Castilla y León

Question 1

What does Castillo y León translate to?

Answer 1

Old Castile

Question 2

What is Spain’s largest autonomía?

Answer 2

Castillo y León

Question 3

The “land of castles” or Castile y León included a number of such fortifications to repel the ______ in the early Middle ages

Answer 3

Moors

Question 4

The union of Castilla y León and _____ through marriage in the 15th century led to the birth of the Kingdom of Spain.

Answer 4

Aragon

Question 5

What is the climate of Castilla y León?

Answer 5

Continental

Question 6

What are the two slightly moderating influences of Castilla y León?

Answer 6

The Atlantic and Mediterranean

Question 7

Which river flows through Castilla y León?

Answer 7

The Duero

Question 8

What are the DOs in Castilla y León?

Answer 8

Ribeira del Duero, Rueda, Toro, Tierra del Vino de Zamora, Arribes, Arlanza, Cigales, León, Bierzo

Question 9

Bierzo borders which DO of Galicia?

Answer 9

Valdeorras

Question 10

Which notable producer in Piorat started a project in Bierzo?

Answer 10

Alvaro Palacios founded Descendientes de José Palacios with his nephew Ricardo Pérez in 1999 and achieved instead recognition for Bierzo with their biodynamic “Corullón” bottling

Question 11

Which estate is considered Ribera del Duero DO’s flagship wine?

Answer 11

Vega Sicilia

Question 12

When did Vega Sicilia achieve international acclaim?

Answer 12

At the Barcelona World’s Fair with his 1917 and 1918 vintages of Único

Question 13

Nowadays who are the cult producers of Ribeira del Duero?

Answer 13

Vega Sicilia, Dominio de Pingus, and Aalto

Question 14

What is the blend of Único?

Answer 14

Tinto de País (Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot)

Question 15

Ribera del Duero only makes red wines. True or false?

Answer 15

False, also a small amounts of whites, rosados, and claretes

Question 16

What is Rueda DO known for?

Answer 16

Known for their Verdejo grape, easily prone to oxidation but rejuvenated by Marqués de Riscal in the 1970s as a fresh wine. Wines labeled as Rueda requires a minimum of 50% Verdejo or Sauvignon, often blended with Viura, Chardonnay or Viognier. They also make red, rosado and sparkling.

Question 17

What is Rueda Dorado?

Answer 17

Dry fortified and oxidized air, but these wines are a dying style and rarely found outside of Spain.

Question 18

To the west of Rueda is which DO?

Answer 18

Toro DO

Question 19

What are the wines of Toro DO?

Answer 19

Red, white and rosado. But known for their red wines, which are either a minimum of 75% Tinta de Toro or 85% Garnacya. However, often produced solely from Tinta de Toro, a strain of Tempranillo.

Question 20

What is the climate of Toro DO?

Answer 20

Extremely hot and continental