The Islands Flashcards
What are the Pityusas islands?
Ibiza and Formentera, ‘pine’ islands, western most Balearic Islands
What are the Gymnesic islands?
Mallorca and Menorca, ‘naked’ islands, eastern most Balearic Islands
What is the modern economic driver for wine production in the Balearic Islands?
Tourism (increased vineyards resulting in less emphasis on almonds)
What is the rainfall in the Balearic Islands?
Low, 12-26 inches, the exception is Serra Tramuntana on Mallorca
What is the climate in the Balearic Islands?
Mediterranean **
Which Balearic islands are generally cooler?
Western islands, Ibiza and Formenterra, exception is Serra Tramuntana on Mallorca
What did Pliny the Elder say about Balearic wine?
compared well to the best Italian wines, 73 CE
When did wine making start in the Balearic Islands?
7th century BCE with the arrival of the Phoenicians
What was the motivation for the Roman conquest of the Balearic Islands in 123 BCE?
Stop piracy. The Balearic Islands were the last place for Transalpine Gaul and Sardinian pirates to hide in the western Mediterranean. Mallorca was home to excellent ports which was conducive to naval operations.
What is the etymology of Balearic?
Latin Balearicus, from Greek Baliarikos, from the ancient name of the islands and their inhabitants; traditionally “the slingers” (from ballein “to throw, sling”) in reference to their weapons.
What was the effect of the bubonic plague in Balearic Islands?
Widespread devastation; wiped out entire population of Formenterra, which was not repopulated for 400 years.
When did Spain ultimately regain control of Balearic Islands?
1802 [300+ years after Spain gained control of Canary Islands.]
What was the aftermath of phylloxera in the Balearic Islands after 1891?
decrease in vineyard acreage due to frequent replanting with almond trees [These islands were a site of early entry of phylloxera into Spain. Contrast with Canary Islands that never had phylloxera.]
How many provinces are in the Balearic Islands?
one [contrast with two in the Canary Islands]
What is the capital of the Balearic Islands?
Palma de Mallorca [Palma alert: Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is a co-capital of Canary islands.]
What islands are affected by the tramontana?
mostly noted in Menorca of the Balearic Islands [also has an effect on Mallorca and in Cataluña, especially Emporda; tramontana winds head to Serra de Tramuntana]
What is the embat?
a refreshing soft humid wind coming from the sea towards the land that blows over Mallorca in the hottest part of the day; may contribute to salinity of the wine
What are the viticultural challenges in the Balearic Islands?
limited rainfall, hail, violent rainstorms
The Balearic Islands are an extension of which mountain range?
Sistema Bético (which starts in Andalucia and reemerges in the Mediterranean Sea)
Where is the Santa Eulalia River?
Ibiza, only river (stream) of the Balearic Islands
What is Call Vermell?
a reddish free-draining clay soil often mixed with limestone gravels or stones that is found in Mallorca** [vermell is red in Catalan]
Where is Call Vermell found?
DO Pla i Llevant (Mallorca)** [Some importers describe Call Vermell in Do Binissalem, but this is not mentioned in the book.]
What is Sant Francesc Xavier?
Sant Francesc (Spanish: San Francisco) Xavier is the largest settlement of Formentera in the Balearic Islands
What are the indigenous white grapes of the Balearic Islands?
Prensal Blanc (aka Moll) is most significant. **
What are the indigenous red grapes of the Balearic Islands?
Manto Negro [photo in manual!], Callet, Fogoneu
What are the international white grapes grown on Mallorca?
Malvasía and Chardonnay (in the Serra de Tramuntana)
What are the international red grapes grown on Menorca?
Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon
What are the international grapes grown on Ibiza?
Monastrell (actually Spanish, of course)
What are the international grapes grown on Formenterra?
Monastrell (actually Spanish, of course)
What is the role of mechanization of viticulture in the Balearics Islands?
widespread except in the Serra de Tramuntana
What is the traditional form of vine training in the Balearic Islands?
en vaso
What is the modern (with replanting) form of vine training in the Balearic Islands?
espaldera
In what years did wine production peak in the Balearic Islands?
between the years of the arrival of phylloxera in France and subsequently in Spain, wine production peaked; it is comparatively lower now
What wine style predominates in DO Binissalem?
Tinto**, (64/18/16/2, T/B/R/E)
What is predominant white grape planted in DO Binissalem?
Prensal Blanc **
What is predominant red grape planted in DO Binissalem?
Manto Negro (37%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (26%)
What does Pla i Llevant mean?
Catalan for Plain and Eastern
What are the wine styles of DO Pla i Llevant?
43/39/18, T/B/R, red dominant**
Where is DO Pla i Llevant?
Island of Mallorca
What are the soils in DO Pla i Llevant?
limestone and Call Vermell
What are the most commonly planted red grapes in DO Pla i Llevant?
Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, Callet is third
What are the most commonly planted white grapes in DO Pla i Llevant?
Chardonnay and Prensal Blanc
How does Mallorca differ topographically from the other Balearic Islands?
All are generally flat except Mallorca where the Serra de Tramontana Mountains are found on NW coast.
The Canary Islands are named after which animal?
dogs, ancient people on the island may have worshipped dogs prior to the arrival of the Romans
What is the relationship of the canary birds and the Canary Islands?
The birds are named after islands where they come from, not the other way around!
In what year did all of the Canary Islands fall under full Spanish control?
1495 (>200 years before Balearic Islands)
When Spain and Portugal signed a treaty granting Spain control of Canary Islands, what did Portugal get?
Cape Verde, Madeira, Azores
How was the flourishing Anglo-Spanish trade of Malmsey wine was brought to an abrupt end in 1666?
By 1570, London was importing 20 million litres of Malmsey each year. It was brought to an abrupt end in 1666 when islanders rebelled against the dominance of the London-based Canary Island Company, which had a monopoly on exports. When producers expressed their discontent by smashing barrels, Britain retaliated by banning the wine and swapped to the Portuguese rival, Madeira.
How far are the Canary Islands from Africa?
100 km (1000 km from Spain)
How far are the Canary Islands from Spain?
1000 km (100 km from Africa)
How many primary islands are in the Canary Islands?
7, the largest is Tenerife
What is the climate of the Canary Islands?
sub-tropical, aka “best in the world”**
What is the latitude of the Canary Islands?
28 degrees N, the same as Corpus Christi, Texas and Tampa, Florida
What is the rainfall the Canary Islands?
low, less than 20 inches **
Which of the Canary Islands has the lowest rainfall?
Lanzarote, 6 inches (easternmost island) **
What winds predominate in the Canary Islands? to what effect?
northeast trade winds, a general cooling effect **
How many islands in the Canary Islands have volcanoes that have been active since the 15th century?
4 - Lanzarote, Tenerife, La Palma, El Hierro [Volcanic PHaLT, not Gran Canaria!]
How many provinces are in the Canary Islands?
2; Santa Cruz de Tenerife (western) and Las Palmas (eastern) [Palma alert: note that the island of La Palma is in the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife]
What are the Guanches?
refers to several aboriginal populations of the Canary Islands
What is the dominant soil in the Canary Islands?
volcanic **
Where are clay and sand soils found in the Canary Islands?
at higher[!] elevation
What are the easternmost islands of the Canary Islands
Lanzarote, Fuerteventura (Gran Canaria is also in the eastern province)
Where are lapilli soils found?
on parts of Lanzarote and La Palma islands in the Canary Islands
Which islands have the lowest elevations in the Canary Islands?
Fuerteventura and Lanzarote in the eastern part of the archipelago
When did phylloxera arrive in the Canary Islands?
never [volanic soils are immune]
What are the main white grapes found in the Canary Islands?
Malvasia Aromatica, Malvasia Volcánica (de Lanzarote,) Listán Blanco (aka Palomino Fino)
What are the main red grapes found in the Canary Islands?
Listán Negro (Listan Prieto, aka Mission, is a minor player on the Islands)
Historical Malmsey was made with what grape?
Malvasia Aromatica [aka Malvasia de Sitges and Malvasia di Lipari; it is a parent of Malvasia Volcánica. Do not confound with Moscatel (Muscat) in Andalucia or Valencia.]
How does Jancis Robinson describe “Malvasia Aromatica” in Wine Grapes?
She rejects this term, preferring the nomenclature Malvasia de Lipari. There is a parent-offspring link for Malvasia de Lipari and Malvasia Volcánica. She maintains that many of the Malvasia grapes are distinct. However, she categorizes Malmsey (Madeira), Malvasia de la Palma (Islas Canarias), Malvasia de Sitges (Catalunya) and Malvasia de Tenerife as synonyms. [This is just a point of reference; anyone that expects you to know this much is crazy.]
What is the capital of the Canary Islands?
Its capital is shared by the cities of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, which in turn are the capitals of the provinces of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas. [Palma alert: Palma de Mallorca is capital of Balearic islands.]
Compare the tramontana to the mistral winds.
They are similar in their causes and effects, but each follows a different parallel corridor; the tramontana accelerates as it passes between the Pyrenees and the Massif Central, while the mistral flows down the Rhone Valley between the Alps and the Massif Central.
What are the major white grapes in the Canary Islands?
Malvasia Aromatica, Malvasia Volcánica, Listan Blanco**
What are the major red grapes in the Canary Islands?
Listan Negro**
What is major synonym for Listan Negro in the Canary Islands?
Almuñeco
What is the major white grape on Lanazarote Island?
Malvasia Volcánica
What is the standard training for vines in the Canary Islands?
en vaso
What Spanish region has some the highest vineyards in Europe?
The Canary Islands
What are the 3 main components of the specialized planting method used in the volcanic soils of the Canary Islands?
a) lapilli (volcanic pebbles)
b) hoya - conical hole about 10 x 7 feet
c) briga - protective wall of volcanic rock on windward aspect
What are the NTK DO’s in the Canary Islands?
DOP Islas Canarias (actually a VC, errata from book) DO Lanzarote DO Tacoronte-Acentejo DO Valle de la Orotava DO Ycoden-Daute-Isora
What are cordón trenzado?
movable braided vines in the Canary Islands, up to 15-25 meters in length
In which DOs are cordón trenzado used?
DO Tacoronte-Acentejo, DO Valle de la Orotava, both on Tenerife
What was the first of the Canary Islands to be conquered by Castile
Gran Canary
Which Canary Island dominated wine production historically when large shipments were going to England?
Gran Canary
What is Vino de Tea?
wine aged in pine barrels on the island of La Palma
Which DO’s are on the island of Tenerife?
East to west: DO Tacoronte-Acentejo DO Valle de la Orotava DO Ycoden-Daute-Isora [TOY]
What is the oldest DO in the Canary Islands?
DO Tacoronte-Acentejo
What is the largest DO in the Canary Islands?
DO Tacoronte-Acentejo
What is predominant wine style for DO Tacoronte-Acentejo?
tinto 83%
What is predominant grape variety used in DO Tacoronte-Acentejo?
Listan Negro
Where was cordón trenzado pioneered?
DO Valle de la Orotava
The port city of Puerto de la Cruz is associated with which wine region?
DO Valle de la Orotava (Islas Canarias)
What was the first port city of the Islas Canarias?
Puerto de la Cruz (known originally as Puerto de la Orotava?)
What is the etymology of DO Ycoden-Daute-Isora?
Ycoden and Daute were ancient kingdoms of the original inhabitants (Guanche people) of the Islas Canarias.
What is the predominant wine style of DO Ycoden-Daute-Isora?
white [contrast to DO Tacoronte-Acentejo and DO Valle de la Orotava: tinto]
What is the predominant wine style of DO Islas Canaria?
white
For DO Binissalem vinos espumosos, which white variety must be at least 50% of the blend?
Prensal Blanc
What is the largest and most populous island of the Islas Canarias archipelago?
Tenerife [larger than the Gran Canaria]
What American plant disease devastated the wine industry in Las Islas Canarias in the 19th Century?
actually two, downy mildew and powdery mildew (aka odium) [Phylloxera never arrived to volcanic soils.]
What technique is used in DO Lanzarote to produce red wines that are fresh and fruit forward?
carbonic maceration
What is the smallest autonomous community (region) in Spain?
Las Islas Baleares [compare with Rioja, the smallest region on the peninsula]
Catalan is spoken in which regions of Spain?
Catalonia, Valencia and Las Islas Baleares
What is etymology of Tenerife?
The name given to the island by the indigenous peoples was derived from the words teni (“mountain”) and ife (“white”), the name was modified by Spanish phonology: the letter “r” was added to link the two words, producing the single word Tenerife.
