Spain (General)

Question 1

in what era Spanish wines had made improvement?

Answer 1

1960s
with modern winemaking equipment and technology, modern viticultural methods, importation of quality grape varieties

Question 2

what are the traditional white grape varieties in Spain?

Answer 2

•Macabéo (Viura)
•Xarel-lo
•Parellada

Question 3

what are the traditional red grape varieties in Spain?

Answer 3

•Tempranillo
•Garnacha
•Cariñena
•Monastrell (Mourvèdre)

Question 4

what is the synonym for Mourvèdre in Spain?

Answer 4

Monastrell

Question 5

what is the synonym for Viura in Spain?

Answer 5

Macabéo

Question 6

what are the international grape varieties in Spain?

Answer 6

•Cabernet Sauvignon
•Merlot
•Pinot Noir
•Muscat
•Chardonnay

Question 7

Spanish wines are governed by who?

Answer 7

Instituto de Denominaciónes de Origen (INDO)

controlled by administrative growers’ committees or Consejos Regulador

Question 8

how many quality levels are there in INDO?

Answer 8

SIX

can be under DOP:
•DOCa / DOQ
•DO
•VP
•VC

•IGP / VT / Vino de Mesa
•Vino d’Espagna

Question 9

what is Vino d’Espagna / Vino de Mesa (VdM)?

Answer 9

lowest category table wine, may be sold under a region or vintage

Question 10

what is Vino de la Tierra (VT)?

Answer 10

Indicación Geográfica Protegida (IGP) in Spain

(must contain 60% from the stated region)

Question 11

what is Vino de Calidad con Indicación Geográfica (VC)?

Answer 11

(level below DO)
-do not fully meet the stringent standards of DO wines
-but are above IGP / VT wines
-for those who are attempting to upgrade to DOP status, must wait for minimum of 5 years at this level

Question 12

What is Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP)?

Answer 12

-previously known as DO(still permitted to use), similar to AOP in France
-each DO/P is enforced by Consejo Regulador
(have to wait minimum 10 years to upgrade to DOCa)

Question 13

what is Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa)?

Answer 13

the highest classification in Spain
(also regulated by Consejo Regalado

Question 14

what is DOCa in Catalonia?

Answer 14

Denominación de Origen Qualificada (DOQ)

Question 15

what are the regions that acquired DOCa?

Answer 15

Priorat DOQ & Rioja DOCa

Question 16

what is single vineyard, estate wines called in Spain?

Answer 16

Vino de Pago

Question 17

if Vino de Pago has its own DO/P?

Answer 17

-top quality wines from single estate
-quality not necessarily higher than DO/P or DOCa
-wines must from single estate and produced at the estate
-producers who buys in grapes, wineries not on the estate not allowed to use

Question 18

how many Denominaciónes de Origen (DOs) in Spain currently?

Answer 18

69
(as of 2024)

Question 19

how many Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOPs) in Spain currently?

Answer 19

97 DOPs

subdivided into:
•2 DOCa (Denominación de Origen Calificada)
•69 DO (Denominación de Origen)
•19 VP (Vino de Pago)
•7 VC (Vino de Calidad con Indicación Geográfica)

(sub-categories can be called DOP or they use the traditional term)

Question 20

what is the requirement for DO?

Answer 20

-permitted grapes and wines must from the region
-production levels
-winemaking methods
-aging
-production quality need to be recognised at least 5 years (from IGP)

Question 21

what is the requirement for DOCa?

Answer 21

-must acquired DO status for a minimum 10 years
-wines must be produced and bottled in the bodega of origin
-controlled yield, quality

Question 22

what are the best known DOs?

Answer 22

•Calatayud
•Cariñena
•Cava
•Jerez
•Jumilla
•la Mancha
•Málaga
•Montilla-Moriles
•Montsant
•Navarra
•Penedès
•Priorat
•Rias Baixas
•Ribeiro
•Ribera del Duero
•Rioja
•Rueda
•Somontano
•Tarragona
•Toro
•Uclés
•Utiel-Requena
•Valdepenãs
•Valencia

Question 23

what are the aging criteria in Spain?

Answer 23

•Joven
•Crianza
•Reserva
•Gran Reserva

Question 24

Joven aging criteria?

Answer 24

no cask aging, or lesser than Crianza

Question 25

what is **Crianza**?

Answer 25

**Red wines**: mature **24 months** following harvest including **6 months** of aging in **barricas** (225 litre oak casks) **White & Rosé wines**: mature **18 months** including **6 months** in barricas

Question 26

aging criteria for **Reserva**?

Answer 26

**Red Wines**: mature **36 months** following harvest including **12 months** in barricas **White & Rosé wines**: mature **24 months** including **6 months** in barricas

Question 27

**Gran Reserva** aging criteria?

Answer 27

•only made in exceptional year **Red Wines**: mature **60 months** following harvest including **18 months** in barricas **White & Rosé wines**: mature **48 months** including **6 months** in barricas

Question 28

what is **Noblé**?

Answer 28

wine has been matured for **18 months** in **cask** (max 600 litres) or in **bottle**

Question 29

what is **Anejo**?

Answer 29

wine has been aged for **24 months** in **cask** (max 600 litres) or in **bottle**

Question 30

what is **Viejo**?

Answer 30

•wine must show an **oxidative** character •wine must undergo **36 months** aging, minimum of **12 months** in **cask** (max 600 litres)

Question 31

what are the synonyms for **Tempranillo**?

Answer 31

In *Spain*: •**Ull de Llebre** •**Cencible** •**Tinto Fino** •**Tinto del Pais** In *Portugal*: •**Aragonez** •**Tinta Roriz**

Question 32

what is the most planted white grape in *Spain*?

Answer 32

**Airén** (usually for distillation into *brandy* and *industrial alcohol*)

Question 33

when was **Vino de Pago** introduced?

Answer 33

introduced in **2000**, implemented on **2003**

Question 34

who are the first to get **Vino de Pago**?

Answer 34

**Dominio de Valdepusa** & **Finca Élez** (2003)