Spain - Green Spain

Question 1

What is the climate of the Green Coast of Spain?

Answer 1

Maritime - due to dense forest, closeness to the Atlantic Ocean, low mountain ranges and small rivers

Question 2

What primary wine types do they make in the Green Coast of Spain?

Answer 2

Crisp White

Question 3

Rías Baixas

Ribeiro

Valdeorras

Ribera Sacra

Monterrei

Make up the 5 DO’s for this region?

Answer 3

Galicia

Question 4

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

Answer 4

Rías Baixas

Question 5

When can you only blend a Albariño from Rías Baixas?

Answer 5

When it comes from the Northern subzones of Val do Salnès or Ribera do Ulla

• must contain a minimum of 70% Albariño

Question 6

What are the Albariño requirements for the southern subzones of O Rosal and Condado do Tea in Rías Baixas?

Answer 6

Minimum 70% Albariño

• rear will be Loureira or Treixadura (flavored white grapes from Portugal)

Question 7

What grape has this profile:

• stone fruit
• citrus flowers
• bubble gum
• undercurrent of minerality

Answer 7

Albariño

Question 8

Asturias

Cantabria

País Vasco (Basque Country)

Costa Verde (green Coast)

Are all autonomías for what region in Spain

Answer 8

Green Spain

Question 9

Rías Baixas DO

Ribeiro DO

Valdeorras DO

Ribera Sacra DO

Monterrei DO

These are the 5 DO’s for what region in Spain

Answer 9

Galicia

Question 10

Ribera do Ulla

Val do Saínes

Soutomaior

Condado do Tea

O Rosal

These are subzones from north to south to what region

Answer 10

Raís Baixas

Question 11

Galego

Azal Blanco

Albelleiro

Albarin Blanco

Answer 11

Synonyms for Albariño

Question 12

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

Answer 12

70%

Question 13

In the southern zones of O Rosal and Condado do Tea what is the minimum about of Albariño allowed

Answer 13

70% but can add the Portuguese grapes of Loureira and Treixadura

Question 14

Can you grow red grapes in Rias Baixas DO?

Answer 14

Yes you can, the 3 main red grapes are Caiño, Espadeiro, Mencía

Question 15

What percentage of the vineyards in Rias Baixas grow Albariño?

Answer 15

90%

Question 16

The Ribeiro DO sets off what river

Answer 16

Miño River

Question 17

What is the main red grape of Ribeiro DO

Answer 17

Caiño 🔴

Question 18

What is the main white grape of Ribeiro DO

Answer 18

Teixadura ⚪

Question 19

What is the local specialty wine of Ribeiro DO

Answer 19

Viño Tostado

Question 20

What is Ribeira Sacra named after

Answer 20

The large concentration of churches

Question 21

What do they age white wines in at Rias Biaxas

Answer 21

Stainless Steel tanks

Question 22

What makes labeling of wines different in Rias Baixas than any other region in Spain

Answer 22

The wines in Rias Baixas are labeled by the main varietal Albariño and not by region such as Rioja and Priorat

Question 23

What is the flavor profile of Albariño

Answer 23

Zingy Citrus Peach

Almond Honeysuckle

Light creaminess

Crisp Zestiness

Citrus

Lime

Vanilla

Peach

Kiwi smells

Question 24

What is Croquetas de bueyes de mar

Answer 24

Sweet, creamy crab croquettes

Question 25

What is Pimientos del piquillo rellenos

Answer 25

Peppers stuffed with wild mushrooms, prawns, and salmon

Question 26

What is Langosta

Answer 26

Spiny lobster with sweet, juicy, snow - white meat

Question 27

What is Lenguado a la plancha

Answer 27

A pristine fresh sole broiled with a touch of ripe olive oil

Question 28

What is the annual rainfall in Galicia and when does it occur the most

Answer 28

45 to 65 inches of rain and most of the rain takes place in the winter time .

Question 29

Where is Ribeiro DO located

Answer 29

Long the Miño River to the east of Rias Baixas

Question 30

Amandi Chantada Quiroga - Bibei Riberas do Sil Riberas do Miño Are the 5 subregions for what DO

Answer 30

Ribera Sacra DO

Question 31

Godello ⚪ Treixdura ⚪ Mencía 🔴 These are the main grapes of what DO

Answer 31

Ribera Sacra DO

Question 32

What Galicia's eastern most zone

Answer 32

Valdeorras DO

Question 33

What type of wines are produced in Valdeorras DO

Answer 33

Vinto Tinto Rosado Blanco - Vino Blanco are the regions best wines

Question 34

What is are key flavor notes of white wines from Valdeorras DO

Answer 34

Clean Fruit Driven High Acid Light lemony Notes

Question 35

What is the Southern most DO of Galicia

Answer 35

Monterrei DO

Question 36

What subzone of Rias Baixas runs along both banks of the river Ulla over plains and low mountains

Answer 36

Ribera do Ulla

Question 37

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

Answer 37

Val do Sainès

Question 38

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

Answer 38

Soutomaior

Question 39

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

Answer 39

Condado do Tea

Question 40

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

Answer 40

O Rosal

Question 41

What is the average alcohol per volume for wines from Rias Baixas

Answer 41

12 to 13%

Question 42

Can you make Espumoso in Rias Baixas

Answer 42

Yes, it is made from any of the recognized grape varieties grown in any of the sub zones of Rias Baixas

Question 43

Is Albariño a thick or thin skinned grape?

Answer 43

It is a small thick skinned grape, that's why it's able to handle the harsh rain season of Rias Baixas

Question 44

What is the trellis system used for Albariño grapes in Rias Baixas

Answer 44

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)

Question 45

What is a Parras or Pergola

Answer 45

Canopies on support wires attached to 8-10 foot high granite columns

Question 46

How many acres of vineyards are in Rias Baixas

Answer 46

9,000 acres ( 3,600 ha)

Question 47

What are the most northern sub zones of Rias Baixas

Answer 47

Ribera de Ulla Val do Salnès

Question 48

What is the soil type of Rias Baixas

Answer 48

Sandy / Granite, with a mixture of limestone and clay

Question 49

What direction do the Vines face in Rias Baixas to get the most exposure from the sun

Answer 49

Southwest facing slopes

Question 50

What seafood goes the best with Albariño

Answer 50

Scallops

Question 51

Pazo Serantellos Salneval Lusco do Miño AS Laxas Pazo San Mauro Adegas Gran Vinum What do they all have in common with Rias Baixas

Answer 51

These are all top producers of Rias Baixas and all make 100% Albariño

Question 52

Asturias Cantabria País Vasco These are the autonomías for what area in Spain

Answer 52

Green Coast (Costa Verde)

Question 53

Is a wine labeled Rías Baixas Albariño blended or not blended

Answer 53

Not blended

Question 54

If a wine is labeled with one of the northern subzones ( Val do Salnés or Ribeira do Ulla) what are the requirements

Answer 54

A minimum 70% Albariño

Question 55

If a wine is labeled with one of the southen subzones ( O Rosal and Condado do Tea) what are the requirements

Answer 55

A minimum 70% Albariño and either Loureira or Treixadura (Portuguese grapes from Vinho Verde)

Question 56

Is malolactic fermentation used in Rías Baixas

Answer 56

Yes as well as barrica aging - if used it is indicated on the bottle

Question 57

Is oak used in Rías Baixas

Answer 57

Yes

Question 58

Caiño 🔴 Espadeiro 🔴 Mencía 🔴 These are the main red grapes for what area in Green Country

Answer 58

Rías Baixas

Question 59

90% of the vineyard acreage in Rías Baixas is devoted to what grape

Answer 59

Albariño

Question 60

What is the river that separates O Rosal and Condado do Tea from Portugal

Answer 60

Miño River

Question 61

What is the main river of Ribeira do Ulla

Answer 61

Ulla River

Question 62

What is the main river of Val do Salnès

Answer 62

Umia River Chain River

Question 63

What is the smallest subzone of Rías Baixas

Answer 63

Soutomaior

Question 64

What is the main river of Condado do Tea

Answer 64

Tea River

Question 65

What is the largest winery in Rías Baixas

Answer 65

Martin Códex - founded in 1986 - names after a 13th century Galician Poet who dranked a lot of wine

Question 66

What subzone is Martin Códex located

Answer 66

Val do Salnès

Question 67

What are the amounts per hectare per training systems of Rías Baixas

Answer 67

* 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