Spain - Valencia and Murcia; Castilla-La Mancha; Other regiones Flashcards
Valencia and Murcia
Where is the region located?
Eastern/south-eastern coast of Spain
Valencia
How much wine is produced?
500,000 hL
Valencia
What is the climate and rainfall (is irrigiation used)?
- Warm Mediterranean
- Cooling influences from altitude or coast
- Low rainfall with 450mm
- Irrigation is widely used
Valencia
What is the name of the coolest sub-zone and at what altitudes are vineyards located?
- Alto Turia
- 700-1100m
Valencia
What wines are produced in Alto Turia and what varieties are used?
- White wines
- Moscatel de Alejandría
- Merseguera
Valencia
What is the name of the warmer sub-zone, at what altitude are vineyards located and influence exist?
- Valentino
- 200-650m
- Cooled from sea breezes
Valencia
What wines are produced in Valentino and what varieties are used for it?
- Red and rosé:
- Garnacha Tintorera (Alicante Bouschet)
- Tempranillo
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Monastrell
- White:
- Merseguera
- Macabeo
Valencia
Name two other sub-zones and the types of wines they produce
- Clariano
- Similar to Valentino
- Moscatel
- Sweet wines “Moscatel de Valencia” and “Vino de licor” (unfermented grape must, fortified) from Moscatel de Alejandría
Valencia
What are the two categories of quality and who is producing what? (incl. quality, price)
- Co-ops
- Fruity style for immediate consumption
- Acceptable to good quality
- Inexpensive
- Individual producers
- Good to very good quality
- Mid-priced
Utiel-Requena
What is the size?
34,000 ha
Utiel-Requena
What is the climate, altitude, and rainfall? What does that mean?
- Continental
- High altitude (750m)
- Cooler summer nights
- Low rainfall (450mm)
- Risk of spring frost
Utiel-Requena
What is the ratio of black and white varieties planted?
Mostly black (87%)
Utiel-Requena
What is the most planted variety (incl. %) and what are its characteristics? (budding time, drought tolerance, acidity, ripening, tannin, vigor, color)
- Bobal (70% of plantings)
- Mid-to late budding -> avoid spring frost
- Very drought tolerant
- Retains acidity well
- Can ripen unevenly
- Tannins can be a little grippy
- Vigoros and high yielding
- High levels of color
Utiel-Requena
Describe the range of red wine styles produced from Bobal (aromas, tannin, body, acidity, method, quality, price)
- Range of styles, from
- Light body
- Medium tannin
- Semi-carbonic maceration
- to concentrated
- Blackberry, black cherry aromas and often notes of chocolate
- Medium(+) tannin
- Medium(+) to full body
- High acidity
- Matured in oak
- Overall
- Acceptable to very good quality
- Inexpensive to mid-priced
Alicante
What is the size?
9,000 ha
Alicante
What is the climate and rainfall?
- Mediterranean
- Extremely dry (250mm)
Alicante
What are the top varieties?
- Black
- Monastrell (75% of plantings)
- Alicante Bouschet, Garnacha and Bobal (often blended)
- White
- Moscatel de Alejandría
Alicante
Why is Monastrell well suited to the hot, dry climate and how is it trained?
- Late ripening
- Retains acidity
- Drought tolerant
- Low density with bush vines
Alicante
Describe the typical red wines (varieties, aromas, sweetness, body, tannin, alcohol, maturation, quality, price)
- Min 80% Monastrell
- Blended with Alicante Bouschet, Garnacha and Bobal
- Ripe black fruit
- Dry
- Full body
- High tannin
- High alcohol
- Maturation in American oak
- Good to very good quality
- Mid-priced (some premium)
Alicante
What wines are produced from Moscatel de Alejandría
Dry and sweet wines