Spain - Castilla Y León Flashcards
What area does the autonomous community of Castilla y Leon cover?
A vast area in the North of Spain.
Made up of a high altitude plateau (the northern part of the meseta) with mountains to the north and south. As a result, many regions have a continental climate, though with maritime to the west.
Which important DOs lie within Castilla y Leon?
Bierzo, Toro, Rueda, Ribera del Duero and Castilla y León VT.
What reputation did wines from Bierzo have? What caused this to change?
Until recently, rustic wines for the local market.
It was the arrival of Alvaro Palacios and his nephew Ricardo Pérez in the late 1990s, attracted by slate slopes in the area (similar to vineyards that had made their reputations in Priorat), that first demonstrated Bierzo could make high quality wines, and gave winemakers and growers the confidence to strive for quality and higher prices.
Where is Bierzo located? What is the climate?
NW Castilla y León.
It is Climatically similar to some Galicia regions, but being further inland, it has a more continental climate, with less but sufficient rainfall.
The region has mountains or hills on 3 sides but opens to the west, allowing for a maritime influence.
Some years can be cool and rainy, whereas others can be warm and dry, resulting in marked vintage variation
Which varieties are planted in Bierzo?
Mencía 75%, with Godello and some other Galician white varieties grown.
Which different styles of Mencía are produced in Bierzo?
Light bodied and fruity with medium tannins, to more concentrated examples with fuller bodies and higher tannins (environment & winemaking)
Which varieties are permitted in red Bierzo?
At least 70% Mencía, with Alicante Bouschet making up the remainder.
However, it only makes up 2% of plantings so most wines are 100% Mencía.
What is the topography in the centre of Bierzo? What styles of wine are produced?
A flat plain, alongside the lower slopes of the mountains, have fertile silty loam soils, and produce inexpensive or mid priced wines grown at relatively high yields.
Medium (-) body and tannins with simple red fruit.
Made for early consumption and sometimes with carbonic or semi-carbonic. Not usually oak.
Good and mid priced.
Where are the best vineyards of Bierzo located? What makes them so?
On the hillside slopes at 500-850m, offering good drainage and poor, thin, shallow slate soils to limit vigour.
The altitude cools the climate, and a large diurnal range helps slow sugar accumulation and retain acidity while flavours and tannins develop.
The steepness of the slopes and age of the vineyards mean bush vines are most common.
High proportion of old vines (80% estimated to be over 60 years old), this with poor soils mean yields are low.
What is the typical profile of wines from the slopes of Bierzo?
More concentration, medium to (+) body and tannins, higher alcohol and ripe red cherry and plum, sometimes with a floral or herbal note.
Often matured in oak for a spicy character, but care has to be taken to not overpower Mencías delicate aromas.
V good to outstanding and mid to premium, with some super premium.
What is the average production in Bierzo?
There can be significant differences annually, the average over the last 10 years is approximately 96,000hL.
What is the breakdown of wine businesses in Bierzo? (Plantings, growers, viticulture, and businesses)
3000ha planted.
Just over 2000 growers, many with small plots. (Making tending or harvesting with machine very rare).
75 wineries, with a significant amount having been established in the last 10-15 years.
Almost half of the growers are associated with co-operatives.
What was introduced in Bierzo in 2017?
The Consejo Regulador recognised new classifications within the DO, based on specific geographic characteristics, that will be used to designate wines sourced exclusively from villages and vineyards of particular note, with significant restrictions on yields compared to the DO. (Similar to what was introduced in Priorat)
Where is Toro located? What’s the general climate?
In the west of Castilla y León, the River Duero runs through the region.
It has a continental climate with hot summers and cold winters which, when combined with its altitude (620-700m) means the region has a large diurnal range. Without any moderating influences, spring frosts can be a problem
What is the main grape of Toro? What are its characteristics?
Tinta de Toro, considered by some to be a form of Tempranillo that has adapted to the local climate, and by others as an indigenous variety.
Due to the intensity of the sun, its thought to have thicker skins than Tempranillo grown elsewhere in Spain, which results in greater colour and higher tannins.
Which varieties are permitted in Toro?
Reds must be minimum 75% Tinta de Toro, remainder is Garnacha.
Rosados from either variety, and whites from Malvasia or Verdejo can also be made.
What is water availability like within Toro? What does this result in?
Rainfall is low and irrigation is not permitted from June until harvest.
To manage this, many vineyards are planted at low densities with a low number of bunches per vine (the max is 2700 per ha).
What is typical training in Toro?
Bush vines
What are the typical soil types of Toro? What has this resulted in?
Sandy soils, meaning phylloxera has never been a problem and vines have never been grafter. Around 20% of vines are over 50 yrs old, and a number of vines are over 100 years.
What is the typical profile of wines from Toro?
The warm growing season, intense sun, and low yields all contribute to wines deep in colour, full-bodied, and often high in alcohol, with high tannins and ripe blackberry and blueberry, but cool nights help deliver medium (+) or even high acidity.
Why is site selection important in Toro?
Cooler sites can provide slower ripening and can be found at higher altitudes west of the region, and by choosing North facing aspects.
What does the Consejo Regulador regulate in Toro?
Abv level, reds are a max of 15%, and whites and roses are lower.
What is typical winemaking in Toro?
The two common styles.
Inexpensive and mid wines might have undergone carbonic maceration to enhance fruit and extract less tannin to make an approachable style. (Acceptable to good).
Premium to super of good to outstanding quality are matured in oak. American, French of a mixture is used.
Who are top quality producers of Toro?
Teso La Monja and Numanthia
Why has Toros production been slow to increase?
When compared to other regions, it has no close proximity to major cities or ports, making it hard to establish any trade routes.
What has happened to Toros’ production in recent times? Why?
Due to Ribera del Dueros increase in popularity and subsequent increase in land prices, many investors begin to show interest in Toro.
The number of wineries has increased dramatically over the last 20 years, with 8 wineries in 1998 to approx 50 today.
Almost 96,000hL of Toro wine was sold in 2016.
Who was the first winery to establish in Ribera del Duero? When did they establish? When and why did this start to change?
Vega Sicilia in the late 19th century.
There were very few wineries until the 1990s (9 at the formation of the DO in 1982, over 280 today).
Alejandro Fernandez’s Pesquera sparked the change. These wines started to win critical.acclaim in the 1980s and many producers, who were until now sending their wines to local co-operatives, were inspired to vinify and bottle their own wines under their own labels.
The relative proximity to Madrid meant it soon became popular amongst Spanish fine wine drinkers.
Much investment came from Rioja and Catalunya.
What is the hesitation around Ribera del Dueros current expansion?
Investment has undoubtedly been positive and has boosted the status of the region as a whole. However, many newly established wineries are still finding their feet and, with such a rapid expansion of vineyard area, there is potential danger the overall quality of production from the region could be diluted.
What is the location and general climate of Ribera del Duero?
The upper valley of the Ribera del Duero.
Similar climate to Toro and Rueda, though summers are slightly hotter, winters colder and the vineyards can be even higher in altitude (750-1000m).
What are the main climatic hazards in Ribera del Duero, and how are these combated?
Frosts, which occur in spring and autumn, limiting the time grapes can be left on the vine and causing serious loss of yields in some years.
To combat: heaters, spraying with water and occasionally helicopters.
Rainfall is relatively low at 400 - 600mm. However, irrigation can be used at certain periods of the year, but not during ripening.
How do producers ensure balance, complexity and consistent yields in Ribera del Duero?
Many producers grow only, or predominantly Tempranillo (or Tinto Fino or Tinta del País locally), they make use of the range of altitudes and aspects and the subsequent changes in climate (eg, North facing or flat sites are most at risk of frost)
What are the total plantings of bush vines and old vines in Ribera del Duero?
Around half are bush vines.
Around 25% are over 50 years old, with a number over 100 years.
How are new vines typically planted in Ribera del Duero, and what are the average holdings?
On trellis as they’re easy to establish.
Under 1ha
Which wine styles can be produced in Ribera del Duero DO?
It used to permit only red and rosé, but since 2019 white production has been allowed.
Which varieties are permitted in Ribera del Duero DO, and which ones are used more practically?
For white, minimum 75% Albillo Mayor.
For red, minimum 75% Tempranillo, with Cab Sauv, Merlot, Malbec, Garnacha and Albillo permitted (albillo is thought to contribute freshness, but in practise is rarely used).
In reality, wines tend to be 100% Tempranillo.
What is the general profile of reds from Ribera del Duero?
Full bodied, high alcohol, ripe blackberry and plum, with vanilla and chocolate from New oak.
French oak is popular, but some wineries use a blend of French and American, and its not uncommon for premium - super premium to be aged in 50-100% new oak.
There’s currently a trend for less extraction, with less time on the skins post fermentation and/or less new oak amongst quality focused producers.
Good to outstanding and mid to super premium.
Who are too producers in Ribera del Duero?
Dominio de Pingus, Bodegas Aalto and Vega Sicilia.
How are the ageing categories used in Ribera del Duero?
Commonly. Crianza by far the most produced and Gran Reserva quite rare.
The majority of wine is labelled without though.
How much wine is sold on average in Ribera del Duero? What is the breakdown of exports?
Recently it’s ranged from 600,000-700,000 hL.
In 2019, 20% of wine was exported with main markets for volume being Switzerland, Mexico, the USA, Germany and China.
What is differentiating about Rueda DO?
Contrasting Toro and Ribera del Duero to the E and W, it produces almost entirely white wines.
What style of wine was produced in Rueda DO? What is produced today?
Until around 50 years ago, production was almost entirely oxidative fortified wines which is no longer favoured by consumers (some P still make this traditional style).
In the 1970s, the Marqués de Riscal winery in Rioja correctly considered the local Verdejo grape could make fresh, fruity wines that consumers were beginning to demand, if it was handled protectively and fermented in temp controlled steel.
This investment acted as a catalyst for the regions transformation, and many producers followed suit making that style of winemaking synonymous with the region.
What is the general climate, topography and soil type of Rueda?
Climate similar to Toro and Ribera del Duero with hot dry summers, cold winters and low rainfall. Vineyards are at 700-800m: diurnal range.
Bedrock is limestone, with a sandy clay sub-layer and a top soil of stones (though in some places its sand). They tend to be free draining and low in organic matter, reducing vigour.
What are the key varieties in Rueda? Why are they suitable?
Verdejo. Drought tolerant and so therefore able to withstand low rainfall.
Sauvignon Blanc, can be blended or varietal.
What is typical vineyard management in Rueda?
New vineyards tend to be VSP. There are some very old bush vines (including on sandy soils predating phylloxera) which account for 10% of planted area.
Harvesting at night is desirable as grapes can be picked and transported at the coolest temperatures.
What is typical winemaking in Rueda?
Inexpensive wines are generally made protectively, bottled to be sold soon after.
As throughout Spain, cultured yeasts are preferred for reliability and ability to promote fruity flavours.
For mid priced wines, they may have undergone lees stirring. Good quality.
A producers most expensive wine (usually still mid priced) is usually fermented or matured in oak, bringing body and texture, and aromatic complexity.
MLC is generally avoided in all styles to retain acidity.
Who are top Rueda producers?
Ossian and Bodega Belondrade y Lurton.
How do producers choose to utilise varietal labelling in Rueda?
To qualify, they have to be 85% that variety, but it is common to be 100%.
DO Rueda can be used for blends that don’t meet the requirements for varietal labelling.
In reality, many P choose to use DO Rueda, rather than DO Rueda-Verdejo to denote the least expensive wine, even if it qualified for Rueda-Verdejo.
What proportion of red and rosé is produced in Rueda?
Small, mainly from Tempranillo, but with competition from Ribera del Duero and Toro, competition is high.
What has happened to vineyard area, production and popularity in Rueda recently? Why?
Seen exponential growth in the last 20 years. From 2000-‘19 production volumes have almost quadrupled.
The fruity, crisp, early drinking style of the wines at inexpensive prices has proven extremely popular domestically and internationally.
However, there’s been increased competition globally of this style, so Rueda producers are increasingly look to produce wines of higher quality and more character.
What has happened to sales trends of Rueda wine? What is the state of exports?
Increased substantially in the last 20-30 years. From 1997-2016 they’ve increased almost 7-fold. Mainly driven by the domestic market, but sales in exports have also grown.
In 2018, out of 616,000hL sold, 80,000 was for exports, with key markets for volume being Netherland, Germany, USA and Switzerland.
How much of Rueda production is made by local producers?
60%, with a significant proportion being made by companies outside the region, eg, a number of Rioja and Ribera del Duero producers have a Rueda white in their portfolio.
Where is the Castilla y León VT located? What’s the general climate?
The autonomous community of the same name.
The land is in the northern part of the meseta and is protected from any Atlantic influence to the north by mountains.
Continental, with summer temperatures moderated by altitude.
Which varieties are grown in Castilla y León VT?
A wide range, native and international.
What does Castilla y León VT enable?
Producers outside DOs to produce with a GI, or producers within a DO to make wine styles or grape varieties not permitted.
How much land under vine is there in Castilla y León VT? How does this compare to DOs?
Although large, only almost 9000 ha, compared to over 63,000 ha in DOs.
What is the general profile of Castilla y León VT?
Varied. Many are inexpensive to mid, with some premium.
