Spain - General/Rioja/Navarra/Aragon

Question 1

Who/where/when was vini/viticulture AS A COMMODITY introduced to the Iberian Peninsula?

Answer 1

The Phoenicians, near Cadiz, circa 1100 BCE. Viticulture already had a history, as grapes are native to the region.

Question 2

Which conquerors of Spain forbade the consumption and sale of alcohol (wine)?

Answer 2

The Moors

Question 3

Which wine may have been the first vinous export to the New World colonies?

Answer 3

Sherry

Question 4

What event caused both increased exports of Spanish wine to France, and the arrival of French winemakers and new technologies to Spain?

Answer 4

Phylloxera’s arrival in France

Question 5

What led to the use of barrique, and the new practice of estate bottling, toward the end of the 19th C.?

Answer 5

Winemakers arriving (or returning) from the Medoc to Spain - particularly Rioja and Ribera del Duero - Marqués de Riscal and Marqués de Murrieta

Question 6

What led to the dominance of American oak in the late 19th C Spanish wines?

Answer 6

Economic decision - American oak was cheaper and more readily available via the established transatlantic trade

Question 7

Which notable Rioja wineries were already operating by the late 19th c?

Answer 7

López de Heredia, CVNE, La Rioja Alta, and Berceo

Question 8

During which era was Spanish sparkling wine created?

Answer 8

late 19th C

Question 9

What were some (big picture) challenges to the wine industry in Spain during the 20th C?

Answer 9

Arrival of phylloxera around the turn of the century, civil and world wars, and economic depression under Franco’s fascist regime that lasted into the 70s.

Question 10

What are the two highest tiers of Spain’s appellation designations?

Answer 10

Denominación de Origen (DO) and the superior Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa)

Question 11

What is Spain’s IGP equivalent?

Answer 11

Vino de la Tierra (VdlT)

Question 12

Is Spain’s Vinos de Calidad con Indicación Geográfica (VCIG) considered an EU DO or IGP?

Answer 12

it is in the DO/DOP tier

Question 13

Why did Spain’s exports to France rise, and then steeply fall, during the later half of the 19th c?

Answer 13

Post phylloxera, Spanish wines were heavily imported to France to fill the void. Then, steep tariffs were placed on imports, and Algerian wines became the go-to.

Question 14

Is chaptalization legal in Spain?

Answer 14

NO

Question 15

Crianza aging (for Spain, Rioja, Ribera del Duero):

Answer 15

Spain: Tinto - 6 mo. in barrel, 2 years total; Blanco/Rosado - 6 months in barrel, 18 mo. total aging

Rioja: red - 1 year in barrel, 2 years total; Crianza blanco/rosado - min. 2 years, including at least 6 months in oak

Ribera del Duero: Tinto - 1 year in barrel, 2 years total; Rosado: min. 18 months, including at least 6 months in oak

Question 16

Reserva aging (for Spain, Rioja, Ribera del Duero):

Answer 16

Spain: Tinto - 1 year in barrel, 3 years total; Blanco/Rosado - 6 months in barrel, 2 years total

Rioja: red - 1 year in barrel, 6 months in bottle, 3 years total; Reserva Blanco/Rosado: 6 months in barrel, 2 years total

Ribera del Duero: Tinto only - 1 year in barrel, 3 years total

Question 17

Gran Reserva aging (for Spain, Rioja, Ribera del Duero):

Answer 17

Spain: Tinto - 18 months in barrel, 5 years total; Blanco/Rosado - 6 months in barrel, 4 years total

Rioja: Tinto - 2 years in barrel, 2 years in bottle, 5 years total; Blanco/Rosado - 6 months in barrel, min. 4 years total

Ribera del Duero: Tinto only - 2 years in barrel, 3 years in bottle, 5 years total

Question 18

Does Rioja or Ribera del Duero have the longer bottle aging requirement for Gran Reserva?

Answer 18

Ribera del Duer0 (3 years vs. 2)

Question 19

“Noble”

Answer 19

18 months aging in a cask of less than 600 L or bottle

Question 20

“Añejo”

Answer 20

24 months aging in a cask of less than 600 L or bottle

Question 21

“Viejo”

Answer 21

36 months aging, demonstrates marked oxidative character

Question 22

What are the “authorized” red grapes of Rioja?

Answer 22

Tempranillo, Mazuelo (Carignan), Graciano, and Garnacha, and as of 2007 - Maturana Tinta

Question 23

In Rioja, authorized grapes must constitute what percent of the blend?

Answer 23

95% if esteemed, and 85% if whole cluster

Question 24

What is the required cask size for Rioja?

Answer 24

225L (approximately)

Question 25

The new Rioja regulations allow what sweetness designations for sparkling wine?

Answer 25

Brut Nature: Inferior a 3 g/l sin adición de azúcar después de la segunda fermentación • Extra brut: entre 0 y 6 g/l • Brut - less than 12 g/l

Question 26

What is the Spanish name for bush trained vines?

Answer 26

"en vaso"

Question 27

What is the new name for single vineyard selections in Rioja? What are the requirements?

Answer 27

Viñedos Singulares 1) Single Vineyards to appear on labels must be approved by the regulatory board, and produced by a winery with a at least a 10 year history of working with the vineyard, that must have Vines at least 35 years of age. 2) The harvest of grapes destined for a single vineyard wine must be communicated to the Consejo Regulador prior to harvest 3) All single vineyard wines must be manually harvested. 4) The Consejo Regulador may assume control of a vineyard destined to be singularly labeled from July 1st to ensure that it is not manipulated, and that it corresponds to the yield and farming requirements

Question 28

What are the new tiers of quality rating for Rioja?

Answer 28

Viñedos Singulares (single vineyard) Vinos de Municipio Vinos de Zona

Question 29

What are Vinos de Municipio?

Answer 29

Effectively Rioja’s Village category, this regulation states that the grapes must come from the village or municipality indicated on the label (with up to 15 percent permitted to come from a neighboring village).

Question 30

What are Vinos de Zona?

Answer 30

This category covers the labelling of wines from the larger of Rioja’s subregions: Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa, and Rioja Oriental (formerly called Rioja Baja). Up to 15 percent of the grapes that feature these subregions on the label can come from a neighboring Zona.

Question 31

What is Vino Espumosa Gran Añada?

Answer 31

New, vintage dated sparkling wine designation in Rioja

Question 32

Vino Espumosa Calidad must be 100% from stated vintage?

Answer 32

True

Question 33

Vino Espumosa Calidad requirements -

Answer 33

1) Traditional method 2) Hand harvesting 3) Entire winemaking process must take place at the same location. 4) No additions, coloring or filtration at any point throughout the production 5) Transfer method allowed for bottles smaller than 750mL or larger than 3L

Question 34

Soils of Rioja Alta

Answer 34

Rioja Alta's northern areas are characterized by yellow calcareous clay (arcillo-calcareo), whereas the lower slopes south of the Ebro River contain reddish, iron-rich clay soils (arcillo-ferroso).

Question 35

Soils of Rioja Alavesa

Answer 35

This subzone has the highest concentration of calcareous clay soils, the dominant soil type between the Cantabrian Mountains and the north bank of the Ebro River.

Question 36

Soils of Rioja Oriental

Answer 36

It has some iron-rich clay, but most of the lower, flatter areas are characterized by alluvial, silty soils.

Question 37

Authorized grapes for Rioja Blanco (and Vino Espumosa Calidad blanco)

Answer 37

Principal White Grapes, min. 50%: Viura, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Verdejo Secondary White Grapes: Malvasía, Garnacha Blanca, Tempranillo Blanca, Maturana Blanca, Turruntés

Question 38

Rioja rosado, and Vino Espumosa Calidad rosado, authorized grapes

Answer 38

Rosado: min. 25% combined Tempranillo, Mazuelo, Garnacha Tinta, Maturana Tinta and Graciano

Question 39

Which zones of Rioja experience a more continental climate? Which one a more Mediterranean?

Answer 39

Alta, Alavesa - continental; Oriental - Mediterranean

Question 40

What are the sub zones of Navarra?

Answer 40

Ribera Alta, Ribera Baja, Baja Montaña, Tierra Estella, Valdizarbe

Question 41

Which three climates meet and influence Navarra?

Answer 41

Atlantic, in the northeast (Tierra Estela); Continental in the northwest (Baja Montana); and Mediterranean in the south (Ribera Baja)

Question 42

Where is Arinzano found? What grapes do they use?

Answer 42

In Navarra, in the Tierra Estella subzone. Tempranillo, blended with Cab and Merlot

Question 43

What are the 3 DO Pago in Navarra?

Answer 43

Arínzano, 2007, Navarra (Tierra Estella) Prado de Irache, 2008, Navarra (Tierra Estella) Otazu, 2009, Navarra (Valdizarbe)

Question 44

What DO Pago is in Aragón?

Answer 44

Aylés, 2011, Aragón (Cariñena)

Question 45

What river separates Rioja Oriental from Rioja Alta and Alavesa?

Answer 45

The Iregua

Question 46

Who makes the Castillo Ygay wines?

Answer 46

Marques de Murietta

Question 47

What are L. de Heredia's two vineyards?

Answer 47

Bosconia and Tondonia

Question 48

What are 5 producers in Rioja Alta?

Answer 48

CVNE, Lopez de Heredia, Muga, La Rioja Alta, Bodegas Hermanos de Peciña, Finca Allende, Bodegas Marqués de Cáceres

Question 49

5 Producers in Rioja Alavesa

Answer 49

Bodegas Valdemar, Marques de Riscal, Bodegas Ysios, Bodegas Palacio, Remelluri

Question 50

What does CVNE stand for?

Answer 50

Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España

Question 51

Why is there an anomalous section of Rioja Alta that is east of the Iregua river, past Logrono?

Answer 51

To give Marques de Murrieta the right to use Alta instead of Baja/Oriental

Question 52

Where is the Batalla de Vino held?

Answer 52

in Haro

Question 53

What styles of wine are produced in Navarra DO?

Answer 53

``` Blanco Rosado (Garnacha preferred) Tinto Vino de Licor (Moscatel) --- historically important for Rosado production ```

Question 54

Authorized white grapes of Navarra DO

Answer 54

Garnacha Blanca, Viura, Malvasía, Moscatel de grano menudo, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc

Question 55

Authorized red grapes of Navarra DO

Answer 55

Tempranillo, Garnacha Tinta, Graciano, Mazuelo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Pinot Noir

Question 56

What is the name in Spain of the regional authority for grape growing/wine production?

Answer 56

Consejo Regulador

Question 57

What is another name for Mazuelo?

Answer 57

Carignan

Question 58

What are the four DOs of Aragón?

Answer 58

Somontano, Calatayud, Campo de Borja, Cariñena DOs

Question 59

What is Vino de Aguja?

Answer 59

Semi-sparkling wine, found in Calatayud and Cariñena

Question 60

What is the largest DO of Aragón?

Answer 60

Calatayud DO

Question 61

Which Aragón DO is closest to Catalunya?

Answer 61

Somontano DO

Question 62

Principal soils of Somontano:

Answer 62

clay and limestone - at the foot of the Pyrenees

Question 63

Which Aragón DO forms an extension to the south of Navarra?

Answer 63

Campo de Borja

Question 64

Carinena DO soils and grapes:

Answer 64

predominantly Miocene clay soils, with gravel, brown limestone, and slate Blanco: Chardonnay, Garnacha Blanca, Macabeo, Parallada, Moscatel de Alejandría Tinto: Cariñena (Mazuela), Garnacha Tinta, Cabernet Sauvignon, Juan Ibáñez, Tempranillo, Monastrell, Merlot, Vidadillo, Syrah

Question 65

Which Aragón DO contains some land designated for Cava DO?

Answer 65

Carinena

Question 66

Name 2 Somontano producers

Answer 66

Vinas del Vero, Enate