Galicia

Question 1

Where in Spain is Galicia located?

Answer 1

North-west of Spain

Question 2

What is the climate of Galicia?

Answer 2

Maritime

Question 3

What is the influence of the proximity to the
Atlantic in Galicia?

Answer 3

Cool and wet weather to a greater or lesser
extent

Question 4

What are the 5 DOs of Galicia?

Answer 4

Rías Baixas

Ribeiro

Valdeorras

Ribeira Sacra

Monterrei

Question 5

What does Rías Baixas translate to?

Answer 5

The low estuaries

Question 6

What is the primary grape of Rías Baixas?

Answer 6

Albariño

Question 7

What percentage of vineyards in Rías Baixas are devoted to Albariño?

Answer 7

95%

Question 8

What are the primary red grapes of Rías Baixas?

Answer 8

Caiño
Scarce grape. Light & Light herbal.

Espadeiro
(Late ripening & over productive. Low color. High acids and alcohol. Prunes & chocolate)

Mencía
(Fresh fruits,elegant tannins. Drink young. Related Cabernet Franc?)

Question 9

What is the primary white grape of Ribeiro DO?

Answer 9

Treixadura
(Local grape, aromatic, fresh acidity. Floral, Apple. Late ripening,Low yields)
Also in Ribeira Sacra & valdeorras.

Question 10

What is the primary red grape of Ribeiro DO?

Answer 10

Caiño

Question 11

What is Viño Tostado?

Answer 11

A dried grape wine famous in Ribeiro DO

Question 12

What is the primary grape of Ribeira Sacra DO?
Characteristics?

Answer 12

Mencía

They tend to show red cherry and raspberry fruit, medium body and tannins,
medium (+) acidity.
The majority are mid-priced and made in a fresh, early drinking style

Question 13

What is the primary grape of Valdeorras DO? Characteristics?
(aromas, acidity, fermentation/maturing)

Answer 13

Godello
the wines showing citrus and stone fruit, sometimes with a herbal or wet stone character.
Generally medium (+) acidity.
Premium versions are often fermented and/or matured in oak to lend texture and a toasty, spicy complexity.

Main red grape: Mencía. Relatively little planted.

Question 14

Rías Baixas, tell more about:
ha of vines; grapegrowers; wineries

Answer 14

The DO has just over 4000 ha of vines,
farmed by around 5,500 grape growers.
There are around 170 wineries, ranging from small to very large producers

Question 15

You could say Rías baixas has small-scape grape growing. Explain.

Answer 15

Many vineyards (5,500 grape growers) are tiny plots of land whose owners sell their grapes to local producers (170 wineries)

Question 16

Rías Baixas climate?

Answer 16

distinctly maritime

Question 17

Rías Baixas climate features?
-annual temperature
-summers/winters
-rainfall ( how much and when)

Answer 17

The Atlantic moderates annual temperatures, giving warm summers and mild winters.
Annual rainfall is high at an average of 1,700 mm, which falls throughout the year

Question 18

Rías Baixas, what are key hazards in this climate

Answer 18

fungal diseases and rain just prior to harvest

Question 19

Rías Baixas, soils?
Also tell about the drainage.

Answer 19

Sand over granite bedrock.
The soils are free draining, helping to ensure that the roots are not sitting in water.

Question 20

Rías Baixas, Why is the Albariño grape suited for the damp climate?
Mention skins, ripening

Answer 20

Having thick skins that make it less prone to damage from rot.
It is early to mid-ripening, and hence, can become fully ripe in most years.

Question 21

Wine from Albariño grape. Mention:
- acidity
-body
-alcohol
-aromas and flavours

Answer 21

It produces wines that are
-high in acidity,
-medium (–) or medium body,
-medium levels of alcohol
-apple, lemon, grapefruit, peach, sometimes with a floral note

Question 22

Rías Baixas Albariño is usually single grape wine.
What 3 grape varieties are permitted?

Answer 22

Loureira (early ripening, medium (+) acidity, aromatic citrus, pear, floral and herbal notes),
Treixadura (mid-ripening, low acidity, apple and peach flavours) and
Caiño Blanco (late ripening, high acidity, citrus flavours).

Question 23

Rías Baixas, what is the most popular trellising system?

Answer 23

The pergola (here called parral)

Question 24

Rías Baixas, why was The Pergola ( Parral) trellising system originally developed?

Answer 24

This system was originally used to allow the growth
of other agricultural crops underneath.

Question 25

Rías Baixas, the benefit of the Pergola ( Parral) trellising system?

Answer 25

When trained relatively high, this system also promotes air circulation under the canopy, reducing the likelihood of fungal diseases

Question 26

What is the main characteristic of Rías Baixas wines?

Answer 26

Winemaking is generally protective to retain fresh fruit flavours

Question 27

Rías Baixas winemaking, Why are white grapes often macerated for a short period?

Answer 27

The white grapes may be macerated for a few hours to enhance the intensity of the flavours and provide greater texture.

Question 28

Rías Baixas. Why do some white wine winemakers prefer ( partial) malolactic conversion in cool years?

Answer 28

To reduce malic acidity rather than to introduce overtly buttery notes

Question 29

Rías Baixas. What kind of fermentation is typical?

Answer 29

Cool fermentation in stainless steel is typical

Question 30

Rías Baixas. How long are more expensive wines being stored? And explain the effect of "Sobre Lias".

Answer 30

One to two years being typical, but some wines being stored for longer. More expensive wines are often stored on lees (sobre lias); The effect is mainly to the body and texture of the wine although some light creaminess may be evident.

Question 31

Rías Baixas. Why are lees usually not stirred in white wines?

Answer 31

The lees are not stirred (or only occasionally), which could introduce oxygen.

Question 32

Rías Baixas. Why do a few producers ferment their most expensive wines in oak? Use: large old oak vessels/ new oak

Answer 32

The use of oak may vary from entirely large, old oak vessels purely giving texture, to new oak, giving toasty, vanilla notes

Question 33

Rías Baxias. Tell about subzone Val do Salnés (Location, weather, acidity of wines)

Answer 33

Val do Salnés is the oldest subzone and has the greatest plantings and concentration of wineries. It is located directly on the coast and is therefore the coolest and wettest area, generally producing the wines with the highest acidity.

Question 34

Rías Baxias. Tell about subzone O Rosal ( Position, kind of wines)

Answer 34

O Rosal lies along the River Miño as it reaches the ocean. Given its position on the border of Portugal its wines are often blends of Albariño, Loureira, Treixadura and Caiño Blanco.

Question 35

Rías Baixas. Why are O Rosal wines lower in acidity than Val do Salnés wines?

Answer 35

With south-facing sites on the north bank of the river, it is warmer than Val do Salnés. These factors mean that the wines are slightly lower in acidity with primary flavours depending on the blend of grapes.

Question 36

Rías Baixas. Why are subzone Condado do Tea wines riper in style?

Answer 36

Condado do Tea is inland from O Rosal and hence even warmer. It tends to produce wines that are riper in style with more peach fruit and slightly lower acidity, hence being easy to drink when young.

Question 37

Rías Baixas. What do you know about subzones Ribeira do Ulla & Soutomaior?

Answer 37

Ribeira do Ulla is the newest subzone and, as yet, tends to produce inexpensive and mid-priced wines Soutomaior is the smallest subzone.

Question 38

Ribeiro DO. Use of oak?

Answer 38

It is not unusual for producers to ferment or mature their most expensive wines in oak

Question 39

Ribeira Sacra DO climate?

Answer 39

Being more inland the climate is mainly continental but, depending on the exposure of the site, there can be maritime influences.

Question 40

Ribeira Sacra DO: how are vineyards situated, soils pros and cons?

Answer 40

Situated on very precipitous and deep valley sides at various altitudes and aspects. The stony slopes provide good drainage and conduct heat during the day but make viticulture extremely labour intensive

Question 41

Monterrei DO climate?

Answer 41

Due to being inland and sheltered from ocean influence by the Sierra de Larouca mountains it has a continental climate with hot summers and relatively low rainfall.

Question 42

Monterrei DO production?

Answer 42

Most of the production is sold in bulk. but the region is starting to make some good quality Mencía, usually in a riper style than those of Ribeira Sacra, and some fruity Godello

Question 43

Ribeira Sacra DO. Explain the name.

Answer 43

Sacred bank (of the river). Because of the numerous churches in this area