Spain - Castilla Y León Flashcards
Where’s Castilla Y León? What does it mean?
North Central Spain
Climate there?
Cantabrian Mountains, creating a rain shadow.Continental climate with extreme seasonal and diurnal shifts.
Physical features of this region?
High altitude meseta.
Bodies of Water: Duero River (called the Douro in Portugal)
What does meseta mean?
What’s up with the winemaking here?
Fresh white wines in Rueda. Red wines are made in a range of styles from early (young) consumption to age-worthy. Wines are aged in American oak and French oak.
Name the white grape varieties.
Verdejo, Sauvignon Blanc.
Name the red grape varieties.
Tempranillo
Tempranillo synonyms: Tinta del País, Tinta de Toro
Mencía
Where is Toro DO? What kind of wines are made there?
Primarily red wines based on Tempranillo, often emphasizing ripeness and concentration.
Where is Ribera del Duero DO? What kind of wines are made there?
Primarily Tempranillo-based blends, in styles that range from fresh for early drinking to long-aged in American or French oak.
Where is Rueda DO? What kind of wines are made there?
Fresh white wines based on Verdejo and Sauvignon Blanc grape varieties.
Where is Bierzo DO? What kind of wines are made there?
Red, Mencía-based wines that can be enjoyed young or aged for a few years.
In Ribera del Duero, what are the quality tiers?
Crianza, Reserva, Gran Reserva
Specific aging and quality tiers based on minimum required time (in ascending order) wine spends in oak barrel and bottle.
Ribera del Duero: specific aging requirements for Crianza, Reserva, Gran Reserva (Tinto)
Crianza: min 2 years, including 1 year in oak
Reserva: min 3 years, including 1 year in oak
Gran Reserva: min 5 years, including 2 years in oak
Style of Ribera del Duero wines?
For young consumption or long aging that can be in American or French oak.
Producer/proprietary brands?
Ribera del Duero: Vega Sicilia, Pesquera, Pingus
Bierzo: Descendientes de J. Palacios Rueda: Martinsancho
