Spain - North Central Spain Flashcards
The Ebro River and Oja River runs through what region?
Rioja - Spain
The dominate red grape in Rioja is?
Tempranillo
What is the name of the French road, a route through Rioja names for French Pilgrims who, with millions of other devout Europeans, walked across Northern Spain to the shrine of the Apostle James Santiago de Compostela, in the far western province of Galicia
Camino Francès
What is the signature of Rioja wines?
Long oak barrels aging
Why is Manuel Quintano famous in Spain?
First to use Bordelaise method, of using large French oak barrels.
How did Marquès de Murrieta and Marquès de Riscal change the aging process in Rioja?
Instead of using large oak barrels from France. They used small oak barrels
- also incorporated using North American Oak instead of French oak for economic reasons
Where did the region Rioja get its name?
From the Rio Oja, one of the seven tributaries of the Ebro River
What is a Comisionado?
The Spanish term for a French Merchant (Nègociant)
Phylloxera hit Rioja in what year and destroyed what percentage of its vineyards?
1901 and 70%
- Odium, a parasitic fungus
- Phylloxera
Both of these changed the Spanish Wine industry how?
Both were reasons why the French came to Spain to either grow wine or buy wine
What are the two styles of Rioja
Traditionalist (new world Method) - age their wines for a long period of time usually in American Oak Barrels
- use old barrels to get a softer, gentler, and less aggressive flavor
- and leave the wines in barrels for a long time
- fruit forward driven
Modern (Alta Expresión) (old world Method) - made from riper grapes and aged for shorter periods in French oak barrels
- matures the wine faster
- adds depth , length, complexity and intensity
- earthy flavored, with hints of vanilla
In 1991, this region in Spain became the first to carry the designation of DOCa
Rioja
What region is sheltered by the:
- Pyrenees Mountain to the Northeast
- Cantabrian Mountains to the Northwest
- Montes Vascos
Rioja
- Rioja Alta
- Rioja Alavesa
- Rioja Baja
What do these 3 have in common?
3 subregions of Rioja
Finest grapes in Rioja come from what 2 areas and why?
- Rioja Alta
- Rioja Alvesa
Because they are located closer to the Atlantic Ocean and have cooler climate
What is the climate of Rioja
Continental and Rain Shadow
Why are wines from Rioja Baja different?
Rioja Baja sets at a lower elevation than the other 2 sub regions
Is further south and more in land than the other 2 subregions
Climate is warmer and more dryer
More Mediterranean climate than continental
higher alcohol and lower acidity
What is the soil type of Rioja?
Clay mixed with:
- Limestone
- Sandstone
- Iron - rich clay
Loamy Soil with alluvial silt that comes from the Ebro River
Note:
- the best vineyards planted use clay / Limestone / sandstone soils mostly found in Rioja Alvesa and Rioja Alta
Name on parent of Tempranillo?
Albillo Mayor - white grape from Ribera del Duero
What is the Spanish name for the French Grenache?
Garnacha
What is the Spain name for the French Carignan?
Mazuelo
This Spanish grape name means graceful
- very hard to grow due to late ripeness
- very limited amounts of this grape is produced
Graciano
What type of wines does Rioja traditionally make?
Red blends
- known as the Spanish Bordeaux
Main white grape of Rioja
Viura
Known as Macabeo in other regions of Spain
