Green Spain: Galicia and Basque Country

Question 1

What regions are included in “Green Spain”?

Answer 1

The autonomía of Galicia, and the autonomías of Asturias, Cantabria, and País Vasco (Basque Country) along the northern Costa Verde

Question 2

What is the climate of Galicia, and why is it ideal for wine production?

Answer 2

Galicia has a cooler maritime climate, ideal for producing crisp, refreshing white wines

Question 3

How does Galicia differ from the typical conception of Spain’s landscape?

Answer 3

Galicia is a verdant region with lush vegetation, dense forests, and rías (estuaries), a contrast to the arid landscapes commonly associated with Spain

Question 4

What are the five DOs within Galicia?

Answer 4

Rías Baixas, Ribeiro, Valdeorras, Ribeira Sacra, and Monterrei

Question 5

What is the significance of Albariño in Rías Baixas DO?

Answer 5

Albariño is the primary grape, and a wine labeled Rías Baixas Albariño will not contain any blending grapes

Question 6

How many subzones are in Rías Baixas DO, and can you name them?

Answer 6

There are five subzones: Val do Salnés, Ribeira do Ulla, Soutomaior, O Rosal, and Condado do Tea

Question 7

What are the blending requirements for wines labeled with the northern subzones (Val do Salnés or Ribeira do Ulla) of Rías Baixas?

Answer 7

They must contain a minimum of 70% of recommended varieties: Albariño, Loureiro, Treixadura, and Caiño Blanco

Question 8

How do the southern subzones of Rías Baixas differ in their blending requirements?

Answer 8

Wines must contain a minimum of 70% Albariño combined with either Loureira or Treixadura, depending on the subzone

Question 9

What are the common characteristics of classic Albariño wines from Rías Baixas?

Answer 9

They tend to show stone fruit and citrus flowers, with an undercurrent of minerality

Question 10

What percentage of vineyard acreage in Rías Baixas is devoted to Albariño?

Answer 10

Nearly 96% of the vineyard acreage is devoted to Albariño

Question 11

What are the primary red grapes used in Rías Baixas DO?

Answer 11

Caiño, Espadeiro, and Mencía

Question 12

What is significant about Ribeiro DO in the history of Spanish wine?

Answer 12

Ribeiro DO is one of Spain’s oldest recognized wine regions, with exports to England dating back to the 17th century

Question 13

Where is Ribeiro DO located, and what are its primary grape varieties?

Answer 13

Ribeiro DO is located along the Miño River to the east of Rías Baixas. Treixadura is the favored white grape, and Caiño is preferred for reds

Question 14

What is Vino Tostado, and where is it produced?

Answer 14

Vino Tostado is a local specialty dried grape wine produced in Ribeiro DO

Question 15

What does Ribeira Sacra DO mean, and why is it named so?

Answer 15

Ribeira Sacra means “sacred bank,” named for its large concentration of churches

Question 16

How many subregions are in Ribeira Sacra DO, and can you name them?

Answer 16

There are five subregions: Amandi, Chantada, Quiroga-Bibei, Ribeiras do Sil, and Ribeiras do Miño

Question 17

What do the steeply terraced slopes in Ribeira Sacra DO resemble, and who built them?

Answer 17

They resemble the regions of the northern Rhône and were built by the Romans around 2000 years ago

Question 18

What are the primary grape varieties used in Ribeira Sacra DO?

Answer 18

Mencía, Treixadura, and Godello

Question 19

What is the focus of wine production in Valdeorras DO, Galicia’s easternmost zone?

Answer 19

The region is best known for clean, fruit-driven, high-acid Godello whites

Question 20

What is notable about Monterrei DO in Galicia?

Answer 20

Monterrei is the southernmost DO in Galicia and is a small region with only a handful of wineries

Question 21

Which regions in Green Spain do not produce any DO wine?

Answer 21

Asturias and Cantabria

Question 22

What are the three principal DO zones in the País Vasco (Basque Country)?

Answer 22

Getariako Txakolina, Bizkaiko Txakolina, and Arabako Txakolina

Question 23

What is the primary grape variety in Getariako Txakolina, and how much vineyard acreage does it cover?

Answer 23

Ondarrabi Zuri (Hondarribi Zuri), which accounts for 95% of vineyard acreage

Question 24

What is the preferred local red grape variety in the País Vasco’s Txakolina DOs?

Answer 24

Ondarrabi Beltza

Question 25

What are Txakoli wines, and what are their key characteristics?

Answer 25

Txakoli wines are low in alcohol, high in lemony acidity, and retain a light effervescence, making them perfect for pairing with oily seafood

Question 26

What is the traditional name for the rare rosado wines in Txakolina DOs?

Answer 26

Ojo de Gallo

Question 27

What is Castilla y León, and why is it historically significant?

Answer 27

Castilla y León, or Old Castile, is Spain’s largest autonomía. It is historically significant as "the land of castles" and was central to the birth of the Kingdom of Spain through its dynastic union with Aragon in the 15th century

Question 28

What was the only official dialect in Spain before the 1978 constitution?

Answer 28

Castilian Spanish

Question 29

What is the general climate of Castilla y León, and what geographical feature characterizes the region?

Answer 29

The region has a continental climate, with extreme highs and lows, and it consists of the northern part of the Meseta Central, the arid central plateau of Spain

Question 30

Name the major DOs along the Duero River in Castilla y León.

Answer 30

Ribera del Duero, Rueda, Toro, Tierra del Vino de Zamora, and Arribes

Question 31

Where are Arlanza DO and Cigales DO located in relation to Ribera del Duero?

Answer 31

Arlanza DO is directly north of Ribera del Duero, and Cigales DO is to the west of both appellations

Question 32

Which DOs are located in the mountainous northwestern corner of Castilla y León?

Answer 32

León DO and Bierzo DO

Question 33

What grape variety is dominant in Bierzo DO, and what types of wine are produced from it?

Answer 33

The Mencía grape is dominant, and it is used to produce red and rosé wines

Question 34

Which producer achieved recognition for Bierzo DO with their biodynamic "Corullón" bottlings?

Answer 34

Alvaro Palacios, along with his nephew Ricardo Pérez, founded Descendientes de José Palacios and achieved recognition with their "Corullón" bottlings

Question 35

What types of soils are the "Corullón" bottlings sourced from?

Answer 35

Mountainside Schist Soils

Question 36

Which modern trailblazers are also recognized for commanding top dollar for their Bierzo wines?

Answer 36

Dominio de Tares and Pittacum

Question 37

What are the main white grape varieties in Bierzo DO, and which one still dominates the vineyards?

Answer 37

Godello and Doña Blanca show more promise, but Palomino still dominates the vineyards

Question 38

When was León DO upgraded from Vino de la Tierra, and what types of wine does it produce?

Answer 38

León DO was upgraded in 2007, and it produces reds, whites, and rosados

Question 39

What are the recommended red grape varieties in León DO?

Answer 39

Mencía and the local Prieto Picudo