Spain Flashcards
(258 cards)
Rioja DOCa traverses which four autonomous communities?
La Rioja, Basque Country, Navarra and Castilla y Léon
What are ‘lagares’?
Stone troughs used for crushing grapes
What is ‘Vino de Pago’?
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.
When was ‘Vino de Pago’ established?
2003
Which autonomous regions are located in between Galicia and Basque Country?
- Asturias
- Cantabria
Name some of the most important Spanish rivers from north to south.
Miño, Ebro, Duero, Tagus, Guadiana, and Guadalquivir.
Which 2 autonomous regions are located off the mainland Spain?
The Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands off the coast of Northern Africa.
Name the two main mountain ranges in Spain.
- Meseta Central
- Sistema Central
Name other mountain ranges in Spain.
Pyrenees, Cantabrian Mountains (begin in Galicia and run parallel to northern coast), Sistema Ibérico (stretches from Castilla y Léon to Valencia), Sierra Morena, Sistema Penibético (has Sierra Nevada range in it).
Name 3 wind patterns that affect temperatures in Spain.
Poniente, Leveche and Levante.
Describe the 3 wind patterns in Spain.
The Poniente blows from the west, bringing cold air from the Atlantic, while the Leveche brings in hot, drying currents from the African desert. Another warm—but humid—wind, the Levante, comes in from the east, funnels through Gibraltar, and can be felt throughout southeast Spain.
When were the first Spanish Denominaciones de Origen (DOs) awarded?
1932
What is the lowest-quality tier of Spanish wine?
Vino de Mesa (VdM) - 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 second lowest-quality tier of Spanish wine?
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 are the Spanish tiers that qualify for PDOs (Protected Denominations of Origin)?
Vino de Calidad con Indicación Geográfica (VC or VCIG), Denominación de Origen (DO), Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa), and Vino de Pago (VP).
When was Rioja awarded with DOCa status?
1991
When was Priorat awarded with DOCa status?
2009
It usually features the Catalan translation Denominació d’Origen Qualificada (DOQ) on its labels.
Which autonomous region has the highest concentration of Vinos de Pago?
Castilla- La Mancha
For how long does an estate need to be in production before applying for Vino de Pago?
The estate must be in production for a minimum of 10 years before applying for Vino de Pago status.
Name the Vinos de Pago of Navarra.
Arinzano (2007), Prado de Arache (2008), Otazu (2009) and Bolandin (2022)
Ageing requirements Gran Reserva White and Rosado in Rioja.
Minimum 4 years total; at least 6 months in oak (remainder must be in bottle or oak)
What’s the size of the barrel in Rioja?
The oak casks in Rioja must have an approximate capacity of 225 litres.
What is the fifth most widely planted variety and second most widely planted white varietal globally?
Airén (vigorous, drought-resistant. Giving indistinctive wines, like Ugni Blanc for Cognac)
Describe Albariño as a varietal in the vineyard.
In the vineyard, Albariño is susceptible to mildew, but its thicker skins make it less prone to botrytis, allowing it to succeed in the damp climate of Rías Baixas. It proves particularly well adapted to granite soils and ripens early to mid-season. In Rías Baixas, some Albariño vines as old as 300 years remain in production.