WSET4 Upper Ebro Flashcards
Learn the wines of the Upper Ebro regions of La Rioja, Navarra and Aragon to the "WSET-4 diploma" level, an expert level qualification for professionals working in the wine industry. Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) is generally regarded as the world's leading provider of wine education.
What are the 3 autonomias of the Upper Ebro area
La Rioja
Navarra
Aragon
What are the DOs of the autonomous community La Rioja?
Rioja (DOCa)
Cava (multi-regional)
What are the DOs of the autonomous community Navarre?
Navarra
Rioja (DOCa)
Cava (multi-regional)
What are the DOs of the autonomous community Aragon?
Calatayud
Campo de Borja
Cariñena
Somontano
What are the Pagos DOs of the autonomous community Navarre?
Pago de Arínzano (Vino de Pago)
Pago de Otazu (Vino de Pago)
Prado de Irache (Vino de Pago)
What are the Pagos DOs of the autonomous community Aragon?
Ayles, 2011, Carineña
Describe the Rioja region in general terms…
Area protected by mountains on all sides. Importance first increased when large numbers of Bordeaux winemakers, growers and merchants relocated here after the phylloxera devastation in Bordeaux. Periods of ageing in oak and bottle longer than other regions. Move towards single estate or single vineyard production rather than co-operative cellars.
Describe the Climate and Geography of Rioja…
Sheltered by the Sierra de Cantabria to the north and west, it is well protected from the rain-bearing Atlantic winds that drench the Basque coast immediately to the north. Yet Rioja’s wine producers rarely experience the climatic extremes that burden growers in so much of central and southern Spain. It is difficult to make climatic generalizations, however, about a region that stretches about 120 km from north west to south east. Indeed, Spanish critics argue that within this single DO there are several entirely different wine-producing regions. The vineyards range in elevation from 300 m above sea level at Alfaro in the east to nearly 800 m on the slopes of the Sierra de Cantabria to the north west. Average annual rainfall increases correspondingly from less than 300 mm in parts of Rioja Baja to over 500 mm in the upper zones of Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa. Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa share a similar climate and are distinct from each other for mainly administrative reasons, although there are soil differences between the two. Many of the best grapes are grown here on the cooler slopes to the north west around the towns and villages of Haro, Labastida, San Vicente, Laguardia, Elciego, Fuenmayor, Cenicero, and Briones. These zones share similar clay soils based on limestone. Downstream to the east, the climate becomes gradually warmer with rainfall decreasing to less than 400 mm at Logroño. Where the valley broadens, there is a higher incidence of fertile, alluvial soils composed chiefly of silt. Around Calahorra and Alfaro in Rioja Baja the climate is more mediterranean. In summer, drought is often a problem here, and temperatures frequently reach 30 to 35C.
Describe Rioja Alavesa in general terms…
Rioja Alavesa is the name given to the area north of the river Ebro which falls in the Basque province of Alava, West of Logono on the river Ebro. Cool maritime influence from the Atlantic. Relatively high rainfall. Chalk rich soils produce lighter bodied wine with finesse. Smallest - Temp here often produces vino joven for early consumption- Carbonic Maceration may be employed for such wines
Describe Rioja Alta in general terms…
Rioja Alta occupies the part of the Ebro valley west of Logroño, south of the river Ebro and includes the winemaking town of Haro. Clay soils or red soils with high iron content. Viura suited to clay, Tempranillo to the iron rich soils. Small area of alluvial soil where Malvasia is grown. Warmer and drier than Alavesa, but still maritime.
Describe Rioja Baja in general terms…
Rioja Baja extends from the suburbs of Logroño south and east to include the towns of Calahorra and Alfaro, south bank of the Ebro. Continental climate with hot summers and severe winters. Heavy clay soils, Garnacha dominant, largest producer of Vino Joven wine. Hottest subregion- More alluvial soils and ferrous clay- Garnacha performs best.
Navarra
Known in English as Navarre, autonomous region in north east spain which also lends its name to a denominated wine zone with 11,500 ha/27,500 acres of vineyard in 2012. The kingdom of Navarra once stretched from bordeaux to Barcelona but today this extensive denomination is overshadowed by the neighbouring do zone rioja, a small part of which extends into the province of Navarra (see map under spain). The wines share a common history.Pilgrims en route to Santiago de Compostela fuelled the demand for wine in the Middle Ages. Later, in the mid 19th century, both Rioja and Navarra benefited greatly from their proximity to France after it was invaded by the phylloxera louse. Because northern Spain was affected considerably later than south west France, vineyards here were expanded and large quantities of Navarran wine were sold to producers in France until phylloxera arrived in Navarra itself in 1892. The region recovered fairly quickly but the area under vine in 1990 was less than a third of that a century before.The region splits into five subzones according to climate, from the cooler slopes of the Baja Montaña close to the Pyrenean foothills and the slightly warmer Valdizarbe and Tierra Estella districts in the north of Navarra, to Ribera Alta in the centre of the region, and Ribera Baja round the city of Tudela in the south. Rainfall totals range between 600 mm (23 in) in the north and 400 mm in the south and east, while summer temperatures become correspondingly warmer. With over 30% of Navarra’s vineyards, Ribera Baja has traditionally been the most important of the five subzones, although most of the new planting in the late 1980s and early 1990s took place in the cooler north.The Garnacha grape (see grenache) has dominated Navarra’s vineyards but plantings of tempranillo increased considerably in the 1990s. Garnacha lends itself to good, dry rosé, which Navarra continues to make in large quantities. Some distinctive sweet whites are made from Moscatel de Grano Menudo (Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains) grown in the south. This century the region’s wines have suffered on both domestic and foreign markets, being penalized for the widespread planting of imported varieties, which include Tempranillo in these parts, plus a reliance on high-yielding young vineyards. The new varieties and technical improvements have been largely promoted by the oenological research station, EVENA, set up at Olite by the consejo regulador and the regional government.
What region is Rioja Baja shared with?
Navarra
Describe the Navara region in general terms…
Stretches from Ebro river valley to the foothills of the Pyrenees, broad range of soil types and microclimates. Important region for Rosado in a light fresh style and modern high- quality reds. White production limited. Similar varieties to Rioja, with Garnacha dominating. More open to non local varieties with plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay and Moscatel. EVENA (research centre) has encouraged wire training and mechanical harvesting so these methods are increasing, allowing better canopy and disease management. Recent investment in winery equipment. Temperature controlled fermentation tanks and small new oak barrels now used. Traditional wines are similar to Rioja, some with more colour and black berry fruit from permitted addition of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Varietal wines from local or international varieties permitted.
Describe the Aragon region in general terms…
Known as Aragon in English. Once a powerful kingdom whose sphere of influence stretched from the levante in the west as far as naples and sicily in the east, Aragón is now one of Spain’s 17 autonomous regions. In the north east of the country, it spans the broad valley of the River Ebro which is flanked by mountains on either side (see map under spain). The north is dominated by the Pyrenees, which feed water on to the arid Ebro plain. To the south and east the climate becomes progressively extreme as the land rises towards the central Spanish plateau.The wines of Aragón used to be strapping potions with natural alcohol reaching levels as high as 17 or 18%. Red wines, made predominantly from the garnacha grape, were mostly sold in bulk for blending. However, four do regions designated between 1980 and 1990 changed the profile of Aragón wines. somontano in the lush Pyrenean foothills east of the city of Huesca chose to almost entirely forgo indigenous grape varieties, a choice which has proven controversial and not always fruitful in terms of sales, but south of the Ebro wines from the DOs of campo de borja, cariñena, and calatayud have benefited from investment in modern winemaking technology, which has revolutionized the style of modern-day Garnacha, sometimes blended with Tempranillo or Syrah. Throughout much of Aragón, large co-operatives continue to dominate production, buying in grapes from smallholders.
Describe the Somontano region in general terms…
Foothills of the Pyrenees in Aragón, north of Zaragoza. Cool climate with significant rainfall. Predominately international varieties, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc and Gewürztraminer. Local grapes have been almost replaced. Generally modern, clean varietally- labelled wines, white production more common than red.
Describe the Carinena region in general terms…
Red/ brown limestone with rocky sub soil. High levels of calcium carbonate and slate in places. Mainly red wines, usually a blend including Tempranillo and Garnacha. Some good quality, inexpensive Reservas and Gran Reservas.
Describe the Calatayud region in general terms…
North east Spain, both banks of the Jalon river, a tributary to the Ebro. Continental, arid environment. Brown limestone and loam over slate and gypsum. Garnacha (80% of production) and Tempranillo are the main varieties for rich, powerful reds. Stainless steel, temperature control and new barrel ageing contributing to a more international style.dynamic denominated wine zone with 5,000 ha/12,000 acres of vines in aragón in north-east Spain, in arid country on either side of the River Jalón, a tributary of the Ebro (see map under spain). As in much of central Spain, yields rarely rise above 20 hl/ha (1 ton/acre). Most grapes are sold to one of nine local co-operatives. The garnacha grape, which accounts for around two-thirds of Calatayud’s production, makes heady, potent red wine, although tempranillo and various international varieties are now also planted. Investment in new technology, particularly stainless steel and refrigeration, is increasing the proportion of Garnacha-based rosés and crisp white wines made from viura. El Escocés Volante (Norrel Robertson MW), Bodegas y Viñedos del Jalón, and Ateca are the top
Describe the Somontano region in general terms…
Somontano is one of Spain’s newer wine regions with currently some 4,750 ha/11,400 acres under vines. In stark contrast to much of inland Spain, Somontano looks like winemaking country. The heavy winter rains are supplemented by a network of rivers and streams flowing off the mountains. Even in summer, when temperatures can easily reach 35 °C/95 °F, the fields remain green and productive.Bodega Pirineos, once the region’s co-operative, together with the ultra-modern, recently created wineries Viñas del Vero (vintage 1986) and Enate (1991), make most of Somontano’s wine. The main early selling point of Somontano in the early 1990s was its dedication to international varieties but by 2010 this had become its main problem as competing on a varietal basis with Cabernets and Syrahs made all over the world proved an arduous task. The native moristel and Parraleta varieties represent only 3.5% of the vineyard surface. Tempranillo, with 15%, is the only significant Spanish variety. The native Garnacha was on the wane, and mainly used for rosés, until Viñas del Vero discovered and relaunched the impressive old vineyards at Secastilla with a very distinctive single-estate Garnacha red. Some 160 ha of Garnacha remain. For whites, the traditional Macabeo and almost extinct Alcañón have been joined by Chardonnay and Gewürztraminer, which together represent 81% of the 870 ha/2,090 acres planted to white wine varieties.
Describe the Campo da Borja in general terms…
promising Spanish wine zone in the undulating plains around the town of Borja (after which the Borgia family was named) in the aragón region in the north east (see map under spain), producing fairly alcoholic red wines. This is one of the most arid parts of the country and the 6,800 ha/16,300 acres of low-yielding vineyards, planted predominantly with garnacha vines, produce intensely sweet, dark grapes which are made into heady red wines. The Borsao Borja co-operative has revolutionized the region with its young, intensely fruity reds that have won a large following on export markets and shown the way to the future for the do. The best wines, notably the result of an Australo-American joint venture, can command prices that would not even have been dreamt of in the late 1990s.
What shelters the North Central regions of Spain?
The Pyrenees to the Northeast (divides Spain and France) and the Cantabrian Mountains (Northwest)- provides rain shadow and summer temps rise further inland
What geographical feature separates La Rioja from País Vasco?
Cantabrian Mountains
What is the effect of the Cantabrain Mountains on Rioja?
It create a rain shadow in Rioja.
What is the capital of Rioja Alta?
Haro
Which river emerges from the Western Cantabrian Mountains and heads towards Rioja DOCa?
The Ebro River
What river was Rioja named after?
The Oja, a tributary of the Ebro
Which body of water most influences Rioja?
Ebro River
What are the three different zones of Rioja?
Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa, Rioja Oriental (formerly Rioja Baja)
Which grape varieties are allowed in a Rioja white blend?
There are 6 indigenous wine grapes and 3 other wine grapes allowed in Rioja Blanco. The indigenous grapes include VIURA (a minimum of 51% of the blend), MALVASIA de Rioja, Garnacha Blanca, Tempranillo Blanco, Maturana Blanca and Turruntés de Rioja. The other grapes allowed include Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Verdejo and may be added up to 49% of the blend.
Characterize the grape variety VIURA?
Often underestimated, widely grown variety that can make ageworthy whites as VIURA in Rioja and MACCABEU in Roussillon. Good fruit and acidity when grown with low yields. Blended in Rioja, and used in the blend for Cava production in Catalunya.
What are synonyms for MACABEO (and where)?
Macabeu (Catalunya), Maccabeu (Roussillon), Viura (Rioja, Rueda)
What does MACABEO varietal wine taste like?
Varietal wines are typically lightly floral and relatively aromatic when young and unoaked but acidity tends to be low and they can soon lose their aroma or develop certain bitter-almond character. Low-cropped Macabeo responds well to barrel fermentation and oak ageing. In both Rioja and Catalunya it seems to be shown to best advantage in a blend.
What are the viticultural characteristics of MACABEO?
Big, compact bunches of medium-sized, thick-skinned berries. Late budding and late ripening. Productive, shoots sometimes broken off by wind. Cool, damp sites are unsuitable. Very susceptible to botrytis bunch rot and vine bacterial necrosis, less so to downy mildew. Responds well to low yields and relatively early picking.
Describe the grape variety Malvasia…
White grape, makes full- bodied heavy whites, usually main component of very best, traditional style Riojas, it’s richness can balance lightness of Viura.
What grape varieties are allowed in a Rioja red blend?
TEMPRANILLO plus MAZUELO, GRACIANO, GARNACHA. These four grapes (along with Maturana Tinta- 2007 authorisation), must comprise 85% of the red Rioja, or 95% if destemmed. Experimental Cabernet Sauvignon make up the remainder
Characterize the grape variety TEMPRANILLO?
Spain’s most famous grape, responsible for the majority of its most famous reds.
What are synonyms for TEMPRANILLO (and where)?
Aragon (Alentejo, Portugal), Cencibel (Castilla-la-Mancha, Madrid, Aragon, Extremadura, Murcia), Tinta del Pais or Tinto Fino (Ribera del Duero), Tinta Roriz (Duoro), Ull de Llebre (Catalunya), Valdepenas (Napa), and many, many more.
What does TEMPRANILLO varietal wine taste like?
Medium-sized to large compact bunches of small berries rich in tannin and anthocyans. Relatively fertile. Early budding and ripening. Yields range from medium to high according to site. Sensitive to wind and extreme drought. Susceptible to powerdery mildew but generally resistant to botrytis bunch rot. High yields reduce color and fruit intensity as well as acidity.
What are the viticultural characteristics of TEMPRANILLO?
Tempranillo produces wines with considerable less alcohol than garnacha and such other Spanish stalwarts as monastrell and bobal. It has marked tannin, sometimes slightly low acidity and flavours that range over spice, leather, tabacco leaves, sometimes strawberry when it has been given extended ageing in American oak (Rioja). The most concentrated, alcoholic examples are produced in Toro.
Characterize the grape variety MAZUELO?
Black variety from North-East Spain high in tannin and acidity that can make fine wine from old vines, but has in its time as Carignan blighted Languedoc-Roussillon.
What are synonyms for MAZUELO (and where)?
Carignane (Languedoc-Roussillon), Cariñena (Aragon), Mazuela (Rioja), Samso (Catalunya)
What are the viticultural characteristics of MAZUELO?
Vigorous and highly productive (upto 200hl/ha), late budding and very late ripening, so that it needs the heat of a Mediterranean climate to thrive. It is highly prone to powdery mildew, less so to botrytis bunch rot and downy mildew. Bunches cling firmly to the vine, making it less suitable for mechanical harvesting.
What does MAZUELO varietal wine tastes like?
Mazuelo/Carignan is an extreme variety in every way: high yielding and high in acid, color and generally tough tannin, occassionally bitter. Even the best examples, the product of old bush vines or softened by carbonic maceration and blended with finer varieties, can provoke mixed responses in wine drinkers. It is not a subservient partner for oak.
Describe the grape variety Graciano…
Black grape, Plantings now very limited because of low yields. Grown mainly in Rioja, used for finest wines. Small quantities used for powerful aromas, body and tannins help wines age.
Characterize the grape variety GRACIANO?
Low-yielding, richly coloured, perfumed variety that retains acidity and is regaining favour in Rioja.
What are synonyms for GRACIANO (and where)?
Cagnulari (Sardegna, Italy), Monastrell Menudo or Monastrell Verdadero (Spain), often Graciano is mistaken for Monastrell
What are the viticultural characteristics of GRACIANO?
Mid to late budding, late ripening. Vigorous, drought resistant but difficult to grow due to low fertility and yields, susceptible to downy mildew and rot. Its wine is valued for its acidity and perfume. Best suited to clay and limestone soils, cooler sites and short pruning.
What does GRACIANO varietal wine tastes like?
Fragant, fresh, potentially powerful and occassionaly spicy. Increasing appreciation of its fresh and aromatic contribution to Rioja blends. As Cagnulari in Sardegna it is full bodied and well-structured with intense aromas of crushed red fruits, fresh mint leaves, pepper, ink, dry but rounded tannin and an attractive after taste of black cherries.
Characterize the grape variety GARNACHA?
Very widely planted, long-lived vine making strong, sweetish reds and some successful roses.
What are synonyms for GARNACHA (and where)?
Garnacha is an old variety that has undergone several mutations and has many synonyms. Grenache, Grenache Noir (France), Cannonau (Sardegna), Garnaxa (Catalunya), Garnacha Tinta (Spain), Roussillon (Roussillon), Vernaccia Nera (Marche, Italy).
