Spain - Geography and grape varietals Flashcards
What is the Meseta?
A large plateau in which most of the interior of Spain lies on.
Spain’s southern and eastern borders are situated along which coastline?
Mediterranean Sea
What country and coastline lie on the eastern borders of Spain?
Portugal & a small section of the Atlantic coastline.
What two mountain ranges are responsible for Spain’s mostly continental climate?
Pyrenees Mountains and the Cordillera Cantabrica (Cantabrian Mountains) along the north coast.
What is the most widely planted grape variety in Spain>
Tempranillo
What is the second most planted grape variety in Spain?
Airen
What is the tempranillo grape synonym in Rioja?
Tempranillo
What is the tempranillo grape synonym in Toro?
Tinta de Toro
What is the tempranillo grape synonym in Ribera del Duero & Cigales?
Tinta del Pais
What is the tempranillo grape synonym in Ribera del Duero?
Tinto Fino & Tinta del Pais
What is the tempranillo grape synonym in Calalonia?
Ull de Llebre
What is the tempranillo grape synonym in La Mancha & Valdepenas?
Cencibel
What is the tempranillo grape synonym in Portugal?
Aragonez
Douro (Portugal)
Tinta Roriz
The Albarrino grape variety is regionally based where?
Rias Baixas
The Palomino & Pedro Ximenez grape varieties are regionally based where?
Jerez
The Parellada & Xarel-lo grape varieties are regionally based where?
Penedes
A basic Spanish wine that does not warrant a geographical indication is designated as:
Vine de mesa
Spain currently has ____ areas with PGI status. How are theses identified on wine labels?
43 PGI’s
“Vino de la Tierra de - followed by the name of the region.
List the subcategories for protected designation of origin (PDO)
- Vino de calidad con indicacion (VCIG)
- Denominacion de origen (DO)
- Vino de Pago
- Denominacion de origen calificada (DOCa)
This status is intended for up-and-coming regions that are expected to prove themselves worthy of DO status before too long.
Vino de calidad con indicacion geografica (VCIG)
These wines - sourced from a demarcated zone - are highly regulated in regard to grape varieties, crop yields, winemaking methods, and agin requirements.
Denominacion de origen
This category is a government-granted protected designation of origen intended to recognize single-vineyard wines of distinction. Regional specificity and estate bottling are required.
Vino de pago
This status is reserved for wines that have demonstrated superior quality as a DO for at least 10 years.
Demominacion de origen calificada
The term “vino noble” is used to describe what within the PGI & PDO
wine that has spent a minimum of 18 months aging in barricas or in the bottle.
The term “Vino anejo” is used to describe what within the PGI & PDO
wine that has spent a minimum of 24 months aging in barricas or in the bottle.
The term “vino viejo” is used to describe what within the PGI & PDO
wine that has sent a minimum of 36 months aging in a strongly oxidative environment exposed to any combination of light, oxygen, and heat.
Quality wines may use the following terms on their labels to indicate a level of again prior to release:
Crianza, Reserva, Gran Reserva
The term “Joven” is used to describe what within the PDO
may be used for PDO wine released the year after it was made and, if oak-aged at all, agred for a shorter period that the legal minimum requirement for Crianza.
