Spain (introduction) Flashcards
Who founded the city of Gadir (modern Cádiz) around 1100 BCE, and what did they establish in Andalucía?
The Phoenicians, establishing the value of viticulture and wine as a commodity
How did the Phoenicians contribute to the wine trade in the eastern Mediterranean?
They carried grapes from the Middle East to North Africa, the Mediterranean islands, and the Iberian Peninsula, influencing the genetic ancestry of some modern Spanish grape varieties
Did viticulture in Spain begin with the Phoenicians?
No, evidence of primitive grape cultivation in Spain dates back thousands of years, and wild grapes preceded mankind in the region
What improvements did the Romans make to winemaking in Spain?
The Romans improved the fragile, large amphorae used in winemaking
What was the status of winemaking under the Moorish rule in Spain?
It remained a secondary pursuit as the Moors’ religion forbade alcohol consumption, but grapegrowing persisted for raisins and distillation for other goods
How did Spanish wine find its way into wines from France and Italy during Moorish rule?
Despite the Moors’ indifference, Spanish wine was renowned for its strength and was used as a blending component
What was the impact of the Catholic Church on winemaking in Spain?
The Church began to expand slowly, and after the Reconquista, it would come to reign in Spain, further promoting winemaking
How did Christopher Columbus’s voyages in 1492 benefit Spanish wine?
Spanish wine went forth with Spanish ships to supply the nation’s new colonies, often arriving in a deliberately rancio style
What was one of the first vinous exports to North America?
Sherry wines
How did the relationship between Spain and England affect the popularity of Sherry wines?
Despite a deteriorating relationship culminating in the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588, Sherry became increasingly popular with the English market from the end of the 15th century onward
What did 17th century Spanish law do to protect Spanish wine exports like Málaga and Sherry?
It barred the Spanish colonies from producing their own wine, creating a captive audience for Spanish wines
How did Spain’s table wines compare in quality to other European wines during the 17th century?
Few of Spain’s table wines were of great quality, and Spain was falling behind in viticultural techniques
What impact did oidium and phylloxera have on French winemakers in the 1850s and 1860s?
They caused French winemakers to move to Rioja, Spain, seeking to continue their wine production
Who were the Bordeaux-trained winemakers that brought new techniques to Rioja, and what did they introduce?
Marqués de Riscal and Marqués de Murrieta introduced grape varieties from the Médoc, barrique aging, and estate bottling
What significant alteration did Spaniards make to the Bordeaux technique of barrique aging?
They used American oak (Quercus alba) instead of French oak, due to Spain’s history of transatlantic colonial trade
Which traditionalist Rioja wineries were established in the latter half of the 19th century?
López de Heredia, CVNE, La Rioja Alta, and Berceo
What notable development occurred in the second half of the 19th century in Spanish sparkling wine production?
The birth of Spanish traditional method sparkling wine—champaña, now known as Cava—at San Sadurní d’Anoia
What major event affected Spanish vineyards at the dawn of the 20th century?
The arrival of phylloxera in Rioja
What were the Consejos Reguladores, and when were they established?
They were regulatory councils established in the 1930s for major wine regions like Rioja, Jerez, and Málaga to focus on quality
How did Francisco Franco’s fascist regime impact Spanish winemaking?
It suppressed economic freedom and hindered winemakers, leading to a dark period for wine until Franco’s death in 1975
