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WSET Level 4 - D3 > Spain - Castilla y León > Flashcards

Spain - Castilla y León Flashcards

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1
Q

Where is this community located and what is the rough climate?

A
  • Vast area in the north of Spain
  • High-altitude plateau
  • Mostly continental climates, some maritime influences
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2
Q

Bierzo
How has the region evolved in the last 30 years?

A
  • Used to make rustic wines
  • Late 1990s: Alvaro Palacios was attracted by the slate slopes (similar to Priorat)
  • Demonstrated the potential of the region
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3
Q

Bierzo
Where is the region located and what is its climate and rainfall?

A
  • In the north west of Castilla y León
  • Climate similar to some Galician regions
  • More continental than Galician regions
  • Some maritime influence
  • Marked vintage variation
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4
Q

Bierzo
What are the most important varieties?

A
  • Mencía (75%) (black)
  • Godello (white)
  • Other white varieties
  • Alicante Bouschet (2%) (black)
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5
Q

Bierzo
What is the ripening time of Mencía and what is a problem?

A
  • Mid-ripening
  • Loses its characteristics if picked too late
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6
Q

Bierzo
What are the requirements regarding red wine?

A
  • Min 70% Mencía (often 100%)
  • Alicante Bouschet (rest of the blend)
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7
Q

Bierzo
In general, where are vineyards located?

A
  • Flat plain with fertile silty loam
  • Hillside slopes (500-850m) with poor shallow slate soil
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8
Q

Bierzo
Describe the style of wine from the flat, fertile plain

A
  • Red fruits (raspberry, cherry)
  • Medium(-) body
  • Medium(-) tannins
  • Sometimes carbonic or semi-carbonic maceration
  • Usually not matured in oak
  • Good quality
  • Inexpensive to mid-priced
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9
Q

Bierzo
Describe the characteristics of the hillside slopes where the higher quality wines come from

A
  • Shallow, poor slate soils with good
  • 500-850m altitude -> cooling influence and larger diurnal shift
  • Slow sugar accumulation
  • Retain acidity
  • Mostly bush vines as it is very steep
  • Significant proportion of old vines
  • Low average yields
  • High production costs
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10
Q

Bierzo
Describe the style of wine from the hillside slopes (concentration, aromas, body, tannins, alcohol, oak, quality, price)

A
  • Higher concentration
  • Ripe red cherry and plum fruit, sometimes floral or herbal notes
  • Medium to medium(+) body
  • Medium to medium(+) tannins
  • High alcohol
  • Often matured in oak
  • Very good to outstanding quality
  • Mid- to premium priced (some super-premium)
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11
Q

Bierzo
Name two significant producers

A
  • Descendientes de J. Palacios
  • Raul Perez
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12
Q

Bierzo
What is the size, number of growers, and hL produced?

A
  • 3,000 ha
  • 2,000 growers
  • 96,000 hL (significant variation)
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13
Q

Toro
Where is it located, what is the climate, rainfall, and altitude? What is the effect on grape growing?

A
  • In the west of Castilla y León
  • Continental climate
  • Low rainfall
  • 620-750m altitude
  • Large diurnal range
  • Acidity maintained
  • Spring frosts can be a problem
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14
Q

Toro
What are the grape varieties?

A
  • Tinta de Toro (form of Tempranillo) (b)
  • Garnacha (b)
  • Malvasía (w)
  • Verdejo (w)
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15
Q

Toro
How does Tinta de Toro compare to Tempranillo?

A
  • Thicker skin
  • Greater color
  • Higher tannin levels
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16
Q

Toro
What types of wines are produced?

A

Red, Rosé and White

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17
Q

Toro
What are the requirements for producing red wine?

A
  • Min 75% Tinta de Toro
  • Garnacha (rest of blend)
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18
Q

Toro
How do growers cope with low rainfall?

A
  • Low density plantings (max density: 2,700 vines/ha)
  • Low number of bunches per vine
  • Mainly bush vines
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19
Q

Toro
Describe the typical style of wine (color, aromas, acidity, body, tannins, alcohol)

A
  • Deep color
  • Ripe blackberry and blueberry
  • Medium(+) acidity
  • Full body
  • High tannins
  • High alcohol
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20
Q

Toro
Why is site selection important?

A
  • Max 15% abv allowed for red wines
  • Slower ripening at higher-altitude
  • North-facing aspects
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21
Q

Toro
Describe the style of an inexpensive wine (method, quality, price)

A
  • Often carbonic maceration to boost fruity flavours and extract lower tannin
  • Acceptable to good quality
  • Inexpensive and mid-priced
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22
Q

Toro
Describe the style of a premium wine (concentration, oak, quality, price)

A
  • High fruit concentration
  • High proportions of new oak (American or French)
  • Very good to outstanding quality
  • Premium and super-premium price
23
Q

Toro
Name two quality-driven producers

A
  • Teso La Monja
  • Numanthia
24
Q

Toro
What is the development in the last 20 years?

A
  • Number of wineries more than doubled
  • Today: 96,000 hL
25
Q

Ribera del Duero
Briefly describe the development in the last 40 years

A
  • DO status in 1982
  • Since then from 9 to >280 wineries
  • Investments boosted the region
26
Q

Ribera del Duero
Where is it located and what is the climate and rainfall?

A
  • Upper valley of the River Duero
  • More continental than Toro and Rueda
  • Low rainfall (400-600mm)
  • Irrigation can be used at certain times (not during the ripening period)
27
Q

Ribera del Duero
How is the risk of frost tackled?

A
  • Heaters
  • Vine spraying with water
  • Helicopters
28
Q

Ribera del Duero
Where are the vineyards located?

A
  • Range of altitudes and aspects
  • Higher altitude (750-1,000m)
29
Q

Ribera del Duero
What are the main grape varieties and blending options?

A
  • Tempranillo only (called “Tinto Fino”)
  • Different sites are blended for balance
30
Q

Ribera del Duero
What training systems are used?

A
  • Mostly bush vines (often > 50 years old)
  • Newer vineyards with trellises
31
Q

Ribera del Duero
What types of wines are produced?

A
  • Red
  • Rosé
  • White (NEW)
32
Q

Ribera del Duero
What are the rules regarding varieties for producing red wines?

A
  • Min 75% Tempranillo
  • Rest: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Garnacha, and Albillo (w)
33
Q

Ribera del Duero
What are the rules regarding varieties for producing white wines?

A

Min 75% Albillo

34
Q

Ribera del Duero
Describe the typical style of red wine (variety, aromas, body, alcohol, oak, trend, quality, price)

A
  • Typically, 100% Tempranillo
  • Ripe blackberry and plum, with vanilla and chocolate
  • Full body
  • High alcohol
  • French oak is popular (often 50-100% new oak)
  • Trend for less extraction, with less time on skins and/or less new oak
  • Good to outstanding quality
  • Mid- to super-premium priced
35
Q

Ribera del Duero
Name three significant producers

A
  • Vega Sicilia
  • Dominio de Pingus
  • Bodegas Aalto
36
Q

Ribera del Duero
Are there any ageing categories?

A
  • Crianza to Gran Reserva used
  • Mostly no labeling regarding ageing
37
Q

Ribera del Duero
How much is produced (hL)?

A

600,000-700,000 hL

38
Q

Ribera del Duero
How much is exported and what are the top export markets?

A
  • 20%
  • Switzerland, Mexico, USA, Germany, China
39
Q

Rueda
How did Rueda become what it is now and what is it known for?

A
  • Before 1970: Oxidative fortified wines
  • Local Verdejo variety identified to make
  • Fresh, fruity white wines, made protectively
40
Q

Rueda
What is the climate and rainfall?

A
  • Similar to Toro and Ribera del Duero
  • Low rainfall
41
Q

Rueda
Where are the vineyards located and what soils are there?

A
  • At 700-800m altitude
  • High diurnal shift and retained acidity
  • Stones with sandy clay sub-layer and limestone bedrock
  • Free draining and low fertility
42
Q

Rueda
What are the two most important varieties?

A
  • Verdejo
  • Sauvignon Blanc
43
Q

Rueda
How does Verdejo cope with low rainfall and what wines does it produce? (aromas, acidity, alcohol)

A
  • Drought tolerant
  • Apple, pear and peach, often herbal notes
  • Medium to medium(+) acidity
  • Medium alcohol
44
Q

Rueda
Comment on training options and harvesting

A
  • New vineyards: VSP
  • Some very old bush vines
  • Harvest best at night
45
Q

Rueda
Describe the typical style of wine (winemaking style, fermentation temps, yeast, malo, oak, lees, quality, price)

A
  • Protective winemaking
  • Cool fermentation in stainless-steel vessels
  • Cultured yeasts
  • No malo
  • Best wines with fermentation in oak and lees ageing
  • Acceptable to very good
  • Inexpensive to mid-priced
46
Q

Rueda
Name two significant producers

A
  • Ossian
  • Bodega Belondrade y Lurton
47
Q

Rueda
Describe the labling options for white wines

A
  • Min 85% of variety to be labeled as such (DO Rueda-Verdejo)
  • Otherwise: DO Rueda
48
Q

Rueda
How did the wine business develop in the last 20-30 years?

A
  • Substantial increase in vineyard area, export and domestic market
  • Producers looking to produce higher quality
49
Q

Rueda
How much wine is produced (hL)?

A

616,000 hL

50
Q

Rueda
How much is exported and what are the top export markets?

A
  • 15%
  • Netherlands, Germany, USA, Switzerland
51
Q

Rueda
Where do most producers come from?

A

From outside the region (e.g., Rioja and Ribera del Duero)

52
Q

Castilla y León VT
Where is it located and what is the climate and altitude?

A
  • Vast area in the north that covers all DOs
  • Protected from Atlantic influence by mountains
  • Continental climate
  • Moderated by altitude
53
Q

Castilla y León VT
What are some of the rules?

A
  • Producers outside the DO boundaries can produce wines with GI
  • Allows producers to make wine stlyes that are not permitted in their DO
54
Q

Castilla y León VT
What is the size?

A
  • Fairly small with 9,000 ha
  • In comparison, vineyards in all 4 DOs are 63,000 ha

WSET Level 4 - D3 (56 decks)

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