Spain

Question 1

Climate

Answer 1

Located at 36 - 43N so generally a warm country. But large coastline, mountain ranges and a raised plateau (meseta) gives marked variation.

Northwest influenced by the Atlantic for a maritime climate with high rainfall.
North and North east are sheltered by mountains for a more continental with a little Maritime or Mediterranean
South and east influenced by Mediterranean for a moderate climate with warm dry summers and mild winters.
The meseta at 600 - 900m covers a vast area of central Spain. Continental with hot days and cool nights, with altitude somewhat moderating heat.

Question 2

Vineyard Management

Answer 2

Globally largest plantings at 967,000ha but only third largest in terms of vol production (39M hl avg).

Because lots of Spain is low density bush vines. In La Mancha can be as low as 1,000 vines / ha

This is favorable because of climate with as low as 300mm rain / year. Irrigation legalized in 1996 but is controlled by each region. In some cases only for young vines or drought and in others during start of growing season but not ripening.

Many regions sig old bush vines. Increasingly recognized for concentrated fruit. These have very low yields.

Mildew is a risk in many areas as often when it does rain it is quick followed by heat. Spring frosts hazards in continental climates. European grapevine moth.

Many practice organic but not certified as not worth the cost.

66% less than 0.5ha and 22% b/n 0.5 and 3ha. Mechanization limited.

Question 3

Grape Varieties

Answer 3

Airen: 21%
Tempranillo: 20%
Bobal: 6%
Garnacha: 6%
Macabeo: 5%
Monastrell: 4%

Question 4

Airen

Answer 4

White variety planted in Castilla La Mancha.

Inexpensive neutral white wine for early consumption

Much distilled into Brandy de Jerez

Question 5

Tempranillo

Answer 5

Grown widely across Spain and can be made in an inexpensive easy drinking style or in some of the best wines.

Produces medium to high yields and so is popular with growers. Quality producers limit yields to produce concentrated structure wines.

Early ripening so best when in a warm climate with some cooling influence such as altitude or cool wind.

Can be single varietal or blends.

Question 6

Bobal

Answer 6

Black grape grown mainly in the northeast.

Makes red and rose

Question 7

Macabeo

Answer 7

AKA Viura (in Rioja)

Used for still and sparkling in Catalunya

A number of inexpensive wines but also some of the best.

Question 8

Monastrell

Answer 8

AKA Mourvedre

Red wines in Valencia and Murcia

Well suited to the warm Mediterranean climate here as it is late ripening and needs heat late in the season to ripen

Question 9

National Aging Requirements

Answer 9

Red Wines:  Min total time / min time in barrel
Generic:  No Aging 
Crianza:  24 / 6
Reserva: 36 / 12
Gran Reserva: 60 / 18

White:
Crianza: 18 / 6
Reserva: 24 / 6
Gran Reserva: 48 / 6

Suggests that time is linked to quality with Gran Reserva being the best wines. Maybe but not always. No other quality standards for the wines nor for the oak. So these categories offer little in the way of style or quality markers.

Many do not use them; either not meeting the requirements or thinking they won’t help with selling.

Term Roble (oak) being used more often, typ for wines with less aging than Crianza. Many use American oak but French becoming more common.

Question 10

Rose Wines

Answer 10

Rosado

Much inexpensive and sold in bulk, but a number of good quality and mid and prem points.

Classically deep in color but a move towards the lighter Provencal color. Deeper colored are from skin contact. Most expensive have time on lees and oak aging.

A traditional style made by Bodegas Lopez de Heredia is a mix of black and white that are macerated (sometimes beyond the beginning of fermentation), pressed then fermented together. Often matured in oak for a long time for less fruit but more tertiary.

Question 11

Wine Laws and Regs

Answer 11

DO and DOCa/DOQ:
Denominacion de Origen (DO): 70 in SP and vast majority of plantings

Denominacion de Origen Calificada (DOCa) / Denominacio d’Origen Qualificada (DOQ - in Catalan): Only Rioja and Priorat. To apply must have been a DO for at least 10 years; bottled at the producer’s property, and have quality regulations in place including an external tasting assessment and an audit process.

VP: Vino de Pago: Applies to a small number of single estates with high reputations. Majority are in Castilla la Mancha with some in Navarra, Valencia, Aragon. May only use their own grapes which must be vinified and matured on site These wines are within PDO.

Vino de la Tierra (VT): Used for PGI wines. 40 in spain with Castilla la Mancha the largest.

Vino: Wines without geographical indication.

Question 12

Wine Business

Answer 12

Largely dominated by coops and some areas negociants. Largest biz’s for still unfortified are: J. Garcia Carrion, Felix Solis Avantis, Pernod Ricard, Miguel Torres and Bodegas Martin Codax.

Domestic consumption is low at 20L per capita per year. Trend towards higher quality.

World’s largest exporter by volume (22M hl in 2017) but lowest price per liter among major countries (1/2 of IT and 1/5 of FR). Largest exporter of bulk wine (55% of exp in 2017).

Only produces a handful of super prem wines and even best producers are cheaper than IT and FR.

FR & DE are each 20% of exports. Inexpensive. UK, China, US but more expensive

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