Spain Flashcards
Spain has the largest planted acreage of any wine producing country, but is _____ in global production.
Third, behind Italy and France
Spain Location
Eastern majority of the Iberian Peninsula. with Portugal on it’s western border. The Atlantic ocean is to the north and northwest. The Mediterranean Sea is to the south and east.
Spain Climate
A variety of climates depending on the location, from cool maritime in the north to arid warm in the center of the country and to the south.
Spain Topography
Very mountainous with an interior, raised plateau called the Meseta
Spain Grape varieties
Tempranillo is the best known grape variety
What is vino?
Wines without geographic indication
What is IGP?
Vino de la Tierra (VdIT) Noting a specific location yet with few requirements in terms of grape variety, yields or aging.
What is VCIG?
Vino de calidad con Indicación Geográfica - This catagory is used as a gateway for current VdIT regions to gain DO status.
What is DO?
Denominación de Origen - Each DO has a regulatory body that is responsible for creating and defining wine law and regulations for it
What is DOCa?
Denominación de Origen Calificada - A step above the DO category recognizing the top quality wine regions in Spain.
What are the two DOCa wine regions?
Rioja
Priorat
What is Vinos de Pagos?
A single estate wine designation that can be situated outside of the DO system. The wine from a DO Pago must be made and bottled at that domain or estate.
Rías Baixas DO Location
Borders Portugal in the northwest corner of Spain. The area is called “Green Spain” because of it’s relatively high rainfall and lush vegetation.
Rías Baixas DO Climate
Due to the proximity to the Atlantic and the numerous rivers that flow through the region, the climate is humid and maritime
Rías Baixas DO Soil
Granite, alluvial and slate
Rías Baixas DO Grape Varieties
Albariño represents 90% of plantings in this area. Wines must be 100% Albariño if labeled with a grape variety.
Rías Baixas DO Vinification
Stainless-steel fermentation
Dry, crisp, aromatic white wine
Rioja DOCa Location
North-central Spain protected by the Pyrenees Mountains to the northeast and the Cantabrian Mountains to the northwest
Rioja DOCa Climate
Continental in a rain shadow
What are the three sub-regions of Rioja?
Rioja Alavesa
Rioja Alta
Rioja Baja
Rioja DOCa Grape Varieties
Viura (White)
Tempranillo (Red)
Garnacha (Red)
Rioja DOCa vinification
American oak traditionally but modern producers are using more French oak as well.
What is the aging requirement for Crianza?
Two years total aging
What is the aging requirement for Reserva?
Three years total with one year in oak
What is the aging requirement for Gran Reserva?
At least two years in oak and three years in the bottle
What are the regions of the Duero River Valley?
Ribera del Duero
Rueda
Toro
Ribera del Duero DO Climate
Continental with a challenging climate of very hot summers and cold winters with extreme diurnal shifts
Ribera del Duero DO Topography
On the high central plateau (Meseta) at 2,500 feet these are the highest elevation vineyards in Spain
Ribera del Duero Grape Variety
Tempranillo Known locally as “Tinto Fino”
Ribera del Duero Viticulture
The high elevation and intense diurnal shifts allow the grapes to get very ripe while preserving natural acidity in spite of the hot summers
Ribera del Duero Vinification
Red wines only with a small production of rosé
Toro DO Climate
Continental with extremely hot and dry summers
Toro DO Grape Varieties
Tempranillo - Known locally as “Tinto de Toro”
Toro DO Vinification
Toro is known for rich, intense red wines
Rueda DO Climate
Continental
Rueda DO Grape Varieties
Verdejo (White)
Sauvignon Blanc
Rueda DO Vinification
Rueda is best known for crisp, dry white wines
What are the regions of Northeastern Spain?
Penedès DO/Cava DO
Priorat DO
Penedès DO/Cava DO Location
Near Barcelona reaching up into the Pyrenees Mountain at the French border
Penedès DO/Cava DO Climate
Meditterranean
Penedès DO/Cava DO Grape Varieties
Macabeo (White)
Xarel-lo (White)
Parellada (White)
Penedès DO/Cava DO Vinification
Sparkling wines made by the traditional method
Priorat DOCa Location
A very rugged area just a few miles from the Mediterranean Sea but completely isolated and surrounded by mountains
Priorat DOCa Climate
Hot and dry
Priorat DOCa Soil
Stony schist soils, with the best vineyards situated on llicorella, a mix of black slate and quartzite
Priorat DOCa Grape Varieties
Garnacha (Grenache)
Cariñena (Carignan)
Priorat DOCa Viticulture
Low yields due to the climate. Vines must dig deep for the water due to the nature of the soil
Priorat DOCa Vinification
Intense, concentrated, dry red wines
In which DO will you find the wines made from the Albariño grape?
Rías Baixas
