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Certified Sommelier Exam (CMS 2) > Spain - La Rioja > Flashcards

Spain - La Rioja Flashcards

1
Q

Identify where La Rioja is on this map of Spain.

A
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2
Q

Where is La Rioja located in Spain?

A

North Central Spain

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3
Q

What are the 3 subzones of La Rioja, Spain?

A
  1. Alta
  2. Alavesa
  3. Oriental
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4
Q

What is the general climate of La Rioja in Spain?

A

Continental climate

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5
Q

What are the more specific climates found in La Rioja, Spain?

A

Climate varies with the subzone:

  • Alta is continental
  • Alavesa is the coolest and wettest
  • Oriental is Mediterranean
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6
Q

Which mountain range creates a rain shadow in La Rioja, Spain?

A

Cantabrian Mountains

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7
Q

Which mountain range divides Spain from France?

A

Pyrenées

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8
Q

What is the name of the river that flows through La Rioja, Spain?

A

Ebro River

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9
Q

What are the 3 main soil types found in La Rioja, Spain?

A
  1. Calcareous clay
  2. Ferrous clay
  3. Alluvial
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10
Q

In what vessel is Rioja traditionally aged?

A

American oak

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11
Q

What winemaking technique is common on Joven styles of Rioja?

A

Carbonic maceration

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12
Q

What are the 3 main white grape varieties in white Rioja?

A
  1. Viura
  2. Malvasia
  3. Garnacha Blanca
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13
Q

What are the 4 main red grape varieties used in red Rioja?

A
  1. Tempranillo
  2. Garnacha
  3. Mazuelo
  4. Graciano
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14
Q

How would you briefly describe a red Rioja wine?

A

Dry red (tinto) wines made predominantly from the Tempranillo grape variety.

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15
Q

How would you briefly describe a white Rioja wine?

A

White (blanco) wines predominantly made from the Viura grape variety.

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16
Q

In ascending order, list the 4 specific aging and quality tiers based on minimum required time La Rioja wine spends in oak barrel and bottle.

A
  • Joven
  • Crianza
  • Reserva
  • Gran Reserva
17
Q

How long is a Joven Rioja aged in oak?

A

Less than 3 months.

18
Q

What are the specific aging requirements for red Rioja Crianza?

A

Mininum 2 years, including 1 year in oak.

19
Q

What are the specific aging requirements for red Rioja Reserva?

A

Minimum 3 years, including 1 year in oak.

20
Q

What are the specific aging requirements for red Rioja Gran Reserva?

A

Minimum 5 years, including 2 years in oak.

21
Q

What does the term Viñedo Singular translate to?

A

Single Vineyard

22
Q

Give an example of a single vineyard red Rioja.

A

López de Heredia’s ‘Viña Cubillo’

23
Q

What are the 3 styles of still wine produced in La Rioja, Spain?

A
  • dry white
  • rosé (rosado)
  • red wines
24
Q

What is a current winemaking/ style trend in La Rioja, Spain?

A

Some modern producers are making more fruit-focused wines using French oak and avoiding the traditional labeling terms of Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva.

25
Q

Is there one style of wine coming out of La Rioja, Spain, or is there a range of styles?

A

A range of styles, from young + fresh to ageable.

26
Q

Name 5 important producers in La Rioja, Spain.

A
  1. Marqués de Riscal
  2. Marqués de Cáceres
  3. Finca Allende
  4. Bodegas López de Heredia
  5. La Rioja Alta
27
Q

Select the correct answer.

Rioja Gran Reserva is made:

a. every single vintage, no matter what
b. only in the even years (2,4,6,8)
c. only in the best vintages

A

c. only in the best vintages

28
Q

Briefly describe the relationship between Bordeaux and La Rioja, Spain.

A

In the 1860’s, Phylloxera, a tiny plant louse, hit Bordeaux hard and virtually all of the vineyards in the region were decimated.

Desperate not to lose their wine entirely, Bordeaux winemakers travelled to Rioja and invested heavily in the region in order to continue making wine until a solution could be found, thereby imparting significance to winemaking and aging practices in Spain (read: a lot of oak use).

29
Q

How do the amount of oak and oxidation on Rioja wines affect potential food pairings?

A

The more oak used and more aged a wine is, the richer the foods should be (stewed, roasted);
The less oak used and less aged a wine is, the food can be fresher and not as deeply flavored.

30
Q

Give 2 examples of traditional Rioja producers.

Their wines show a lot of oak, umami, and deep flavors.

A
  1. López de Heredia
  2. Muga
31
Q

Give 2 examples of modern Rioja producers.

A
  1. Campo Viejo
  2. Antonio Palacios

Certified Sommelier Exam (CMS 2) (49 decks)

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