Spain

Question 1

Describe the three main climate zones in Spain.

Answer 1

North and Northwest - moderate maritime climate with Atlantic weather systems and high rainfall.

East Coast - from Cataluña in the North to the Levante further south has a warm Mediterranean climate. Vineyards are moderated by the sea or altitude. It becomes hotter further south.

Meseta Central - large plateau in central Spain has a hot, continental climate.

Question 2

What is Spain’s premier black grape variety?

Answer 2

Tempranillo -It is thick-skinned, medium acidity that thrives in warm climates with high diurnal range.
Joven wine- fresh strawberry scented that is easy drinking
Often blended with Garnacha, Graciano, Carineña/Mazuelo or Cabernet Sauvignon.

Question 3

What is Grenache called in Spain? How is it used?

Answer 3

Garnacha Tinta- used in rose wines and also in Priorat.

Question 4

Describe the style of Monastrell wines and what is its more common name?

Answer 4

(Mourvedre) - thick-skinned grape variety that is drought tolerant but needs hot, sunny conditions to ripen.
Grown in SE DOs such as Yecla and Jumilla where it can reach full ripeness
Produces full bodied wines with high levels of tannins and alcohol, low to medium acidity and flavours of ripe blackberry fruit.

Question 5

Name two key white wines from Spain.

Answer 5

Verdejo and Albariño

Question 6

Describe the style of Verdejo wines.

Answer 6

Highly susceptible to oxidation and was used to make Sherry-like wines.
Protective wine making- light bodied, high acid, melon and peach flavoured style similar to SB, with which it is often blended.
Richer style - skin contact and barrel fermentation

Question 7

Describe the style of Albariño wines.

Answer 7

NW Spain - Thick-skinned and able to resist fungal disease. Naturally high in acidity and produces refreshing wines with citrus and stone fruit flavours. It can also be made into a richer-full bodied style.

Question 8

What is the most widely planted variety of grape in Spain and what is it used for?

Answer 8

Airen -the most widely planted grape variety in Spain (La Mancha in Central Spain). It can cope with the extreme heat and drought conditions.
Used in the production of Brandy de Jerez.

Question 9

Which three varieties are used to make Cava?

Answer 9

Parellada, Xarel-lo and Macabeo

Question 10

What other name is Macabeo known for and what style of wine does it create?

Answer 10

Viura in Rioja - Creates an unoaked style with subtle herb and spice aromas

Question 11

Name the six DO regions of Spain?

Answer 11

The Upper Ebro, Cataluña, Duero Valley, the North West, the Levante, and Castilla-La Mancha.

Question 12

Which region is the most extensive for Vino de la Tierra wines?

Answer 12

Castilla y Leon

Question 13

Name and describe the three regions of Rioja

Answer 13

Rioja Alavesa - lightest wines of Rioja with the most finesse
Rioja Alta - vineyards are planted from 500-800 metres and the climate is moderated by the Atlantic Ocean. The Cantabrian Mountains shield Rioja from the worst of the Atlantic weather.
Rioja Baja - less maritime climate with hotter summers and more severe winters. Rainfall is low and drought is a concern.

Question 14

Describe how tempranillo performs in Rioja and other varieties that are often blended with it.

Answer 14

Tempranillo grows best in Alavesa and Alta. It adds red fruit flavours and medium tannins. It benefits from the body and alcohol that comes from being blending with Garnacha (grows best in Baja). Manzuelo and Graciano are less widely planted but play supporting role in blends.

Question 15

Describe white Rioja winemaking. (Traditional and modern)

Answer 15

Eight varieties are permitted. Viura is the most widely planted variety and was traditionally aged in American oak for extended periods, developing deep golden colour and nutty flavours.
Modern white Riojas are made with minimal oxygen contact to preserve the maximum amount of fruit. Some producers are creating barrel-fermented white wines but with less oxidation than traditional white Riojas.

Question 16

Describe red Rioja winemaking.

Answer 16

Semi-carbonic maceration: Red wines designed for early drinking that have vibrant red fruit flavours and low levels of smooth tannin.
Long-term maturation wines: usually destemmed, crushed and undergo traditional fermentation. Some producers use vigorous cap management techniques and extended maceration to produce heavily extracted wines, deep in colour and full of fruit flavours. Others are making more subtle, elegant styles. American oak used to be used which gave vanilla aromas, but now French or European oak is being used to give subtle, more spicy aromas.

Question 17

How is Navarra different to Rioja

Answer 17

Similar climate but wetter and cooler towards the Pyrenees.

Question 18

Describe the wines of Navarra.

Answer 18

Tempranillo is the most widely planted variety. Made in a similar style to Rioja but is blended more with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
Garnacha grapes used for rose wines are picked earlier when acid levels are high and sugars low. Protective winemaking to create fresh, fruity wines with medium alcohol levels.
Small portion of white winemaking: Viura, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.

Question 19

Which three appellations make up the Upper Ebro?

Answer 19

Rioja, Navarra, Cariñena and Calatayud

Question 20

Describe the climate and wines of Cariñena and Calatayud

Answer 20

Warm continental climate
Inexpensive, early drinking, fruity wines come from this region.
Higher quality wines are made with old vine Garnacha and Cariñena and have greater flavour intensity and structure.
The Cariñena grape is not the most widely planted variety in this DO, despite being named after it.

Question 21

What is unusual about the Cataluña DO?

Answer 21

It covers the entire region and is generic.

Question 22

Describe the climate of Penedes and the grape varieties grown here.

Answer 22

Three distinct climate zones.
-Hottest, coastal plain where the climate is Mediterranean
-Inland, valleys, the climate is slightly cooler than on the plain but still warm
-Further into the hills up to 800m the climate is moderate.
Grapes used for making Cava are grown in this area
International varieties are grown here too: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo (Ull de Llebre) and Pinot Noir are the most planted red varieties

Question 23

Describe the climate and terrain of Priorat

Answer 23

Vineyards lie within the hills inland from the city of Tarragona. Long hot, dry, summers and low rainfall. Ideal conditions for the old vine Garnacha and Cariñena vines, as both are late ripening varieties.

Question 24

What is the soil in Priorat called and why is it good for growing grapes?

Answer 24

Llicorella -local soils that consist of red slate layers with small mica particles that sparkle in the sun. They help ripening by reflecting and conserving heat and because of their depth, they are able to retain water throughout the growing season.

Question 25

Why are wines from Priorat expensive?

Answer 25

Mechanisation is impossible due to bush vines and steep slopes (vineyard management is expensive and time consuming), poor nutrients in soil and age of vines produces low yields.

Question 26

Describe the style of red Priorat wine.

Answer 26

Usually deeply coloured with high tannins, medium to high alcohol, and concentrated black fruit with toasty new French oak aromas. Garnacha and Cariñena dominate blends but other international varieties are sometimes used such as Cabernet Sauvignon.

Question 27

Describe the climate and wines from Ribera del Duero.

Answer 27

The mountains cut off any maritime influences. Short hot and dry summers and very cold winters. Some vineyards planted at over 850m.
DO for red and rosé wines only.

Question 28

How are wines being made in Ribera del Duero?

Answer 28

-Tempranillo is dominant and is most often the only variety used. The best wines are dark in colour with high levels of tannins.
-Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec are also permitted but rarely used.
-Garnacha is grown and mostly made into rosé wines
Winemaking style: long macerations and ageing for short period in new oak made from French oak helps to accentuate the concentrated fruit flavours and tannins in the grapes.

Question 29

Describe the climate and wines from Toro.

Answer 29

It is a similar climate as Ribera del Duero.

• Reds made from Tempranillo and are full-bodied with intense fruit flavours, high alcohol which is the result of high daytime temperatures, sunny conditions and low-yielding bush vines.
• Styles: Joven wines have a proportion of Garnacha. Reservas and Gran Reservas can be exceptionally deeply coloured and tannic when young, but they have the ability to age well.

Question 30

Which type of wines are most common in Rueda and why?

Answer 30

White wines because the region’s continental climate has cool summer nights and is ideal for the traditional grape variety, Verdejo. Sauvignon Blanc is also important. Both can be made as single varietal wines or a blend with at least 50% Verdejo. Styles range from simple/fruity to richer, barrel fermented.

Question 31

What are the most celebrated wines of NW Spain?

Answer 31

Albariño wines from Rias Baixas DO.

Question 32

Describe the location and climate of Rias Baixas.

Answer 32

It is located on the Atlantic and it has a moderate, damp climate. The humidity means that diseases like powdery mildew and rot are common problems. Vines are trained onto pergolas to help mitigate this.

Question 33

What is the style of Albariño wines?

Answer 33

Albariño is made into a refreshing unoaked style with high acidity and stone fruit flavours. Richer styles have a touch of oak or lees stirring. Red wine is permitted but isn’t a major focus.

Question 34

Describe the Bierzo region and its wines.

Answer 34

It lies between Galicia and the Meseta Central. The climate is moderate with cooling maritime influences. The main grape is Mencia which produces elegant red wines with naturally high acidity and red fruit aromas. The best wines come from old vines grown on steep stony slopes.
Style: Unoaked created wines that retain the perfumed red fruit aromas of the Mencia variety. Oaked adds tasty aromas.

Question 35

Describe the region and wines of Levante.

Answer 35

Mediterranean region with two sub-regions called Valencia and Jumilla & Yecla.

Question 36

What types of wines are from Valencia?

Answer 36

Valencia - source of value for money wines.

• Monastrell is the most widely planted red variety.
• Merseguera is the most widely planted white variety.
• Muscatel of Alexandria is also widely planted to create the local wine, Moscatel de Valencia which is a sweet fortified wine.

Question 37

Describe the climate and wines from Jumilla and Yecla.

Answer 37

-hot, arid climate perfect for growing Monastrell (red). Most wines are youthful and fruity.

Question 38

Where does almost half of Spain’s wine production come from?

Answer 38

Castilla-La Mancha
La Mancha is the largest DO in Spain.
Airén is the most widely planted grape variety.

Question 39

Describe the wines from La Mancha.

Answer 39

Airén is the most widely planted variety used to produce fresh white wines; however, plantings are declining as authorities are encouraging producers to plant Tempranillo, known as Cencibel, and other international grape varieties.
Source of inexpensive well-made red and white wines.
Home of top-quality pagos wines and is still the home of a majority of estates awarded the appellation Vinos de Pago.

Question 40

Describe the climate and wines of Valdepeñas.

Answer 40

Similar climate as La Mancha but a reputation for higher quality wines. Airén is the most widely planted grape but Tempranillo (Cencibel) is the main variety for red wines. Styles range from fruity to more concentrated and oak matured.