Spain - Green Spain Flashcards
What is the climate of the Green Coast of Spain?
Maritime - due to dense forest, closeness to the Atlantic Ocean, low mountain ranges and small rivers
What primary wine types do they make in the Green Coast of Spain?
Crisp White
Rías Baixas
Ribeiro
Valdeorras
Ribera Sacra
Monterrei
Make up the 5 DO’s for this region?
Galicia
Known in Spain as the “low estuaries”
- Borders Portugal
- contains 5 sub zones:
- Val do Salnès
- Ribeira do Ulla
- Soutomaior
- O Rosal
- Condado do Tea
- Albariño is the primary grape of this region
Rías Baixas
When can you only blend a Albariño from Rías Baixas?
When it comes from the Northern subzones of Val do Salnès or Ribera do Ulla
- must contain a minimum of 70% Albariño
What are the Albariño requirements for the southern subzones of O Rosal and Condado do Tea in Rías Baixas?
Minimum 70% Albariño
- rear will be Loureira or Treixadura (flavored white grapes from Portugal)
What grape has this profile:
- stone fruit
- citrus flowers
- bubble gum
- undercurrent of minerality
Albariño
Asturias
Cantabria
País Vasco (Basque Country)
Costa Verde (green Coast)
Are all autonomías for what region in Spain
Green Spain
Rías Baixas DO
Ribeiro DO
Valdeorras DO
Ribera Sacra DO
Monterrei DO
These are the 5 DO’s for what region in Spain
Galicia
Ribera do Ulla
Val do Saínes
Soutomaior
Condado do Tea
O Rosal
These are subzones from north to south to what region
Raís Baixas
Galego
Azal Blanco
Albelleiro
Albarin Blanco
Synonyms for Albariño
If the Albariño comes from the northern zones of Ribera do Ulla and Val do Saines what is the minimum requirement of Albariño it must have
70%
In the southern zones of O Rosal and Condado do Tea what is the minimum about of Albariño allowed
70% but can add the Portuguese grapes of Loureira and Treixadura
Can you grow red grapes in Rias Baixas DO?
Yes you can, the 3 main red grapes are Caiño, Espadeiro, Mencía
What percentage of the vineyards in Rias Baixas grow Albariño?
90%
The Ribeiro DO sets off what river
Miño River
What is the main red grape of Ribeiro DO
Caiño 🔴
What is the main white grape of Ribeiro DO
Teixadura ⚪
What is the local specialty wine of Ribeiro DO
Viño Tostado
What is Ribeira Sacra named after
The large concentration of churches
What do they age white wines in at Rias Biaxas
Stainless Steel tanks
What makes labeling of wines different in Rias Baixas than any other region in Spain
The wines in Rias Baixas are labeled by the main varietal Albariño and not by region such as Rioja and Priorat
What is the flavor profile of Albariño
Zingy Citrus Peach
Almond Honeysuckle
Light creaminess
Crisp Zestiness
Citrus
Lime
Vanilla
Peach
Kiwi smells
What is Croquetas de bueyes de mar
Sweet, creamy crab croquettes
What is Pimientos del piquillo rellenos
Peppers stuffed with wild mushrooms, prawns, and salmon
What is Langosta
Spiny lobster with sweet, juicy, snow - white meat
What is Lenguado a la plancha
A pristine fresh sole broiled with a touch of ripe olive oil
What is the annual rainfall in Galicia and when does it occur the most
45 to 65 inches of rain and most of the rain takes place in the winter time .
Where is Ribeiro DO located
Long the Miño River to the east of Rias Baixas
Amandi
Chantada
Quiroga - Bibei
Riberas do Sil
Riberas do Miño
Are the 5 subregions for what DO
Ribera Sacra DO
Godello ⚪
Treixdura ⚪
Mencía 🔴
These are the main grapes of what DO
Ribera Sacra DO
What Galicia’s eastern most zone
Valdeorras DO
What type of wines are produced in Valdeorras DO
Vinto Tinto
Rosado
Blanco
- Vino Blanco are the regions best wines
What is are key flavor notes of white wines from Valdeorras DO
Clean
Fruit Driven
High Acid
Light lemony Notes
What is the Southern most DO of Galicia
Monterrei DO
What subzone of Rias Baixas runs along both banks of the river Ulla over plains and low mountains
Ribera do Ulla
This sub zone of Rias Baixas has ita center in Cambados and covers the largest surface area of the 5 subzones of Rias Baixas.
It is situated at sea level on the left bank of the Rià de Arosa.
This is the flattest coastal area in Galacia
Val do Sainès
This sub zone of Rias Baixas is located in a mostly mountainous area at the mouth of the River Verduga, which flows into the Ria de Vigo Estuary
Soutomaior
This sub zone is found on the right bank of the River Miña. It’s rolling hills stretch from Tui to the borders of Ourense Province
Condado do Tea
This sub zone of Rias Baixas is at the mouth of the River Miña. The interesting aspect of the vineyards there is their cultivation on river terraces
O Rosal
What is the average alcohol per volume for wines from Rias Baixas
12 to 13%
Can you make Espumoso in Rias Baixas
Yes, it is made from any of the recognized grape varieties grown in any of the sub zones of Rias Baixas
Is Albariño a thick or thin skinned grape?
It is a small thick skinned grape, that’s why it’s able to handle the harsh rain season of Rias Baixas
What is the trellis system used for Albariño grapes in Rias Baixas
Pergola (Parra) Style (traditional style)
- Row post hewn from ivory colored granite
- this elevates the grape clusters, allowing more sunshine for ripening and also more air to circulate underneath the vines to wick away the excessive moisture
Double Cordon System (Espaldera)
Vertical Shoot Training (Martin Códex)
What is a Parras or Pergola
Canopies on support wires attached to 8-10 foot high granite columns
How many acres of vineyards are in Rias Baixas
9,000 acres ( 3,600 ha)
What are the most northern sub zones of Rias Baixas
Ribera de Ulla
Val do Salnès
What is the soil type of Rias Baixas
Sandy / Granite, with a mixture of limestone and clay
What direction do the Vines face in Rias Baixas to get the most exposure from the sun
Southwest facing slopes
What seafood goes the best with Albariño
Scallops
Pazo Serantellos
Salneval
Lusco do Miño
AS Laxas
Pazo San Mauro
Adegas Gran Vinum
What do they all have in common with Rias Baixas
These are all top producers of Rias Baixas and all make 100% Albariño
Asturias
Cantabria
País Vasco
These are the autonomías for what area in Spain
Green Coast (Costa Verde)
Is a wine labeled Rías Baixas Albariño blended or not blended
Not blended
If a wine is labeled with one of the northern subzones ( Val do Salnés or Ribeira do Ulla) what are the requirements
A minimum 70% Albariño
If a wine is labeled with one of the southen subzones ( O Rosal and Condado do Tea) what are the requirements
A minimum 70% Albariño and either Loureira or Treixadura (Portuguese grapes from Vinho Verde)
Is malolactic fermentation used in Rías Baixas
Yes as well as barrica aging
- if used it is indicated on the bottle
Is oak used in Rías Baixas
Yes
Caiño 🔴
Espadeiro 🔴
Mencía 🔴
These are the main red grapes for what area in Green Country
Rías Baixas
90% of the vineyard acreage in Rías Baixas is devoted to what grape
Albariño
What is the river that separates O Rosal and Condado do Tea from Portugal
Miño River
What is the main river of Ribeira do Ulla
Ulla River
What is the main river of Val do Salnès
Umia River
Chain River
What is the smallest subzone of Rías Baixas
Soutomaior
What is the main river of Condado do Tea
Tea River
What is the largest winery in Rías Baixas
Martin Códex
- founded in 1986
- names after a 13th century Galician Poet who dranked a lot of wine
What subzone is Martin Códex located
Val do Salnès
What are the amounts per hectare per training systems of Rías Baixas
- Traditional Parral (Pergola) training: 800 - 2200 vines per hectare
- Irregular Head Trained (en vaso): 1200 - 2500 vines per hectare
- Espaldera/Parral Bajo/Vaso Entutorado/Guyot/Cordón Royal: 1600 - 3500 vine per hectare
