Valencia Flashcards

1
Q

Name the foods Valencia is known for?

A
  • Paella
  • oranges
  • rice
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What agricultural advancements did the Moors contribute to Spain?

A
  • oranges, sugar cane, cotton, apricots, almonds, saffron, rice
  • new breeds of livestock
  • fertilizer
  • pest control
  • grafting methods
  • irrigation: capturing, channelling, & storing of water
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is “The Tribunal of Waters”?

A

This was a network of canals for channeling water created by the Moors located in Valencia.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Where is Comunidad Valencia located?

A

This autonomous region is in the central section of Spain’s east coast and possesses roughly 320mi/515km of Mediterranean shoreline.
It is bordered by Cataluna to the north-east, Aragon to the north-west, Castilla-La Mancha to the west, and Region de Murcia to the south-west.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Name the provinces in Valencia

A
  1. Castellon: in the north
  2. Valencia: in the center
  3. Alicante: in the south
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is the capitol of Valencia?

A

The city of Valencia, Spain’s 3rd largest city.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the climate in Valencia?

A

Mediterranean
* Winter: long & cold
* Summer: long, dry, & hot; droughts are common
* Autumn: hailstorms are common; most precipitation occurs here & can fall in torrential downpours
* coastal breezes moderate the heat
* affected by the Leveche
* Inland has continental influences w/ significant diurnal temperature swings (the best wine-producing areas are located here)
* 10-16in/250-400mm average annual rainfall

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is the Leveche?

A

This is a warm southerly wind that originates over the Sahara Desert in North Africa producing hot, dry, & dusty conditions. The wind picks up moisture as it moves northward across the Mediterranean Sea on its way to the Spanish mainland. It is most prevalent in springtime.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Which mountain ranges terminate in Valencia?

A
  • Sistema Iberico
  • Sistema Betico (Cordilleras Beticas)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is the name of the highest peak in Valencia?

A

Pico Calderon

The provinces of Castellon & Valencia have some of this region’s highest peaks.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Name the main rivers in Valencia.

A
  • Jucar River: originates in Castilla-La Mancha & flows through the Valencia province
  • Segura River: originates in Andalucia & flows through the Alicante province

Note: there are a number of small rivers with so little water volume that they run completely dry in summer.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What soil types are found in Valencia?

A
  • Coastal: marl, clay, & sandstone
  • Inland: limestone & loamy-sand
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Which grape varieties is Valencia predominantly known for?

A
  • Bobal
  • Monastrell
  • Moscatel de Alejandria
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

How is the Bobal variety used to make wines in Valencia?

A
  • traditionally used as a blending grape
  • now being crafted into high-quality varietal wine
  • carbonic maceration
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What are the characteristics of varietal wines made from Bobal?

A

Wines made from this variety are full-bodied & deeply pigmented with supple tannins.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

How is the Monastrell variety used to make wines in Valencia?

A
  • Blended with small amounts of Garnacha Tintera for added acidity
  • dry varietal wine
  • late-harvest varietal wine (Fondillon from DO Alicante)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Name the DOPs of Valencia.

A
  1. DO Alicante (1957)
  2. DO Utiel-Requena (1957)
  3. DO Valencia (1957)
  4. VP El Terrerazo (2010)
  5. VP Los Balagueses (2011)
  6. VP Vera de Estenas (2019)

Other: VT Castello (2003)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Where is DO Alicante located?

A

This wine region is located within the Alicante province in the southern area of Valencia.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Name the 2 zones in DO Alicante.

A
  1. La Marina: located on the coast in northeastern Alicante
  2. Vinalopo: lies south of La Marina & stretches from the coast to mountainous terrain inland; its western reaches comprise high-elevation vineyards
20
Q

What is the climate in DO Alicante?

A

Mediterranean w/ continental influences
* 10in/250mm average annual rainfall

21
Q

What soil types are found in DO Alicante?

A
  • Limestone (Vinalopo)
  • Clay (La Marina)
22
Q

What styles of wine are produced in DO Alicante?

A
  • Tinto (68%): min. 80% Monastrell
  • Blanco (22%)
  • Rosado (7%)
  • Espumoso (2%)
  • Other (1%)
23
Q

Name the white varieties of DO Alicante.

A

Authorized:
* Moscatel de Alejandria
* Airen
* Subirat Parent (Malvasia)
* Chardonnay
* Macabeo
* Merseguera
* Planta Finta de Pedralba
* Sauvignon Blanc
* Verdil

24
Q

Where in DO Alicante does the Moscatel de Alejandria variety thrive?

A

La Marina

25
Q

Name the red varieties of DO Alicante.

A

Authorized:
* Monastrell (75% of vineyard plantings)
* Garnacha Tintorera/Alicante Bouschet
* Garnacha Tinta/Gironet
* Bobal
* Cabernet Sauvignon
* Merlot
* Pinot Noir
* Petit Verdot
* Syrah
* Tempranillo

26
Q

What area in DO Alicante is predominantly planted to Monastrell?

A

The western reaches of Vinalopo in high-elevation vineyards.

27
Q

How does the style of DO Alicante wine produced from Monastrell differ between vineyards along the coast to those further inland?

A
  • Coastal: fresh & fruity w/ moderate color & soft tannins
  • Inland: meatier & more concentrated flavor profile, deeper color, & generous alcohol
28
Q

What historic & highly-prized wine is produced in DO Alicante?

A

Fondillon

29
Q

How is Fondillon made?

A
  • from over-ripe Monastrell grapes
  • in years w/ long summers; low humidity
  • must achieve a min. 16% abv naturally (w/o fortification)
  • fermentation stops before all sugars are converted into alcohol, leaving residual sugar in the finished wine
  • min. 10 years in giant oak casks in a solera (intentional oxidation) (casks as large as 317gallons/1,200L
30
Q

What is a solera?

A

This is a dynamic fractional blending system with many tiers of wooden casks.
Each tier represents wine of a certain age; typically the oldest wine is on the bottom; the youngest wine is on the top.
Only a portion of the wine is removed (and bottled) in any given year and is replaced by an equivalent volume of wine from a higher (younger) tier, with is replaced by an equivalent volume of wine from a higher (younger) tier until the top tier is topped up with the current vintage.
In this way, the younger wines are always assimilated & integraged into the old & and the style & character of the system is maintained.

31
Q

How many wineries in DO Alicante currently produce Fondillon?

A

Only 8 wineries are producing this wine.

32
Q

Which DOP in Valencia is named after 2 neighboring towns?

A

DO Utiel-Requena

33
Q

Where is DO Utiel-Requena located?

A

This wine region is located in the western portion of the Valencia province in the Valencia region. Castilla-La Mancha borders this region to the west.

34
Q

What is the climate in DO Utiel-Requena?

A

Continental w/ Mediterranean influences
* 16in/400mm average annual rainfall

35
Q

What soil types are found in DO Utiel-Requena?

A

Limestone w/ reddish-brown topsoil

36
Q

What styles of wine are produced in DO Utiel-Requena?

A
  • Tinto (78%): typically 100% Bobal; some blended w/ Tempranillo and/or international varieties
  • Blanco (11%)
  • Rosado (11%)
  • Espumosos (<1%)
  • Other (<1%)
37
Q

Where in Valencia are DO Cavas produced?

A

Requena

38
Q

Name the white varieties of DO Utiel-Requena.

A

Authorized:
* Macabeo
* Merseguera
* Tardana/Planta Nova
* Chardonnay
* Sauvgnon Blanc
* Parellada
* Verdejo
* Moscatel de Grano Menudo

39
Q

Name the red varieties of DO Utiel-Requena.

A

Authorized:
* Bobal (~71% of vineyard land)
* Tempranillo
* Garnacha Tinta
* Garnacha Tintorera
* Cabernet Sauvignon
* Merlot
* Syrah
* Pinot Noir
* Petit Verdot
* Cabernet Franc

40
Q

Which wine style is DO Utiel-Requena’s claim to fame?

A

Vino tinto crafted from Bobal

Bobal is indigenous to this wine region.

41
Q

How old are the Bobal vines in DO Utiel-Requena?

A

More than 50% of these vines are over 40 years old.
Some plantings date back to the early 1900s.

42
Q

What is the unique style of vinifying grapes used in DO Utiel-Requena?

A

Doble pasta (“double pulp”)

The skins & pulp of Bobal vino rosado production are added to a fermenting Bobal must. The resulting wine is “double-macerated” and produces highly-extracted, tannic vino tinto.

Although uncommon, some red wines are still crafted this way today.

43
Q

Why would wine producers in DO Utiel-Requena label their wines as DO Valencia?

A

Despite growing acclaim for their own appellation, DO Valencia has more international recognition.
Previously established regulations allow these producers to label up to 30% of their production as DO Valencia.

44
Q

What are the characteristics of wines produced from Bobal in DO Utiel-Requena?

A

Surprisingly fresh w/ crisp acidity, moderate alcohol, & moderately chewy tannins. This wine exhibits notes of fresh herbs & red berry fruit.
With barrel-age, extra depth & complexity is added.

45
Q

Which 2 wineries in DO Utiel-Requena have regional approval to become Vinos de Pago?

A
  1. Chozas Carrascal
  2. Tharsys

However, they are still awaiting sanction at the EU level.
Both produce single-estate wines under their respective “Pago” labels as well as wines under their regional DO and DO Cava.