Valencia & Murcia Flashcards
Valencia DO
Two non contiguous areas and several sub zones. 500,000hL
Warm Mediterranean with cooling from altitude or the coast. 450mm / yr rain and irrigation widely used.
Alto Turia sub zone is in the southern foothills of the Sistema Iberico mountain range in the upper valley of the River Turia. At 700 - 1,100 m, it is the coolest and almost exclusively white from Moscatel de Alejandria and Merseguera.
Merseguera, when vigor not controlled, makes low intensity wines and is often blended with others with more character. When made from dry farmed vines at high altitudes in VP El Terrerazo (owned by Bodega Mustiguillo) can show more concentration and texture, particularly when aged in oak.
At 200 - 650m Valentino sub zone is warmer but cooled by sea breezes. Diverse range of local and international; Garnacha Tintorera (Alicante Bouschet), Tempranillo, Cab Sauv, Monastrell, Merseguera, Macabeo.
Similar range of grapes in the Clariano sub zone to the south of Valencia.
Moscatel sub zone produces sweet wines from the Moscatel de Valencia and vino de licor (unfermented grape must fortified with grape spirit). from Moscatel Alejandria.
Vast majority is coops, in a fruity style for immed consumption. Adequate to goo and inexpensive. Individual producers may be good and mid.
Utiel Requena DO
Inland from the northern part of Valencia DO; 34,000 ha.
Continental with hot summers and very cold winters. Avg altitude of 750m for cooler nights, but also risk of spring frost. 450mm rain.
95% black; with Bobal at 70%; many over 40 years old. Well suited to the region; mid to late budding (avoid frost); drought tolerant, and despite the hot climate retains acidity. But can ripen unevenly and that unripeness in some can cause grippy firm tannins. Can be vigorous and high yielding. High levels of color and so often used in inexpensive wines that lack concentration.
Range from light body, med tannin often made via semi-carbonic to concentrated, med plus tannin, med plus to full body, high acid, blackberry, black cherry and chocolate. Old vine fruit and oak add to complexity.
Acceptable to very good and inexpensive to mid.
Alicante DO
Most southerly and non contiguous. Smallest with 9,000ha
Mediterranean with hot summers and cold winters. 250mm rain/yr.
Main center of production is Vinalopo zone which stretches from the coast to vineyards up to 500m in the Sierra de Salinas. Monastrell is main grape
In north east in the zone of Marina Alta, humid breezes and 500mm rain; Moscatel Alejandria produces dry and sweet.
Monastrell well suited to the hot dry climate being late ripening, able to retain acidity, and drought tolerant. 75% of plantings in the DO. Usually low density bush
If labelled Alicante DO must be 80% Monastrell. Alicante Bouschet, Garnacha and Bobal are others. Full bodied, high alcohol, high tannin, ripe black fruit. Maturation in American oak common. Some make a fresher version with lower alcohol. Good to very goo, mid with some prem.
Fondillon is a historic style protected by the DO. Med sweet red wine with max 40g/l RS made from late harvest Monastrell. Min alcohol is 16% solely from the grapes (no fortification). Matured min 10 years in oak (often old 1,200 L vessels). Wines can be anada (from one year) or more typically made via solera. Oxidized character of dried fruit and nuts.
Jumilla DO
Warm continental climate with hot summers and cold winters. Altitudes from 400 - 800m for cooling influence and large diurnal ranges at higher sites. 25,000ha
Rainfall between 250 and 300mm. The sand over limestone soil aids retention of groundwater so many have no irrigation.
Monastrell is 80% of plantings. Well suited to the heat and dry. Most of the 1900’s Jumilla was a producer of cheap bulk wine. In 1989 region was devastated by phylloxera and many vines were grubbed up and replanted. Higher quality clones were planted and this with improved vineyard and winemaking technique (earlier harvest, cool fermentation) has led to improved quality. Still some old vines that were not grubbed up producing low yields and high quality.
Full bodied, high alcohol, ripe blackberry and black cherry and spice from oak. Other black grapes: Cencibel (Tempranillo), Garnacha Tintorera (Alicante Bouschet), Garnacha, Cab Sauv, Merlot, Syrah, Petit Verdot. Often blended to lower tannin levels. Rose and small amount of white also made.
2,000 growers, 40 wineries including coops. High volumes of inexpensive wines are majority. Though these are better quality now. Several high quality producers selling for prem: Bodegas El Nido and Casa Castillo. Majority exported.
Yecla
6,000ha under vine
Similar climate to Jumilla but slightly more moderated by the Mediterranean. Vineyards from 500 - 900 for cooling. Rainfall of 300mm.
Mix of sand and limestone helping to retain water. Monastrell dominant variety. Similar style and Jumilla. good to very good and inexpensive to mid.
One coop makes 60% (bulk & bottled). 95% exported.
