Spain in general Flashcards
What’s Spain’s Wine-making history from old to new?
- 1100BCE port-cities established in S. Spain and wine trading begun
- Invasions -Cartharginian monks brought wine-making expertise
- Romans brought volume production exported to their empire
- Late 18th cent.Manuel Quintano went to Bordeaux + brought expertise + oak barriques but no one embraced these methods until
- Mid 19th century: Civil war saw Marqués de Murrieta, +the Marqués de Riscal seeking excile in Bordeux + bring back expertise + barriques.
- Early 20th Century phyloxera arrived= reduction in production
- 1936-39 civil war left country under dictatorship for 40yrs
- 1960 Miguel Torres returns from France bringing international varieties & clean wine-making techniques
- 1970-democracy re-established
- 1986- Entering EU brings investment in wine production & modernisation of viti & wine making
what’s the latitude of Spain
located at 36 - 43°N( warm country)
What’s the climate in N-NW Spain
Maritime- infl. by Atlantic, high rainfall throughout the year
What’s the climate in N-NE Spain
Continental- rain from the Atlantic is blocked by mountains, cold winter/hot summer
What’s the climate in S-SE Spain
Moderate Warm-vineyards face onto the Mediterranean, proximity to sea, warm, dry summers/mild winters.
What is the meseta
- central Spain
- altitude of 600 - 900m (moderates heat
- continental, high diurnal hot days/cool nights,
Which is the country with the largest vineyard holdings?
Spain
what’s Spain’s position in terms of production
3rd in the world behind Italy & France
Grapegrowing in Spain in general
-Organic viti widely used
-Bush vines
-Old vines
-Low densities
mildew due to heavy storms
-grapevine moth (pheromone traps)
Name the 6 top varieties in Spain top to bottom
- Airen w.
- Tempranillo
- Bobal
- Granacha
- Macabeo (Viura) w.
- Monastrell
National ageing legislation for Red Wines
total min. age—min. in barrl
Crianza 24 6
Reserva 36 12
G. Reser. 60 18
National ageing legislation White and Rosé Wines
total min. age—min. in barrl
Crianza 18 6
Reserva 24 6
G. Reser. 48 6
Type of Oak used in Spanish wines
American(cheaper) or French
Rose in Spain past and present
past: deep in colour (longer skin contact)
now: paler colour
What is a traditional style spanish rose?
- mixture black and white grapes
- longer macerated
- pressed + fermented together.
- matured in oak vessels
what is the impact in style of rose maturation in oak
leads to a reduction in fruit flavours but a greater texture and increased complexity from secondary and tertiary flavours.
What is Spain’s classification system?
-Vino: wines without a
geographical indication.
-VT, Vino de la Tierra: same
as PGI (40VTs)
- VP,Vino de Pago: high reputation single estate (Castilla la mancha, Navarra)
- DO and DOCa/DOQ:status given to Rioja & Priorat strict regulation/tasting panel
How can you get Do & DOCa status?
To applythe DO must have been established for a minimum of ten years. All wines must also be bottled at the producer’s own property
Name a couple of large scale wine businesses in Spain
Pernod Ricard Groupe, Miguel Torres SA
what are the businesses involved in Spanish wine production
- Cooperatives,
- Negociants (own land+ buy in grapes
- Wine estates (small production)
- some large wine businesses
what’s the domestic consumtion like in Spain
Low. Trent towards higher quality/priced wines
What’s Spain’s biggest export markets?
France and Germany- inexpensive wines
who is the largest exporter of wine in terms of volume?
Spain
what types of wine does spain export?
Mainly Inexpensive, bulk
