20.8 Spain - Castilla-La-Mancha & 20.9 Other

Question 1

What are two key DOs of Castilla-La-Mancha?

Answer 1

1) La Mancha DO
2) Valdepenas DO

Question 2

What is Spain’s largest DO?

Answer 2

La Mancha DO (also largest in Europe)

Question 3

What is the altitude of La Mancha DO?

Answer 3

500-700m

Question 4

Describe the climate of La Mancha DO and Valdepenas DO

Answer 4

Continental with very hot summers (45+) and very cold winters (-20) and low rainfall

Question 5

What form of irrigation is common in La Mancha DO?

Answer 5

Drip

Question 6

What are the two most planted grape varieties?

Answer 6

1) Airen
2) Cencibel (Tempranillo)

Question 7

For what wine purpose is most Airen grown?

Answer 7

For distillation into Brandy de Jerez

Question 8

Which is La Mancha & Spain’s largest co-op?

Answer 8

Virgen de la Vinas

Question 9

What is the primary variety of Valdepenas DO?

Answer 9

Cencibel (Tempranillo)

Question 10

La Mancha is home to Spain’s first and most well known Vino de Pago. What is it?

Answer 10

Dominio de Valdepusa
Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petit Verdot

Question 11

What separates the main vineyard areas of the Basque Country?

Answer 11

The Cantabrian cordillera (mountain range)

Question 12

What sub-region of a famous DO overlaps into the south of Basque?

Answer 12

Rioja Alavesa

Question 13

What is the main variety of the Txakoli DOs?

Answer 13

Hondarribi Zuri

Question 14

What is the climate of the Txakoli DOs?

Answer 14

Moderate maritime with high rainfall and influence from the Atlantic

Question 15

Sierra de Gredos doesn’t have its own DO so wines may be labelled as what depending on vineyard location? (4)

Answer 15

1) Vinos de Madrid DO
2) Mentrida DO (Castilla-La-Mancha)
3) Cebreros DO
4) Castilla y Leon VT

Question 16

At what altitude are the vines of Sierra de Gredos planted?

Answer 16

600-1,200m

Question 17

What grape variety is common in most Sierra de Gredos wines?

Answer 17

Garnacha

Question 18

What is the climate of Sierra de Gredos?

Answer 18

Continental with cool influence from altitude

Question 19

What style of Garnacha is made in Sierra de Gredos

Answer 19

Lighter tannin than Aragon with medium (+) acidity and fresh strawberry, cherry

Question 20

What is the most common white variety in Sierra de Gredos and what wine style does it produce?

Answer 20

Albillo Real
Full-bodied with citrus and floral notes

Question 21

What four islands comprise the Balearic Islands?

Answer 21

Mallorca
Menorca
Ibiza
Formentera

Question 22

What are the two key local varieties of the Balearic Islands?

Answer 22

Manto Negro
Callet

Question 23

What other varieties might be found on the Balearic Islands

Answer 23

Monastrell
Tempranillo
Malvasia
Internationals

Question 24

What is the climate of the Canary Islands?

Answer 24

Tropical with hot, humid growing season conditions

Question 25

What altitude do the Canary Islands reach?

Answer 25

1,500m

Question 26

What are the most common varieties of the Canary Islands?

Answer 26

Listan Negro
Malvasia
Listan Blanco (Palomino)

Question 27

What is distinct about viticulture on the Valle de Ortavo DO in Tenerife?

Answer 27

Several vines are twisted together to form long ropes, trained on low wires and growing up and down hillsides

Question 28

Compared with the other islands within the Canaries, Lanzarote’s topography is what?

Answer 28

Relatively flat covered with volcanic ash

Question 29

How are vines planted in Lanzarote?

Answer 29

Vines are planted in craters dug into the ash and partially surrounded by stone walls to protect the vines from winds and capture moisture

Question 30

What is the dominant variety in Lanzarote?

Answer 30

Malvasia

Question 31

Besides Lanzarote, describe the topography of the Canary Islands

Answer 31

Rugged, mountainous and impossible to mechanise