ES: Murcia, Valencia, Central Plateau Flashcards

1. Murcia 2. Valencia 3. Andalucia (including fortifieds) 4. Extremadura 5. Castilla y Leon (could use more producer & vintage knowledge)

1
Q

What is the most planted grape in the Yecla DO? What is it about the growing conditions here are complimentary to this variety?

A

Monastrell, covering ~80% of plantings

Late-ripener that prefers warm, dry climates and heavier soils.

Yecla sees 12in rain/yr on average and is increasingly hot and arid as one moves further inland.

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2
Q

Murcia: what things/places are around this region?

A

Valencia to the east, the Mediterranean sea to the south, Castilla La Mancha to the north, Andalusia to the west

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3
Q

What are Murcia’s 3 DO’s, list west to east?

A

Bullas
Jumilla
Yecla

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4
Q

What river provides an important water source for Murcia?

A

Segura River, with its tributary Guadalentín

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5
Q

Bullas DO: what are the styles authorized? Major grapes?

A

Macabeo based whites.

Rosé/Red min 60% monastrell

Vino de Licor/ Vino Espumoso

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6
Q

What regions comprise the Levante?

A

Valencia + Murcia

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7
Q

3 major producers based in Jumilla?

A

Juan Gil
Casa Castillo
Bodegas El Nido

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8
Q

If a wine from Jumilla is labelled as Monastrell, what is the min. percentage of Monastrell in the bottle?

A

This is a category for Monastrell Rosado and Monastrell Tinto - min. 85%

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9
Q

What year did Phylloxera strike Jumillla for the first time?

A

1989
(helpful for some re-imagining of Jumilla wine and modernization)

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10
Q

Jumilla Vino de Licor: what’s the varietal breakdown? ABV range?

A

100% Monastrell
15 to 22% ABV

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11
Q

What styles of wine does the Jumilla DO authorize that fellow Murcia DO’s do not?

A

Dulce (white/rosado/tinto)
Varietal Monastrell/Rosado

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12
Q

Where is the Yecla DO? Name the neighboring DOs and in what direction they are.

A

This is the northernmost DO in Murcia.
- Almansa (Castila la Mancha) to the north
- Jumilla to the west
- Alicante (Valencia) to the east

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13
Q

The Yecla DO is divided into what 2 zones? How do they differ?

A

Campo Arriba: the more highly regarded one. Older vines, more concentrated wines. Highlands to the north of the DO… poor stony soils, 700 to 850 M

Campo Abajo: lower-lying at 400 to 500M. Soils are more clayey and the wines are lighter

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14
Q

The Yecla DO sits on the edge of what mountain range?

A

Cordillera Subbética
(accordingly, DO sits at 400 to 800M)

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15
Q

Bodegas Castaño and Bodegas Las Purisima are based in what DO?

A

Yecla DO

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16
Q

Give 3 ways in which Jumilla’s late arrival phylloxera crisis benefited the region?

A
  1. vineyards were replanted with virus-free material
  2. winemakers enacted more contemporary strategies ie carbonic maceration, longer bottle aging
  3. renewed focus on quality and modernization to combat the historic bulk/co-op reputation
    *all of this also led to outside investment which further aided the quality revolution
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17
Q

Jumilla’s climate?

A

Hot, arid continental
* eastern fringes have hints of Mediterranean influence
* lime in the soil to retain water + elevation of 400 to 800M mitigates heat
* ~13in rain/yr

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18
Q

Jumilla soils

A

Sand over limestone bedrock

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19
Q

What are the DO’s of Valencia - north to south?

A

Valencia
Utiel-Requena
Alicante

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20
Q

What are Valencia’s 4 Pago’s?

A
  1. El Terrerazo (2010)
  2. Los Balagueses (2011)
  3. Vera de Estenas (2019)
  4. Chozas Carrascal (2020)

(in order of EU approval)

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21
Q

What was Valencia’s 1st Vino de Pago? Within what DO and what variety?

A

El Terrarazo by Mustiguilo
Bobal is the flagship variety
Utiel-Requena (other varieties are allowed)

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22
Q

Valencia DO: what are the 4 subzones?

A
  1. Alto Turia
  2. Moscatel de Valencia
  3. Valentino
  4. Clariano
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23
Q

What mountain range does the Valencia DO abut?

A

Sistema Iberico

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24
Q

Alto Turia: this is a subzone in ___________? What’s it all about?

A

Valencia DO
Dry white wines only - this is an elevated area around the upper stretches of the Turia River, sitting at 700 - 1100M. Highest and coolest. Macabeo and Merseguera are the most important grapes.

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25
Q

Moscatel de Valencia: what clone of Muscat? What styles is it made in?

A

Vino Dulce/Vino de Licor
100% Moscatel de Alejandra

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26
Q

Valentino: where is this subzone located? What is made here?

A

Valencia DO
White, Rosé, Red
Vino de Licor

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27
Q

Clariano: where is this subzone found? What styles of wine are made here?

A

Valencia DO, it borders the Alicante DO
White, Rosé, Red

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28
Q

Vino Noble Alicante: what styles of wine might this be? What does this labelling term indicate?

A

White/Rosé/Red
The wine must be made exclusively with recommended varieties and may not be fortified. The wines age for a minimum of 18 months in wood, max. capacity 600L.

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29
Q

Alicante Viño Añejo: what does this labelling term indicate?

A

May be white, rosé or red. Ages a minimum of 24 months in oak of 600L max. capacity.

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30
Q

Alicante Espumosos Aromáticos de Calidad: what’s the variety?

A

100% Moscatel

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31
Q

Fondillón
- variety
- aging
- RS
- method

A

A historic specialty of the Alicante DO
* 100% Monastrell
* min 10 years aging; rancio
* Max. 40 g/l RS

The best overripe Monastrell grapes are used - NOT fortified. Might be vintage dated or may come from a solera. Blue cheese is a great pairing.

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32
Q

What is Subirat Parent?

A

Catalonia, Spain
* sometimes said to be a malvasia
* actually alarije which originated in Extramadura

Occasionally used in cava, Spanish sparkling wine.

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33
Q

The synonym for Alicante Bouschet is _________?

A

Garnacha Tintorera
(teinturier)

34
Q

What is Alicante Bouschet?

A

Grenache x Petit Bouschet
Developed in 1866 by Henri Bouschet, a Frenchman.
Thick-skinned, high yielding, deep and color but somewhat lacking flavor.

Teinturier

35
Q

What is Gironet?

A

A synonym for Garnacha Tinta used in Spain

36
Q

Alicante DO “Superior”

A

Min. 85% preferred varieties

37
Q

Alicante DO “Viejo”

A

W/R/R
* min 36 months in wood - pronounced oxidative character

38
Q

Alicante DO “Clasico”

A

Min 45 grams/liter RS

39
Q

Alicante Tinto- grapes

A

Min 80% Monastrell

40
Q

Which of Valencia’s DO’s boasts the most amount of land under vine?

A

Utiel-Requena DO with 80,475 acres (2023)

41
Q

What is the most planted grape in Utiel-Requena?

A

Bobal with 72% of the vineyard area

42
Q

What style of wine is Utiel-Requena historically known for and why?

A

Rosé!
Historically, the reds were underripe and didn’t respond as well to barrel maturation - early autumn frosts necessitated early picks which guided the style

43
Q

What is “Doble Pasta”? What region is this specific to?

A

Utiel-Requena DO
Translates to “Double Pulp” - ferments must with the leftover skins/pulp from rosé production to extract more color and texture

44
Q

Which DO in the Levante is authorized to produce Cava? Who are the major Cava producers here?

A

Utiel-Requena DO, in the village of Requena.
- Dominio de la Vega
- Hispano Suizas
- Chozas Carrascal
- Vegalfaro

45
Q

Utiel-Requena DO: explain the lay of the land.

A

45 miles inland from the Valencian Coast
* plateau, avg 750M
* Mediterranean with continental influences - a little hot/dry/harsh

46
Q

What is Vino de Aguja?

A

Spanish term for semi-sparkling wine

47
Q

Utiel-Requena DO ‘Bobal Alta Expresion’

A

Min. 35 years vine age

48
Q

Los Balagueses

A

DO Pago; Valencia
Vegalforo

Varietal Chardonnay and Syrah

49
Q

El Terrerazo

A

DO Pago; Utiel-Requena
* Mustiguillo

Main Pago wines are Bobal - Quincha Corral and Finca Terrerazo

50
Q

Quincha Corral & Finca Terrerazo are comprised of what variety and are made by what estate?

A

Mustiguillo
Bobal

51
Q

Chozas Carrascal

A

Pago; located within Utiel-Requena

52
Q

Vera de Estenas

A

DO Pago
Utiel-Requena

53
Q

4 Pago DO in Utiel-Requena? (2023)

A

Chozas Carrascal
Los Balagueses
Vera de Estenas
Finca Terrerazo

54
Q

What is the Grandes Pagos de España?

A

The GPE is NOT affiliated with the DO Pago category, although some members belong to both.

This group includes members from all over Spain - both large and small. It was established in 2000 by Victor de la Serra of Finca Sandoval and Carlos Falco of Marques de Grinon. They’re mission is terroir-focused. Members can apply or be invited and the selection process is claimed to be rigorous. Members include: Numanthia, Gramona, Arinzano, Fillaboa, Enrique Mendoza, Mustiguillo

55
Q

Major producers in the Yecla DO?

A

Familia Castaño
Bodegas Las Purisima (one of Spain’s largest coops)
Sierra Salinas (joint venture Castaño x Swiss investors)

56
Q

What is Mucia’s smallest DO in terms of size? What about plantings?

A

Yecla DO is smallest in size (but has 6245ha in 2023)

Bullas in largest but smallest in plantings with 2300ha in 2023)

Jumilla has about 25kha

57
Q

Elevation of Jumilla?

A

400M to 800M

58
Q

What is the Spanish term for the local body that governs each DO?

A

Consejo Regulador

59
Q

Which of Valencia’s DOs is the most heavily planted?

A

Utiel-Requena with about 35k hectares

60
Q

Varietally-labelled Utiel-Requena Bobal - min. %?

A

100%

61
Q

Which subzone of the Valencia DO boasts the highest elevations? What is made here?

A

Alto Turia. Mountainous, 700 to 1100M. Merseguera and Macabeo dominate.

62
Q

Fondillon production centers around what town?

A

Mónovar (Utiel-Requena; sits further inland)

63
Q

List Valencia’s DOs from north to south?

A

Valencia
Utiel-Requena
Alicante

64
Q

Valencia’s Vino de Pago are located within what DO(s)?

A

All 4 are in Utiel-Requena

65
Q

Which of Valencia’s DOs touch the coast?

A

Only Alicante (La Marina subzone)

66
Q

Spanish term for provignage

A

Acodo
* don’t forget that provignage/acodo are a work around to have own-rooted vines since direct replanting in the EU (always?) requires phylloxera-resistant rootstock

67
Q

Vinos de Madrid DO subzones

A
  1. Arganda: largest; Tempranillo
  2. Navalcarnero: flat, loamy
  3. San Martín de Valdeiglesias: granite, protected by Sierra de Gredos
  4. El Molar: newest
68
Q

Vinos de Madrid “sobremadre”

A

Blanco/Tinto
* traditional wines produced by long maceration (skin contact for up to 180 days)

69
Q

Vinos de Madrid - rivers, mountains, climate

A

Continental
* Tajo River
* Sierra de Gredos

70
Q

Commando G DO’s

A

Vinos de Madrid DO
Cebreros DO
Tierra de Castilla y Leon

71
Q

Castilla La Mancha traditional planting system- why?

A

Marco Real: vines spaced 2.5M to reduce competition for water

72
Q

Castilla La Mancha most important white/red

A

Airen
Cencibel (Tempranillo)

73
Q

Ribera del Jucár DO

A

Castilla La Mancha
* Tempranillo, Moscatel de Grano Menudo, Sauvignon Blanc

74
Q

Manchuela DO

A

Castilla La Mancha
* sits between Jucár & Cabriel River valleys
* Mediterranean climate
Bobal #1, Macabeo

75
Q

Almansa DO

A

Castilla La Mancha
* avg 700M, limestone soils
* Monastrell #1, Garnacha, Tempranillo, Cab Sauv

76
Q

Valdepeñas DO

A

Castilla La Mancha
Airen, Tempranillo

77
Q

Méntrida DO

A

Castilla La Mancha
* bulk Garnacha reputation
* sandy granitic soils, extreme continental climate
* Gredos Mountains offer some protection

78
Q

Uclés DO

A

Castilla La Mancha
* newer, est 2005

79
Q

Mondéjar DO

A

Castilla La Mancha
* Tagus River

80
Q

Extremadura
-the 1 DO
- that DO’s most important subzone
- non-wine important products

A

1 DO: Ribera del Guadiana
** Tierra de Barros = most important subzone, 4/5 of vineyard area
* Serrano ham, big cork production area
(Alentejo is just to the west)
* important source of base wine for brandy production

81
Q

Spain’s newest DO (2024)

A

Campo de Calatrava DO
Castilla-La Mancha
* unique volcanic soils

82
Q

Spanish synonyms for Tempranillo

A
  • Cencibel (Castilla la Mancha, Madrid, Aragon, Murcia)
  • Tinto del Pais, Tinto Fino (Castilla y Leon)
  • Ull de Llebre (Catalunya)