Spanish and Portuguese Wine Regions Flashcards
Toro
Climate: No maritime influence, surrounded by mountains. Extreme Continental - Short, hot, dry summer, very cold winters
Topography: Meseta Central. HIGH VINEYARDS -Some vines planted above 850m = cool night-time temps throughout the year helps retain acid and fresh fruity
Soils: Alluvial soils but some sandy with limestone subsoils
Grapes: Tempranillo dominate. Full-bodied, Intense fruit, High Alcohol from high daytime temps, sunny and low-yielding bush vines
Wine Style: Joven wines - blend Garanaca, Reservas/Gran Reservas - deep colour and tannic when young with ability to age. Rosés and whites are made in small quantities
Ribera del Duero
Climate: Continental Climate, tempered by altitude, High Diurnal Range. Short Growing Season. Short hot, dry summer, very cold winters. Low Rainfall
Topography: Meseta Central (flat high altitude). HIGH VINEYARDS -Some vines planted above 850m = cool night-time temps throughout the year helps retain acid and fresh fruity
Soils: Best soils have limestone contect and large stones to aid drainage
Grapes: Tempranillo dominate grape (95%) - dark red, high tannin, Garnacha, CabSav, Malbec, Merlot are permitted but rarely used.
Wine Style: 100% Tempranillo, shorter ageing than Rioja for deeper color and sweeter tannin, Black Fruit & Plum. Highlighting concentrated fruit flavors and tannins with long macerations and aging for shorter time in new Oak (more New French than American). Some Garnacha made into Rosé
Other: DO for only red and Rosé
Bierzo
Climate: Moderate Continental Climate with cooling benefits of maritime influence
Topography: In the mountains between Gallicia & Meseta, Steep stony slopes.
Soils: Quartz & slate soils in mountains
Grapes: Mencia = elegant red wines with naturally high acidity, red fruit aromas
Wine Style: Best wines from old vines. Some makers do unoaked to make keep red fruity aromas others oak for Toast aromas
Other:
Valencia
Climate: 2 types. 1. Warm Mediterranean & 2. Mild Continental inland
Topography: SE coast, low altitude on coast, higher inland. Large and spread out DO
Soils: Clay soils in coast, limestone inland
Grapes: Monastrell - dominant red grape variety for youthful & fruity wines, Merseguera - local white variety, Muscat of Alexandria = Moscatel de Valencia, a sweet fortified wine.
Wine Style: Reds are blends. Whites to be drunk young Value for Money wines
Rias Baixas
Climate: Moderate, damp climate. Humid conditions cause mildew and rot = vines trained on pergolas to encourage air circulation
Topography: Northern Atlantic Coast. 5 sub-zones with own terrior:
Soils: rocky & alluvial soils (Cambados area)
Grapes: Albariño - refreshing unoaked given high acidity, ripe stone fruit. Wines to be drunk young. Some barrel fermentation but mostly aromatic with high acidity
Wine Style: Some winemakers use some oak or lees to make it richer in style
Other: Some growers are using other trellising systems that are easier to maintain
Jumilla
Climate: Hot Mediterranean with long, hot, dry summers and mild winters
Topography: Directly west of Yecla. 50% of vineyards in La Mancha, 50% in Murcia. Vineyards 700m in hills
Terrior: Hot, dry sandy soils
Grapes: Monastrell - buds & ripens late. dominant red grape variety for youthful & fruity wines
Wine Style: Mainly strong red wines w mainly joven wines but some Crianza and Reserva production too.
Reds & Rosados must contain min 50% Monastrell. Some sweet reds made from Monastrell.
Reds are full bodied, hi in alcohol and tannins w black fruit, hints of meat and liquorice.
Other: One of the countries leading quality potential
Yecla
Climate: Mediterranean with long, hot, dry summers and mild winters
Topography: SE Coast inland from Alicante.
Terrior: Limestone bedrom with subsoils high in carbonate or sandy topsoil with clay
Grapes: Monastrell - buds & ripens late. dominant red grape variety for youthful & fruity wines
Wine Style: Carbonic maceration for Joven. Predominately Monstrell with only small amount of white produced.
Valdepañas
Climate: Hot, Dry Extreme Continental
Topography: Small enclave south of La Mancha plateus surrounded by hills
Soils: Limstone based with good water retention. Some alluvial soils
Grapes: Airén most widely planted, Tempranillo (Cencibel) is main red grape.
Wine Style: Reputation for Quality (better than La Mancha). Wine from fruity to more concentrated and oak matured. Whites must be 100% Airén.
Modern winemaking w temperature controlled fermentation, stabilisation casks, modern filters, etc.
La Mancha
Climate: Hot Continental - key hazard is Drought
Topography: 500-700m plateau directly south of Madrid. Most vinerads in Ciduad real (1 of 5 sub-zones)
Soils: Dry, hard & shallow sandy clay
Grapes: Airén - most widely planted for neutral, fresh white wine. Tempranillo (known as Cencibel). CabSav, Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay & SavBlanc being planted
Wine Style: Low density bush trained vines. Low training so that leaves can shade the fruit from scorching sun.
Stainless steel and cool fermentation now prominent. Mainly neutral light wines.
Vinos de Pago - top quality single estates. La Mancha has the majority
Other: Investment in tech and expertise makes La Mancha a great source for inexpensive wines
Rioja Alavesa
Climate: Cool Maritime. Some Atlantic Ocean influence
Topography: North of the Elbro River. Foothills of Cantarbrian Mountains - shield bad weather from Atlantic. Vines 500-800 meter altitude
Soils: Chalk-rich on south facing slopes
Grapes: Black - Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo (Carignan), Graciano White-Viura (Macabeo), Malvasia, Garnacha Blanca
Wine Style: Lightest wines most finesse.
Rioja Baja
Climate: Much less maritme influence. Continental to Mediteranean (in East) Warmer and Drier. . Hotter summers, more severe winters. Low Annual rainfall increases drought risk.
Topography: South of Elbro River. East of Logrono
Soils: Heavy clay soils favors Granacha
Grapes: Granancha grows best here
Wine Style: Deeply colored, High Alcohol. Low Acidity and Flavor intensity
Rioja Alta
Climate: Maritime Influence, but warmer and drier than Alavesa
Topography: West of Logrono. South of Ebro. Higher elevation (shorter growing season)
Soils: Clay/red iron rich soils
Grapes: Tempranillo (most widely planted), Granancha, Mazuelo, Graciano White - Viura (Macabeo) (does best on clay)
Wine Style: Semi-carbonic maceration. Longer term - destemmed, crused in traditional method. Oak maturation typically with American Oak. French used for spice
Other: Subdivided into 11 subregions best is Boutenac AC
8 varietals approved for Rioja
Rueda
Climate: Continental Climate - cool nights ideal for grapes (elegance)
Topography: Flat plains 600-780m high with Duero flowing west
Soils: Iron-rich soils with good drainage. Chalky soils beside Deuro in north
Grapes: Verdejo. Use Savignon Blanc to blend. Must have 50% Verdejo
Wine Style: Simple and Fruity to Rich and Barrel Fermented
Whites: night harvest, selection tables, cold maceration, temperature-controlled fermentation are now common
Other:
Penedès
Climate: 3 Climate Zones:
- Coastal Plains = Hottest, Low lying coastal up to 250m, (Baix Penedes - sandy soils)
- Inland Valleys = More Temperate. slightly cooler, but still warm 250-500m. Center of Cava Production (Mitja-Penedes - chalky clay)
- Hills = Cool Continental. Vines upto 800m climate is moderate = more styles and grape varieties where most Cava is produced. (Alt Penedes - limestone)
Topography: Vines from Mediterranean to hills
Grapes: Granacha & Chardonnay, SavBlanc, Gewurztraminer, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo (Ull de Llebre), Pinot Noir
Wine Style: Granacha can be made red or white
Priorat
Climate: Warm Continental, Summers are long, hot and dry, low rain fall, Cool nights provide relief
Topography: Bush vines & Steep slopes mean little mechanization. Planted 100-700m on terraces
Soils: Llicorella - layers of red slate with small particles of mica that sparkle in sun. Help ripen by reflecting and concerving heat. Soil is deep, so vines dig deep to get water, Retains water in summer. Poor nutrient soil = very small yields which increases complexity and intensity
Grapes: Granacha & Cariñena (not widely planted)
Wine Style:
1,800ha v very low yields due to the thick & poor soils & hot climate -> grapes are very expensive.
Mechanisation impossible. Traditionally vines planted en vaso with newer vineyards en espaldera. Key hazards: frost, hailstones
Traditional Priorat is made from low yielding Garnacha & Carinena and aged for long periods in oak, developing rancid aromas of game & mushroom. They are deep colour, highly tannic and hi in alcohol
Modern wines produced from both local & international varieties show intense bramble fruit, powerful tannins & oak characters and have long potential.
Granacha can be made red or white
