Spain - Galicia/Pais Vasco/Castilla y Leon

Question 1

Which NW Castilla y Leon DO borders Valdeorras in Galicia?

Answer 1

Beirzo

Question 2

What is the important river of Bierzo

Answer 2

Sil River

Question 3

Primary grape and wines of Bierzo DO

Answer 3

Mencia, the grape comprises a minimum 70% of red wines and 50% of rosé wines, but many are 100%

Question 4

What DO is home to the Descendientes de José Palacios?

Answer 4

Bierzo, making biodynamic, concentrated Mencia from schist soils - “Corullón”

Question 5

White grapes/wines of Bierzo

Answer 5

Godello and Doña Blanca show more, Palomino still dominates the vineyards

Question 6

Which mountainous Castilla y Leon DO received its own appellation in 2007?

Answer 6

Tierra de León DO

Question 7

Grapes and wines of Tierra de Leon DO

Answer 7

Mencía, and local Prieto Picudo

reds, whites, and rosado

Question 8

What are the notable appellations of Castilla y Leon that follow the Duero river westward toward Portugal?

Answer 8

Ribera del Duero, Rueda, Toro, followed by Tierra del Vino de Zamora, and then Arribes DO on the border of Portugal

Question 9

What river are Arlanza and Cigales on?

Answer 9

Rio Pisuerga

Question 10

What is Tinto del País?

Answer 10

Tempranillo/Tinto Fino/Tinta de Toro/Cencibel. Tinto del País is the Castilla y Leon name.

Question 11

What are the 3 VCIG zones of Castilla y Leon

Answer 11

Sierra de Salamanca VCIG
Valles de Benavente VCIG
Valtiendas VCIG

Question 12

What is VCIG?

Answer 12

Vinos de Calidad con Indicación Geográfica (VCIG or VC), between VdlT and DO - After five years as a VCIG, the region can apply to be promoted to a DO.

Question 13

Does Ribera del Duero produce white wines?

Answer 13

No, only reds and rosado

Question 14

Where is Vega Sicilia? When was it founded?

Answer 14

1864, in Ribera del Duero

Question 15

When did Ribera del Duero receive DO status?

Answer 15

1982

Question 16

Name 4 producers in Ribera del Duero

Answer 16

Pesquera, Dominio de Pingus, Aalto, Vega Sicilia

Question 17

Grapes of Ribera del Duero

Answer 17

Recommended: Tinta del País / Tinto Fino (Tempranillo)
Authorized: Garnacha, Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Albillo Mayor (white grape allowed to give freshness to rosado)

Question 18

What are the vino joven of Ribera del Duero?

Answer 18

reds and rosado that do not meet the minimum aging for Crianza

Question 19

When did Rueda receive its DO?

Answer 19

1980

Question 20

What is the primary grape and wine style of Rueda DO?

Answer 20

Verdejo - crisp, still white wine

Question 21

What technological advances led to the style of wine Rueda is now most known for? Who is responsible for this transition?

Answer 21

Marqués de Riscal; Through careful handling, controlled temperatures and an anaerobic environment, Verdejo could provide delicate, aromatic wines, rather than the oxidative, sherry-style wines of the past.

Question 22

A white wine labeled “Rueda DO” must have what % of Verdejo?

Answer 22

At least 50%; Viura is the typical blending partner; Sauvignon Blanc, Viura, Palomino Fino are all authorized

Question 23

Which wines may appear varietally labeled in Rueda? What is the min. % of their respective grapes?

Answer 23

Verdejo and Sauvignon Blanc, min. 85% respective grape variety

Question 24

What are three important Toro producers?

Answer 24

Fariña, Numanthia-Termes, Bodegas Pintia (of Vega Sicilia)

Question 25

When was Toro DO created?

Answer 25

1987

Question 26

What wine styles are allowed in Toro DO? from which grapes?

Answer 26

white, red, rose Blanco = min. 85% Malvasia or min. 100% Verdejo Rosado = min. 75% Tinta de Toro or 100% Grenache Tinto: min. 75% Tinta de Toro

Question 27

Nama a producer of Toro reds and whites:

Answer 27

Rejadorada

Question 28

Where is Cigales DO?

Answer 28

To the northwest of Ribera del Duero. red wines made principally from Garnacha Tinta and Tinto del País (Tempranillo), noted for its rosado and nuevo (primeur) rosado production.

Question 29

Where is Arlanza DO?

Answer 29

to the east of Cigales, or due north of Ribera del Duero. Handful of estates working with Bordeaux and Spanish grapes.

Question 30

What are the three Txakoli DOs?

Answer 30

Arabako Txakolina / Chacolí de Álava DO Bizkaiko Txakolina/ Chacolí de Bizcaia DO Getariako Txakolina / Chacolí de Guetaria DO

Question 31

What are the principal and authorized white grapes of Txakolina DOs?

Answer 31

Recommended: Ondarrabi Zuri (Hondarribi Zuri) Authorized: Ondarrabi Zuri Zerratia (Petit Courbu), Izkiriota (Gros Manseng), Riesling, Chardonnay

Question 32

What is the blend requirements for Txakolina Rosado?

Answer 32

min. 50% Ondarribi Beltza

Question 33

What is the (sole) authorized grape for Txakolina Tinto?

Answer 33

Tinto: Ondarrabi Beltza (Hondarribi Beltza)

Question 34

What is the appellation in northern Spain for cider production?

Answer 34

Sidra de Asturias DOP

Question 35

Sweetness designations for Sidra de Asturias DOP

Answer 35

Dry: Less than 30 g/l of residual sugar Semi-Dry: Between 30 g/l and 50 g/l of residual sugar Sweet: More than 50 g/l of residual sugar with a maximum of 80 g/l of residual sugar

Question 36

what is forbidden in the production of Sidra de Asturias DOP

Answer 36

Aromatization, pasteurization, alcohol additions, chaptalization, the addition of other fruits and water additions are all prohibited

Question 37

Is 'Natural Cider/Sidra' from Sidra de Asturias DOP still or sparkling?

Answer 37

It is still (might have a VERY slight effervescence)

Question 38

What estate did Peter Sisseck found?

Answer 38

Dominio de Pingus - 1995

Question 39

Where is Dominio de Pingus?

Answer 39

Ribera del Duero

Question 40

What is the second wine of Pingus?

Answer 40

Flor de Pingus

Question 41

What is the cepage for the Pingus wines?

Answer 41

100% Tempranillo

Question 42

What is La Faraona?

Answer 42

A $650 bottling by Descendientes de J Palacios of old vine (65+ years) unfiltered, Bierzo Mencia

Question 43

What are the DOs of Galicia?

Answer 43

``` Monterrei DO Rías Baixas DO Ribeira Sacra DO Ribeiro DO Valdeorras DO ```

Question 44

What are the 5 sub zones of Rías Baixas DO?

Answer 44

Val do Salnés, Ribeira do Ulla, Soutomaior, O Rosal, and Condado do Tea

Question 45

A bottle labeled Rías Baixas Albariño may contain what grapes?

Answer 45

Albarino, 100%

Question 46

What are the northern subzones of Rías Baixas?

Answer 46

Val do Salnés, Ribeira do Ulla

Question 47

If a wine is labeled with Val do Salnés and Ribeira do Ulla, what grapes may appear in the bottle?

Answer 47

70% of recommended varieties: Albariño, Loureiro, Treixadura, and Caiño Blanco

Question 48

What are the southern subzones of Rías Baixas?

Answer 48

O Rosal, Condado do Tea

Question 49

If a wine is labelled as O Rosal or Condado do Tea, what grapes may appear in the bottle?

Answer 49

70% of Albariño combined with, respectively, either Loureira (in O Rosal) or Treixadura (Condado do Tea)

Question 50

In O Rosal, what is the blending partner for Albarino?

Answer 50

Loureira

Question 51

In Condado do Tea, what is the blending partner for Albarino?

Answer 51

Treixadura

Question 52

What are the authorized red grapes of Rías Baixas?

Answer 52

Recommended: Caiño Tinto, Espadeiro, Loureira Tinta, Sousón Authorized: Mencía, Brancellao

Question 53

Minimum aging for Rias Biaxas Blanca Barrica?

Answer 53

3 mo. in barrica (max. 600L)

Question 54

Val do Salnés, O Rosal and Soutomaior principal soils

Answer 54

the soils are alluvial over granite

Question 55

Condado do Tea principal soils

Answer 55

both granite and slate appear on the surface with lighter granite subsoil

Question 56

Ribeira do Ulla principal soils

Answer 56

alluvial

Question 57

90% of vineyards in Rias Biaxas are planted to what grape?

Answer 57

Albarino

Question 58

What is the coolest/wettest sub zone of Rias Biaxas?

Answer 58

Val do Salnés

Question 59

What is the warmest and driest subzone of Rias Biaxas?

Answer 59

Condado do Tea

Question 60

Which river forms the northern border of Portugal, dividing it from Spain?

Answer 60

the Mino

Question 61

What Rias Biaxas subzones are on the Mino River?

Answer 61

O Rosal and Condado do Tea

Question 62

What river runs though the Val do Salnes subzone?

Answer 62

The Rio Umia

Question 63

What river runs through the Ribeira do Ulla subzone?

Answer 63

The Ulla

Question 64

Where might the word "Adega" appear on a bottle?

Answer 64

In Galicia - it is the Gallego word for Bodega

Question 65

What famous Rioja producer bottles a very high quality Rias Baixas Albariño?

Answer 65

Marques de Murrieta - La Comtesse Albariño

Question 66

Name 3 Rias Baixas producers:

Answer 66

Do Ferreiro, Raúl Pérez, Marques de Murrieta, Forjas del Salnes (white and red)

Question 67

What is the biggest Rias Baixas producer?

Answer 67

Martin Codax

Question 68

What is Viño Tostado and where is it made?

Answer 68

A dried grape wine; Valdeorras or Ribeiro Vino Tostado Blanco: Treixadura, Loureiro, Torrontés, Albariño, Godello (only Godello in Valdeorras) Vino Tostado Tinto: Caiño, Ferrón, Brancellao, Mencía, Sousón

Question 69

What are the aging (and other) requirements for Ribeiro Viño Tostado?

Answer 69

Min. 6 mo. aging in cherry or oak Only recommended grape varieties permitted Min. must weight of 350 g/l Drying process for grapes must last a min. of 3 months Min. residual sugar: 120 g/l

Question 70

What are the authorized white grapes of Valdeorras?

Answer 70

Recommended: Godello, Dona Branca Authorized: Palomino Fino

Question 71

What are the authorized red grapes of Valdeorras?

Answer 71

Recommended: Mencía, Merenzao, Sousón, Brancellao Authorized: Garnacha Tintorera (Alicante Bouschet), Gran Negro, Tempranillo, Negreda

Question 72

Valdeorras "crianza" aging:

Answer 72

Crianza: Min. 2 years aging (12 months in wood for reds, 6 months in wood for whites)

Question 73

Which river runs through Bierzo, Valdeorras, and Ribeira Sacra?

Answer 73

The Sil (joins the Mino in Ribeira Sacra)

Question 74

Valdeorras falls between which 2 larger DOs?

Answer 74

Bierzo (to the east) and Ribeira Sacra (to the west)

Question 75

Are red wines or whites wines from Valdeorras more common?

Answer 75

Whites - from Godello

Question 76

Describe the terroir of Ribeira Sacra:

Answer 76

Steep, slate terraces above the Sil and Mino rivers

Question 77

Blending requirements for Ribeira Sacra "summum:"

Answer 77

Blanco Súmmum: 100% principal white grapes: Albariño, Godello, Treixadura, Loureira, Torrontés, Dona Branca Tinto Súmmum: min. 85% principal red grapes, min. 60% Mencía (Súmmum may be varietally labeled with a min. 85% Mencía)

Question 78

What are the most common grapes of Ribeiro DO?

Answer 78

Treixadura is the favored white grape, gradually replacing the neutral, heavier Palomino, and Caiño is preferred for reds

Question 79

What is another name for Garnacha Tintorera?

Answer 79

Alicante Bouschet

Question 80

Soils of Ribeiro

Answer 80

decomposed granite, mica & schist further devolving into sand

Question 81

Name a producer of Ribeira Sacra blanco and Tinto:

Answer 81

Algueira - blanco | Dominio do Bibei - tinto