Spain and Portugal Flashcards
In what year was Spain the greatest producer of wine?
2013
How many acres are under vine in Spain?
2.5 million, more than any other country.
What is the mountainous interior plateau of Spain called?
The Maseta
Which two countries comprise the Iberian peninsula?
Spain and Portugal
What geographical features form the border of Spain?
Atlantic Ocean, Bay of Biscay, Pyrenees Mountains, Mediterranean Sea
Which two mountain ranges influence the climate of Spain?
The Pyrenees and the Cantabrian
What three languages are spoken in their respective regions in Spain?
Galician, Basque, Catalan
What are the leading red and white grapes of Spain, and how much production do they account for, combined?
a) Tempranillo and Airen
b) 42%
What name does Tempranillo go by in a) greater Portugal and b) specially in the Douro?
a) Arragonez
b) Tinto Roriz
What is Tempranillo called in Rioja, Ribeira del Duero and Cigales?
a) Tempranillo
b) Tinto Fino
c) Tinto del Pais
What is Tempranillo called in Toro?
Tinto de Toro
What is Tempranillo called in Catalonia and La Mancha?
a) Ull de Llebre
b) Cencibel
What is mainly produced from Airen?
a) brandy
b) bulk wine
What is the lowest quality level of wine in Spain?
Vino de Mesa
What is the equivalent of IGP wine in Spain called and how many are there?
a) Vino de la Tierra
b) 42
What two designations are the equivalent of PDO level wine in Spain? How many are there?
a) DO (Denominacion de Origen)
DOCa (Denominacion de Origen Calificada)
b) 68 and 2
How many DOCa are there in Spain?
Rioja and Priorat (DOQ)
What does Vino de Pago mean?
A specific vineyard that has been singled out for its quality production in a region of generally lower quality
Which regions hold VCIG status in Spain?
- Cangus
- Valle de Benavente
- Valtiendas
- Sierra Salamanca
- Las Islas Canarias
- Cebreros
- Legrija
What does VCIG stand for and what does it mean?
a) Vino de Calidad con Indicacion Geographica
b) an up and coming region
What three terms can be used to indicated age in a PGI level wine in Spain?
Noble - 18 mo
Anejo - 24 mo
Viejo - 36 mo
What are the PDO level aging requirements for white wine in Spain? Include in barrel and total.
a) Crianza 6 | 18
b) Reserva 6 | 24
c) Gran Reserva 6 | 48
What are the PDO level aging requirements for red wine in Spain? Include in barrel and total.
a) Crianza 6 | 24
b) Reserva 12 | 36
c) Gran Reserva 18 | 60
What does “joven” mean in Spain and what is a synonym for it?
a) literally “young,” generally released the year after harvest
b) Generico
What is Green Spain?
The region of Galicia in the Northwest corner of Spain.
What are the three most celebrated DOs of Galicia and which grapes are they known for?
a) Rias Baixas - Albarino
b) Ribeira - Treixadura
c) Valdeorras - Godello, Mencia
What is the name of the river in Castilla Y Leon?
The Duero River
What 5 primary regions make up Castilla Y Leon?
1) Toro
2) Rueda
3) Bierzo
4) Cigales
5) Ribera del Duero
What two things is Toro known for?
a) high elevation (2000 asl)
b) Tinto de Toro or Tempranillo
What grape generally comprises Rueda Blanca and what else can it be made with?
a) Verdejo
b) Sauvignon Blanc
What is the climate of Bierzo?
transitional, influenced by Green Spain and the continental climate inland
What wines are mostly made in Cigales?
Red from Tinta del Pais, often blended with Garnacha
Which region of Castilla Y Leon is often considered on par with Rioja?
Ribera del Duero
When did Navarro lose its independencde?
1512 to the Castilian Empire
What style of wine is Navarro known for?
Rose
How long has Rioja been defined and when was it awarded DOCa status?
1787 and 1991
What three geographical features moderate the climate of RIoja?
- Cantabrian Mountains
- Ebro River
- Mediterranean Sea
What are the 3 subregions of Rioja?
- Rioja Alta (west, high altitude)
- Rioja Alavesa (north of the Ebro)
- Rioja Orientali (east, lower, formerly Baja)
What are the leading grapes in RIoja?
Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo, Graciano and Viura
What jump started Rioja’s rise to prominence?
French winemakers settled there after their vineyards were devastated by Phylloxera
How is Rioja often aged?
For a lengthy time in 225 liter barrels made of American oak.
What are the aging requirements for Rioja in barrel, bottle and total?
Crianza: 12 mo | 24 mo
Reserva: 12 mo | 6 mo | 36 mo
Gran Reserva: 24 mo | 24 mo | 60 mo
What is the most well-known DO in Aragon and what does it produce?
- Somontano DO
- Many things, best known for intense Roses made from Garnacha
What is the climate in Catalonia?
Mediterranean
When was Priorat elevated to DOQ status?
2009
For what grape is Priorat best known?
Garnacha
Describe the soils of Priorat?
Llicorella–decomposed slate flecked with mica and other minerals
What are the major subregions of Catalonia?
- Priorat
- Taragona
- Monsant
- Costers del Segre
- Penedes
How much of Taragona’s output is white wine?
75%
When was Monsant made a DO and what does it grow?
a) 2001
b) Garnacha, Carenina, Ull de Llebre
Which DO in Catalonia is known for state-of-the-art technology and nontraditional winemaking?
Costers de Segre
What is the leading white grape in Penedes and what wine is it primarily known for?
- Xarel-lo
- Cava made from Xarel-lo, Macabeu, and Parellada