Spanish Wine Law & General Info Flashcards
How many autonomous communities does Spain have?
17
How many of the autonomous communities in Spain have DOs? (2020)
15
What is “Vino de Mesa”?
“Table Wine” - not allowed a geographic indicator and is the lowest tier of Spanish Wine.
What is “Vino de la Tierra/VdIT”?
“Wine of the Land/Country” - same as IGP (Protected Geographical Origin) and typically carries the name of an autonomous community.
What is “Vino de Calidad con Indicación Geográfica/VCIG”
-What is it also known as?
“Quality Wines with Geographical Indication” - same as DOP (Protected Designation of Origin) from the EU. It’s also known as the shortened “Vino de Calidad” it’s a stepping stone to DO status, which after 5 years, they can apply for.
What is “Denominación de Origen (DO)”?
“Denomination of Origin” - same as DOP in the EU, AOP from France and DOP from Italy and includes all wines like Cava, Rioja, etc…
What is “Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa)”?
“Denomination of Qualified Origin” - Still the same as DOP in the EU, but similar to Italy’s DOCG, and is as such the highest level of quality.
What regions hold DOCa status? When were they granted?
Rioja - in 1991
Priorat - in 2009
What is a Vino de Pago?
A high quality, single estate DOP wine from a region that is outside of the established DOs or from an undistinguished winegrowing region.
How many Vino de Pagos are there? (2020)
15
Where are most of the Vino de Pagos located?
Castilla-La Mancha
Laws governing wine aging requirements specifically dictate what?
Time spent in oak.
Time spent in bottle.
Aging requirements for Crianza - Red, White & Rosé
Red - 2 years total, 6 months minimum in oak
White & Rosé - 18 months total, 6 months minimum in oak
Aging requirements for Reserva - Red, White & Rosé
Red - 3 years total, 1 year minimum in oak
White & Rosé - 2 years total, 6 months minimum in oak
Aging requirements for Gran Reserva - Red, White & Rosé
Red - 5 years total, 18 months in oak
White & Rosé - 4 years total, 6 months in oak
What does the term “Noble” mean as an aging designation?
18 months in cask (less than 600L) or bottle.
What does the term “Añejo” mean as an aging designation?
2 years in cask (less than 600L) or bottle.
What does the term “Viejo” mean as an aging designation?
3 years in cask (less than 600L) or bottle, and specifically showing a prominent oxidative character.
What two regions have aging requirements that are more strict than the standard?
Rioja & Ribera del Duero
True or False - Spain cultivates the largest vineyard area of any country.
True
What is the name of the regulatory board for Spanish DOs?
Consejo Regulador
What is the climate like in Green Spain?
Maritime
What is the climate like in Meseta?
Continental
What is the climate like in Eastern and Southern coasts, and the Islands?
Hot Mediterranean
When was Jerez and Cadiz settled by the Phoneticians?
1100 BCE
When was Hispania conquered by Rome?
1st Century BCE
When did the Visigoths invade Hispania?
5th Century CE
When did the Moors conquer Hispania?
711 CE
When was Spain’s monarchy restored?
1975
Which autonomous community in Spain is the largest?
Castilla y León
What is the Meseta Central?
The arid central plateau of Spain.
What is Rioja named for?
The Oja river, a tributary of the River Ebro, that meets up with the Tirón river not far West of Haro.
Who was Gonzalo de Berceo and why is he interesting?
He was a Benedictine Monk who was the first to write Spanish verse on paper. It was about wine from Rioja, and he did so 100 years after the Spanish King legally recognized Rioja. Today, Bodegas Berceo honors his memory and is one of the oldest wineries in Haro.
In Rioja, which five grapes must make up what percentages of the red wine?
Tempranillo, Mazuelo(Carignan), Graciano, Garnacha and Maturana Tinta must make up 85% of the blend, and if they are destemmed, 95%.
In Rioja, which five grapes are permitted in white blends?
Chardonnay, Tempranillo Blanco, Sauvignon Blanc, Verdejo and VIURA(Macabéo).
In Rioja, which four grapes must comprise what percentage of rosado wines?
Tempranillo, Mazuelo(Carignan), Graciano and Garnacha.
What size is required for Rioja casks?
225L
Rioja Crianza Rosado and Whites may be aged in stainless steel… True or False?
TRUE!!
What are the requirements for single vineyard bottlings? When were they enacted?
As of 2018, wineries are allowed to register their Viñedos Singulares and print official names on their labels.
Requirements:
1) Soil must be assessed,
2) Vines must be 35 years old, minimum,
3) Estate must have proof that they’ve been working with the vineyard for a minimum of 10 years,
4) Wine must pass a tasting panel,
5) Grapes must be hand-harvested and at a significantly lower yield than is required for regional wines.
What is Vino Espumoso de Calidad?
A category added in 2018 for sparkling wine which requires…
1) Grapes to be hand harvested
2) EvErYtHiNg in the winemaking process must take place at the same facility,
3) Only Brut Nature, Extra Brut and Brut styles are allowed.
4) 15 months lees aging is required, Reserve required 24 and Gran Reserva requires 36.
