Galicia

Question 1

What is the native name for Galicia? Who does it refer to?

Answer 1

Galiza, the Celtic mother goddess, Caileach

Question 2

When did the Romans invade?

What were the Romans interested in? What happened

Answer 2

Around 137 BCE

Gold/gold mines, lost interest after mines unproductive

Question 3

Who took over in 410?
585?
What city held significant importance for Christians?

Answer 3

the Suebi (related the Germania)
Visigoths
Santiago de Compostela

Question 4

What was Tostado de Ribeiro?

What eventually happened?

Answer 4

Vino Tostado from Ribeiro (sweet wine)- fortified white wines from sun dried grapes, consumed by pilgrims
Lost popularity vs full bodied dry reds from POR, devastated Galician wine trade

Question 5

When did Galicia regain autonomous status after Franco?

THe majority of Galician wines use indigenous or international grapes?

Answer 5

1981

indigenous

Question 6

Galicia capital?
Largest city?
What is the climate?
What are Rias?
What is Galicia known as?

Answer 6

Santiago de Compostela
Vigo (292,000)
Maritime
Submerged River Valleys
"country of the thousand rivers"

Question 7

Vineyards on steep hillsides are planted ____ while those on flatter lands are planted on _____
What are the 3 primary mountain ranges of the Macizo Galaico?

Answer 7

en espaldera on terraces, parrals

Serra do Eixe, Serra da Encina da Lastra, Serra do Courel.

Question 8

Soils:

1. Coast
2. Terraced river valleys
3. along river valley further inland

Answer 8

1. Granite based
2. Granite with clay
3. Slate, shale, granitic sand

Question 9

What types of oak used in barrel aging?

Answer 9

American, French, Galician

Question 10

What are the 5 sub zones of Rias Biaxas?
Climate?
Preferred grape?

Answer 10

Val do Salnes, Condado do Tea, O Rosal, Soutomaior, Ribeira do Ulla
Maritime
Albarino

Question 11

Val do Salnes:
Oldest or youngest subzone?
Flat or elevated?
Cold or hot?
Birthplace of \_\_\_
Label varieties:

Answer 11

Oldest
Flattest
Coolest of the 5 subzones
Albarino
>70% Albarino, Loureira, Treixadura, Caino Blanco

Question 12

Condado do Tea:
Flat or elevated?
Cool or hot?
Label varieties:

Answer 12

Most mountainous of subzones
Warmest of subzones
>70% Albarino and Treixadura

Question 13

O Rosal:
where is it?
where are vineyards planted?
Label varieties:

Answer 13

Galacia’s SQ quadrant
Terraces flanking waterway
>70% Albarino and Loureira

Question 14

Soutomaior:
only subzone where…
largest or smallest subzone?

Answer 14

…sole production is varietal Albarino

smallest

Question 15

Ribeira do Ulla:
North or South?
Wine claim to fame?

Answer 15

Northernmost subzone

some of DO’s finest red wines

Question 16

Ribeira Sacra:

1. What is “Rovoyna Sacrata?”
2. What does “Ribeira Sacra” translate as?
3. Main grape? % requirements?
4. What is Ribeira Sacra Summum?

Answer 16

1. appeared in constititional document by Dona Teresa, daughter of Portuguese King Alphonse VI, referencing a monastery building location
2. Sacred riverbank
3. Mencia, 70%
4. Reds 85%+ preferred grapes (at least 60% Mencia), whites 100% preferred grapes

Question 17

DO RIbeiro:

1. New or old?
2. What 3 rivers border Ribeiro vineyards?
3. Wine traits?
4. What is the “colleiteiro”?

Answer 17

1. Oldest DO in Galicia
2. Mino, Avia, Arnoia
3. Medium bodied, unoaked, Treixdura dominant
4. Boutique winery <15850 gallons produced a year. 115 of them in Ribeiro

Question 18

DO Valdeorras:

1. White, red %?
2. Soils?
3. Climate?
4. What does “valdeorras” mean?
5. What river crosses Valdeorras?
6. Main white, red grape?
7. What is Valdeorras Castas Nobles?
8. Requirements for Valdeorras “Godello”, “Mencia”, and vinos espumosos

Answer 18

1. 55% white, 45% red
2. Shallow slate topsoil atop quartzite/schist bedrock
3. Maritime with continental influences
4. “Valley of Gold”
5. Sil
6. Godello, Mencia
7. At least 85% preferred varieties
8. 100% Godello. 85% Mencia. 85% Godello