D3 Spain

Question 1

Wine Climates in Spain?

Answer 1

NW/Galicia - Warm generally Maritime (some Mediterranean and Continental)

S/SE - warm Mediterranean

Central Spain - warm continental, at altitude (600-900m)

Question 2

Density of Planting?

Answer 2

Tendency to low density, and potentially bush vines; some very old vines are favoured, disincentivising replanting

Question 3

Vineyard Risks?

Answer 3

Spring frosts in Continental areas, mildew with heavy storms and warm temperatures

Question 4

Red Ageing Requirements?

Answer 4

Crianza - 24 / 6 (total/barrel)
Reserva - 36 / 12 (total/barrel)
Gran Reserva - 60 / 18 (total/barrel)

Question 5

White/Rosé Ageing Requirements?

Answer 5

Crianza - 18 / 6 (total/barrel)
Reserva - 24 / 6 (total/barrel)
Gran Reserva - 48 / 6 (total/barrel)

Question 6

Maximum Capacity of Maturation Vessel?

Answer 6

330L for oak vessels, nationally

Question 7

PDO Term?

Answer 7

DO and DOCa/DOQ (Rioja & Priorat)

Question 8

VP?

Answer 8

Vino de Pago - single estate with high reputations, mostly in Castilla-La Mancha, Navarra, Valencia, Aragon

Question 9

PGI Term?

Answer 9

Vino de la Terra (VT)

Question 10

Galician Grapes?

Answer 10

Albarino - high acid
Loureira - early ripening, medium(+) acidity, floral
Treixadura - mid-ripening, low acidity
Godello - med(+) acidity
Mencia - Red fruit, med body/tannin, med(+) acid

Question 11

Name of Pergola in Galicia?

Answer 11

Parral

Question 12

Treliising?

Answer 12

Lots of VSP, good for mechanisation

Question 13

Bierzo Vintages?

Answer 13

Highly variable

Question 14

Bierzo Grape?

Answer 14

Mencia - Red fruit, med body/tannin, med(+) acid, floral/herbal

Question 15

Bierzo Harvesting?

Answer 15

Heavily sloped so lots of hand-harvesting

Question 16

Toro Climate?

Answer 16

Warm Continental - cooled by altitude but little else
Low rainfall, no irrigation allowed later in year, so low density usually
Old vines as sandy soils precluded phylloxera

Question 17

Toro Grapes?

Answer 17

Tempranillo (Tinta de Toro) - minimum 75%
Garnacha for remainder
Verejo & Malvasia for occasional whites

Question 18

Ribera del Duero Climate & Risks?

Answer 18

High elevation potentially (750-1,000m)
Frosts a risk in spring and autumn
Fairly low rainfall 400-600mm - irrigation permitted outside of ripening period
About half are bush vines, lots of old vines

Question 19

Galician DOs?

Answer 19

Rias Baixas
Ribeiro
Riberia Sacra
Valdeorras
Monterrei

Question 20

Castilla y Leon DOs?

Answer 20

Bierzo
Toro
Ribera del Duero
Rueda

Question 21

Rueda Grapes?

Answer 21

Verdejo - drought tolerant med to med(+) acidity, med alcohol, herbal/fennel
Sauvignon Blanc

Question 22

Rueda Features?

Answer 22

High elevation (700-800m), Warm Continental, Low Rainfall, Sandy Soils
Generally VSP except older bush vines

Question 23

Rioja Features?

Answer 23

River Ebro
Sierra de Cantabria offering cover to the North from Atlantic influence
Sierra de la Demanda offering cover to the South from hot Central influence
Varied warm climate: Rioja Alta (continental to maritime, low to high altitude); Rioja Alavesa (higher, wetter, cooler); Rioja Oriental (N of zone is low, dry and warm; S of zone is high, cooler and wetter)

Question 24

Tempranillo vs Garnacha in Rioja?

Answer 24

T earlier ripening, G more drought resistant hence less important now that irrigation is permitted

G increasingly planted in Rioja Oriental given additional warmth

Question 25

Graciano?

Answer 25

High acid, high tannin, black fruit, late ripening, drought resistant

Question 26

Mazuelo?

Answer 26

Carignan - high acid and lots of colour

Question 27

Vino de Zona in Rioja?

Answer 27

85% from the area e.g. Rioja Alta, with up to 15% allowed if immediately neighbouring and proven history of being used

Question 28

Vino de Municipio in Rioja?

Answer 28

85% from the village, with up to 15% allowed if immediately neighbouring and proven history of being used

Question 29

Vinedo Singular in Rioja?

Answer 29

100% from vineyard of at least 35 years constant use,. and 10 years minimum of recent ownership
Hand harvesting necessary

Question 30

Aragon Features?

Answer 30

Carinena, Campo de Borja, Calatatyud - all are generally elevated with high diurnal range
Cierzo wind helps to cool
Generally volume wines of acceptable to good quality
Old vine Garnacha slowly emerging

Question 31

Vi de Finca?

Answer 31

Catalunya term for single estate wines of outstanding quality

Question 32

Priorat Features?

Answer 32

Warm continental climate
Serra de Montsant protects from cold Northern winds
Serra de Llaberia protects from Southern Mediterranean influences
Varied altitudes
River Siurana
Lots of slopes, and narrow terraces to help prevent soil erosion
Llicorella = slate soils
Bedrock splits vertically allowing deep roots
Forcibly low yields

Question 33

Priorat Grapes?

Answer 33

Garnacha
Carinena
Cab/Syrah/Merlot to far lesser extent

Question 34

Priorat Classifications?

Answer 34

Vi de Vila - comes from 1 of 12 sub-zones
Vi de Paratge - lieu dit equivalent
Vinya Classificada - premier cru equivalent
Gran Vinya Classificada - grand cru equivalent

Question 35

Bobal?

Answer 35

High acidity, fruity, black fruit
Vigorous, high yielding
Mid to late budding, drought resistant, ripens unevenly

Question 36

Alicante DO Grape?

Answer 36

Minimum 80% Monastrell (Mourvedre)

Typically good to very good, American oaked, full bodied and high tannins

Question 37

Alicante DO Sweet Wine?

Answer 37

Fondillón - late harvest Monastrell, 10 years minimum age, non-fortified

Question 38

Utiel-Requena DO Grape?

Answer 38

Bobal

Question 39

La Mancha Features?

Answer 39

Flat, relatively high altitude
Extremely continental, low-ish rainfall
Limestone/chalk soils, often drip irrigated
Low density usually, can be bush vines as well as VSP

Question 40

Cencibel?

Answer 40

Tempranillo

Question 41

La Mancha Grapes?

Answer 41

Airen

Cencibel/Tempranillo