Spain - Introduction Flashcards
How has the Spanish wine industry evolved since the 1970s?
- 1986: EU bringing investment
- 1996: irrigation was allowed
- Greater research, investment, education and experience from other countries
- New regions and styles are explored
- Interest in indigenous varieties and traditional approaches
On what latitude is Spain located and what is the resulting general climate?
- 36-43°N
- Warm
What is the size of vineyard plantings in Spain and production compared to other countries?
- Largest in the world
- 969,000 ha
- Behind France and Italy in terms of production (volume)
How come that vineyard plantings are highest, while production is lower than in other countries?
- A lot of bush vines at low density because of low rainfall (as little as 300mm)
- Often old vines with lower yields
Is irrigation allowed? If yes, how is it controlled?
- Yes
- Controlled by Consejo Regulador
- Permitted depending on region and circumstances (e.g., drought or young vines)
What are general hazards and diseases and how are they managed?
- Heavy storm with rising temps afterwards -> risk of mildew
- Spring frost (in continental areas)
- European grapevine moth -> pheromone tags
Is organic winemaking practiced?
Yes, but often not certified as consumers are not willing to pay for it
What are the avg. vineyard holdings and what does that mean for mechanization?
- 66% of plots are < 0.5 ha
- 22% of plots are 0.5-3 ha
- ->Low level of mechanization
What are by far the two most planted varieties and how many ha are roughly planted to them?
- Airén and Tempranillo
- 200,000 ha each
What are the top 6 varieties? (descending order in ha planted)
- Airén (white)
- Tempranillo (black)
- Garnacha Tinta (Grenache Noir) (black)
- Bobal (black)
- Macabeo (white)
- Monastrell (Mourvèdre) (black)
Airén
Where is it mainly planted, what wine is produced from it and what is it mainly used for?
- Castilla-La Mancha
- Inexpensive white wines for early consumption
- Distilled into Brandy de Jerez
Tempranillo
What wines is the variety able to produce?
- Inexpensive, fruity red wines
- But also a leading component in some of Spain’s most prestigious and expensive wines
Tempranillo
What is the ripening time and how much yields is it able to produce?
- Early ripening -> best in warm climate with cooling influences
- Medium to high yields -> popularity with growers
Bobal
Where is it mainly grown and used for what types of wines?
- East coast
- Red and rosé
Garnacha Tinta
Where is it mainly grown and used for what types of wines?
- Central north and north east
- Red and rosé
Macabeo
Where is it mainly grown?
- Catalunya (still wine and Cava)
- Rioja (under the name “Viura”)
Macabeo
What two types of still wines is it mainly used for?
- Inexpensive, neutral white wines
- Leading component in premium-priced wines, fermented and matured in oak