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Wine Diploma > Spain: Castilla y Leon > Flashcards

Spain: Castilla y Leon Flashcards

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1
Q

What climates would you find in Castilla y Leon?

A

Many of it’s wine regions have continental climates, though there is some maritime influence to the west.

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2
Q

Where is Castilla y Leon?

A

It’s a large area in the north of Spain

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3
Q

Where is Bierzo?

A

NW of Castilla y Leon (NW Spain)

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4
Q

Who are Alvaro Palacios and Ricardo Perez and which winemaking region did the effect and how?

A

Winemakers from Priorat, attracted to Bierzo because of the slate slopes (similar to Priorat). They demonstrated to the international market that Bierzo could make high quality wines.

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5
Q

What geographical feature surrounds Bierzo?

A

Mountains of hills on 3 sides, but open to the west (towards the Atlantic), allowing some maritime influence

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6
Q

Are you likely to see much vintage variation in Bierzo?

A

Yes, some years cool and rainy, some warm and dry

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7
Q

What grape makes up 75% of plantings in Bierzo?

A

Mencia

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8
Q

Which white grape is found in Bierzo?

A

Godello and other white Galician varieties

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9
Q

When does Mencia ripen?

A

Early-mid ripening

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10
Q

What’s the acidity usually like in Mencia?

A

Medium (+) to high

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11
Q

Why is it important to pick Mencia at the right time?

A

It can quickly accumulate sugar and therefore result in high alcohol wines if picked too late

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12
Q

In Bierzo, what minimum of any red wine blend must made up of Mencia?

A

70%

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13
Q

Which grape variety is often blended with Mencia in Bierzo?

A

Alicante Bouschet

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14
Q

What is special about Alicante Bouschet?

A

It’s red fleshed, giving deep colour

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15
Q

What % of plantings in Bierzo are Alicante Bouschet?

A

2%

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16
Q

In Bierzo DO where would you expect inexpensive-mid priced wines to be made and what is the soil?

A

Lower slopes of the mountains, which have fertile silty loam soils

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17
Q

How would you expect inexpensive-mid priced wines in Bierzo DO to be made?

A

Carbonic or semi carbonic, no oak.

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18
Q

At what altitude would you expect to find the best vineyards of Bierzo?

A

500-850 m

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19
Q

What is the soil like high up on the hillside slopes in Bierzo DO and how does that impact?

A

Shallow, poor slate soils. (Good drainage, limits vigour)

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20
Q

In high quality red wines from Bierzo, what geographical factor helps to slow ripening?

A

Altitude creates a large diurnal range to help slow sugar accumulation and retain acidity while flavours and tannins accumulate (500-850 m)

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21
Q

Is Bierzo DO mainly old or new vines?

A

Significant proportion of old vines, with around 80% over 60 years old

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22
Q

Generally in Bierzo, yields are _____ and the overall cost of production is ______.

A

Generally in Bierzo, yields are LOW and the overall cost of production is HIGH.

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23
Q

What would you expect the main differences to be between Bierzo Mencia grown from the plains v the slopes in terms of tasting?

A

Wines grown on the slopes show more concentration, fuller body, higher alcohol, riper red fruit characteristics and sometimes a floral/herbal note. Oak influence (spicy character)

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24
Q

Would you expect red wines from Bierzo to be ages in oak?

A

For cheaper wines grown on the valley floor no, in more expensive styles from the slopes, yes.

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25
Q

Name 2 significant producers from Bierzo?

A

Descendientes de j. Palacios and Raul Perez

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26
Q

How many hectares are planted in Bierzo?

A

3000 ha

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27
Q

How would you harvest in Bierzo?

A

By hand- very small plots, steep slopes.

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28
Q

What is the annual average production in Bierzo?

A

96,000 hL

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29
Q

What amount of growers in Bierzo are associated with one of the region’s cooperatives?

A

Half

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30
Q

What change to Bierzo DO did the Consejo regulator make in 2017?

A

Recognised new classifications, based on specific geographical characteristics, that will be used to designate wines sources exclusively from villages and vineyards of particular note, with significant restrictions on yields.

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31
Q

Where is Toro DO?

A

In the west of Castilla y Leon (Spain)

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32
Q

Which river flows through Toro DO?

A

River Duero (River Douro in Portugal)

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33
Q

What is the climate in Toro DO?

A

Continental climate with hot summers and cold winters.

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34
Q

what is the altitude of Toro DO?

A

620-750 m

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35
Q

What is the diurnal range like in Toro DO and why?

A

large diurnal range due to continentality and altitude

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36
Q

What is the main grape in Toro DO?

A

Tinta de Toro (thought by some to be an adapted form of Tempranillo)

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37
Q

What are the skins like on Tinto de Toro?

A

Thick

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38
Q

Red wines in Toro DO must be a minimum of __% _________ (grape variety), the remainder being ______ (grape variety)

A

Red wines in Toro DO must be a minimum of 75% TINTO DE TORO, the remainder being GARNACHA

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39
Q

What grape varieties are permitted for rose production in Toro DO?

A

Tinta de Toro and Garnacha

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40
Q

What 2 white grapes are permitted in Toro DO?

A

Malvasia or Verdejo

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41
Q

What is rainfall like in Toro and is irrigation permitted

A

Low and irrigation is not permitted from June until harvest

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42
Q

What is the maximum permitted density in Toro DO?

A

2,700 vines per hectare (low density)

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43
Q

What kind of vine training is usual in Toro?

A

Bush vines

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44
Q

How is the low rainfall managed in Toro?

A

low density plantings, with a low number of bunches per vine.

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45
Q

What is the soil like in Toro DO and what does this mean?

A

Sandy soils, no phylloxera and many vines are ungrafted

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46
Q

What age are the vines in Toro?

A

Old. 1/5 over 50 years and some over 100 years old!

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47
Q

What factors mean Toro DO is capable of producing concentrated wines?

A

Warm growing season, intense sun, low yields

48
Q

give a tasting note for a red wine from Toro DO?

A

Deep in colour, full bodied, high alcohol, high tannins, medium + to high acidity and ripe flavours of blackberry and blueberry.

49
Q

Which sites in Toro would you pick to slow ripening?

A

Cooler sites providing slower ripening can be found at the higher altitude west of the region and by choosing north facing aspects

50
Q

What is the maximum alcohol for red wines in Toro Do?

A

15% abv

51
Q

Why might red wines in Toro undergo Carbonic Maceration?

A

For inexpensive to mid prices wines, to boost the fruity flavours and extract less tannins, to make an approachable, easy drinking style

52
Q

What kind of oak would you expect to see in premium Toro reds?

A

American and French, or a mixture

53
Q

Name 2 Toro producers known for their quality??

A

Teso La Monja and Numanthia

54
Q

What is the key problem in the distribution of wines from Toro?

A

It is far away from any major cities or ports

55
Q

Is the number of wineries in Toro increasing or decreasing?

A

increasing dramatically (from 8 wineries in 1998 to 50 today)

56
Q

How many hL of Toro wine was sold in 2016?

A

96,000 hL

57
Q

What was the first winery established in Ribera del Duero and when?

A

Vega Sicilia in the late 19th century

58
Q

When did Ribera del Duero experience a planting boom?

A

1990s (around 9 wineries in 1982 but over 280 today)

59
Q

When was the DO of Ribera del duero formed?

A

1982

60
Q

Which wine’s popularity sparked a rise popularity of wines from Ribera del Duero?

A

Alejandro Fernandez’s Pesquera

61
Q

Which big city is Ribera del Duero near?

A

Madrid

62
Q

Where is Ribera del Duero?

A

The upper valley of the River Duero, Castilla y Leon, Spain

63
Q

What altitude is Ribera del Duero?

A

High! 750-1000 m

64
Q

What weather hazard is a problem in Ribera del Duero?

A

Frosts in both spring and autumn

65
Q

What is done in the Ribera del Duero to combat frost?

A

Heaters, vine spraying with water and occasionally helicopters

66
Q

Rainfall in Ribera del Duero?

A

relatively low at 400-600 mm

67
Q

Is irrigation permitted in Ribera del Duero?

A

at certain times of the year, but not during the ripening period

68
Q

In Ribera del Duero there are a range of altitudes and aspects, which area is higher and cooler?

A

The eastern side of the appellation

69
Q

What is the main grape variety in Ribera del Duero?

A

Tinto Fino aka Termpranillo or Tinta del Pais

70
Q

What other name does Tinta Fino go by?

A

Termpranillo

71
Q

Why might a grower in Ribera del Duero use grapes from different sites?

A

The use of different sites with slight changes in climate or aspect can be useful in gaining balance, complexity and ensuring consistent yields.

72
Q

How much of Ribera del Duero is planted to bush vines?

A

half

73
Q

How old are the vines in general in the Ribera del Duero?

A

1/4 over 50, some 100+

74
Q

What training system is used for newer vineyards in Ribera del Duero?

A

Trellises

75
Q

The vast majority of growers in the Ribera del Duero have plots of what size?

A

Under 1 ha

76
Q

What colour of wine is permitted in Ribera del Duero?

A

All, but white was only allowed from 2019

77
Q

What white variety in Ribera del Duero must make up at least 75% of any blend?

A

Albillo Mayor

78
Q

75% of any red blend made in Ribera del Duero must be which grape variety?

A

Tempranillo

79
Q

Which grape varieties are permitted in red blends in the Ribera del Duero DO?

A

Tempranillo, Cab Sav, Merlot, Malbec, Garnacha and Albillo (white- allowed for freshness but in practice rarely used)

80
Q

Tasting note for a red wine from Ribera del Duero?

A

Full bodied
high alcohol
ripe flavours of blackberry and plum
vanilla and chocolate (new oak)

81
Q

Which oak is used in Ribera del Duero?

A

French oak is popular, some wineries use a blend of French and American.

82
Q

how much new oak would you expect to see in a quality Ribera del Duero red wine?

A

50-100% new oak

83
Q

What is the general quality level in Ribera del Duero?

A

good to outstanding, mid priced to super premium

84
Q

Name some significant producers from Ribera del Duero?

A

Vega Sicilia, Pesquera, Dominio de Pingus and Bodegas Aalto

85
Q

Are the Consejo Regulador ageing categories used in Ribera del Duero?

A

Yes, but the majority is labeled without an ageing category specified

86
Q

What % of wines from ribero del Duero are exported?

A

20%

87
Q

Sales from Ribera del Duero DO in hL?

A

600,000-700,000 hL

88
Q

What are the main export markets by volume for Ribera del Duero?

A

Switzerland, Mexico, USA, Germany, China

89
Q

What colour wine is predominantly made in Rueda?

A

Almost all white

90
Q

What style of wine was traditionally made in Rueda that has fallen out of fashion?

A

Oxidative fortified wines

91
Q

Which Rioja based winery invested in Rueda in the 1970s?

A

Marques de Riscal

92
Q

What style of winemaking is synonymous with Rueda DO?

A

Fresh, fruity white wines from Verdejo. Handled protectively and fermented in temp-controlled stainless steel.

93
Q

What is the weather like in Rueda?

A

Hot, dry summers and cold winters, low rainfall

94
Q

what is the average vineyard altitude in Rueda?

A

700-800 m

95
Q

What is the soil like in Rueda?

A

Limestone bedrock, with a sandy clay sub layer, and then a topsoil of stones (sand in some places). Free draining, low in organic matter.

96
Q

What is the key grape in Rueda?

A

Verdejo

97
Q

Describe Verdejo

A 
Drought tolerant
med to med+ acidity 
med alcohol
apple pear peach 
herbal note (fennel)
slight bitterness on the finish
98
Q

What international variety can be found in Rueda?

A

Sauvignon Blanc

99
Q

New vineyards in Rueda must have what trellising?

A

VSP trellising

100
Q

What is the ideal time to pick white grapes in Rueda?

A

Harvesting at night is desirable, allowing the grapes to be picked and transported at the coolest temperatures

101
Q

Are there old vines in Rueda?

A

Yes, around 10% including some on sandy soils that predate Phylloxera

102
Q

What kind of yeasts would you use in Rueda and why?

A

Cultured yeasts are used for their reliability and ability to promote the fruity flavours of the wines

103
Q

General quality levels in Rueda?

A

Acceptable-very good

104
Q

Would you expect to see lees agin in Rueda?

A

In mid priced wines (a few months to a year), with regular stirring.

105
Q

Would you expect to see wines made in oak in Rueda?

A

In the most expensive wines (still usually mid-priced), wines are fermented and/or matured in oak.

106
Q

Would you expect white wines in Rueda DO to have gone through Malo?

A

Generally avoided to retain acidity

107
Q

Name some significant producers in Rueda DO?

A

Ossian and Bodega Belondrade y Lurton

108
Q

To be varietally labeled, what % of the named grape must be in the wine in Rueda DO and how would this look on a label?

A

85% - DO Rueda-Verdejo or DO Rueda-Sauvignon Blanc

109
Q

Which red grape is grown in Rueda?

A

Tempranillo

110
Q

How much growth in production has occurred in Rueda in the last 20 years?

A

its quadrupled

111
Q

Why does Rueda face lots of export competition?

A

Many regions and countries make fruity, crisp early drinking styles of white wines at an inexpensive price point

112
Q

Is Rueda mainly exported or domestic sales?

A

Mainly domestic with around 7% exported to Netherlands, Germany, USA and Switzerland

113
Q

Why might a Rioja producer want to have land in Rueda?

A

To add a white wine to their portfolio

114
Q

What is a the Meseta Central?

A

A raised plateau in Castilla y Leon, Spain

115
Q

Why might a producer use the Castilla y Leon VT?

A

It permits producers who are located outside the DO bounderies to make wines with a GI. It also allows producers within any DO boundaries to make wines in styles or from grape varieties not permitted ins their DO

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