Spain: Atlantic: Rias Baixas, Basque Flashcards
List the DO in Galicia
Rias Baixas
Ribeiro
Valdeorras
Ribeira Sacra
Monterrei
List the subzones of Rias Baixas DO, north to south
Ribeira do Ulla
Val do Salnes - most planted
Soutomaior (middle) - smallest
Condado do Tea (inland)
O Rosal (on coast)
Main white grapes in Rias Baixas?
Albarino
Loureiro
Treixadura
Caino Blanco
Red grapes in Rias Baixas?
reds only account for around 4% of plantings, but:
Caino, Espadeiro, Mencia
What river flows through southern Galicia, separating Spain from Portugal?
Miño
What are the subzones of Ribeira Sacra?
(in Galicia, Spain)
Amandi- center of DO, on northern slopes of the Sil. best.
Chantada
Quiroga-Bibei
Riberas do Sil
Riberas do Miño
What are the main grapes in Ribeira Sacra DO?
(Galicia, Spain)
Mencia, Treixadura, Godello
Main grape in Valdeorras?
(Galicia, Spain)
Godello
pazo
name for a local estate in Galicia
Rias Baixas
climate, soils, rivers
1200-1800 mm rainfall annually (47-70 inches) - VERY humid
Much of the region is planted on decomposed granite, called xabre, with low water retention that serves the rainy environment well.
Val do Salnes- coolest, wettest, and most planted
Condado do Tea- warmest, driest
Miño River to south
Ulla River in north
Verdugo River- just above Soutomaior
DO est 1988
how much rain in Rias Baixas?
47-70 inches per year
average 30 inches from April - October
Rias Baixas soil by subzone
Val do Salnes, O Rosal, Soutomaior: alluvial over granite
Condado do Tea: both granite and slate
Ribeira do Ulla: alluvial
minifundia
small vineyard plot (spain). In Galicia - rather than the eldest male child getting everything, as was the case in much of Europe, in Galicia property was divided up equally among the living heirs, regardless of gender, so a plot that was tiny to begin with would be divided up many times over the years.
only 178 wineries and just over 4,000 hectares, Rías Baixas has 4,990 growers who farm a whopping 23,382 different plots between them
Rias Baixas vine training
historically trained to a parral, or “pergola,” system. Granite posts hold up the pergolas, and the overhead canopy provides grapes with shelter from the region’s marginal weather and the opportunity to cultivate other crops between vines
allows for more airflow, combats mildew and rot, encourages greater photosynthesis and ripening by maximizing leaf surface, and protects grapes from sunburn.
Rias Baixas - grapes by subzone
Val do Salnés/Ribeira do Ulla: min. 70% recommended white grapes
O Rosal: min. 70% combined Albariño and Loureira
Condado do Tea: min. 70% combined Albariño and Treixadura
recommended: Albariño, Loureira, Treixadura, Caiño Blanco
Authorized: Torrontés, Godello
Rias Baixas DO
grapes
styles
min abv
whitee, red, sparkling
- varietally labeled Albarino (must be 100%)
- recommended white: Albariño, Loureira, Treixadura, Caiño Blanco
- authorized: Torrontés, Godello
- recommended red: Caiño Tinto, Espadeiro, Loureira Tinta, Sousón
- authorized: Mencía, Brancellao
Blanco Barrica: min. 3 months in wood (max. 600 liter capacity)
Albariño: 11.3%
Blanco Barrica: 11.5%
All Other Blanco Wines: 11%
Tinto: 10%
viño tostado
vino tostado is a dried grape wine. Red or white grapes are left to dry for a minimum of three months following harvest in covered rooms with consistent ventilation to avoid rot.
They must be dried to a minimum must weight of 350 grams per liter. Drying can be performed using various tactics, from hanging the clusters to resting them on shelves or in plastic bins.
The wines are then fermented and aged in oak or cherry casks for at minimum six months, followed by a minimum three in bottle before release.
(Ribeiro DO, Valdeorras, Galicia)
Ribeiro DO
styles
grapes
in Galicia, Atlantic Spain. mostly white production, but also sparkling white & rose, red, viño tosdado
white rec: Treixadura, Torrontés, Godello, Lado, Loureira, Albariño, Caiño
red rec: Caiño Tinto (also known as Caiño Bravo or Caiño Longo), Ferrón, Sousón, Brancellao, Mencía. auth: Garnacha Tintorera (Alicante Bouschet), Tempranillo
Blanco: 9.5%
Blanco Castes: 11%
Tinto: 9.5%
Tinto Castes: 11%
Barrica: 12% (Tinto and Blanco)
Tostado: min. 20.6% potential, 13% acquired
first DO in Galicia- 1976
“barrica” Ribeiro DO
spends some of it’s aging time in cask of 600 L or less
“castes” Ribeiro DO
indicates a wine with higher min alcohol
base white 9.5%
base red 9.5%
Ribeiro DO
soil
climate
rivers
- soils: decomposed granite, mica & schist further devolving into sand
- very humid, lots of rain
- rivers Avia, Miño, Arnoia
sheltered from Atlantic influence by Sierra de Suido
rivers in Ribeira Sacra DO
Min and Sil. “sacred riverbanks” name an allusion to monasteries that were once here
Bibei, Navea, and Quiroga.
Ribeira Sacra DO
where?
styles
grapes
at nexus of the Sil and Miño rivers, in Galicia. mostly red, also white and rose. Mencia most important
Tinto: min. 70% Mencia
Súmmum: 85% principal grapes
red principal: Mencía, Merenzao, Brancellao, Sousón, Caiño Tinto. auth: Garnacha Tintorera, Mouratón, Tempranillo
white principal: Albariño, Godello, Treixadura, Loureira, Torrontés, Dona Branca
“barrica” = time in wood
“garda” = time in large tank
was VDlT in 1993, 1995 DO was provisionally established, officially recognized in 1996
Ribeira Sacra DO
soil types
upriver- more granite, “ollo de sapo” gneiss, schist
downriver (Quiroga)- more slate
Ribeira Sacra DO
subzones
subzones: Amandi, Chantada, Ribeiras do Miño, Ribeiras do Sil, and Quiroga-Bibei
What is considered the highest quality subzone of Ribeira Sacra?
Amandi. It sits at the appellation’s center onthe steep northern slopes of the Sil River.
Summum
labeling term used in Ribeira Sacra DO- indicates minimum 85% principal grapes for red and white wines
Ribeira Sacra soil types
upriver- more granite, “ollo de sapo” gneiss, schist
downriver (Quiroga)- more slate
Valdeorras DO
where?
climate?
styles
grapes
Galicia, Spain. Ribeira Sacra to west, Bierzo to north and east. most continental climate in Galicia. Godello and Mencia most important
Blanco, Tinto
Espumoso: Min. 85% Godello
- Tostado: Godello and authorized red grapes
- Varietal Godello (100% variety) and Mencía (min. 85% variety)
- Valdeorras “Castes Nobles” (Blanco and Tinto): Min. 85% preferred varieties
DO est 1977
Merenzao
synonym for Bastardo in Galicia (Trousseau)
Monterrei DO
where?
main grapes
soil
in Galicia, Spain, south of Ribeira Sacra. sits on northern border of Portugal. bisected north/south by the river Tamega (flows into Duero)
whites: Dona Branca, Godello, and Treixadura
reds: Mencía and Bastardo
granitic sand, slate, clay soils
River in Monterrei DO
Tamega
Spanish autonomia without DO?
Cantabria
Asturias
Cangas VCIG
in Asturias, north west Spain. Not a DO, but it is a PDO for EU purposes…?
whites: Albarín Blanco, Albillo, and Moscatel de Grano Menudo
reds: Mencia
Cantabria wine regions
no DOs here, but two Vino de la Tierra regions:
Costa de Cantabria
Liébana
tons of grapes here. strong cider tradition as well
Rias Baixas producers
big: Martin Codax
Condes de Albarei
Arousana co-op (owns Paco & Lola)
Bodegas Zarate
DO Ferreiro
Bodegas Forjas del Salnes
Granbazan
Bodegas Albamar
Pazo de Barrantes
Raul Perez
DOs of Basque Country
grapes
styles
Arabako Txakolina / Chacolí de Álava DO
Bizkaiko Txakolina/ Chacolí de Bizcaia DO
Getariako Txakolina / Chacolí de Guetaria DO
all make red from Ondarrabi Beltza, and rosé from min 50% Ondarrabi Beltza
whites recommended: Ondarrabi Zuri + a bunch of authorized
Bay of Biscay
Humid, lots of rain
Arabako Txakolina / Chacolí de Álava DO
styles
grapes
smallest and newest Basque DO. less maritime influence
white, red, late harvest, sparkling
blanco: Ondarrabi Zuri (Hondarribi Zuri)
blanco auth: Ondarrabi Zuri Zerratia (Petit Courbu), Izkiriota (Gros Manseng), Izkiriota Ttippia (Petit Manseng), Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Chardonnay, Secondary white grapes may not account for more than 20% of a producer’s total vineyard acreage
Tinto: Ondarrabi Beltza (Hondarribi Beltza). rose min 50%
Ondarrabi Zuri Zerratia
synonym for Petit Courbu in Pais Vasco
Izkiriota
synonym for Gros Manseng in Pais Vasco
Izkiriota Ttippia
synonym for Petit Mansent in Pais Vasco
Bizkaiko Txakolina/ Chacolí de Bizkaia DO
soil
styles
grapes
sandy alluvial soil, low elevation
blanco, rosado (“Ojo de Gallo”), tinto, vendemia tardia, espumoso
blanco recommended: Ondarrabi Zuri (Hondarribi Zuri)
blanco auth: Ondarrabi Zuri Zerratia (Petit Courbu), Mune Mahatsa (Folle Blanche), Izkiriota (Gros Manseng), Izkiriota Ttippia (Petit Manseng), Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Chardonnay, secondary white grapes may not account for more than 20% of a producer’s total vineyard acreage
Tinto: Ondarrabi Beltza (Hondarribi Beltza). rose min 50%
ojo de gallo
rose from Bizkaiko Txakolina - min. 50% Ondarrabi Beltza (the red one)
Getariako Txakolina / Chacolí de Guetaria DO
soil
grapes
sandy alluvial soil, low elevation. surrounds San Sebastian- culinary capital of Spain
blanco recommended: Ondarrabi Zuri (Hondarribi Zuri)
blanco auth: Ondarrabi Zuri Zerratia (Petit Courbu), Izkiriota (Gros Manseng), Izkiriota Ttippia (Petit Manseng), Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Chardonnay, Secondary white grapes may not account for more than 20% of a producer’s total vineyard acreage
Tinto: Ondarrabi Beltza (Hondarribi Beltza). rose min 50%
Txakoli
translates to “farm wine,” or “made from home” (etxekoa) traditional wine of the Basque country. traditionally a fresh, sometimes spritzy white wine
Galicia tourist attraction
Santiago de Compostela- at the end of the camino, the Cathedral of St James is where the Saint is believed to be buried
La Rioja Alta project in Rias Baixas
Lagar de Cervera
colleiteiros
small harvesters/ growers
What was the first commercial estate in Rias Baixas?
Palacios de Fefinanes
Which subzone of Rias Baixas may not be on the label?
Soutomaior
very small production- around .2%
xabre
name for decomposed granite in Rias Baixas- low water retention, good for rainy climate
Rivers in Ribeira DO
in Galicia
Miño, Avia, Arnoia
most planted subzone of Rias Baixas?
Val do Salnes. also th ecoldest and wettest area of the appellation, and most historic.
warmest and coldest subzones of Rias Baixas?
warmest (and driest) Condado do Tea- also most red production
colest (and wettest) Val do Salnes
what are rias? name two
estuary - Atlantic inlets in Rias Baixas, essentially shallow fjords. Ria de Pontevedra, Ria de Arousa, and Ria de Viga. there are 18 in total
Vega
Vega Sicilia project in Rias Baixas?
Viñedos Veiga, in the town of Crecente, in the Condado do Tea subzone of Rías Baixas. slated to finish in 2026.
What is CERVIM?
Center for Research, Environmental Sustainability and Advancement of Mountain Viticulture is an international organization created in 1987 by the Organization Internationale de la Vigne et du Vin. Since 2011, CERVIM has awarded regions a specific seal for “heroic viticulture” if they meet certain criteria, such as cultivating vines at altitudes of 500 meters (1,600 feet) or more, having vines on slopes above 30% gradient, and having vines on terraces.
Ribeira Sacra, Côte Rotie, Alto Adige, Valtellina, Mosel, etc. lots of Agricultural Org members
producers Pais Vasco
Artadi
Txomin Etxaniz
Senorio de Astabiza
Bodegas Itsasmendi
