General Spain Flashcards
(35 cards)
True or False ? Spain is the largest producer of wine in the world ?
False - It comes in third, with 44.4 million hectoliters, trailing Italy and France
True or False ? Spain is the largest exporter of wine in the world ?
True - Spain does eclipse all other nations as the world’s largest exporter of wine, shipping 21.1 million hectoliters outside its borders.
Yet the total value of Spain’s exports is less than a third of France’s and less than half of Italy’s. This is due to Spain’s substantial bulk industry, comprising more than 50% of total output, a great deal of which is sold to France and bottled as Vin de France.
True or False ? Genereally speaking, Spain’s vineyards are higher in altitude than any major French wine region.
True - According to The World Atlas of Wine, “a good 90% of all Spanish vineyards are higher in altitude than any major French wine region.”
What are the most important rivers of Spain ?
Some of the most important, from north to south, are :
Miño (Galicia)
Ebro (Rioja)
Duero (Ribera del Duero)
Tagus (Tejo in Portugal)
Guadiana (Extremadura)
Guadalquivir (Andalucia)
What are the important winds of Spain ?
- Poniente ; blows from the west, bringing cold air from the Atlantic
- Leveche ; brings in hot, drying currents from the African desert.
- Levante, ; warm and humid, comes in from the east, funnels through Gibraltar, and can be felt throughout southeast Spain
Where can we find the most rainfall in all Spain ?
Green Spain - parts of Galicia receiving more than 2,000 millimeters per year.
True or False ? Spanish DO’s precedes French AOC’s ?
True - The first Spanish Denominaciones de Origen (DOs) were awarded in 1932, four years before the codification of France’s first AOCs.
What is a ‘Vine de Mesa’ ?
Vine de Mesa (or VdM) translating to ‘table wine’.
These wines can be blended from various areas of the country but by law will bear no region on the label, although they can list the address of the registered bottler or, if within an established DO, only the postal code. Since 2008, these wines have been allowed to state both vintage and variety
What is the step above Vine de la Mesa in Spanish Wine LAw ?
Vino de la Tierra (VdlT) will come from within a confined area of varying size, from a collection of villages to a whole autonomous community. The VdlT might also be used for quality wines made by experimental winemakers looking to operate outside the confines of higher-tier regulations. Both VdM and VdlT wines fall under the broader table wine umbrella within European Union law, while VdlT wines are also designated Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), which mandates that 85% of grapes derive from a given area.
What does VCIG stand for in Spanish Wine Law ?
Vino de Calidad con Indicación Geográfica
The most basic PDO wine is VCIG. While still overseen by a governing body, or órgano de gestion, VCIGs adhere to less rigid regulations than higher tiers.
VCIG tier also operates as a stepping stone between VdlT areas aspiring for Denominación de Origen status. Regions must wait a minimum five years before applying for elevation to DO.
What is a ‘pliego de condiciones’
Cahier des charges
What is the tier above DO in Spanish Wine Law ?
Spain’s quality tier above DO is DOCa. While DOCa has no equivalent in France, it could be compared to Italy’s Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita classification. Unlike Italy’s DOCGs, however, Spain only has two DOCa regions.
When was Rioja granted DOCa status ?
1991 - three years after the category was established
When was Priorat granted DOCa status ?
Priorat followed Rioja and was recognized by Spain in 2009 (after elevation at the Catalan level in 2000). It usually features the Catalan translation Denominació d’Origen Qualificada (DOQ) on its labels.
What is a ‘Vino de Pago’ ?
established in 2003
A Vino de Pago is a designation awarded to a single estate that may exist within or outside of a DO. Few Vinos de Pago are found within prestigious appellations. Vinos de Pago must be estate bottled and the vineyard owned by the winery operating in its bounds. The estate must be in production for a minimum of 10 years before applying for Vino de Pago status. Regulations within Vinos de Pago are very specific and often more stringent than those of DOs that surround them.
In theory, a Vino de Pago should transcend the quality of wines vinified in its broader DO, should there be one, or at least show distinction. In reality, many contest the effectiveness of the Vino de Pago scheme, debating the overall quality of these wines and how many cater to more international palates.
What is ‘Grandes Pagos de Espana’ ?
A separate non-governmental consortium of Spanish wineries who co-market their wines with minimal overlap
What does the word ‘Sidra’ refers to ?
Like neighboring Galicia and the Basque Country, both Cantabria and Asturias have vibrant cider cultures. Spanish sidra is often cited as more sour than other European examples, distinguished by flavor contributions of Brettanomyces, though varied styles exist.
Name a synonym for Viura ?
Macabeo
Where did Phyloxerra struck 1st in Spain in late 19th century ?
- Empordà
Why Toro & Rueda are unaffected by Phyloxera in early 20th century ?
- Sandy soil
How many hectare of vines is harvested in Spain?
- 969 000
Which Strait join the Atlantic Ocean with the Mediterranean Sea in Southern Spain?
- Strait of Gibraltar
What is roughly Spain latitude?
- 36 and 44 degrees North
What is the Meseta Central?
Which mountain range separate it in two?
- a large plateau that includes the capital Madrid, which has an average elevation of 660 meters above sea level
- Sistema Central
