Spain Flashcards
(165 cards)
1
Q
Who first established viticulture in Spain and when?
A
The Phoenicians in 1100BCE
2
Q
When was sherry popularised in England?
A
15th century
3
Q
When did phylloxera hit Europe?
A
1850s and 1860s
4
Q
When Phylloxera hit Bordeaux, which 2 Bordelais winemakers came to Rioja?
A
Marques de Riscal
Marques de Murrieta
5
Q
What 2 important lessons did the Bordelais teach Rioja in the mid 1800s?
A
Barrique aging and estate bottling
6
Q
Why did Spain choose to use American oak rather than French oak?
A
It was more economic because Spain would be trading with their own colonies
7
Q
What famous Spanish wine came to fruition in the second half of the 19th century in Spain?
A
Cava
8
Q
When did Phylloxera arrive in Spain?
A
Early 20th century
9
Q
When were Consejos Reguladores first established?
A
1930s
10
Q
What winemaking advancement did Miguel Torres bring to Spain in the 1960s?
A
Temperature controlled fermentations and stainless steel vats
11
Q
What are Spains quality tiers?
A
Vino de la Tierra (VdlT)
Denominacion de Origen (DO)
Denominacion de Origen Calificada (DOCa)
DO Pago
12
Q
What quality level is VdlT?
A
Equal to table wine or IGP in Europe. The lowest quality level
13
Q
What quality tiers are DO and DOCa?
A
Regional quality tiers equivalent to European DOPs. They regulate production and stipulate rules for producers. DOCa is higher quality
14
Q
What are DO Pagos?
A
A superior appellation to just a normal DO. It lies within an existing DO, and is often applied to a single vineyard or collection of vineyards which surpass basic DO requirements. To apply, estate which produce wines from these vineyards should show international praise and a decade worth of quality production
15
Q
What are the national wide DO aging regulations?
A
Crianza
Reserva
Gran Reserva
16
Q
What are the general DO aging requirements for Crianza?
A
Red = minimum 2 year including 6 months in oak
White/Rosado = minimum 18 months including 6 months in oak
17
Q
What are the general DO aging requirements for Reserva?
A
Red = minimum 3 years including 1 year in oak
White/Rosado = minimum 2 years including 6 months in oak
18
Q
What are the general DO aging requirements for Gran Reserva?
A
Red = minimum 5 years including 18 months in oak
White/Rosado = minimum 4 years including 6 months in oak
19
Q
What mountains protect Rioja to the northeast and northwest respectively?
A
Pyrenees to the northeast
Cantabrian to the northwest
20
Q
Which river flows through Rioja DOCa?
A
Ebro River
21
Q
Where does the name Rioja come from?
A
The Oja tributary coming off the Ebro River
22
Q
When was Rioja given DOCa status?
A
1991, the first do be given this status
23
Q
In what year was Rioja officially recognised as a region by the King of Spain?
A
1102
24
Q
What is the different between traditional and modernist Rioja?
A
Traditional Rioja is soft with muted fruit, firm acidity, and American oak
Modernist Rioja is riper and darker with more extraction and more French oak
25
What is the main grape of Rioja?
Tempranillo
26
What are the 5 authorised red grapes of Rioja?
Tempranillo
Garnacha
Mazuelo (Carignan)
Graciano
Maturana Tinta (from 2007)
27
How much of a red Rioja blend must the permitted red grapes make up?
85%
95% if destemmed
28
What other grapes can be used in red Rioja blends if they make up less than 15% of the blend?
Experimental grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon
29
What are the 4 main white grapes of Rioja?
Viura is the dominant grape
Garnacha Blanca
Malvasia Riojano
Maturana Blanca
30
What are the grapes requirements for Rioja Rosado wines?
Minimum 25% of the 4 primary red grapes of Rioja
31
What are the respective aging requirements for Rioja DOCa?
Crianza = 2 years including 1 year in oak
Reserva = 3 years including 1 year in oak
Gran Reserva = 5 years including 2 years in oak and 2 years in bottle
32
What type of casks must Rioja be aged in?
225 litre barriques
33
What are the 3 subzones of Rioja?
Rioja Alta
Rioja Alavesa
Rioja Oriental
34
What types of wines typically come from Rioja Alavesa?
Joven wines for early consumption
35
What is the northernmost subregion in Rioja?
Rioja Alavesa
36
Which subzone is in the southwest of Rioja?
Rioja Alta
37
Which 3 grapes dominate Rioja Alta?
Tempranillo
Mazuelo
Graciano
38
What are the general soils of Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa?
Calcareous clay
39
What are the soils of Rioja Oriental?
More alluvial and ferrous clay
40
Which grape performs best in Rioja Orientel?
Garnacha
41
When blending all 3 regions to create a standard Rioja, what does each region give to the blend?
Alta gives acidity
Alavesa gives freshness
Oriental gives alcohol and extract
42
When was the Vinedos Singulares officially introduced to Rioja?
2017
43
What is the Vino Espumoso de Calidad in Rioja, and when was it formed?
Formed in 2018, its an appellation for traditional method sparkling wine from Rioja
44
What are the aging categories for Vino Espumoso de Calidad?
Crianza = 15 months on lees
Reserva = 24 months on lees
Gran Anada = 36 months on lees
45
Where is Navarra DO?
Directly northeast of Rioja
46
What style of wine is Navarra best known for?
Still, dry rosado wine
47
When did Navarro DO first receive recognition for its rosados?
15th century
48
How much of production do rosados make up nowadays?
30%
49
What are the 2 dominant red grapes of Navarra?
Tempranillo and Garnacha
50
What is the dominant white grape of Navarra?
Chardonnay
51
How many subzones and DO Pagos does Navarra have?
5 subzones
3 DO Pagos
52
What are the 5 subzones of Navarra?
Valdizarbe
Baja Montana
Tierra Estella
Ribera Alta
Ribera Baja
53
Where is Aragon located?
East of Rioja and Navarra
54
How may DOs does Aragon have?
4
55
What is the main grape of Aragon?
Garnacha
56
Which grape is used for the white wines of Aragon?
Viura
57
Which subzone of Aragon is one of the oldest DOs in Spain and the ancestral home of Mazuelo?
Carinena
58
Where is Catalonia?
Northeast Spain bordering France just south of the Pyrenees
59
Which French region does Catalonia share a culture and lineage with?
Cote de Roussillon
60
Which 2 important wine advancements made their Spanish debuts in Catalonia?
Traditional method sparkling wines
Stainless steel fermentation
61
What is the DOCa of Catalonia?
Priorat
62
Where does the name Priorat come from?
Priorato de Scala Dei, a Carthusian monastery
63
What are the 2 traditional grape varieties of Priorat?
Garnacha and Carinena
64
What are the soils of Priorat?
Llicorella, which is a mix of black slate and quartzite, requiring vines to dig deep for water and creating more complex flavours
65
Who initiated the Priorat movement in 1979?
Rene Barbier
66
When were the first vines planted by Barbier in Priorat?
1979
67
What are the original 5 wines of Priorat created as part of a cooperative led by Barbier?
Clos Mogador
Clos Dofi
Clos Erasmus
Clos de l’Obac
Clos Martinet
68
What quality tier were the original Priorat wines released under?
Vino de mesa
69
How many villages were permitted into the 2009 village category, allowing them to be stated on the label of the wines?
12
70
What is the name of the DO which surrounds Priorat?
Montsant
71
When was Montsant granted DO status?
2002
72
Which 2 grapes dominate Montsant DO?
Garnacha and Carinena
73
Where is Tarragona DO located?
Catalonian coastline
74
Where is Penedes DO located?
North of Tarragona
75
What are the 3 altitude zones of Penedes?
Baix-Penedes
Medio-Penedes
Alt-Penedes
76
What is the main grape of Penedes?
Parellada
77
When was traditional method sparkling introduced to Spain?
1872
78
What are the 5 authorised grapes of Cava?
Parellada
Xarel-lo
Macabeo
Malvasia
Chardonnay
79
Which grape performs best in the Medio-Penedes?
Tempranillo
80
Which grapes performs best in the Baix-Penedes?
Garnacha and Monastrell
81
What is special about the Cava DO appellation?
The only appellation in Europe to cover a style rather than a region
82
What sign is imprinted on all Cava corks?
4 pointed star
83
Where is Galicia located?
Northwest Spain
84
What is the climate of Galicia?
Cool maritime
85
What are the 5 DOs of Galicia?
Rias Baixas
Ribeiro
Valdeorras
Rebeira Sacra
Monterrei
86
How many subzones does Rias Baixas have?
5
87
What is the main grape of Rias Baixas?
Albariño
88
What are the 2 northern subzones of Rias Baixas?
Val do Salnes
Ribeira do Ulla
89
What 4 grapes must make up at least 70% of the northern regions white wines in Rias Baixas?
Albariño
Loureiro
Treixadura
Caino Blanco
90
What are the 2 southern subzones of Rias Baixas?
O Rosal
Condado do Tea
91
What are the grape requirements for southern zone white wines in Rias Baixas?
Minimum 70% Albariño, blended with Treixadura and/or Loureiro
92
What are the aromas of a typical Albariño?
Stone fruit, citrus fruit, and minerality
93
How much of Rias Baixas is devoted to Albariño?
Roughy 96% of vineyards
94
What are the 3 main red grapes of Rias Baixas?
Caino
Espadeiro
Mencia
95
When did Ribeiro first export to England?
17th century
96
What river is Ribeiro located on?
Minho River
97
What is the favoured white grape of Ribeiro?
Treixadura
98
What is the favoured red grape of Rebeiro?
Caino
99
Where is Valdeorras located?
The far east of Galicia
100
What is the main white grape of Valdeorras?
Godello
101
What does Ribeira Sacra mean?
Sacred bank
102
How many subzones are within Ribeira Sacra?
5
103
What are the 3 best performing grapes in Ribeira Sacra?
Red: Mencia
White: Treixadura, Godello
104
What is Spains largest autonomia?
Castilla y Leon
105
What is the climate of Castilla y Leon?
Moderate continental
106
What river flows through Castilla y Leon?
Duero River
107
When did Castilla y Leon receive their first DO Pagos?
2022
108
Where are Bierzo DO and Leon DO located?
Northwest of Castilla y Leon
109
What is the main grape variety of Bierzo and Leon DOs?
Mencia
110
Which 2 towns is Ribera del Duero based around?
Aranda de Duero and Penafiel
111
Who founded Vega Sicilia?
Don Eloy Lecanda y Chaves
112
When were the first vines planted for Vega Sicilia?
1864
113
Which vintages of Vega Sicilia Unico helped the producer gain international acclaim at the Barcelona Wine Fair in 1929?
1917 and 1918 vintages
114
What is the blend of Vega Sicilias flagship wine Unico?
Tinto del Pais (Tempranillo)
Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
115
What year was Ribeira del Duero granted DO status?
1982
116
Which estate in Ribera del Duero became known for producing serious wines alongside Vega Sicilia in the 1980s?
Pesquera
117
Which grape must make up a minimum of 75% of Ribera del Duero white wines?
Albillo Mayor
118
Which grape must make up a minimum 75% of Ribera del Duero red wines?
Tinto del Pais (Tempranillo)
119
What are the stricter aging requirements of Ribera del Duero DO?
Crianza = 2 years total including 1 year in oak
Reserva = 3 years aging including 1 year in oak
Gran Reserva = 5 years aging including 2 years in oak
120
What is required for the wines of Ribera del Duero to receive either the Roble or Joven aging labels?
Roble = wines with a minimum 3 months in oak
Joven = wines with less than 3 months in oak
121
When did Rueda receive its DO?
1980
122
What are the grape requirements for Rueda white wines?
Minimum 50% of Verdejo and/or Sauvignon Blanc
Often blended with Viura
Chardonnay and Viognier also common blending partners
123
Which grape are the red wines of Rueda based off?
Tempranillo
124
What are the grape requirements for Rueda Espumoso Brut or Brut Nature?
Minimum 75% Verdejo and/or Sauvignon Blanc
125
Where is Toro DO located?
West of Rueda
126
What are the grape requirements for Toro?
Minimum 75% Tinta de Toro (Tempranillo) or minimum 85% Garnacha
127
What are the 2 commonly found white grapes in Toro?
Verdejo
Malvasia
128
What wines commonly come from Tierra del Vino de Zamora?
Red wines based off 75% Tempranillo
129
What wines commonly come from Arribes DO?
A mix of Portuguese and Spanish grapes as it’s on the Portuguese border
Reds are often based of Rufete and Tempranillo
Whites often based off Malvasia, Verdejo, and Albilla
130
Where are the Cigales DO and Arlanza DO located?
Northwest Ribera del Duero
131
What are the red wines if Cigales and Arlanza based off?
Garnacha and Tempranillo
132
Which 2 regions make up Levante?
Valencia and Murcia
133
What is the DO covering Valencia autonomia?
Valencia DO
134
What is the main white grape of Valencia?
Merseguera
135
What style of wine is Alicante DO known for?
Dessert wines made in an oxidative solera-style
136
What grape dominates Alicante DO?
Monastrell
137
Where is Utiel-Requena DO located?
Within Valencia DO
138
What grapes make up the majority of Utiel-Requena DO?
Bobal
139
What is Doble Pasta (commonly practiced in Utiel-Requena)?
Red wines macerated and fermented with twice the amount of skin and pulp, resulting in intense concentration, tannin, and colour. Often used to strengthen weaker blends
140
What are the 3 DOs of Murcia?
Jumilla
Yecla
Bullas
141
What are the soils of Jumilla DO?
Sandy soils
142
What is the main grape of Jumilla DO?
Monastrell
143
What is the major DO within Castilla-La Mancha?
La Mancha DO
144
What is special about La Mancha DO?
It is Europe’s largest demarcated wine region
145
What is the climate of La Mancha?
Hot and arid, continental
146
What is the main red and white grape of La Mancha?
Cencibel (Tempranillo)
Airen
147
Which white grape has overtaken Airen to become the most planted grape in La Mancha?
Chardonnay
148
What is Mentrida DO famous for?
The DO Pagos Marques de Grinon. They illegally started drip irrigation and released their new, modern, concentrated wines as vino de mesa. They were granted DO Pagos on 2003
149
What are the 5 DOs of Castilla La Mancha?
La Mancha
Mentrida
Almansa
Manchuela
Valdepenas
150
What are the 2 DOs of Madrid?
Mondejar
Vinos de Madrid
151
What is the main white grape of Madrid?
Malvar
152
What is the sole DO of Extremadura?
Ribeira del Guadiana
153
What are the 6 DOs of Andalucia?
Malaga
Sierras de Malaga
Montilla-Moriles
Condado de Huelva
Jerez-Xeres-Sherry
Manzanilla Sanlucar de Barremada
154
Who is credited with transforming Andalucia into a Mediterranean hub?
The Moors
155
When did the British arrive in Jerez to found their own bodegas?
17th and 18th century
156
What are the 2 DO zones for Sherry?
Jerez-Xeres-Sherry
Manzanilla-Sanlucar de Barrameda
157
Which 3 towns form a golden triangle of Sherry production?
Jerez de la Fontera
Sanlucar de Barremada
El Puerto de Santa Maria
158
What are the 3 important grapes of Sherry?
Palomino
Pedro Ximinez
Moscatel
159
What is another name for Palomino?
Listan
160
What are the famous soils of Jerez?
White albariza
161
Which soils in Jerez are best for Moscatel?
Barros- clay based soils with sandy topsoils
162
What is the terroir of the Canary Islands?
Volcanic soils with a sub-tropical climate
163
How many DOs does the Canary Islands have?
10
164
What is a major benefit of the Canary Islands?
They were never hit by Phylloxera so have hundred year old vines
165
What are the 4 main grapes of the Canary Islands?
Reds:
Listan Negro
Negramoll (Tinta Negra)
Whites:
Malvasia
Listan Blanco
