations can appear on a bottle?
Noble: 18 months in a cask less than 600L
Anejo: 24 Months in a cask less than 600L
Viejo: Showing a marked oxidative character
What three Autonomias are included in North Central Spain?
Navarra
La Rioja
Aragon
What mountain ranges border Northern Spain?
The Pyrenees (North East) The Cantabrians (North West)
What is the Main river of Rioja and what is its most important tributary?
The Ebro runs through Rioja from the Cantabrian Mountains, and the Oja river is a tributary for which it is named.
When did the first Spanish region become a DOCa? What was it?
Rioja in 1991
What is the main grape of Rioja? What are its blending partners?
Tempranillo
Mazuelo (carignan)
Graciano
Garnacha
Maturana Tinta (approved in 2007)
What percentage of Rioja must be approved grapes?
85%
95% if destemmed
What are the dominant white grapes of White Rioja?
Viura
Garnacha Blanca
Malvasia Riojano
Maturana Blanca
What is the minimum required red grape percentage in Rosado Rioja?
25%
What are the general aging requirements for Rosado and Blanco Rioja?
Crianza: 2 Years aging, 6 months barrique
Reserva: 2 Years aging, 6 months in Barriques and the rest in bottle
Gran Reserva: 4 Years aging, 6 months in barrique, the rest in bottle
What are the three climatic Zones of Rioja DOCa?
Rioja Alta
Rioja Alavesa
Rioja Oriental
Where is Joven Rioja typically from, and what style?
Usually from Rioja Alavesa, with a bit of Carbonic Maceration
What are the soil types of Rioja’s three Climatic zones?
Alavesa/Alta: High proportion of Calcareous Clay
Oriental: Alluvial Soil, ferrous clay
Generally, when Rioja wines are made and blended, what does each Climatic zone contribute to the blend?
Alta: Acidity and Structure
Oriental: Alcoholic Warmth
Alavesa: Freshness
Describe Bodegas Ysios wines.
Pure Tempranillo from estate vineyards in Alavesa
Where is Bodegas Ysios? Who designed it?
Laguardia
Santiago Calatrava
What are the 4 main single vineyards of Lopez de Heredia?
Vina Tondonia
Vina Bosconia
Vina Cubillas
Vina Zaconia
How long does the Vina Tondonia from Lopez de Heredia stay in Oak before release?
10 Years
Who designed the estate of Marques de Riscal? What else did he design?
Frank Gehry
The Guggenheim in Bilbao
Who designed the new addition to Lopez de Heredia’s estate?
Zaha Hadid
When was single vineyard bottling allowed as an additional designation for Rioja?
2017
Vinedos Singulares may appear from 2018 onward
What are the regulations for Vinedos Singulares in Rioja?
35 Year old Vines
Estate must have worked it for 10 years
Hand Harvesting
20 Liters per hectare less than the region allows
What is Vino Espumosa de Calidad
Traditional method sparkling wine from Rioja
What are the styles allowed for Vino Espumosa? (sweetness)
Brut Nature, Extra Brut, and Brut