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Master Sommelier Theory 2025 > Spain: Duero River Valley > Flashcards

Spain: Duero River Valley Flashcards

1
Q

Ribera del Duero DO
provinces
styles
grapes
soil
elevation
producers

A

provinces: Soria, Segovia, Burgos, Valladolid

Blanco: min. 75% Albillo Mayor
Rosado or Clarete: min. 50% authorized red varieties
Tinto: min. 75% Tinta del País / Tinto Fino
auth for blending: Garnacha, Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Albillo Mayor

More limestone in the east
More clay in the west

vines planted b/t 700-1000m above sea level. average is 825m
continental climate- frost is a threat in spring and fall- Tempranillo is early budding and early ripening

producers: Vega Sicilia, Bodegas La Horra (Roda), Pingus, Bodegas Aalto

DO est 1982

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2
Q

when did RDD begin allowing white wine?

A

2019

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3
Q

Ribera del Duero
provinces

A

Soria
Segovia
Burgos
Valladolid
(east to west)

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4
Q

Ribera del Duero elevation

A

vines planted b/t 700-1000m above sea level. average is 825m
continental climate- frost is a threat in spring and fall- Tempranillo is early budding and early ripening

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5
Q

Ribera del Duero DO
styles and grapes

A

Blanco: min. 75% Albillo Mayor
Rosado or Clarete: min. 50% authorized red varieties
Tinto: min. 75% Tinta del País / Tinto Fino
auth for blending: Garnacha, Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Albillo Mayor

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6
Q

Ribera del Duero important producers

A

Vega Sicilia
Bodegas La Horra (Roda)
Pingus
Bodegas Aalto
Dominio del Aguila
Pago de los Capellanes
Abadia Retuerta
Fomperdraza (Familia Torres)
Legaris (Codorniu)
Valdubon (Freixenet)
Matallana (Telmo Rodriguez)
M. Chapoutier makes wines here

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7
Q

Ribera del Duero - vine training?

A

bush training has slight majority, more trellising and mechanical harvesting in flatter western areas

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8
Q

Ribera del Duero aging requirements

A

similar to Rioja

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9
Q

What DO borders Bierzo to the west?

A

Valdeorras

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10
Q

Bierzo DO
styles
grapes
geography
producers

A

red min 85%: Mencia, Garnacha Tintorera, Esaldiña, and/or Merenzao
white: Godello, Doña Blanca, Palomino

also rosé & clarete

  • Sierra de los Ancares shields much of the Atlantic’s effects. climate is moderate- some Atlantic influence, but less humid than Galicia.
  • Sil River runs through here.
  • 450-800 m elevation

producers: Descendientes de José Palacios, Corullón - old vine Mencia, Dominio de Tares, Pittacum, Raul Perez

Bierzo announced a Vino de Villa classification system in 2017- from village wines (Vino de Villa), to Vino de Paraje (lieu dits), and Viña Classificada, and Gran Viña Classificada (1er and Grand Cru)

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11
Q

Bierzo DO
describe geography

A
  • Sierra de los Ancares shields much of the Atlantic’s effects. climate is moderate- some Atlantic influence, but less humid than Galicia.
  • Sil River runs through here.

450-800 m elevation

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12
Q

Bierzo DO
styles and grapes

A

red min 85%: Mencia, Garnacha Tintorera, Esaldiña, and/or Merenzao
white: Godello, Doña Blanca, Palomino

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13
Q

Bierzo Vino de Villa requirements

A

Vino de Villa & Vino de Paraje: 100% must be sourced from one of the designated municipalities, or parcels. Villa = village. Paraje is like a lieu dit

100% must be sourced from one of the designated municipalities or parcels

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14
Q

Bierzo Viña Classificada

A

signle vineyard / parcel designation

Viña Clasificada: May be added to a single parcel, or collection of parcels within a Vino de Paraje that has been labelled as such for at least 5 years, and has been approved by a tasting panel.

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15
Q

Bierzo Gran Viña Classificada

A

Gran Viña Clasificada: Designation for a wine that has been produced as a Viña Clasificada for at least 5 years, and has been approved by a tasting panel.

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16
Q

Bierzo - levels of wine classification

A

Vino de la Region
Vino de Villa (village)
Vino de Paraje (lieu dit)
Vino de Viña Classificada
Gran Vino de Viña Classificada

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17
Q

Bierzo
producers

A

producers: Descendientes de José Palacios, Corullón - old vine Mencia, Dominio de Tares, Pittacum, Raul Perez

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18
Q

In what river’s valley is Bierzo located?

A

the Sil River

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19
Q

Tierra de Léon DO
styles, grapes

A

all 3 colors made

Mencia, Prieto Picudo

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20
Q

List 3 producers Rueda

A

Menade
Marques de Riscal
Telmo Rodriquez
CVNE
Bodegas Naia
Ramon Bilbao
Burdigala (François Lurton w/Michel Rolland)
Vinos Sanz (same family as Menade)
Val de Vid
Martin Sancho

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21
Q

Toro DO
styles
grapes
geography
soils
vine training

A

Blanco = 100% authorized white grapes
Rosado = 100% authorized red and/or white grapes
Tinto: = min. 75% Tinta de Toro or min. 85% Garnacha

recommended: Verdejo, Malvasía “Castellana”
authorized: Albillo Real, Muscat à Petit Grain

620 to 840 m elevation
cold continental nights prove critical to preserving balance in the region’s ripe wines- high alcohol can be an issue

Vines are usually bush-trained and widely spaced, in part due to the drought conditions common here.

Soils are inconsistent, though brown limestone can frequently be found atop both sandy and clay structures. Sandy soils protected the region from phylloxera

22
Q

Toro DO
describe geography

A

620 to 840 m elevation
cold continental nights prove critical to preserving balance in the region’s ripe wines- high alcohol can be an issue

sandy soils + very dry, and high altitude have kept the area safe from phylloxera

23
Q

Toro DO
styles, grapes

A

Blanco = 100% authorized white grapes
Rosado = 100% authorized red and/or white grapes
Tinto: = min. 75% Tinta de Toro or min. 85% Garnacha

recommended: Verdejo, Malvasía “Castellana”
authorized: Albillo Real, Muscat à Petit Grain

24
Q

Toro producers

A

Burdigala (François Lurton and Michel Rolland)
El Albar Lurton
Fariña
Numanthia (LVMH)
Telmo Rodriguez
Pintia (Vega Sicilia)

25
Which DOs border Toro?
Tierra de Vino de Zamora to west and south Rueda to east
26
Arribes DO
Castilla y Léon- western spain bordering Portugal. blanco, rosado, tinto blanco: Malvasia, Verdejo, Albilla tinto: Brunal, Juan Garcia. also: Rufete, Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mencia
27
what mountains separate Castilla y León from Castilla La Mancha?
the Sistema Central including: Sierra de Gredos, Sierra de Guadarrama
28
DOs of Castilla y León?
Arlanza DO (2007) Arribes DO (2007) Bierzo DO Cigales DO Ribera del Duero DO Rueda DO León DO (2007) Tierra del Vino de Zamora DO (2007) Toro DO upper portion of the Meseta Central, elevations are high (700 to 1,000 meters)
29
Descendientes de J. Palacios
founded by Ricardo Perez and Álvaro Palacios in Bierzo, Castilla y León, "put Mencia on the map." single vineyards: Monçerbal, Las Lamas and La Faraona ($1k retail)
30
What Rioja winemaker revitalized Rueda?
Marques de Riscal, with Emile Peynaud consulting, in 1970. Peynaud recommended Verdejo, which caught on as a crisp, fresh white wine
31
Rueda DO styles, grapes soils elevation
in Castilla y León. blanco, rosado, tinto, espumoso, vino de licor blanco min 50%: Verdejo, Sauvignon Blanc auth: Viura, Palomino Fino, Viognier, Chardonnay tinto principal: Tempranillo auth: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Garnacha Tinta, Syrah VdL Rueda Pálido (Pale): 100% combined Palomino Fino and/or Verdejo (3 years biological aging in oak) VdL Rueda Dorado (Golden): 100% combined Palomino Fino and/or Verdejo (4 yrs aging, w/2 in oak) soils: limestone, gravels elevation: 600-700 m extreme continental climate, often requires irrigation village wines: Vino de Pueblo Gran Vino de Rueda: vines min 30 years old "Fermentado en Barrica": White wines that undergo fermentation for at least 3 months in oak casks of no more than 600 liters
32
Rueda DO soil elevation climate
soils: limestone, gravelly. - great drainage elevation: 600-700 m extreme continental climate, often requires irrigation
33
Rueda village wines?
Vino de Pueblo: Wines may indicate the municipality of origin provided that 85% of grapes were grown there approved 2019
34
Rueda DO styles, grapes
in Castilla y León. blanco, rosado, tinto, espumoso, vino de licor blanco min 75% principal: Verdejo, SB, Viura, Viognier, Chardonnay tinto principal: Tempranillo, Cenicienta auth: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Garnacha Tinta, Syrah, Bruñal rose: from auth red grapes VdL Rueda Pálido (Pale): 100% combined Palomino Fino and/or Verdejo (3 years biological aging in oak) VdL Rueda Dorado (Golden): 100% combined Palomino Fino and/or Verdejo (4 yrs aging, w/2 in oak)
35
Rueda DO vino de licor styles
both are fortified stsyles VdL Rueda Pálido (Pale): 100% combined Palomino Fino and/or Verdejo (3 years biological aging in oak) VdL Rueda Dorado (Golden): 100% combined Palomino Fino and/or Verdejo (4 yrs aging, w/2 in oak)
36
Rueda old vines?
may be labeled Gran Vino de Rueda if vines are at least 30 years old approved 2019
37
Vega Sicilia
in Ribera del Duero, Castilla y León. Founded by Don Eloy Lecanda y Chaves in 1864. He brought in Bordeaux varieties and Pinot Noir. Winemaker Domingo Garramiola Txomin conceived Unico, and the estate began to receive notoriety Unico: 94% Tempranillo and 6% Cabernet, aged almost 10 years b/t American and French barrel and bottle. limestone, quartz, sand soils. $500 Valbuena: 97% Tinto Fino, 3% Merlot, aged 5 years $200 Alion: Tinto Fino, aged 12-14 months in French Oak. $100
38
Tempranillo synonyms in Ribera del Duero
Tinto Fino Tinta del Pais
39
Arlanza DO styles, grapes
in Castilla y León, north of Ribera del Duero Blanco: Albilla, Viura Tinto min 50% Tinta del País (Tempranillo) Authorized: Garnacha, Mencía, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot
40
Cigales DO styles river soil
in Castilla y León. lots of limestone here, and galets roulés. historically focused on rosado and claretes. now white, rose, red, sparkling, sweet blanco: Verdejo, Sauvignon Blanc, Albillo Mayor, Viura tinto: Tempranillo, Garnacha, Garnacha Gris, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah Pisuerga River is here luceras: tall air vents that help light the underground cellars
41
luceras
tall air vents that help underground cellars (Cigales DO)
42
León DO styles, grapes
in Castilla y León, known as tierra de León until 2019 blanco, rosado, tinto, vinos dulces, vinos semi-dulces blanco: Verdejo, Albarín Blanco, and Godello tinto rec: Prieto Picudo, Mencía, and Negro Saurí auth: Garnacha, Tempranillo
43
Tierra del Vino de Zamora DO styles, grapes
Castilla y León white: Malvasia, Moscatel de Grano Menudo, Verdejo. also: Albillo, Palomino, Godello reds: majority Tempranillo
44
Castilla y León DO Pago
Dehesa Peñalba- 2022 Urueña - 2021 Abadía-Retuerta - 2022
45
Mencia synonym
Jaen in Potugal
46
largest wine producing region in Spain?
Vino de la Tierra Castilla y León- largest in Spain and 3rd largest in Europe
47
atalayas
watch towers in Ribera del Duero
48
paramo
high point in Ribera del Duero- the high plateau
49
Pingus
winery of Peter Sisseck in Ribera del Duero. focus is old vine Tempranillo on limestone rich clay and gravel soils. Pingus retails around $1200 PSI: a co-op project focused on protecting old vines, particularly grenache
50
How does the ripening cycle of Tempranillo line up with the climatic conditions of Ribera del Duero?
Early ripening avoids fall frosts: By ripening earlier, Tempranillo grapes avoid the risk of damage from frost that can occur in the region during fall. The hot summers contribute to the development of thicker skins and higher sugar content in the grapes, leading to bolder and more full-bodied wines characteristic of Ribera del Duero.
51
vintages of Ribera del Duero from 2004 - present?
2004, 2005 - best in last 20 years. 2020 looks promising too. 2010 - good 2011 - good 2015 - good 2019 - good bad vintages 2013 - cool, wet growing season 2017 - spring frost, drought in growing season 06-08 all bad
52
DO of Castilla y Leon that are not on the Duero river
Bierzo Tierra de Léon Cigales Arlanza

Master Sommelier Theory 2025 (61 decks)

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