Spain - Galicia Flashcards
Where is the community of Galicia located? What does that mean?
- In the north west
- Proximity to the Atlantic -> cool and wet
What is the largest DO in Galicia?
Rías Baixas DO
Rías Baixas
What is the production (hL) and what is the trend?
- Today: 250,000 hL
- 1991: 3,500 hL
Rías Baixas
What is the size (ha) and how many grape growers are there?
- 4,000 ha
- 5,500 growers
Rías Baixas
Name the largest producer
Bodegas Martín Códax (co-op)
Rías Baixas
What happened after phylloxera?
- Replanted with hybrid varieties and high-yielding Palomino vines
- Many tiny plots selling to local producers
- 1970s and 80s: incentives to grow indigenous varieties and modernize winery equipment
- Improvement in quality
- Provide quality wines, in a desirable style (fresh and fruity) and at an affordable price point
Rías Baixas
What is the climate and rainfall and what effect does it have on grape growing?
- Maritime climate
- High rainfall (1,700mm)
- Fungal diseases
- Rain prior to harvest
Rías Baixas
What are the soils?
- Free-draining
- Sand over granite bedrock
Rías Baixas
What is the most planted variety? (incl. %)
- Albariño
- 95% of plantings
Rías Baixas
Describe characteristics of the Albariño variety (skin, ripening time)
- Thick skin -> reduced disease risk
- Early to mid-ripening
Rías Baixas
Is Albariño usually blended?
No, mostly single varietal wines
Rías Baixas
What are the three varieties Albariño is sometimes blended with? (incl. ripening time, acidity, aromas)
- Loureira (early ripening, medium (+) acidity, aromatic citrus, pear, floral and herbal notes)
- Treixadura (mid-ripening, low acidity, apple and peach flavours)
- Caiño Blanco (late ripening, high acidity, citrus flavours)
Rías Baixas
Are there black varieties planted for red wines? If yes which ones?
- Small volumes of (1% of production)
- Sousón (same as Vinhão in Vinho Verde)
- Caiño Tinto
Rías Baixas
Name the 5 sub-zones incl. rough characteristics
- Val do Salnés (oldest sub-zone with greatest plantings; coolest and wettest; highest acidity)
- O Rosal (close to Portugal -> often blended with Loureira, Treixadura, Caiño Blanco; south-facing -> lower acidity)
- Condado do Tea (even warmer -> lower acidity, riper fruit, easy drinking)
- Ribeira do Ulla (newest sub-zone; inexpensive to mid-priced wines)
- Soutomaior (smallest sub-zone)
Rías Baixas
Describe the typical style of wine
- Peach, melon, lemon
- High acidity
- Medium(–) to medium body
- Medium alcohol
- Good to very good quality (some outstanding)
- Mid- to premium priced
Rías Baixas
Name two quality driven producers
- Pazo de Senorans
- Palacio de Fefiñanes
Rías Baixas
What training system is generally used, what are the benefits, and what is the trend?
- Pergola (called “parral”) remains popular
- Originally, other agricultural crops were planted underneath
- The high training promotes air circulation
- Many bigger growers use VSP (mechanization)
Rías Baixas
Describe the general winemaking process (skin maceration, vessel, fermentation temps, malo, lees ageing, stirring, oak)
- Protective
- Sometime macerated for few hours
- Cool fermentation in stainless steel
- Sometimes malo to reduce acidity
- More expensive wines are stored on lees (sobre lias) for 1-2 years, sometimes longer; NOT stirred (no oxygen wanted)
- The most expensive wines are sometimes in oak, even some proportion of new oak
Rías Baixas
How much of the wine is exported, what is the trend and what are the main export markets?
- 25%
- Strongly increasing
- USA, UK
What are the four other Galician wine regions?
- Ribeiro
- Ribeira Sacra
- Valdeorras
- Monterrei
Ribeiro
Where is it located and what is the climate and rainfall?
- Most westerly, just east of southern Rías Baixas
- Slightly more sheltered than Rías Baixas
- Maritime climate with high rainfall
Ribeiro
What types of wines does it produce? (incl. variety, oak)
- Mainly white wines
- Treixadura most planted
- Either single variety or as blend with other Galician varieties
- The most expensive wines sometimes in oak
Ribeiro Sacra
Where is the DO located?
- Further inland
- Close to rivers
- Mainly continental, some maritime influences
Ribeira Sacra
Where are the vineyards located and what is the soil?
- Very precipitous valley sides
- Stony slopes with good drainage and heat absorption
- Extremely labour intensive
Ribeiro Sacra
What types of wines are produced? (incl. variety, aromas, body, acidity, price, style)
- Red wine from Mencía
- Red cherry, raspberry
- Medium body
- Medium tannins
- Medium(+) acidity
- Mid-priced
- Fresh, early drinking style
Valdeorras
Where is it located, what is the climate and rainfall?
- Most easterly
- Continental climate
- Plenty of rain (700–1,000mm)
Valdeorras
Where are the vineyards planted and what is the soil?
- 300m altitude
- Diverse range of soil
Valdeorras
What does it have a reputation for? (variety, aromas, acididty, oak, quality)
- Godello (white variety)
- Citrus, stone fruit, sometimes herbal or wet stone
- Medium(+) acidity
- Premium wines often in oak
- Good to very good quality
Valdeorras
What is the next most planted variety after Godello?
Mencía (black variety)
Monterrei
Where is it located, what is the climate and rainfall?
- South of Ribeira Sacra, on the border of Portugal
- Inland and sheltered from ocean influence
- Continental climate
- Low rainfall
Monterrei
What are the three styles of wines produced?
- Mostly inexpensive bulk wine
- Some good quality Mencía (riper style than in Ribeira Sacra)
- Some fruity Godello
