Upper Ebro

Question 1

Year Rioja DOCa

Answer 1

1991

Question 2

Spain’s 1st Consejo Regulador

Answer 2

Established in Rioja in 1926

Question 3

Rioja red varieties

Answer 3

Tempranillo 3/4 of vineyards, Garnacha, Mazuelo (Cariñena), Graciano, Maturana Tinta (Trousseau)

Question 4

Rioja white varieties

Answer 4

Viura, Malvasía, Garnacha Blanco

Question 5

Rioja international varieties

Answer 5

CS, Merlto, SB, CH, may be used in blends but may only be listed as ‘other varieties’

Question 6

Rioja viti

Answer 6

Gobelet tradtional, but wire training has resulting in alarming yield increases

Question 7

Rioja yields

Answer 7

Reds 45 hl/ha, whites 63 hl/ha

Question 8

Rioja Alta soils

Answer 8

Yellow calcareous clay in N, lower slopes contain reddish, iron-rich clay soils. Viura on clay, Tempranillo on iron-rich

Question 9

Rioja Alavesa soils

Answer 9

Highest concentration of calcareous clay. This chalk producers lighter wines with more finesse

Question 10

Rioja Baja soils

Answer 10

Iron rich clay, with alluvial, silty soils in flatter areas. Largest producer of Joven wine

Question 11

Who upholds the tradition of aging whites in oak

Answer 11

López de Heredia, Marqués de Murrieta

Question 12

Acidification allowed?

Answer 12

Yes

Question 13

Rioja growers

Answer 13

20,000. Most do not have their own winemaking facilities

Question 14

Number of merchant bodegas

Answer 14

500+. Up from 100 in 1990s

Question 15

Who grows, vinifies, and markets their own wines

Answer 15

Contino, Remelluri

Question 16

Navarra ha

Answer 16

11,500 ha

Question 17

Navarra subzones

Answer 17

5 according to climate. Baja Montaña-cooler slopes close to Pyrenees. Valdizarbe-slightly warmer. Tierra Estella. Ribera Alta-center. Ribera Baja-traditionally most important

Question 18

Navarra style

Answer 18

Large quantities of good, dry rosé from Garnacha. Sweet wines from Moscatel de Grano Menudo. Traditional reds similar to Rioja,with darker fruit/color due to IV

Question 19

Navarra IV permitted?

Answer 19

Yes

Question 20

Somontano

Answer 20

4,750 ha. Foothills of Central Pyrenees, in Aragón

Question 21

Somontano climate

Answer 21

Heavy winter rains and a network of rivers and streams from the mtns keep this region green and productive, even in summer

Question 22

Somotano varieties

Answer 22

Whites dominate. Macebeo, Alcañón, CH, GW. Reds-Temp, Garnacha, Moristel, Parraleta

Question 23

Somotano producers

Answer 23

Bodega Pirineos, Viñas del Vero, Enate

Question 24

Cariñena stats

Answer 24

Largest of Aragón’s 4 DOs. Attempting to break w viti/vini flaws of past. ABV reduced from min of 14% to 12% in 1990

Question 25

Cariñena soils

Answer 25

Red/brown limestone with rocky sub soil

Question 26

Cariñena varieties

Answer 26

Cariñena, Garnacha (better suited), Tempranillo, CS, Vidadillo. Macabeo, Garnacha Blanca, Parellada

Question 27

Cariñena producers

Answer 27

Co-op San Valero, Solar de Urbezo, Pablo, Bioenos, Añadas, Grandes Vnos y Viñedos

Question 28

Calatayud stats

Answer 28

5,000 ha in arid Aragón. Yields rarely above 20 hl/ha. Most grapes sold to one of 9 co-ops.

Question 29

Calatayud varieties/style

Answer 29

Garnacha 2/3 of production, Tempranillo, IV. Heady reds, Garnacha rosé, crisp whites from Viura

Question 30

Calatayud producers

Answer 30

El Esconcés Volante (Norrel Robertson MW), Bodegas y Viñedos del Jalón, Ateca