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SWS > The Duero River Valley > Flashcards

The Duero River Valley Flashcards

1
Q

The Duero River Valley lies within which Spanish autonomous community?

A

Castilla y León

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2
Q

Where does the Duero begin?

A

It begins amongst the peaks of the Sierra de Urbión within the Sistema Ibérico in Castilla y León near the border of La Rioja.

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3
Q

How many UNESCO World Heritage sites are located in Castilla y León?

A

8 [Lombardy has 10.]

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4
Q

What are the SWS need to know appellations in Castilla y León?

A

5, from west to east: DO Bierzo, DO Toro, DO Rueda, DO Cigales, DO Ribera del Duero **

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5
Q

Where does evidence point to the oldest vineyards in Castilla y León?

A

The Greeks wrote about the cultivated vines of the Vacceo tribe in the Duero basin in the pre-Roman city of Bergidum. Bergidum would later lend its name to the region of Bierzo.

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6
Q

What is the significance of Numancia (or Numantia)?

A

In 134 BC the Romans laid siege to the Celtiberian settlement of Numantia near Soria in Castilla y León. After 13 months of siege, the Numantians decided to burn the city and many committed suicide before the rest surrendered. It is also the inspiration for the winery Numanthia, a high quality Toro producer. [This war story is essentially a Spanish prequel of the Jewish Masada, but 200! years earlier, which also involved the conquering Romans.]

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7
Q

The best preserved Roman aqueduct of Castilla y León is located where?

A

The Aqueduct of Segovia, the city’s most visible and significant landmark, provided water to the area until the middle of the 19th century.

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8
Q

What was the role of the Islamists in Castilla y León?

A

After the collapse of the Roman Empire, the Visigoths ruled the area until their conquest by the North African Islamists. This was the northwestern limit of the Islamic expansion.

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9
Q

What is the most common (and traditional) route of the Camino de Santiago?

A

the Camino Francés (“French Way”), the majority of which passes through present-day Castilla y León.

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10
Q

What is the largest autonomous region in Spain?

A

Castilla y León, 1/5 of the Spanish peninsula [Contrast with the largest wine appellation in the world which is the D.O. La Mancha.] **

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11
Q

What are the borders of Castilla y León?

A

N: Asturias, Cantabria, Pais Vasco; S: Extremadura, Castilla La-Mancha, Madrid; E: La Rioja, Aragon; W: Galicia, Portugal **

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12
Q

What is sequence of civilizations in Castilla y León?

A

Greeks, Celts, Romans, Visigoths, Moors, Christians **

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13
Q

What wine was specified on Christopher Columbus’s manifest for his first journey to the New World?

A

Toro wine on the Pinta; wine was certainly also on the Niña and Santa Maria.

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14
Q

What were the wines from Tierra de Medina?

A

historic high quality fortified wine; famous in the 15th century when it was known as “Tierra de Medina wines”, Medina del Campo being a city in current day DO Rueda. Queen Isabella I preferred the wine and set out ordinances to protect the vineyards. **

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15
Q

What is the the only Spanish province surrounded only - and entirely - by other provinces of the same autonomous community?

A

Valladolid. It is bordered by the provinces of Zamora, León, Palencia, Burgos, Segovia, Ávila, and Salamanca.

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16
Q

What was impact of phylloxera in Castilla y León?

A

Initially when phylloxera decimated France it resulted in a massive input of capital to wine regions of Castilla y León.

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17
Q

What is the climate in Castilla y Leon?

A

prototypic continental climate with extremes in temperature and varied rainfall **

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18
Q

What is the main river in Castilla y León?

A

Duero**

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19
Q

What are the main topographic features in Castilla y León?

A

the Duero River Basin and the mountains (Sistema Iberico and Sistema Central) bordering the region.

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20
Q

What region is defined by the saying: “Neuve meses de invierno, y tres meses de inferno.”

A

Castilla y León, exhibiting a continental climate with extreme temperatures. (This expression also applies to climate of Castillla La Mancha.)

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21
Q

What are the mountain ranges in Castilla y León and what natural borders do they create?

A

Montes de Leon (NW), Cordillera Cantabrica (N), Sistemica Iberico (E), Sistema Central (S)

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22
Q

What is the largest river basin on the Iberian Peninsula?

A

the Duero River Basin (19% of which lies in Portugal) [Contrast with the Tajo River which is the longest river on the Iberian Peninsula.] **

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23
Q

In which DO of Castilla y León is Tempranillo NOT authorized?

A

DO Bierzo**

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24
Q

What red grapes are used in wine regions of Castilla y León where Tempranillo is not dominant?

A

Mencia, Prieto Picudo** (also Rufete in VC Sierra de Salamanca)

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25
Q

What is the conversion equation for vineyard yields from ton per acre to kg/ha?

A

2400 kg/ha = 1 t/a
rough avg: 1 ton per acre = 2470 kg/ha ≈ 17.5 hl/ha

[for white wine, 100 hl/ha ≈ 16,000 kg/ha (16 t/ha) = 6.5 tons per acre.
1 ton per acre = 2470 kg/ha ≈ 15 hl/ha
for red wine, 100 hl/ha ≈ 13,000 kg/ha (13 t/ha) = 5.3 tons per acre.
1 ton per acre = 2470 kg/ha ≈ 19 hl/ha
for mixed wine, 100 hl/ha ≈ 14,000 kg/ha (14 t/ha) = 5.7 tons per acre.]

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26
Q

Compare the most favored vineyard aspect in Galicia and Ribera del Duero.

A

In Galicia, the south exposures along the rivers and in the hills are always preferred. In Ribera del Duero, Vega-Sicilia, winemaker Xavier Ausás says a north slope can help to protect the acid and pH levels in the wines.

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27
Q

Where in Castilla y León is “en vaso” vine training tradition most entrenched? What are the synonyms for this?

A

used in Toro and Ribera del Duero; head trained-spur pruned or the French gobelet. It is the traditional system where Tempranillo is grown.

28
Q

Which of Spain’s signature grapes grows best in Castilla y Leon?

A

Tempranillo**

29
Q

Mencia is most prevalent in which DO of Castilla y Leon?

A

Bierzo**

30
Q

What is the climate of Bierzo DO?

A

continental with maritime influences

31
Q

Which DO of Castilla y León is not located on the meseta?

A

Bierzo, lower altitude than other DO’s

32
Q

What are the typical levels of aromatics and alcohol for wine made from Mencia?

A

intense aromatics and high alcohol (potential challenges with acidity)

33
Q

What is breakdown of red/white/rose wine production in DO Bierzo?

A

predominantly red,** 83/12/5

34
Q

What is breakdown of red/white/rose wine production in DO Cigales?

A

predominantly rosado,** 34/2/64 (t/b/r), one of highest proportion of rosado production for any DO in Spain [DO Tierra de León also has a high proportion of rosado production.]

35
Q

What river is associated with DO Cigales?

A

Pisuerga River, a tributary of the Duero [not to be confused with the famous winery in RdD, Pesquera]

36
Q

What is most commonly used grape in DO Cigales?

A

Tempranillo (Tinta del Pais) **

37
Q

What vinicultural aspect in Castilla y León promotes favorable preservation of wine in the face of high daytime temperatures?

A

wine storage in underground caves (especially DO Cigales and DO Ribera del Duero)

38
Q

Describe the method of rosado production in DO Cigales?

A

Clarete: red and white grapes are crushed together and co-fermented with skin contact [analogous to aloque and not be confused to Claret from Bordeaux] **

a winemaking process in which red and white grapes are crushed together and vinified as a red wine with skin contact to deliver a a rosado (light-red or semi-red wine) (e.g. DO Cigales and DOCa Rioja)

39
Q

What are synonyms used for Tempranillo in Castilla y Leon?

A

Tinta del Pais, Tinto Fino, Tinta de Toro** [PFT]

40
Q

Which DO’s lead Spain in terms of production quantity?

A

DOCa Rioja, DO Ribera del Duero, DO Rueda** [not NE Spain!]

41
Q

In Ribera del Duero, what percent of grapes grown are Tempranillo?

A

98%; yet historically, white grapes were more common, used for clarete wines

42
Q

In DO Ribera del Duero, what is the most significant white grape?

A

Albillo Mayor (albeit very small percentage) [not to be confused with Albillo Real found in SW CyL and Madrid]

43
Q

What is the etymology of Tempranillo?

A

temprano meaning early in Spanish, correlating with early budding and especially early ripening, before the frosts **

44
Q

What are the typical structural characteristics of Tempranillo in terms of acid, alcohol and tannin?

A

low to medium acid, medium alcohol, medium to high tannin

45
Q

What percent of all Spanish still white wine of DO quality is made in Rueda?

A

40% **

46
Q

What is length and width of Ribera del Duero?

A

71 miles from east to west, 22 miles from north to south [contrast with Napa - 30 x 5 and Rioja - 60 x 25]

47
Q

What is the oldest demarcated wine region in Castilla y León?

A

DO Rueda, formed 1980

48
Q

What white grape is authorized in DO Rueda, but no new plantings are allowed?

A

Palomino Fino, the future of DO Rueda revolves around Verdejo.

49
Q

Which grape is a sibling of Verdejo?

A

Verdejo is a full sibling to Godello and a half sibling to Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc and Trousseau (possibly explaining why Godello is confusingly called Verdelho in Portugal) [This genetic linkage is evidence against a proposed North African origin of Verdejo.]

50
Q

Who is responsible for the increased plantings of Verdejo in Rueda?

A

In the 1970s, Francisco Hurtado de Amézaga y Dolagaray, director of the Rioja-based winery Marqués de Riscal, chose Rueda as an area in which to grow grapes for white wine production.

51
Q

What are the main contrasts between the taste profiles of Verdejo and Sauvignon Blanc?

A

Verdejo has less pyrazines and a characteristic balancing bitterness in the finish.

52
Q

What is VT Castilla y Leon?

A

Vino de Tierra that covers the entire autonomous community of Castilla y Leon. [Remember that VT’s are not PDO’s.]

53
Q

What is Sardón de Duero?

A

A town located just to the west of Ribera del Duero, close to Vega Sicilia. The area’s most highly regarded winery, Abadía Retuerta, was labeled VT Castilla y León–Sardón prior to being approved as a Vino de Pago. [It is also a member of Grandes Pagos de España.]

54
Q

What is the figurative meaning of the name Castilla y León?

A

The Autonomous Region of Castilla y León was born of the latter-day union of the historical kingdoms of León and Castile. León derives from the Roman city Legio VII Gemina. Castilla comes from numerous medieval castles in the area.

55
Q

What is the length of the route of the Camino de Santiago?

A

No clear answer as there are many different paths, the most popular French Way is about 500 miles with the longest segment through Castilla y León.

56
Q

What is the signature grape of DO Tierra de León?

A

Prieto Picudo, prized for production of rosados made by the madreo process [grape and method are important, but not a NTK DO]

57
Q

In DO Toro what is the most significant white grape?

A

Verdejo and Malvasia, but very small production [contrast with the white grape in RdD, Albillo Mayor]

58
Q

What is Las Médulas?

A

a historic gold-mining site in El Bierzo. It was the most important gold mine in the entire Roman Empire. Las Médulas Cultural Landscape is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. **

59
Q

What is the nearest Spanish region to Castilla y León that does NOT touch its border?

A

Navarra**

60
Q

What is the capital of Castilla y León?

A

none; Valladolid is the unofficial capital [Originally an eastern county of the kingdom of León, in the 11th century, Castile became an independent realm with its capital at Burgos.]

61
Q

In DO Rueda, what is the most significant white grape?

A

Verdejo**

62
Q

How are rosados made in Castilla y León?

A

direct press (mostly), saignee or in Cigales by clarete method

63
Q

When and where was the first DO created in Castilla y León?

A

1980, DO Rueda

64
Q

What is the common ancestor of Verdejo, Godello, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc and Trousseau?

A

Savignin (crossed with Castellana Blanca in the case of Verdejo and Godello)

65
Q

What is the genetic relationship between Cayetana Blanca and Castellana Blanca?

A

Cayetana Blanca has a parent–offspring relationship with Castellana Blanca, making it a probable grandparent of Godello and Verdejo.

66
Q

What is the difference between saignée and direct press methods of rosé production?

A

Saignée involves removing some juice from a tank of fermenting red grapes, concentrating the remaining juice for a deeper red wine, while direct press involves pressing the whole grapes directly with minimal skin contact time.

SWS (13 decks)

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