The Spanish Islands

Question 1

In which body of water are the Balearic Islands located?

Answer 1

The Mediterranean Sea

Question 2

In which body of water are the Canary Islands located?

Answer 2

The Atlantic

Question 3

How many DOs are in the Balearic Islands? What are they?

Answer 3

2
Binissalem,
Pla i Llevant

Question 4

What are the 5 DOs on Tenerife?

Answer 4

Tacoronte-Acentejo,
Abona,
Valle de Güimar
Ycoden-Daute-Isora

Question 5

What are the two most important islands in the Canaries?

Answer 5

Tenerife and Lanzarote

Question 6

Describe Trenzado vine training and on which island it is common…

Answer 6

Commonly found on Tenerife, these are long (upwards of 10 meters) “braided” grapevines that are partially movable to allow the planting of other crops during the vine’s dormancy.

Question 7

Describe Hoyos, why they’re used, and where they will be found…

Answer 7

Found on the Island of Lanzarote, they are deep volcanic ash pits, sometimes as wide as 10 meters, where vines are grown in its center. They’re often surrounded by stone walls that shield the vines from the savage Vientos Alisios winds.

Question 8

What are the names of the four islands in the Balearic Islands, which Spanish Autonomous Community are they near?

Answer 8

Off the coast of Catalonia, the islands are named...
Mallorca,
Menorca,
Ibiza,
Formentera.

Question 9

Explain where the Canary Islands are in relation to Spain.

Answer 9

700 miles south and west from Spain, directly south of Madeira and off the coast of the southern edge of Morocco.

Question 10

When were the Canary Islands first colonized and by who?

Answer 10

1402, by the Crown of Castille.

Question 11

What is Listán Prieto called in the New World?

Answer 11

Criolla Chica (Argentina), País (Chile), and Mission (California).

Question 12

What is the main soil type on the Canary Islands?

Answer 12

Black Volcanic!

Question 13

Phylloxera devastated the Canaries just like everywhere else… True or False?

Answer 13

FALSE! The pest never took hold and as such, many of the vines are not only own-rooted, but SUPER OLD!

Question 14

What are the other DOs in the Canary Islands not on Tenerife? Which is the most important of them?

Answer 14

Lanzarote is the most important, but there is also...
La Palma,
La Gomera,
El Hierro,
Gran Canaria

Question 15

What are the three most important White grapes in the Canary Islands?

Answer 15

Listán Blanco
Malvasía
Malvasía Volcánica

Question 16

What is the name of the mountain on the Canary Island of Tenerife?

Answer 16

Mount Teide, the tallest in Spain.

Question 17

Are white or red grapes primarily planted on the southern side of Tenerife?

Answer 17

White.

Question 18

What is the name of the tiny plots of vines all around the island of Tenerife that were historically owned for home winemaking?

Answer 18

Suertes

Question 19

When did the volcano erupt on Lanzarote and how long did it go for?

Answer 19

1730, lasted for 6 years.

Question 20

What is the most predominant grape variety on Lanzarote?

Answer 20

Malvasía Volcánica.

Question 21

Lanzarote does not make sweet or fortified wines… True or False?

Answer 21

FALSE!

Question 22

Which island in the Balearics is home to the only two DOs in the region?

Answer 22

Mallorca

Question 23

Main grapes of Binissalem DO, and it’s location.

Answer 23

Manto Negro (red) and Moll (white) - first DO outside of mainland Spain, and it’s in the center of Mallorca.

Question 24

Main grapes of Pla i Llevant DO, and it’s location.

Answer 24

Callet, Manto Negro (reds) and Moll (white) - On the eastern side of Mallorca.

Question 25

What is “Vientos Alisios”?

Answer 25

Strong Atlantic winds coming from the North East that blow through the Canary Islands

Question 26

Which red grape is regarded as producing the highest quality wine in the Canary Islands?

Answer 26

Listán Negro