Green Spain

Question 1

which of Spain’s 17 autonomous regions make up Green Spain

Answer 1

Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and Pais Vasco

Question 2

Galicia was historically occupied by which race. When did the Romans invade

Answer 2

Celts. Romans invaded in 137 BC

Question 3

what is the name of the local wild vines native to Galicia

Answer 3

Vitis Sylvesris

Question 4

After the Romans which peoples took control of Galicia

Answer 4

The Suebi in 5th century AD, the Visigoths in 8th century AD, the Christians in 9th century AD

Question 5

what is the capital of Galicia

Answer 5

Santiago de Compostela

Question 6

what is the name of the route travelled by pilgrims across Northern Spain to Santiago de Compostela

Answer 6

Camino de Santiago ( the way of St James )

Question 7

what is Galicia’s historic center of wine production and what wine was it historically famous for

Answer 7

Ribeiro. Tostado do Ribeiro a sweet fortified wine made from sun dried grapes

Question 8

what happened to the Galician wine trade in the late 1800s / early 1900s

Answer 8

the sweet wines of the region went out of favor and the regions vineyards were abandoned. Phylloxera hit in the late 1800s and vines were eventually replaced with low quality hybrid vines

Question 9

when was Galicia first made autonomous and what occured before they could take advantage of this

Answer 9

1931. The Spanish civil war occured shortly after and Galicia remained under Nationalist control throughout the war

Question 10

when did Galicia regain its autonomy after Franco’s death. What happened to the wine industry in the region around this time

Answer 10

1981. A group of wine makers began making quality wine from Albarino, Godello and Mencia

Question 11

True or False. The majority of wines made in Green Spain are made from local grape varietals

Answer 11

True. regional authorities created regulations restricting the use of international varietals

Question 12

what did Spain’s entry into the EU in 1986 do for Galicia’s wine industry

Answer 12

Money earmarked specifically for re-juvination of Galicia’s wine industry became available

Question 13

what are the 4 provinces which comprise Galicia. What is its most populous city

Answer 13

A Coruna, Lugo, Pontevedre and Ourense

Vigo is the most population

Question 14

what is a Rias

Answer 14

A submerged glacial river valley

Question 15

what are the 2 most important rivers of Galicia

Answer 15

Mino and Sil

Question 16

How are vines planted on the hills and flat lands of Galicia

Answer 16

En espaldera ( VSP ) on terraced slopes and on parral on flatter sites

Question 17

what are parrals often preferred by Galician growers

Answer 17

Land is scarce and vineyards are often fragmented into small sites with several owners. Growers preferr the parral because it allows higher yields

Question 18

apart from air circulation what is another advantage of the parral

Answer 18

it allows growers to plant a second crop underneath the raised vines.

Question 19

what are the 3 mountain ranges which make up the Macizo Galaico

Answer 19

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

Question 20

what soil types are found in Galicia

Answer 20

Shallow sandy granite based along coast, clay granite based inland along river valleys, further inland shallow slate, shale and granitic sand.

Question 21

why are the soils of Galicia well suited to the region

Answer 21

Granite is porous and provides excellent drainage in a what is a wet region

Question 22

Describe the general style of Galician red and white wine

Answer 22

youthful and fresh

Question 23

what varietals are Galician winemakers using to experiment with barrel aged white wines

Answer 23

Albarino, Treixadura, Godello and Loureira

Question 24

what is the genus and species of Galician oak

Answer 24

Quercu Pyrenaica

Question 25

what are the 5 DOs of Galicia

Answer 25

Valdeorras, Rias Baixas, Ribeiro, Ribeira Sacra and Monterrei

Question 26

what are the 5 subzones of Rias Baixas

Answer 26

Soutomaiar, O Rosal, Condado do Tea, Val de Salnes and Ribeira do Ulla

Question 27

True or False. Rias Baixas produces roughly an equal amount of red and white wine

Answer 27

False. It produces 99% white

Question 28

what are the main soil types of Rias Baixas

Answer 28

Shallow sandy. some granite some alluvial

Question 29

what is the oldest subzone of RB. What is it known for

Answer 29

Val do Salnes known as the birthplace of Albarino. It is the coolest and flattest

Question 30

what is the warmest subzone of RB and which river does it sit on

Answer 30

Condado do Tea located on the northern bank of the river mino

Question 31

which RB subzone produces 100% albarino

Answer 31

Soutomaiar

Question 32

which RB subzone produces the most red wine

Answer 32

Condado do Tea

Question 33

which RB subzone produces some of the best reds in Galicia

Answer 33

Ribeira do Ulla

Question 34

which RB subzone has terraced vineyards and is situated on the right bank of the Mino river

Answer 34

O Rosal

Question 35

what is the Galician word for Bodega used to describe small scale family wine producers

Answer 35

Adegas

Question 36

what are the 6 white wine designations of RB

Answer 36

Rias Baixas = no restriction Rias Baixas Albarino = 100% Albarino Rias Baixas Condado do Tea = >70% Albarino & Treixadura Rias Baixas Rosal = 70% Albarino & Loureira Rias Baixas Salnes = 70% Albarino & Loureira Rias Baixas Ribeiro do Ulla = Treixadura & Caino Blanco

Question 37

what is the flavor profile of typical RB Albarino

Answer 37

Pale with citrus, peaches and white flowers. Light bodied, zesty with a hint of salinity

Question 38

True or False. DO Ribeira Sacra produces mostly red wine

Answer 38

True. 94% red

Question 39

what are the 3 rivers of Ribeira Sacra

Answer 39

Mino, Sil and Bibei

Question 40

what are the soil types found in RS

Answer 40

Slate along the Mino. Granite along the Bibei / Sil rivers

Question 41

what is the preferred red grape of RS

Answer 41

Mencia

Question 42

what are the 5 subzones of RS

Answer 42

Chantada, Ribeiras do Mino, Ribeiras do Sil, Amandi and Quiroga-Bibei

Question 43

the 5 subzones of RS are located next to which rivers

Answer 43

Chantada and Ribeiras do Mino are on the Mino, The others flank the Sil

Question 44

Describe the profile of Mencia from RS

Answer 44

Light, lively, moderately pigmented with soft tannins. red berries, herbs and a smoky minerality.

Question 45

what does DO RS stipulate for it's red wine production.

Answer 45

75% preferred varietals

Question 46

what is Ribeira Sacra Summum

Answer 46

85% preferred red varietal including a min 60% Mencia. whites must be 100% preferred

Question 47

True or False. DO RIbeiro produces more red wine than white

Answer 47

False. It produces 90% white

Question 48

what is the preferred white grape of DO Ribeiro

Answer 48

Treixadura

Question 49

what are the soils of DO Ribeiro

Answer 49

70% granite, 20% Schist, 10% sedimentary

Question 50

what is the oldest DO of Galicia

Answer 50

DO Ribeiro

Question 51

what 3 rivers do the vineyards of DO Ribeiro border. Where are the best vineyards

Answer 51

Mino, Avia and Arnoia. Best are on the hillsides where elevation preserves acidity

Question 52

Describe typical DO Ribeiro wines

Answer 52

Medium bodied, unoaked, Treixadura dominant, fresh acidity, lime, stone fruit and a hint of cucumber

Question 53

what is a colleiteiro in which DO is it found

Answer 53

DO Ribeiro. A small boutique producer making less than 15,000 gal / year. Must grow, harvest and vinify all their own grapes from only their estates

Question 54

what is the approx split between red and white wine production in DO Valdeorras

Answer 54

55% white / 45% red

Question 55

what is the general soil type in Valdeorras

Answer 55

shallow slate on top of quartzite and schist bedrock

Question 56

what are the preferred and most widely used red and white grapes of Valdeorras

Answer 56

Godello and Mencia

Question 57

the vineyards of Valdeorras flank which river

Answer 57

Sil

Question 58

what are the eight subregions of Valdeorras

Answer 58

A Rua, Carballeda de Valdeorras, Larouco, O Barco, O Bolo, Petin, Rubia and Vilamartin

Question 59

Valdeorras produces some of Green Spain's best wine from which grape

Answer 59

Godello

Question 60

Wine labelled as Valdeorras Godello and Mencia must contain what proportion of each

Answer 60

100% Godello and 85% Mencia

Question 61

what is the name of the wine category recently created by DO Valdeorras where the wine must contain at least 85% of preferred vatietals

Answer 61

Valdeorras Castas Nobles

Question 62

Describe the typical profile of Valdeorras Godello

Answer 62

Ripe yellow apple fruit, hint of thyme, stony minerality

Question 63

what feature of Asturias and Cantabria has deterred invaders historically

Answer 63

Remote location and mountainous terrain

Question 64

what is the name of the celtic tribes who settled in Asturias and Cantabria in 5 BC. What is the name of the hilltop towns they lived in

Answer 64

Astures and Cantabri. Lived in Castros

Question 65

Apart from the Celts which other peoples settled the region of Asturias and Cantabria for a time

Answer 65

Romans ( never fully conquered it ), Suebi, Visigoths, Moors marched north but were defeated at Covadonga

Question 66

What did the Moorish defeat at Covdonga start into motion

Answer 66

The Reconquista

Question 67

After the reconquista who controlled Asturias and Cantabria

Answer 67

The Christian crown

Question 68

Who initiated the wine making tradition of Asturias and Cantabria

Answer 68

Benedictine monks in 9th century

Question 69

What sites in Asturias and Cantabria were considered by the Monks as being most suitable for vine growing

Answer 69

In Asturias the deep river valleys of the SW ( Cangas ) and in Cantabria on the coast and in the mountains

Question 70

which was the first Spanish province to rise up against the French in the Nepoleonic wars of the early 19th century

Answer 70

Asturias

Question 71

Why was Asturias harshly treated by Franco

Answer 71

Because they opposed the powerful right wing party

Question 72

why was the 19th century a difficult time for Asturias and Cantabria wine industry

Answer 72

ravaged by powdery mildew in the 1850s then phylloxera in 1889

Question 73

what stopped the wine recovery of Asturias and Cantabria dead in its tracks in 1959

Answer 73

A hailstorm wrecked the vineyards and there was no harvest for 3 years. Wine makers were lured away by higher wages that could be had at the coal mines.

Question 74

what was initiated in the 1990s in order to preserve the winemaking heritage of Asturias. What did it result in

Answer 74

The Wine of Cangas campaign resulted in the formation of VC Cangas

Question 75

what are the capitals of Asturias and Cantabria

Answer 75

Oveido and Santander

Question 76

what is the foehn effect

Answer 76

Air forced upwards in mountainous terrain expands and cools condensing water vapor in the air which falls as rain. The condensation leads to a release of heat and results in drying and warming effect on the lee side of the mountain

Question 77

what forms a natural border to the south of Asturias and Cantabria

Answer 77

Cordillera Cantabrica

Question 78

what is the highest range within the Cordillera Cantabrica system. What is the highest peak called

Answer 78

The Picos de Europa. Torrecerredo at 8,600 ft

Question 79

what is the soil of Asturias

Answer 79

Limestone in the mountains giving way to slate which gives good drainage

Question 80

what is the soil of Cantabria

Answer 80

Limestone in Mountains with shale and sandstone in the valley floors. Soil is very fertile which is not good for quality wine production - it is better known for apples

Question 81

what grapes are dominant in Asturias

Answer 81

White - Albarin Blanco Red - Mencia, Albarin Tinto, Carrasquin

Question 82

Describe Asturian wines

Answer 82

Reds - light, fruity floral, mineral driven. Whites clean bright, floral with balanced acidity

Question 83

what grapes dominate in Cantabria

Answer 83

Reds - Hondarrabi Beltza Whites - Albarino, Godello, Treixadura, Hondarrabi Zuri. Both reds and whites are fresh high acid wines

Question 84

during the iron age what were the native basques referred to as

Answer 84

Vascones

Question 85

how did the Vascones fair during Roman rule

Answer 85

They were strong allies of the Romans who allowed them to retain their culture and language

Question 86

the Vascones were sandwiched in between which 2 warring Kingdoms. Which one did the Vascones eventually side with

Answer 86

Visigoths and Franks. The Franks

Question 87

what region eventually absorbed the entire basque region

Answer 87

Navarra

Question 88

what are the 3 basque provinces called

Answer 88

Alava, Vizkaya and Guipozcoa

Question 89

which 2 regions fought over basque country in the 1100s

Answer 89

Castille and Navarra

Question 90

what were the special privileges awarded to the basques in return for incorporation into the Kingdom of Castille and loyalty to the Spanish crown

Answer 90

the Fueros

Question 91

when were the earliest references to Txakoli

Answer 91

1623

Question 92

which country took control of all basque territories in the late 18th / early 19th century

Answer 92

French

Question 93

who kicked the French out of Pais Vasco in 1813 and what happened the following year as a result

Answer 93

British and Portuguese. The region was put back under control of the Spanish King ( Ferdinand VII ) and the basques got their Fueros back again

Question 94

What was partly responsible for the formation of the Basque nationalist movement

Answer 94

Influx of foreign workers to the region in the industrialized era following WW I

Question 95

What is the basque terrorist group known as. What was it formed as a direct result of

Answer 95

ETA. Franco bombing Guernica and banning of basque language

Question 96

Why did Franco dislike the basques

Answer 96

They sided with the Spanish republic against Franco during the civil war

Question 97

what was formed in 1980 to revitalize the basque wine industry

Answer 97

The association of Txakolineros

Question 98

what is the 4th Spanish basque province ( outside of Pais Vasco )

Answer 98

Navarra

Question 99

What runs along the southern border of Pais Vasco

Answer 99

The Ebro river

Question 100

In which city is the basque government located

Answer 100

Vitoria Gasteiz

Question 101

what are the 2 coastal provinces of Pais Vasco and what is the southern mountainous province. How do their climates compare

Answer 101

Vizkaya and Giupuzcoa are cool maritime. Alava in the south is more continental with large diurnal swings - it is also generally drier during the growing season

Question 102

what are the 3 distinct areas of Pais Vasco

Answer 102

Atlantic Basin, Montes Vasco and the Ebro River Basin

Question 103

The Atlantic Basin in Pais Vasco encompasses which 2 provinces

Answer 103

Vizkaya and Guipuzcoa

Question 104

Where are the majority of the vineyards in Pais Vasco found

Answer 104

On top of high cliffs running from the coastline to the interior hillsides

Question 105

What is the name of the high plateau which separates the Basque mountains.

Answer 105

The Alava plain

Question 106

In which direction do rivers flow in Pais Vasco

Answer 106

South into the Ebro

Question 107

The southern part of Alava province is in the Ebro river basin which it shares with which part of Rioja

Answer 107

Rioja Alavesa

Question 108

Describe the character of Txakoli

Answer 108

pale yellow, crisp, high acid, citrus and white flowers

Question 109

what is the wettest of all Spains DOs

Answer 109

Getaria in Pais Vasco

Question 110

In the 3 Basque regions how much of the named varietal must be present in varietally labelled wine. What must be present in a minimum quantity in Rosadas

Answer 110

85% | Rosadas must contain at least 50% Hondarrabi Beltza

Question 111

What is the soil of DO Arabako and how are vines typically trained

Answer 111

Limestone, stone and clay | En Espaldera

Question 112

What are the 5 municipalities of DO Arabako

Answer 112

Amurrio, Llodio, Artziniega, Okondo and Aiara

Question 113

How does the txakoli from DO Arabako compare with the other 2 DOs

Answer 113

The DO is warmer and more continental in climate so the wines are fuller and richer

Question 114

What is the soil type of DO Bizkaiko. In which province is it located and how are vines typically trained by the coast and further inland

Answer 114

Clay-Loam, Limestone and Marl Vizkaya province Parral trained by the coast. En Espaldera further inland

Question 115

Inland vineyards of Bizkaiya are influenced by what weather effect

Answer 115

The foehn effect

Question 116

what are the 6 municipalities of Bizkaiya

Answer 116

Encartaciones, Uribe, Urdaibai, Lea Artibai, Nervion and Duranguesado

Question 117

Describe the profile of Bizkaiya txakoli

Answer 117

Light and easy drinking with floral notes and tangy citrus and green apple fruit. Highly acidic

Question 118

what is the soil type of DO Getaraiko and how are it's vines trained

Answer 118

Sandy topsoil with alluvial clay subsoil. Vines are in the parral system to combat humidity

Question 119

Name 2 municipalities of DO Getaraiko

Answer 119

Getaria and Zauratz