Fundamentals

Question 1

When was the Spanish DO system established by the wine Statue?

Answer 1

1932

Question 2

The current DO system was established when?

Answer 2

1970

Question 3

Which org. does each Consejo Regulador report to?

Answer 3

Instituto Nacional de DO’s (National Institute)

Question 4

To be considered a DOCa/DOQ, how many years as DO?

Answer 4

10

Question 5

What are 4 quality standards set by the consejo regulador to become a DO?

Answer 5

Use of authorized varietals, production levels, winemaking methods and aging times

Question 6

When can a VC apply for a promotion do DO?

Answer 6

After 5 years

Question 7

Can a VP set its own production rules and standards?

Answer 7

YES

Question 8

What extra info must be listed on a cava label?

Answer 8

Sugar content

Question 9

What are the 2 significant lowlands in Spain?

Answer 9

Ebro Basin (covers 1/5 of Spain’s landmass) and Andalusian Plain (heart is the Guadalquivir, which runs across nearly the entirety of Andalusia)

Question 10

Longest river on the Iberian penninsula?

Answer 10

Tajo

Question 11

how many autonomous communities in Spain?

Answer 11

17

Question 12

Which 3 autonomous regions produce approximately 60% of the wine?

Answer 12

Castilla La Mancha, La Rioja and Cataluña

Question 13

3 most common vine training methods

Answer 13

Parral (pergola), vaso (gobelet) and espaldera (VSP)

Question 14

Planting method with chessboard-like pattern?

Answer 14

Marco Real. Vines are trained en cabeza (where head of vine is trained down to protect from sunburn)

Question 15

Top 5 most planted varietals

Answer 15

Airen, Tempranillo, Bobal, Garnacha, Macabeo/Viura

Question 16

Mixture of year and sugar used to initiate second fermentation in sparkling wine

Answer 16

Licor de Tiraje

Question 17

DO dedicated exclusively to vinos dulces

Answer 17

DO Malaga

Question 18

Where is the largest expanse of Malvasia plantings in Europe?

Answer 18

DO Lanzarote

Question 19

Who started Vega Sicilia (in 1864) with cuttings of Cab Sav, Malbec and Merlot?

Answer 19

Eloy Lecanda

Question 20

Where was drip irrigation pioneered in the 70’s?

Answer 20

Estate of Marques de Griñon (VP Domino de Valdepusa)

Question 21

Who is known for modernizing Rioja’s wine industry?

Answer 21

Baldomero Espartero and Colonel Luciano Murrieta

Question 22

When was the first supervisory board of Rioja created?

Answer 22

1926

Question 23

What percentage of Spain is covered by the Meseta Central?

Answer 23

45%

Question 24

Montes de Toledo

Answer 24

separate the Guadiana and Tajo rivers

Question 25

Highest peak in Sierra Nevada

Answer 25

Mulhacen (part of sistema penibetico) - highest peak in mainland Spain

Question 26

Main rivers in Spain

Answer 26

Ebro, Tajo, Guadiana, Guadalquivir and Duero. Tajo is longest on the peninsula, Ebro longest in Spain

Question 27

Ideal soil for high quality tempranillo

Answer 27

Limestone & chalk

Question 28

Examples of metamorphic rock

Answer 28

shale, slate and schist. Usually found in mountainous areas

Question 29

Examples of sedimentary rocks

Answer 29

sand, clay, alluvial deposits, limestone, chalk. Much of the coastline of Spain and Meseta Central are sedimentary

Question 30

Leveche

Answer 30

hot, dry dust-laden wind from N. Africa. Felt strongly in Valencia and Alicante in the Srping

Question 31

Levante

Answer 31

Aka Solano, strong, hot, easterly wind from N Africa. Brings dry and clear, hot weather to Andalusian plain (namely Costa del Sol and Cadiz)

Question 32

Poniente

Answer 32

Blows from the West though S. Andalucia, bringing humidity to the Sherry Triangle

Question 33

Tramontana

Answer 33

Strong wind that comes down from France to Emporda region and then down to Balearic islands.

Question 34

What percentage of the worlds wine production does Spain account for?

Answer 34

14.7% (3rd in the world)

Question 35

Predominant training system in continental Spain and the islands

Answer 35

En vaso

Question 36

Mutage

Answer 36

The process of adding spirits to must to obtain a stable, sweet wine. The discovery of this in 1285 launched a massive trade in sweet wines, 400 years before port was invented.

Question 37

Where did fermentation of grape must take place, historically?

Answer 37

In Tinajas

Question 38

Traditional Aging Requirements

Answer 38

Crianza - RED: 6 months oak, 24 months pre-release. WHITE: 6 months, 12 months Reserva - RED: 12 months oak, 36 pre-release.

Question 39

Saignée

Answer 39

"bleeding" the tank. Red grapes are crushed and placed in stainless steel. The skins and juice macerate until desired color is achieved (usually 2 to 24 hours)

Question 40

Girasol

Answer 40

Developed in the 1970's in Spain. A palette holding 504 bottles within a hexagonal frame, riddles sparkling wine in an automated manner

Question 41

Vino Generoso

Answer 41

fortified wine. Moors introduced distillation in the 8th century.

Question 42

Fondillón

Answer 42

A sweet wine made from overripe, raisinated grapes. From Alicante.

Question 43

First official DO's of 1932

Answer 43

Rioja Jerez-Sherry Malaga Tarragona Priorat Penedes Alella Alicante Valencia Utiel (Utiel-Requena) Cheste (now part of DO Valencia) Valedpeñas Cariñena Rueda Ribeiro Manzanilla-Sanlucar de Barrameda Malvasia-Sitges (now part of DO Penedes) Noblejas (now part of DO La Mancha) Conca de Barbera

Question 44

When was DOCa classification created?

Answer 44

1988

Question 45

What requirements must be met for a wine to be considered for a DOCa certification?

Answer 45

At least 10 years as a DO, wine must be produced and bottled within the region and wine must cost at least double the national average for DO wines

Question 46

VC (Vino de calidad con indicacion geografica)

Answer 46

The limbo between VT and DO. Wines produced within a certain region demonstrate qualities of the geographic environment.

Question 47

Vino de Pago

Answer 47

Single estate vineyard with a unique soil or mesoclimate. Each pago has the ability to set its own rules.

Question 48

Vino de la Tierra

Answer 48

Spains IGP/PGI. Must posess identifiablw local characteristics,