Spain Flashcards
(150 cards)
1
Q
Vineyard management in spain
A
Low density planting - 1k per hectare as low rainfall
Irrigation allowed but diff rules in the regions
Old bush vines - low yields
Small holdings so mechanisation limited
2
Q
Contolling legislative body
A
Conserjo regulador
3
Q
Climate in NW spain
A
Moderate maritime - Atlantic influence, high rainfall
4
Q
Climate in N spain
A
Continental
Mountains give shelter from Atlantic influence
5
Q
Climate ne spain
A
Mediterranean
6
Q
What are the main hazards in growing grapes in Spain
A
Grape moths - pheromone traps Heat Lack of water - not NE Spring frosts - continental areas Heavy storms in growing season with sharp increase in temp - increases mildew risk
7
Q
What is the recent popularity of Tempranillo thought to be closely associated with
A
Growth of Spainish wines internationally
Consumer association of Tempranillo with Rioja (leading wine region)
8
Q
Characteristics of Tempranillo grape
A
M- H yields depending on site
Early ripening so best where cooling influence
Thick skinned
M acidity- best diurnal range so can ripen & retain acidity
9
Q
Wine making for youthful fruity red, white and rose styles in general in spain
A
Protective
Fermented stainless steel temp controlled inert gas
Cultured yeasts
Fining &/or filteration
Some inexpensive to mid priced reds may have carbonic/semi carbonic to enhance fruit
10
Q
Wine making premium red & ehite wines in general in spain
A
Temp controlled
Stainless steel fermentation- some use concrete tanks/eggs
Oak common mid priced & red wines
Top whites generally fermented & matured in oak
11
Q
Minimum ageing and time spent in barrel for criantha red & white rioja
A
Red
24m ageing
12m oak (6m national nth)
White/rose
24m ageing (18m natiomal nth)
6m barrel
12
Q
Min ageing and time in barrel Reserva Rioja
A
Red
36m ageing
12m oak
6m bottle (n/a for national nth)
White/rose
24 ageing
6 barrel
13
Q
Min ageing and time doent in barrel gran reserva
A
Red
60m ageing
24m oak (18m national nth)
2 in bottle (n/a national)
White/rose
48 ageing
6 barrel
14
Q
What term means no ageing requirement in spain
A
Generic
15
Q
What does legislation specify about osk vessels
A
Max size
225l barrique Rioja
330l general
16
Q
Why have the minimum ageing requirements been criticised
A
Suggests quality hierarchy but not necessary appropriate some styles and misleading for some wines
No quality requirements specified- age or oak origin
Provides little indication of style, quality for customer
No vineyard or winery practices specified
17
Q
Regions ageing requirements commonly used
A
Rioja
Navarra
18
Q
Name a region ageing requirement not really used
A
Priorat
19
Q
Rose wines in spain are mainly
A
Inexpensive Bulk wines
Classically deep in colour
Some pale provence style
20
Q
Rose wine making Spain
A
Fermented stainless steel
Bottled soon after
More expensive maybe fermented and matured oak or stored on lees
Traditional style done by a few producers: Black & white grapes Macerated Pressed Fermented together Aged long time in oak
21
Q
What is the spanish term for pdo
A
DO denomination de origin
22
Q
What is the Spanish term for pgi
A
VT Vino de la Tierra
23
Q
What is VP Vino de pago
A
Category applies to small number of single estates with high reputations
Majority in castilla la mancha
24
Q
Which 2 wine regions have staus DOCa - denomination de origin califocada
A
Rioja
Priorat
25
Bottling within region specified for DOCa & most DOs. name a DO which doesn’t have to bottle in region
La mancha - allows to be bulk shipped
26
Route to market spanish wines
Co-ops
| Negociants common some regions
27
Spains is the largest exporter of wine but average prices is one of the lowest why
Large amount of inexpensive wine
| Largest export of bulk wines
28
Main export markets spain
France
Germany
Beliw less volume but imp for higher priced wines
Uk
Usa
China
29
Climaye rias baixas
Maritime
High annual rainfall
Fungal disease risk
Rain @ harvest risk
30
Soils rias baixas
Free draining
| Sand over granite rock bed
31
Characteristics Albariño grape
Thick skin- less prone to rot
| Early to mid ripening
32
Style Albariño
```
H acidity
M abv
M- to m body
Apple lemon grapefruit peach
Good to v good
```
33
Viticulture rias baixas
Pergola granite supports - humid, air circulation, decrease fungal risk
Vsp trellissing - bigger growers for mechanisation
34
Wine making rias baixas
Protective
Maybe macerated few hours to enhance flavour & add texture
Cool fermentation stainless steel
Mlf - sometimes partial mlf to reduce malic acid in cool yrs
Inexpensive released early
More expensive lees ageing 1-2 yes not stirred (do aboids O2)
Some ferment oak to old add texture & new for toast
35
Market rias baixas
Domestic (75%)
Usa
Uk
36
Galician wine regions with a continental climate
```
Ribeira Sacra DO
Monterrel DO (mencia & godello)
Ribeiro DO (local grapes)
Valdeorras DO godello
```
General rule &/or godello, mencia grapes
37
Style mencia
```
Red cherry, raspberry
M tannins
M body
M+ acidity
Mid priced
Early drinking
```
38
Where is the commune castilla y leon
```
N spain
Includes:
ribera del duero do
Rueda do
Toro do
Bierzo do
```
39
Climate bierzo do
Moderate Continental
| Some maritime influence
40
Soils & wine type on flat plains bierzo do
Fertile silty loam - high yields
In expensive to mid priced
Early drinking style
41
Best vineyards bierzo do
Slopes - gd drainage, dirunal range, poor slate soil limits vigour
Old vines - lower yields (usually bush trained)
42
Main grape bierzo do
Mencia
43
Price & wuality wine from bierzo do
Mid to premium
V good to outstanding
Usually oaked
44
Main grape variety Toro do
Tinta de toro
| Like Ribera del duero climate and wines
red grape like tempranillo but thicker skins so more colour & tannin
45
Climate toro do
Continental
Altitude
Risk spring frosts
46
Viticulture toro do
Limited water - low density planting
Bush vines
Sandy soul so many ungrafted
47
Winemaking toro do
Inexpensive to mid - early drinking, piss carbonic maceration
Premium + oak
48
Ribera del duero do had an increase in popularity in 80’s why and what are the potential issues
Near Madrid popular fine wine drinkers
International acclaim
Danger of quality of production decreasing with new winery finding feet
49
Mkt riberia del duero do
Domestic 80%
Swiss
Mexico
Usa
50
Climate Ribera del duero do
Continental warm
Altitude & aspects
Risk frost soring & autumn - heaters, sprinklers, helicopter
Low rainfall - irrigation permitted
51
Vine training ribera del duero do
50:50 bush vine & trellis newer vineyards
52
Style ribera del duero do red
```
F body
H abv
Blackberry, plum, vanilla, chocolate
Good to outstanding
Mid to premium
```
53
Climate rueda do
Continental
Altitude - diurnal range
Low fertility, free draining soil - (limestone, Sandy clay, stoney soil)
54
Main grapes rueda do
Verdejo
| Sauvignon Blanc
55
Style verdejo
M to m+ acit
M abv
Apple peach fennel
56
Viticulture rueda do
Vsp trellised - harvest @ night
57
Wine making rueda do
```
Protective
Cool temp
Cultured yeast
Mid priced have lees ageing
Mlf avoided
```
58
Mkt rueda do
Mostly domestic
Netherlands
Germany
59
Who uses castilla y leon vt
Producers outside do boundaries
| Producers in do boundaries making style or grape varieties not permitted in do
60
Plantings for castilla y leon vt
Low most wine is do
61
Climate rioja
continental with maritime influence
Seirra de cantabria mountains in N protect from Atlantic weather
Mountains in S shelter from warmer weather centre of country
Risk climate change - drought
62
What are the 3 zones in Rioja
Rioja alta
Rioja oriental
Rioja alavesa
63
Why have some peeps suggested re-mapping & naming rioja zones
Topography snd soils eithin zones v diff
64
Rioja alta area
Largest area
Some maritime influence
Around ebro - low altitude, alluvial soil, warm
NW- cooler wetter calcareous clay soil
S - altitude, cool & wet, ferrous clay patches
65
Rioja alaresa area
Cool, wet, calcareous clay soil
| Like NW alta
66
Rioja oriental area
N around ebro - low altitude, warm, driest rioja area
| S - altitude m, calcareous clay & ferrous clay soil
67
Climate change rioja
Altitudes more viable as previously would have struggled to ripen
Low altitude rioja oriental most at risk ss warm & already suffers drought
68
Vine training in rioja
Trellised with vsp for mechanisation
| Old bush vines
69
In rioja oriental what have quality producers started doing
Replanting grenache - better suited to drought conditions than early ripening tempranillo
(Other rioja regions cooling influence so suited to tempranillo)
70
What does Tempranillo add to rioja
Black plum raspberry
| M to m+ tannins & acidity
71
What is Grenache known as in Spain
Garnacha
72
What does grenache add to blends
Ripe strawberry
Lower tannins
Full body
73
What does graciano add to blends
H tannins & acidity
| Fresh black fruit flavours
74
Characteristics graciano
Late ripening
Drought resistant
Small yields
Susceptible fungal disease
75
What is macabeo known as in rioja
Viura
76
Characteristics viura/macabeo
Late budding
Late ripening
Susceptible botrytis- best warm sites
Neutral - range of styles
77
Styles of viura
High yields - early drinking , simple
| Low yields & oak - complex with long ageing ability
78
General wine style trends in rioja red
Highlight characteristics & quality grape
Harvest dates often earlier
Gentle extraction
Old or larger oak or concreete or amphora
Shorter maceration
French oak more common
79
Are diff grape varieties and diff Rioja zones blended
Yes - lots if co-ops & small growers
Grenache best oriental
Tempranillo alto & alavesa
Some si gle vineyards made - LAN
80
Style inexpensive white rioja
```
Simple
Unoaked
Early drinking
Protective wine making cool temps
Acceptable to good
M acidity
```
81
Style mid priced to premium white rioja
```
Oaked
Lower yields- more concentration & body
M + body & acidity
Citrus, smoke, nuts
Good to v good
```
82
Oxidative clasdic style white rioja
Outstanding
H acidity
Nuts, honey, dried fruit
Super premium
83
Regulator body spain
Conserjo regulador there is a governing body in each region
84
What new terms can be added to rioja labels from 2018
Vino de zona
Vino de municipio
Single vineyard
85
What is vino de zona
85% grapes sourced ftom single zone e.g rioja alto
15% can come from outside zone if been doing 10 years
Vinified, bottled, ageing all in zone
86
What is vino de muncipio
Grapes sourced muncipio (village, or group of villages)
Same 15% rule as vino de zona
Vinification, bottling, ageing all in muncipio
87
What is single vineyard Rioja
```
Grapes sourced one of the formal named vineyards/estates
Vinifier, bottled, aged same winery
Vineyard min 35 years old
Producer owned 10 years min
Hand harvested
Sustainable practices
Wine authorised by a panel
```
88
Vineyard holdings in rioja are mostly ….
Small vineyard plots
89
Route to market rioja
Co- ops to merchants
| Or co-ops for own brand
90
Mkt rioja
```
Domestic 63% (mainly criantha)
Export more gran & reserva
Uk
Germany
Us
```
91
Why is there good value inexpensive rioja
Land cheap
| Grape prices cheap in warm/flatter areas
92
Do Rioja wines sell at prestigious italy & french prices
No there are few super premium wines
93
What message does the conserjo regulador highlight in local mkts for rioja
Value for money
| Diversity
94
Which wine region is navarra nxt to
Rioja - is NE of it
95
Main grape varieties navarra
```
Tempranillo - varietal
Cab sav - blend
Merlot - blend
Garnacha - historically most planted
Chardonnay
```
96
Styles of red wine navarra
Fruity light bodied early drinking
Fuller bodied, concentrated oaked wines (french & american)
Good to v good
Inexpensive to mid
97
What do critics argue about Navarra’s diversity
Focus single signature variety
| Old vine granache highest potential
98
Navarra rose grapes
Garnacha
| S/times blended with tempranillo, cab sav or merlo
99
Navarra rose style
Deep coloured
| Dry
100
Navarra rose winemaking
```
Picked early - higher acidity
Short maceration on skins (direct press not allowed)
3-4 hour for pale, 6-12 deeper coloured
Stainless steel ferment
Bottled soon after so fresh
Some use oak
```
101
NTH What are the 4 principal do’s in aragon ne Spain
Carinena do *
Campi de borja do
Calatayud do *
Somontano do
102
Climate aragon
Warm continental
Vineyards altitude & high plateaus - diurnal range
Cold wind - moderates temp, slows ripening
Risk spring frost
Low rainfall
Low disease pressure
103
Msin grape varieties aragon ex somontano do
Grenache
104
Viticulture aragon ex somontano do
Bush vines
Low density planting
Rocky soil
105
Majority of wine in aragon ex somontano do
High volume inexpensive red
Early drinking
Nth Some old vine Grenache and Carignan premium
106
What is helping to transform aragons ex somontano image
Quality focused old vine garnacha producers
| Mid to premium priced lightly Oaked
107
NTH Main grape varieties somontano do in aragon
Cab sav
| Chardonnay
108
NTH Styke & price somontano do aragon
Mid priced
| Good to v good
109
Issue for somontano do wines
Competition larger better known regions around the world for these grapes
110
Main do’s in catalunya
```
Catalunya do
Penedes do
Priorat doq
Montsant do
Costers del segre do
```
111
Who uses Catalynya do and what are the requirements
Used by large producers for inexpensive & mid priced wines
Grapes anywhere in region
More grape varieties permitted
Widely recognised in export mkts
112
Penedes do climate
```
Warm Mediterranean
Varying altitudes:
Flatter & warmer nearer the sea
Inland flat plains altotude cooling influence
Inland cooler mountains altitude
```
113
Grape variety penedes
```
Xarel lo
Macabeo
(Cava area)
Chardonnay
Merlot
```
114
Climate in priorat
```
Warm continental
Mountains in N protect from cool wind
Mountains S protect Mediterranean sea
Risk spring frost
Dry - irrigation permitted in driest yrs
Altitude - diurnal range
```
115
Viticulture priorat
By hand - steep slopes - increases costs
Old vineyards - low density bush vines
New vineyards - vsp trellised where can
116
Soils priorat
V poor & stoney, low nutrients
Slate based (llicorella, red slate over schist, reflects light & heat)
Roots can grow deep
117
Where are the vineyards in priorat
Steep slopes
| Ir narrow terraces - reduce erosion & rain soaks in better
118
Max yields priorat
Low (39)
| Can be 5-6 crazy low
119
Main grapes priorat
Grenache
Carignan
International
120
Red wine making priorat doq
Traditional
Old basket press, large oak fermentation vats
Modern
Optical sorting, stainless steel
Cultured yeasts - high potential abv so can be diff if ambient
Matured french oak 1-2 years
Min 13.5% abv
121
4 classifications in priorat what are they
Vi de vila - subzone
Vi de paratge - lieu dit, named site
Vinya classificado - cru equivalent vineyard site
Gran vinya classificado - grand cru equivalent vineyard
122
to qualify for priorat classification what criteria expected of producer
Own vineyard or rented 7+ years
123
NTH Which area is montsant do similar to
Priorat but flatter & higher yields
Warmer as closer to coast - warm Mediterranean
(Ring around priorat)
124
NTH Costers del segre do climate & grapes
Catalunya inland
Warm continental
Irrigation required - low rainfall & sandy soil
Cava & international grapes
125
Valencia do climate
Warm Mediterranean
Cooling influence- altitude & coast
Low rainfall - irritation
126
wine style Valencia do
```
Fruity
Early drinking
Inexpensive
Acceptable to good
Co-op wines
```
Monastrall
Tempranillo
Cab sav
Red & rose
White local variety & macabeo
127
NTH Main grape variety in utiel-requena do
Bobal
128
Characteristics bobal grape
```
Mid to late budding (avoids spring frost)
V drought tolerant
Retains acidity
Can ripen unevenly- grippy tannins
Vigorous
High yields
```
129
NTH Utiel requena do climate
Continental- hot summer cold winter
Low rainfall
Altitude- cooling influence but spring frosts
130
Bobal style
Semi carbonic - l body, m tannins
```
Concentrated
M+ tannins
M+ to f body
H acidity
Blackberry cherry chocolate
Acceptable to good
Inexpensive to mid
```
131
NTH Climate alicante do
Warm Mediterranean
| V low rainfall
132
Main grape alicante do & viticulture
Monastrall (mouvedre)
| Low density bush vines
133
What is the grape in the historic medium sweet red wine in alicante do
Late harvest monastrell
| Fondillon
134
Jumilla do climate
Warm continental
Altitude- diural range
Low rainfall - irrigation NOT widely practised
Sandy limestone soil - good. Water retei
135
Main grape jumilla do
Monastrell
136
What led to the quality increase in the 80’s in jumilla
Vineyards replanted higher quality & disease free monastrall clones
Vineyard mgmt - earlier harvest
Improved wine making - cooler temps
137
What is the main generic style of jumilla do
Red inexpensive high volume
F body
H abv
Ripe black fruits
138
Yecla do is similar to which area
Jumilla do
| But slight cooler due to Mediterranean sea
139
Wine price & quality yecla do
Inexpensive to mid
| Good to v good
140
Climate la mancha
Extreme Hot continental (+45 to -20c)
Low rainfall- irrigation
Flat plain at altitude 500m
141
Viticulture la mancha do
Limestone & chalk soil
Bush trained low density no irrigation (1k per hectare)
Trellised & irrigated (3k per hectare, still low)
142
Main grapes la mancha do
White - airen / brandy
| Red Tempranillo- fruity light oak
143
Market la mancha
Domestic
| China
144
Areas under castilla la mancha
La mancha do
Vino de pago
Valdepenas do
Castilla vt
145
NTH In basque county, txakoli do climate
Moderate maritime
High rainfall- Canopy aeration imp to reduce fungal risk
(N Spain above Rioja)
146
NTH Main grape variety basque county/txakoli do
Local - hondarrabi zuri
147
NTH Style hondarrabi zuri in basque county/txskali do
H acidity
L abv
Apple pear lemon
M - body
148
NTH Sierra de gredos wines
Inexpensive high volume
Dome old vine Grenache st altitude, low intervention style
Not a pdo
149
Valdepenas climate like which region
La Mancha
150
Valdepenas main grate and style
Tempranillo
Good quality
Inexpensive to mid priced
Ripe red fruits, oak spice
