Spain Flashcards
Explain why the quality of Spanish wines has increased dramatically over the last few decades.
Quality wine production was hampered throughout much of the 20th century, firstly by civil war and then the economic isolation enforced by the government. Production mainly came from co-operatives that focused on quantity over quality, and many winemakers had no experience of winemaking practices in other countries. The return of democratic rule in the mid-1970s brought greater freedom, and accession into the EU brought investment.
Introduction of modern winery equipment like stainless steel, temperature control, the use of SO2. Better clonal selection. Better understanding of vineyard practices, planting densities, vine training (old bush vines for more concentrated wines). How hand harvesting is more gentle and allow for sorting for cleaner fruit and how machine harvest can allow for quick night time harvest when cool temps can limit bacterial spoilage. The use of oak, which is now more restrained and well integrated, vs the traditional method of heavy new french and american oak. A better understanding of which regions are better suited to which varieties (garnacha is drought tolerant and can fair well in hot, dry, drought prone regions.)
What is the name of the plateau that sits at 600-900m altitude, and covers a vast area of central Spain?
The Meseta
How is Spain NOT the biggest producer of wine by volume, even though it has the highest area under vine globally.
Low planting density
Low rainfall at 300mm
No irrigation allowed
drought
Planting density in some areas is very low, as low as 1000 vines per hectare, compare this with 10,000 vines per hectare in northerly latitudes i.e Mosel, Germany. Planting density is in part influenced by climatic factors and in Spain this is most notably the availability of water.
In some areas of Spain annual rainfall can be as low 300 mm and irrigation is not permitted in all circumstances. Even with irrigation, there needs to be a source of water and this is a challenge with drought becoming an annual feature in some vineyard regions located in central Spain.
Plantings of black and white grape varieties are largely even in Spain. But what are the black and white grape varieties with the largest planting respectively?
Airen for white
Tempranillo for black
What is the Spanish name for Macabeo?
Viura
What is the Spanish name for Grenache?
Garnacha
What is the Spanish name for Morvedre?
Monastrell
What are the national aging requirements in Spain for Reserva?
36 months minimum total ageing for red wines with 12 months in barrel.
24 months minimum total ageing white and rosé wines with 6 months in barrel.
What is the minimum total ageing time in months for a wine to be labelled Gran Reserva in Spain?
60
What are the arguments for Spain’s legislation being too prescriptive?
It automatically suggests a hierarchy of excellence which sets an expectation that Gran Reserva is the highest quality wine. This also suggests that the wines aged for the longest period in oak and bottle are higher quality.
What are the arguments for Spain’s legislation being not being prescriptive enough?
There are no quality requirements for the wines in each category beyond the regulations set out by the DO.
There are no specifications on the type or age of oak vessel that can be used for ageing.
What Spanish term is used for wines without a geographical indication.
Vino
What Spanish term applies to a small number of single estates with high reputations and within the PDO category.
VP- vino de Pago
What Spanish term is commonly used for PGI wines.
VT
What is the principal grape variety grown in the Rías Baixas region?
Albarino
Name the 5 subzones of Rias Baixas.
Val do Salnes
O Rosal
Condado do Tea
Ribeira do Ulla
Soutomaior
What Rias Baixas subzone is the oldest subzone and has the greatest plantings and concentration of wineries?
Val do Salnes
