Meseta: Madrid Flashcards

1
Q

Where is Comunidad de Madrid (Madrid) located?

A

This landlocked, uniprovincial autonomous community is in the near-geographic center of Spain.
It is bordered to the north by Castilla y Leon and Castilla-La Mancha to the south & east.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Which is Spain’s highest capital city?

A

Madrid (2,146ft/654m)

(Andorra la Vella, Andorra is the highest in Europe)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is the climate in Madrid?

A

Continental
* seasonal/diurnal temperatures can be extreme
* winters dip below freezing
* light snowfalls are common
* summers are extremely hot
* 20in/500mm annual rainfall

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What mountains surround Madrid?

A
  • Sierra de Guadarrama (Sistema Central): runs along the entire northern border
  • Sierra de Gredos (Sistema Central): small portion runs along northern border
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are the rivers of Madrid?

A

Tajo River: forms the southern border of Madrid & is fed by 6 tributaries, which travel from north to south from individual sources in the Sistema Central:
1. Alberche
2. Guadarrama
3. Manzanares
4. Jarama
5. Henares
6. Tajuna

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What soil types are found in Madrid?

A

Northern part: granitic soils of the Sierra de Guadarrama & the Sierra d Gredos ranges
Southern-west: granite
Southern-eastern/central: sedimentary alluvium, limestone, & loamy-clay

The majority of wine regions are located in the south.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are the most widely planted red varieties in Madrid?

A
  • Tinto Fino (Tempranillo)
  • Garnacha Tinta
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are the most widely planted white varieties in Madrid?

A
  • Malvar (Lairen)
  • Albillo (Real)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Why is it that Malvar thrives at high elevations?

A

This grape variety needs a long growing season to ripen its fruit; high, cool sites help to preserve its acidity.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are “ranas”?

A

These are terraces of sedimentary soils where vineyards are planted in Arganda & Navalcarnero sub-zones in DO Vinos de Madrid.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What vine training method is used in Madrid?

A

En vaso is commonplace, as is manual harvest.
However, many wineries are changing to more machine-friendly training systems.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is sobremadre?

A

This is a unique wine production method used in Madrid.
Once fermentation is complete, a min. of 25% of the solids remain with the unfiltered wine (“with the mother”) for 90-180 days.
Wines are bottled directly from the fermentation vessel w/o clarification or filtration. A bit of carbon dioxide remains in the solution, leaving the wines slightly effervescent.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Which grapes may by used to produce what style of wine using the sobremadre method?

A

Any authorized grapes may be vinified using this process to craft:
* vinos blancos
* rosados
* tintos

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Name the only DOP in Madrid.

A

DO Vinos de Madrid (1990)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Where is DO Vinos de Madrid located?

A

This wine region comprises 3 non-contiguous growing areas located to the northeast and south of the capital city of Madrid.
These areas border DOs Mondejar, Ucles, La Mancha, & Mentrida in Castilla-La Mancha.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are the 4 sub-zones in DO Vinos de Madrid?

A
  1. Arganda (56% of vineyard land; 50% of total production): 31 municipalities
  2. Navalcarnero (21% of vineyard land; 20% total production): 19 municipalities
  3. San Martin de Valdeiglesias (23% land; 30% production): 9 municipalities
  4. El Molar: 11 municipalities
17
Q

Which is the largest subzone in DO Vinos de Madrid?

A

Arganda (56% of vineyards; 50% of DOs total production)

31 municipalities are authorized for wine production.

18
Q

Where is the Arganda sub-zone located?

A

This sub-zone is located in the southeast corner of DO Vinos de Madrid.

19
Q

What soil types are found in Arganda?

A
  • alluvium
  • limestone
  • loamy-clay
20
Q

What are the primary grape varieties in Arganda?

A
  • Tinto Fino/Tempranillo/Cencibel
  • Malvar
21
Q

How does wine produced from Tempranillo in the Arganda sub-zone compare to other regions and DOPs?

A

Tempranillo produced here is typically more concentrated & complex than those of Castilla-La Mancha & Extremadura.
But, not as finessed nor as complex as DOCa Rioja, DO Ribera del Duero, & DO Toro.

22
Q

Where is the Navalcarnero sub-zone located?

A

This DO Vinos de Madrid sub-zone is a flat plain bisected from north to south by the Guadarrama River and is located west of the city of Madrid.

23
Q

What soil types are found in Navalcarnero?

A
  • alluvium
  • loamy-sand
24
Q

Which grapes are the focus in Navalcarnero?

A
  • Garnacha Tinta
  • Malvar
25
Q

Where is the San Martin de Valdeiglesias sub-zone located?

A

This DO Vinos de Madrid sub-zone is in the southwest corner of the DO.
The growing area is heavily influenced by the rugged landscape of the Sierra de Gredos Mountains near the Alberche River.

*Errata 2022

26
Q

What soil types are found in San Martin de Valdeiglesias?

A
  • granitic
  • alluvial plains
27
Q

What are the primary grapes in San Martin de Valdeiglesias?

A
  • Garnacha Tinta
  • Albillo (Real)
28
Q

What are the characteristics of Garnacha Tinta wines from San Martin de Valdeiglesias?

A
  • fuller & riper than Ebro River Valley
  • complex
  • grippy tannins
  • stoney/mineral edge
29
Q

What are the characteristics of Albillo (Real) wines from San Martin de Valdeiglesias?

A

Full-bodied w/ distinct notes of peach & fennel.

30
Q

Which sub-zone of DO Vinos de Madrid was the 4th and last to be approved in early 2019?

A

El Molar

31
Q

Where is El Molar located?

A

This DO Vinos de Madrid sub-zone is located north of the capital.
Vineyards are planted at elevations of 2,920ft/890m.

32
Q

What soil types are found in El Molar?

A
  • granite
  • decomposed slate
33
Q

Name the primary grapes of El Molar.

A
  • Garnacha Tinta
  • Malvar