Spain - Valencia DO and Murcia

Question 1

Where is Valencia

Answer 1

In the Levante - the region on the Mediterranean coast, south of Catalunya. Trade is centred around the Port of Valencia = distribution hub

Question 2

What types of wines does Valencia produce?

Answer 2

A large proportion of inexpensive wine, often sold in bulk
Plus Low Density Bush vines = increasing number of quality producers

Question 3

Describe Valencia DO

Answer 3

Largest DO of autonomous community of Valencia

Question 4

What is the climate of Valencia DO?
Rain?

Answer 4

Mediterranean with cooling influences from altitude or proximity to coast
45cm Rain - low
Irrigation widely used

Question 5

What is the most planted black grape?

Answer 5

Monastrell

Question 6

Most planted white grape in Valencia DO?
along with which grape?

Answer 6

Merseguera - local
Moscatel de Alejandria (Muscat of Alexandria

Question 7

What style of white wine is mostly produced?

Answer 7

Moscatel de Valencia, a sweet, fortified wine

Question 8

What are the names of 2 of the sub-zones of Valencia?

Answer 8

Alto Turia - in southern foothills 700-1100m = coolest
Valentino - warmer, cooled by sea breezes

Question 9

Where is Utiel-Requena DO?

Answer 9

located inland from the northern part of Valencia DO

Question 10

What is the climate in Utiel-Requena DO?

Answer 10

Continental climate - hot summers, cold winters

Question 11

What is the average altitude in Until Requena DO?

Answer 11

750m = cool summer nights

Question 12

What is the most planted black grape?

Answer 12

87% black varieties
Bobal = 70% of plantings, some 40 yrs old

Question 13

Describe Bobal

Answer 13

Mid-late ripening
retains acidity
drought tolerant
Yields need controlling

Question 14

What style of wine does Bobal produce?

Answer 14

Light bodied
med tannin
hi acid
made with semi-carbonic maceration
Blackberry, cherry and chocolate

Question 15

Describe Alicante DO? size

Answer 15

located near the coast around city of Alicanté
Smallest DO of Valencia

Question 16

What climate does Alicante have?

Answer 16

Mediterranean

Question 17

What is the key black grape of Alicante DO? aka (Rhone)? suited because?

Answer 17

Monastrell aka Mouvèdre
suited to hot, dry climate, late ripening, retaining acidity and drought tolerant

Question 18

What is the key white grape of Alicante DO? style of wine?

Answer 18

Moscatel de Alejandria
Dry and sweet wine

Question 19

Where is Jumilla DO?

Answer 19

Located in Mercia, area of flat plains between Alicante (east) and La Mancha (west)

Question 20

What is the climate in Jumilla
What is the rainfall?

Answer 20

Warm Continental, hot summer cold winter
25-30cm rain - v low

Question 21

What altitude in Jumilla?

Answer 21

400-800m = cooling influence

Question 22

What balances the low rainfall?

Answer 22

soil is sand over limestone - retention of ground water, no irrigation installed

Question 23

What were previous wines from Jumilla like?

Answer 23

inexpensive bulk wines

Question 24

What changed the bulk wine production?

Answer 24

Phylloxera in 1989, vines grubbed up, replanted with higher quality clones on Monastrell, improved vineyard management = better quality, plus some OLD VINEs

Question 25

Describe wines of Jumilla?

Answer 25

Full bodied
hi alcohol
ripe blackberry, cherry
oak- spice
med+ acidity
Good examples = concentrated fruit balanced with med+acidity

Question 26

Other grape varieties blended with Monestrall?

Answer 26

Cencibel (Tempranillo)
Garnacha Tintoera (Alicante Bouschet)
Cab Sav, Merlot, Syrah, Petit Verdot - all help to lower Monestrell tannin levels