WSET Diploma Spain Flashcards
Toro wine is produced in the autonomía of:
Castilla y Leon
In which 2 autonomiás is Airen widely planted?
What style of wine does it make?
La Mancha and Valdepeñas
Makes hugely bland wine!
Used in the production of Brandy de Jerez
What is Tempranillo known as in Catalunya?
What does it translate to in English?
Ull de Llebre / Eye of the Rabbit
What are the 5 best vintages for Ribera del Duero between 2000 and 2015?
2001 / 2004 / 2005 / 2009 / 2010
In which Spanish region is Prieto Picudo one of the major grapes?
Terra de Leon DO / Castilla y Leon
In Spain, what do the terms “Noble”, “Añejo” and “Viejo” indicate on a wine label?
Noble: 18 months aging in a cask of less than 600 L or bottle
Añejo: 24 months aging in a cask of less than 600 L or bottle
Viejo: 36 months aging, demonstrates marked oxidative character
Where would you usually find Monastrell?
What is the grape called in France?
What are the characteristics, aromas and flavours of the grape?
In the autonomías of Valencia and Murcia (Jumilla and Yecla)
In France the grape is called Mourvèdre
Deep colour, full body, high tannin and alcohol with flavours of ripe blackberry fruit
Where does Bodegas Lopez de Heredia produce wine?
What is the name of their most famous bottling?
Rioja DOCa
Viña Tondonia
What are the different mountain ranges that surround the Meseta Central in Spain?
Cantabrian Mountains to the north.
Sierra de la Demanda to the northeast.
Sierra de Guadamarra to the southeast.
Sierra de Gredos to the south.
What is Spanish sparkling wine commonly known as?
Cava
What were the 5 original Clos wines of Priorat?
How were they originally classified?
René Barbier’s Clos Mogador
Alvaro Palacios’ Clos Dofi,
Clos Erasmus,
Clos de l’Obac,
Clos Martinet,
What are the characteristics of Garnacha Tinta?
In which 5 regions is it used extensively?
What is it called in France?
Thin-skinned, high alcohol with concentrated spiced red fruit.
Used extensively in Rioja, Navarra, Carineña and Calatayud and old vine Garnacha is key in Priorat. Also extensively used to make Rosados.
Called Grenache in France
Who produces “L’Ermita?”
What DO does it come from?
What is significant about this wine / producer?
Alvaro Palacios
Priorat DO
- One of the original producers to rekindle the Priorat DOQ in the 90’s.
- Biodynamic leader in Spain.
- The wines showcase the concentration possible from old vines in the Priorat with expressive aromatics and beautiful elegance.
- Alvaro has been instrumental in delinating the differences between the villages in the Priorat and helped to make Gratallops the first sub-DO
Where is Jumilla and Yecla located, what is the climate like, and what the dominant grape?
South of Valencia in the autonomia of Murcia.
Hot and arid
Monastrell (Mourvèdre)
Mostly youthful and fruity
What are the 3 distinct climatic zones in Penedes, and what is grown on each?
Alt-Penedes: up to 800m, ideal for growing Parellada.
Medio-Penedes: mid-slopes ideal for growing Tempranillio.
Baix-Penedes: lowest elevation, coastal plain w/Mediterranean climate. Great for growing Garnacha and Monastrell.
Describe a ‘typical’ Ribera del Duero red wine
Dark in colour, concentrated fruit flavours with high tannin
What is the climate and soil of Rioja Alta and Alavesa? At what altitude are most vineyards?
- Maritime, Alavesa is coolest, and Rioja Alta is slightly warmer.
- High proportion of calcareous clay
- 500~800m
Indicate the style(s) of wine allowed to be produced in Ribera del Duero.
Still Red / Rosé
What are the 5 sub-zones of Rias Baixas?
Which 2 are located along a river and what is the name of that river?
Val do Salnés
Ribeira do Ulla
Soutomaior
O Rosal (Miño River)
Condado do Tea (Miño River)
Where is Bierzo, what autonomiá is it located in, what is the climate like and what wines does it mainly produce?
East of Rias Baixas, in the mountains between Galicia and the Meseta Central.
Castilla y Léon.
Moderate climate with a cooling maritime influence. Mainly produces elegant red wines from Mencia with natural high acidity and red fruit aromas. Best wines come from old vines grown on steep slopes.
Where is most (95%) Cava produced?
Centered on the city of:
Catalunya, around Penedes. Centered on Sant Sadurni d’Anoia
What dominated plantings in Rioja Baja until the mid 1980s and is now back in resurgence?
Garnacha
The Ribera del Duero wine region is in the automonía of:
Castilla y Leon
Bodega Otazu, Prado de Irache, and Señorio de Arinzano all produce wines under what designation?
Where do they produce wines?
DO Pago
Navarra
Identify the sub-region that corresponds with the following towns of Rioja:
A. Haro
B. Labastida
C. Alfaro
D. Logroño
A. Rioja Alta
B. Rioja Alavesa
C. Rioja Oriental
D. Rioja Alta
What is the grape Cariñena called in Rioja?
In France?
In Italy?
Mazuelo in Rioja
Carignan in France
Carignano
In which appellation does Emilio Moro produce wine?
Ribera del Duero
What does DOCa stand for?
Denominación de Origen Calificada
What is the correct order (youngest to oldest) for Gran Reserva, Reserva, Joven, Crianza
Joven, Crianza, Reserva, Gran Reserva
What is the capacity of traditional barrels used in aging red wines in Rioja?
225 L
What are the 5 sub-zones of Navarra?
3 to the north, 1 central, 1 to the south.
North: Tierra Estella, Valdizarbe, Baja Montaña.
Central: Ribera Alta
South: Ribera Baja
Verdejo is mainly found in which DO of Spain?
What is one of its cons?
What kind of wines were tradtionally / are currently made with it?
Verdejo
- Highly susceptible to oxidation
- Traditionally made into oxidized, Sherry-like wines. With protective winemaking can make light bodied, high acidity, wine with flavours of peach and melon.
What is the dominant black grape variety in Ribera del Duero?
What are the 2 local synonyms for it?
Tempranillo
-Tinto del País and Tinto Fino
What is the driest form of sherry called?
Fino or Manzanilla
Who produces “Bosconia,” “Tondonia,” and “Gravonia?”
Bodegas López de Heredia
Which Cava House produces over 60% of all Cava?
Who is their rival?
Freixenet
Codorniú
The River Ebro runs through which Spanish wine region?
Rioja
What are PGI wines called in Spain?
Vino de la Tierra (VdlT) /
Vino con Indicación Geográfica Protegida
Whilst others are used what are the 2 grapes commonly used in Priorat?
Old vine Garnacha, old vine Carineña.
In making sherry, what is the system of topping off casks with older sherry called?
The Solera System
What do the different sub-zones of Rioja contribute to a blended Rioja Tinto wine?
- Freshness from Rioja Alavesa
- Extract and alcoholic warmth of Rioja Oriental
- Acidity and structure of Rioja Alta.
What is the minimum ageing for Gran Reserva wines in Rioja - In oak / in bottle / in total.
60 months (5 years) total
min. 2 years in barrel
min. 2 years in bottle
Where is Bodegas Numanthia located?
Toro DO
What is considered the “traditional” style of Rioja Tinto?
What changes are taking place more recently?
- Soft, with muted red fruit, firm acidity and the unmistakable oak aromas of dill, vanilla and cedar from American oak.
- Many contemporary producers are emphasizing French oak, more extraction, and riper, darker fruit.
The grape variety Grenache is known by a different name in Spain. What is it?
Garnacha
What are the 4 recommended red grapes of Rias Baixas?
Caiño Tinto, Espadeiro, Loureira Tinta, Sousón
What is the climate of Carineña and Calatayud, what styles of wine are commonly made and from which grapes?
Warm Continental with low rainfall
- Fruity inexpensive wines from Garnacha and Cariñena (Mazuelo)
- Higher quality wines from old vine Garnacha and Cariñena giving greater flavour intensity and structure
Mas Martinet produces wine in which region?
What is significant about this producer’s wines?
Priorat DOQ
They represent real value for money in a region that normally commands extremely high prices.
Spain’s best known wine family, Torres, is based in which wine region?
Penedes
What is Tempranillo called in La Mancha and Valdepeñas?
Cencibel
What are the four main white ‘Spanish’ grapes?
Verdejo
Albariño
Airén
Macabeo (Viura in Rioja)
What is the soil in Priorat called, what is its make up and what does it do?
Llicorella
Black slate with small particles of Quartzite / Mica which reflects heat in to the vines, conserves heat over night and helps retain water
What are the 16 wine-making regions (autonomías) of Spain?
Ebro: La Rioja, Navarra, Aragón
Catalunya
The North West: Galicia, Asturias, Pais Vasco (Basque Country)
The Levante: Valencia, Murcia
Central: Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y Leon, Madrid, Extremadura
The Islands: Balaeric Islands (Mallorca), Canary Islands
The South: Andalucia
Where does Bodegas AGE produce wine?
Which sub-region are they located in?
What is the name of their bottling?
Rioja DOCa
Rioja Alta
Siglo
Describe a typical red wine from Priorat:
Based on Garnacha and Cariñena (though French varietals are sometimes included), produces Spain’s richest, most densely concentrated red wines. Deeply coloured with high tannins, med to high alc with concentrated black fruit and toasty French oak.
What sub-region of Rías Baixas has the highest production of total wine and is known as the historical birthplace of the albariño grape?
Val do Sanés