spain Flashcards
Spain have three brod climatic zones:
1) The north and the north west coast: mod maritime climat, dominated by atlantic weather systems
- - rainfall, with his associated risks is high
2) the east coast from catalunya to further south Levante has a warm mediterr climate with cooling influances from the medierr sea
- - further south it can be increasingly hot
3) Maseta central: large plateau, cut off by the influence of the sea
- - encircled by mountains
- - hot continental climat: winter far under freezing point
- – summer can be moderated by the cool nights of high altitude sights
what are the difficulties of grape growing in spain ?
1) drought is the biggest challenge
- – fungal diseases risk is low
- – gives heavy stress on the vine
- —- so low density planting
2) protecting the grapes by shading management for protecting the grapes of sunburn and high heat
3) first bush trained was the option, now they trie to wiretrain to allow mechanisation a
spains red wines comes in a wide range of styles. inexpensive wines are made without oak and semi carbonic maceration is often used. the best wines:
mostly see oak maturation usually at east with a proportion on new oak
- – traditionally with american oak (bigger pories)
- – now french oak also common
Tempranillo is spains premium black grape and growns at northern and central spain:
1) often referred to by one of is many synonyms
2) thick skin grape , med acidity
- – he need sufficient warmth to develop flavours but if he dont have enough diurnal range in profit of the acid the wine will have a lack at neceserly acidity
3) At its best at areas where summer temp are moderated by sea influence or altitude
4) ferm on its own and with use of semi carbonic ferm it can produce fresh strawberry scented joven wine
5) it also plays a big key in concentrated oak matured wines and blended wines with Garnacha, graciano, carinena/ mazuelo or international varieties like cab s
what is the role of garnatxa in spain ?
1) it gives a wine high in alc
2) widely used for rosados
3) very important in priorat, where low yielding wines enable the production of intens, complex and full bodied wines
Monastrell is a thicked skin variety that is ___ tolerand. but need ___ en ____ conditions to _____ fully
- drought
- sunny and hot
- ripen
where do we find monastrell and what are the characteristics?
1) south eastern do’s such as Yecla and Jumilla
- here it easily reach his ripeness
- produces deeply coloured wines
- full body
- high alc and tan
- low to med acidity
- flavours of blackberry fruit
after tempranillo, garnatxa and monastrell, what can you tell me about other key black varieties ?
1) graciano: highly valued grape, difficult to grow
- used for small quantities for the finest wines to add concentrated black fruit aromas, acidity and tann
- helps to age
2) carinene/ carignan/ mazuelo in rioja:
- high in acidity, tann and colour
- small proportion of this in blend with tempranillo = top
- high roll in priorat to enhance the tannic structure in blend with garnatxa
3) mencia: ideal for moderate climats
- fresh fruit
- med to high acidity
- hint of herbaceousness
most of spain white wines are fresh and fruity what are the winemakers option ?
1) picking at night for the cool temp
2) macerate, ferm and maturate on stainless steel tanks
3) soma can be fermented in oak , large smalle depends
4) some will do lees stirring
5) some will mature in oak
verdejo is a grape that is highly susceptible to ____ and was a key grape to make ____ like wines.
oxidation and sherry like wines
with protective winemaking verdejo can be in what kind of style ?
- light bodied style
- high acidity
- melon and peach flavoured
- sauvignon blanc who is also often blended with
- – some can make a fuller style and will give more skin contact and barrel ferm
What are the characteristics of albarinho ?
1) grows in the north west of spain
2) thick skinned thus able to resist fungal diseases
- - which is usefull in the dampconditions he grown
3) albarinho is naturally high in acidity
- refreshing aromas of citrus and stone fruit
- it too can be made in a richer and full bodied wine
what can you tell me abouth other key white grape varieties, besides verdejo and albarinho ?
1) airen: most widely planted grape variety in spain vast majority in la mancha centr spain:
- one of the few varieties that can cope with the extremely heat
- although airen can now be made in an acceptable style
- rest is used in brandy de la jerez
2) macabeo, xarel loo and parellada are widely planted in catalunya and are the main varieties in the production of cava
3) macabeo/ viura in rioja:
- can be made in a unoaked fruity style with subtle herbs and spice aromas
- usually it had a lot of oak maturation
international varieties are very common in the north east of spain.
thrue - cab s - merlot - sauv b chardonnay
the principal dos of spain may be grouped in 6 geographical regions, based on climate and grape varieties:
1) the upper ebro: rioja, navara
2) catalunya: priorat penedes
3) the duero valley: rueda, toro, ribera del duero
4) the north west: bierzo, galicia, rias baixas
5) the levante: valencia yecla jumilla
6) castilla la mancha: la mancha, valdepenas
Rioja is split into three sub regions, mostly found around the principal city ____.
Logrono
rioja alavese is situated on the ___ of logrono and on the ___ bank of the ____ into the foothils of the ____ mountains
- west
- north of ebro
- cantabrian mountains
how are the wines of rioja alavese?
- lightest of rioja
- most finesse
what can you tell me about rioja alta ?
1) its also located on the west of logrono
2) vineyards lay south of the ebro
3) there is an altitude from 500-800 m
4) climate is moderated by the atlantic ocean
- — although the cantabrian mountains hold on the worst weather of the atlantic ocean
what can you tell me about rioja baja ?
1) Situated to the east of Logrono
2) mostly on the south bank of the ebro
3) climate is less maritime, annual rainfall can be low, making drought an issue for the grape growers
what about the grapes in rioja ?
1) tempranillo is the widest planted black grape and is on his best on the cooler western subregions
- - it is the main component of wines with red furit flavours and med tann
2) tempranillo benefits from the body and alc from garnatxa
- – which grows the best in rioja baja
3) graciano and mazuelo are less planted and have a supporting role
rioja may be made in a wide range of style:
1) red wines designed for early drinking:
- undergo semi carbonic maceration
- - produces wines that have vibrant red fruity flavors and low levels of smooth tannin
2) wines made for maturation:
- usually destemmed and crushed and undergo a traditional ferm
- some producers will do vigorous cap management and extended maceration to produce wines deep in color and full of fruit flavours
3) many produce a elegant style
4) oak is importani in rioja:
- traditionally the wines are matured in amercian oak and have pronounced aromas of vanilla
- now they use more french oak or other uropenean species to create more subtle spicy aromas
