Spain Castilla y Leon

Question 1

What is the largest Autonomías of Spain?

Answer 1

Castilla y Leon

Question 2

General climate of Castilla y Leon?

Answer 2

continental climate, slightly moderated by its proximity to the Atlantic and Mediterranean but still subject to extreme highs and lows.

Question 3

DO’s of Castilla y Leon? 9

Answer 3

Arlanza DO
Arribes DO
Bierzo DO
Cigales DO

Ribera del Duero DO
Rueda DO

Tierra de León DO
Tierra del Vino de Zamora DO
Toro DO

Question 4

First DO established in Castilla y Leon?

When

Answer 4

Rueda

1980

Question 5

Rueda DO?

Answer 5

Whites - Verdejo (oxidises easily), Sav Blanc, Viura, Palamino fino
Red- Tempranillo, Cab Sav, Merlot Garnacha
Blanc= must have a minimum of 50% Veredjo
Espumoso= Sparkling wines
Brut espumoso = 85% Verdejo
Rosado= 50% red grapes
Dorodo = oxidised dry fortified

Question 6

Toro DO

Answer 6

Dry continental summers
Whites - Veredjo or Malvasia
Reds- min 75% Tinta de Toro (Tempranillo) Ripens easily
Rosado - Saignee blends of Tinta de Toro or Garnacha
Producers - Fariña and Numanthia-Termes

Question 7

Bierzo DO

Answer 7

Very Northwest part of the region
Whites - Palamino dominates the vineyards also Doña Blanca, Godello, Malvasia
Reds- Mencia min 70% Mencia
Rosado- 50% Mencia
Fragmentation of vineyards and posts belonging to small holders
Soils - Silt Loam, Quartz and Slate
Continental Climate
Low Altitude
Producers - Alvaro Palacios, already a marquee name in Priorat, founded
Descendientes de José Palacios with his nephew Ricardo Palacios in 1999, and achieved instant recognition for Bierzo with their biodynamic “Corullón” bottlings: extracted, old-vine Mencía-based wines sourced from mountainside schist soils
Dominio de Tares and Pittacum are also proceeds known in this area

Question 8

Ribera Del Duero DO?

Answer 8

Mediterranean climate with Continental features
Provinces of Production: Valladolid, Burgos, Soria, Segovia
Red and Rosado only
Authorised varieties - Tinto del Pais, Garnacha, Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Albillo Mayor
Red - Tinto: min. 75% Tinta del País, max. 5% Garnacha and Albillo Mayor
Rosado - min. 50% authorized red varieties
Min abv for red -11.5%
Rosados and red wines that do not fulfill the minimum aging requirement for crianza are considered vino joven, or young wines. Most commercial rosados today are vino joven .

Question 9

Who founded Vega Sicilia?

Answer 9

Don Eloy Lecanda y Chaves, who in 1864

Question 10

Who was the winemaker for Vegas Silcia’s ‘Unico’ when it won Barcelona World’s Fair in 1917 and 1918?

Answer 10

Domingo Txomi

Question 11

What is the blend for Unico?

Answer 11

blended from Tinto del País, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot and aged, often for a decade or more in American and French oak barrels

Question 12

In Ribero del Duero what is Tempranillo commonly known as?

Answer 12

Tinto del País and Tinto Fino

Question 13

Ribero del Duero Aging requirements?

Answer 13

Aging Requirements:

Crianza:
Rosado: min. 18 months, including at least 6 months in oak (approx. 225 liter capacity)
Tinto: min. 24 months, including at least 12 months in oak (approx. 225 liter capacity)

Reserva (Tinto only): min. 3 years, including at least 12 months in oak

Gran Reserva (Tinto only): min. 24 months in oak and 36 months in bottle

Question 14

Ribero del Duero Crianza Red?

Answer 14

2 years

min 12 oak

Question 15

Ribero del Duero Reserva red?

Answer 15

3 years

min 12 oak

Question 16

Ribero del Duero Grand Reserva red?

Answer 16

2 years OAK

3 yrs BOTTLE

Question 17

Ribero del Duero DO established?

Answer 17

1982

Question 18

Cigales DO explain?

Answer 18

Northwest of Ribera del Duero. The region produces red wines made principally from Garnacha Tinta and Tinto del País (Tempranillo)
but Particularly noted for its rosado and nuevo (primeur) rosado production

Question 19

Arlanza DO?

Answer 19

to the east of Cigales and directly north of Ribera del Duero, is one of Spain’s newest DOs, dating to 2007. A small core of wineries produces reds and whites from a complement of Duero Valley and Bordeaux varieties.

Question 20

Arribes DO?

Answer 20

Arribes DO at the border to Portugal. Here, Rufete—reflecting the region’s proximity to Portugal—several other red grapes join Tempranillo in the appellation’s vineyards; white wines are produced from Malvasia, Verdejo, and Albilla.

Question 21

Tierra de León DO

Answer 21

Recently upgraded from Vino de la Tierra in 2007, produces reds, whites, and rosados. Recommended red grapes include Mencía and the local Prieto Picudo.

Question 22

Tierra del Vino de Zamora DO

Answer 22

Tierra del Vino de Zamora DO lies to the west of Toro, and produces red, white, rosado, and the lighter clarete (rosé) wines from similar grapes. Reds require a minimum 75% Tempranillo.

Question 23

Producers

Answer 23

Pesquera
Dominio de Pingus
Bodegas Alion
Hacienda Monasterio
Vina sastre