Spain/Portugal

Question 1

What are the 3 autonomous regions of North Central Spain?

Answer 1

Navarra, la Rioja, Aragon

Question 2

What mountain region is in Northwest Spain? What mountain range divided France and Spain?

Answer 2

Cantabrian Mountains & Pyrenees Mountains.

Question 3

What are the three sub regions of Rioja?

Answer 3

Rioja Alta (la Rioja)’ Rioja baja (Navarra), Rioja Alvaesa (Paris vasco)

Question 4

What are the authorized grapes for Rioja Tinto?

Answer 4

Principal: Tempranillo, Granacha, Mauzelo, Graciano, min 85%, or 95% if destemmed

Question 5

What are the aging requirements for Rioja crianza?

Answer 5

White/ Rosado: 2 years aging, 6month in wood

Tinto: 2 years with a min of 1 in wood.

Question 6

What are the aging requirements for Rioja Reserva?

Answer 6

White/Rosado: 2 years including 6 in oak

Tinto: 3 years with a min 1 in oak.

Question 7

What are the aging requirements for Rioja Gran Reserva?

Answer 7

White/Rosado: 4 Years with a min 6 in oak

Tinto: 24 month in oak, 3 years in bottle

Question 8

What size must Rioja casks be?

Answer 8

225l

Question 9

List 3 traditional wine makers in Rioja?

Answer 9

Bodegas Lopez de Heredia (best known for Gran Reserva bottlings, only produced in the best vintages, from the Tondonia & Bosconia vineyards.

La Rioja Alta (top bottling is Gran Reserva 890, and Gran Reserva 904)

Bodegas Faustino (one of the largest exporters. Top bottles Faustino I GR, Faustino V Reserva)

Question 10

Name 3 Modern producers in Rioja?

Answer 10

Bodegas Marqués de Riscal ( first to plant Cab in Rioja, and employed French techniques, French oak. Top wine Baròn de Chirel)

Bodegas Marqués de Murrieta (top wines Castillo ygay Gran Reserva Especial, grapes fermented and aged separately)

Bodegas Muga (Prado Enea -wines aged in small vats, Torre Muga- aged in large wood vats followed by new barriques for 18m)

Question 11

What are the 5 subzones of Navarra?

Answer 11

Valdizarbe, Baja Montana, terra Estrella in the North, Ribera Alta, in the centre, and Riberja Baja in the South.

Question 12

What are the 3 DO Pagos of Navarra?

Answer 12

Senioro de Arinzano 
Prado Lrache (Tierra Estrella)
Bodegas Otazu (Valizarbe)

Question 13

What are the 4 DO’s of Aragon?

Answer 13

Campo de Borja, Calatayud, Carinena, Somotano

Question 14

What are the 5 DO’s old Galicia?

Answer 14

Rias Biaxas, Ribero, Valdeorras, Ribera Sacra, Monterrei

Question 15

What are the 5 subzones of Rias Baixas?

Answer 15

Val do Salnes, Ribera do Ulla, Soutomaior, O Rosal, Condado do Tea

Question 16

What are the 5 sub regions of Ribera Sacra?

Answer 16

Amanda, Chantada, Quiroga-Bibei, Riberas do Sil, Riberas do Miño

Question 17

What are the 3 DO zones in Pais Vasco in Basque Country?

Answer 17

Getariako, Txakolina, Bizkaiko Txakolina, Arabako Txakolina

Question 18

What are the principal grapes of Txakolina DOs?

Answer 18

Ondarrabi Zuri (white)’ Ondarrabi Beltza.

Question 19

What are the DO’s of Castilla y Leon? (9)

Answer 19

Ribera del Duero, Rueda, Toro, Tierra deal Vino de Zamora, Arribes, Arlanza, Cigales, Tierra de Leon, Bierzo

Question 20

Tell me about Vega Sicilia. Top wines, location, vinification methods. Etc.

Answer 20

Located in Ribero del Duero, established in 1864. Some French grapes are planted, Cab Sauv, Merlot, Malbec, but vineyards are 80% temp. Flagship wine is Unico, which ages 10 yrs, historically not produced every year, vines are 60-65 yrs old. Valbuena 5, younger wine released every vintage with 25-30 yrs old grapes. Extended maceration and lengthy aging employed but used Bordeaux varietals.

Question 21

What are the 4 DO’s of Aragon?

Answer 21

Calatayud
Campo de Borja
Carinena
Somontano