The Meseta Flashcards
What is world’s most expensive spice grown on the Meseta?
saffron**
What is the climate of the Meseta?
(Protypic) continental**
What is the important wind of the Castilla-La Mancha?
Levante**, starts gentle and moist moderating the eastern aspect of C-LM. (This wind becomes hot and dry in Andalusia after passing over the mountains.)
What is the important weather pattern that can effect the Extremadura?
Azores High**
What is the average rainfall on the Meseta?
20 inches [low**, but on average, slightly more than Valencia and Murcia]
Within the Meseta, what are the components of the Sistema Central mountains?
Sierra de Gredos (west) and Sierra de Guadarrama (east)**
What are the principal mountain ranges of the southern Meseta?
Sistema Bético, Sierra Morena
The mountains of the Sistema Central form the natural boundary of which regions?
Castilla y Leon and Castilla-La Mancha, both of which lie on the Meseta (e.g. Sierra de Gredos wine area is found in both regions.)
What are the mountains that lie between the Tajo and Guadiana rivers?
Sierra de Toledo and Sierra de Guadalupe**
What are the two major east flowing rivers that begin in the Meseta and empty to the Mediterrean Sea?
Jucar and Segura rivers** (The Ebro does not begin in the Meseta.)
What is the dominant soil type in Castilla-La Mancha?
limestone**
Which regions border Castilla-La Mancha?
W: Extremadura; S: Murcia and Andalucia; E: Aragon and Valencia; N: Madrid and Castilla y Leon
What is the sequence of civilizations in Castilla-La Mancha?
Iberians/Celtiberians, Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Visigoths, Moors and Christians. [Note that Greek influence far from the coast is minimal.]
What was the capital of Visigoth rule in Spain?
Toledo**
What is etymology of Castilla-La Mancha?
Castilla - indicating seat of the crown; La Mancha from the Arabic ‘al mansha,’ land without water
What is the largest plain in Spain?
La Mancha, dry but fertile! [at elevation, not a lowland plain]
What were the major cultural contributions of the Moors in Castilla-La Mancha?
irrigation and animal husbandry**
What is the capital of Castilla-La Mancha?
Toledo** [not Madrid!]
What is the most planted grape in Castilla-La Mancha?
Airén (eye-wren)**
Vineyards in Castilla-La Mancha comprise what portion of Spanish vineyards?
50%**
What is the primary training method used in Castilla-La Mancha?
en vaso**
What is the most planted white wine grape in the world?
Airén, ranks 4th among all wine grapes worldwide behind Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Tempranillo
What is the most planted red grape in Castilla-La Mancha?
Tempranillo** [but marginally less plantings than Airen]
What are motillas?
prehistoric fortified settlements (man-made mounds) dating from about 2000 BCE in La Mancha during the Middle Bronze Age, used to guard water and food sources**
Which civilization brought wine making to the Meseta?
Phoenicians** (after arrival in 1100 BCE) [This is relevant as Phoenician artifacts of wine making have been found in Valdepeñas.]
What is the source of La Serina cheese?
Merino sheep from Extremadura, curdled using a coagulant found in the pistils of cardoon.
What is the source of Torta del Casar?
Merino and Entrefina sheep from Extremadura
What is the difference between Torta del Casar and la Serena cheese?
Torta del Casar is milder than la Serena, because it is made from milk from mixed breeds and also because less coagulant is used. (not testable)
What are the 3 largest regions in Spain?
Castilla y Leon, Andalucía, Castilla-La Mancha** [in that order]
What is the largest DOP wine region in the world?
DO La Mancha** [DOP’s include DO, DOCa, VC, VP, VPCa, but not VT]
What are the 5 provinces of Castilla-La Mancha?
Ciudad Real, Toledo, Cuenca, Guadalajara, Albacete (not testable)
Which province in Castilla-La Mancha does not produce wine for DO La Mancha?
Guadalajara**
What is Tempranillo called in Castilla-La Mancha?
Cencibel** [used on labels from VT Castilla]
What is the most widely planted grape in DO La Mancha?
Airen**, in terms of plantings (a white grape although wine production is primarily red due to the use of white grapes for brandy)
What is the dominant wine style in DO La Mancha?
tinto**, with significant rosé production [contrast this to larger plantings of white grapes which are used for brandy, not wine, production!]
DO Manchuela was originally part of which DO?
DO La Mancha from 1982 to 2000**
What distinctive wine making technique is used for 30% of wine in DO Manchuela?
Doble pasta for Bobal (also used in DO Utiel-Requeña)
What are the dominant red grapes in DO Manchuela?
Primarily Bobal** (and also Tempranillo)
What are the dominant white grapes in DO Manchuela?
Macabeo
Ancient wine making equipment dating from the Phoenicians in 700 BCE was found in which DO?
DO Valdepeñas
DO Valdepeñas was originally part of which DO?
none, it is a very historic wine area which was one of the original Spanish DO’s named in the 1932 Wine Statute
What is unique wine stye from DO Valdepeñas
Aloque (Clarete), was blend of red and white wines, now co-fermented to align with current wine laws**
What is the dominant wine style in DO La Mancha?
tinto, made from Tempranillo**
What are the NTK vinos de pago in Castilla-La Mancha
2: Dominio Valdepusa, Finca Èlez**
What native Spanish grapes are grown at VP Dominio Valdepusa?
only Graciano** [not Tempranillo!]
What are the dominant red grapes in DO Valdepeñas?
Cencibel (aka Tempranillo)**
What are the dominant white grapes in DO Valdepeñas?
Airén**