Spanish Wines - Checked

Question 1

Granacha Tinta (Grenache)

Answer 1

Normally late Ripening, but early in Spain given Warm/Hot climate

High Drought tolerance

Sweet, Thick Skinned Grape, High ABV

Primarily for Rosados

Priorat: blends with Cariganan - Deep, colored, HIgh Tannin, Fresh Black Fruit, Toast Oak

RIoja: Planted in Baja, Blends with Tempranillo, addds Perfume, Body, Tannins

Question 2

Priorat

Answer 2

Garnacha + Cariñena (sometime CabSav) - Old Vines/Low Yields

Intense, Complex

Deep Color, Full Body, High Tannin, Med-High ABV (High Sugar)

Strawberry, Red Plum, Red Cherry, White Pepper, Liqourice

French Oak

Age: Earth, Meat, Dried Fruit, Caramel

Question 3

Monastrell (Mourvedre)

Answer 3

Drought tolerant, Requires hot sunny conditions to ripen

Deep Color, Full-bodied, High Tannin, Low-Med Acidity
Low to medium acidity

Ripe Blackberry fruit

Yecla & Jumilla SE Spain

Question 4

Graciano (Morrastel in France)

Answer 4

Primarily used Rioja for blends

Small amount adds Tannin, Acidity, Concentrated Black Fruit

Buds late, prone to downy mildew

Question 5

Cariñena (Garigan) / Mazuelo

Answer 5

Deep Color, High Tannin, High Acidity

Blending partner for Tempranillo

Question 6

Mencia

Answer 6

Key Grape of Bierzo - Moderate Climates

Medium - High Acidity, Fresh Red Fruit Flavors

Hints of Herbaceousness

Bierzo uses Oak for Toasty

Question 7

Verdejo

Answer 7

White Grape Susceptible to Oxidation

Light Body, High Acid

Melon, Peach

Similar to SavBlanc and also blended together

Sauvignon Style - Richer, Fuller Bodied as it undergoes skin contact and barrel fermentation

Question 8

Albariño

Answer 8

Thick Skinned (resists fungal disease)

Dry, Medium Body, High Acidity

Citrus (Lemon, Grapefruit) & Stone Fruit (Peach, Apricot)

Can be made richer, fuller-bodied using touch of Oak or Lees

Question 9

Airén

Answer 9

Most widely planted variety (La Mancha)

Can cope with extreme heat of Meseta Central

Used for Brandy de Jerez

Question 10

What is Used in Cava

Answer 10

Parellada - highly regarded white, aromatic, high quality

Xarello - vegtal

Macabeo - 2nd most planted white - buds and ripens too late for the Cataluyna, Viura, Rioja

Question 11

Main Cava grapes used in still wine

Answer 11

Macabeo / Viura

Question 12

Rioja Alavesa

Answer 12

Lightest of RIoja

Most finese

Question 13

Rioja Tempranillo

Answer 13

Medium Tannins

Red Fruit

Granacha blends in - Body & Alcohol - grown best in Rioja Baja

Question 14

Early Drinking Red Rioja

Answer 14

Use semi-carbonic maceration

Wines with Red Fruit

Low Levels of Smooth Tannins

Question 15

Heavier Rioja

1 vineyard technique & 1 wine making technique

Answer 15

1. Vigorous cap-management
2. Extended periods of maceration

for

Deep color, Full Fruit flavors

Use of Oak for Pronounced Vanilla, sometimes French for Spicy

Question 16

White Rioja

Answer 16

Aged for extended periods in American Oak

Developed a Deep Golden Color

Nutty Flavor

Deliberately oxidised

Question 17

Navarra Rosés

Answer 17

Garnacha picked early for High Acid & Sugar levels

Handled protectively to create refreshing, Fruity wines with Medium Alcohol

Viura + Chardonnay + Sauvignon Blanc

Question 18

Ull de Llebre

Answer 18

Tempranillo in Penedès

Question 19

Ribera del Duero

Answer 19

100% Tempranillo

Dark, high Levels of Tannin

Typically new French Oak

Question 20

Ribera del Duero Rosé

Answer 20

Dry, Garnacha most often used

Question 21

Toro DO Red Wines

Answer 21

Full Body, High Alcohol

Intense Fruit

High Day time temps, Sunny Conditions, Low-Yielding Bush Vines

Reserva & Grand Reserva - exceptionally deep color, Tannic when young, Ability to Age

Question 22

Rueda DO

Answer 22

Light, Fruity, Dry White Wine

Single Varietals 100% Verdejo

Or blend with 50% Verdejo either with Sauvignon Blanc or Viura

Rueda Superior must have 85% Verdejo

Question 23

Monastrell (Mourvèrde - France)

Answer 23

Most planted Black in Valencia (3rd in Spain)

Small, sweet, thick-skinned berries, Drought Tolerant

Buds and ripens late, thus Needs Hot & Sunny conditions

Deep Colored, Full Bodied, High Alcohol, High Tannins, Low-Med Acidity

Ripe Blackberry Fruit

Question 24

Ageing for Red / White

Joven (Age / Barrel)

Crianza (Age / Barrel)

Reserva (Age / Barrel)

Gran Reserva (Age / Barrel)

Answer 24

Joven = 0

Crianza = (24m / 6m)- (18m / 6m)

Reserva = (36m / 12m) - (24m / 6m)

Gran Reserva = (60m / 18m) - (48m / 6m)

Rioja has longer restrictions

Question 25

Tempranillo

Answer 25

Thick Skinned

Med-Full Body, Medium Acidity, Medium Tannin

Strawberry, Red Cherry, Blackberry, Black Plum

Vanilla & Coconut

Dried Fruit, Leather, Tobacco

Lacks acidity and balance in regions with low diurnal range

Wine making for early drinking uses Semi-Carbonic maceration with Fresh Strawberry

Age worth blended with Granacha, Graciano, Cariñene/Mazuleo, CabSav