Spain Flashcards
(21 cards)
What is the latitude range of Spanish wine regions?
36º-43º N
What is the Maseta in Spain?
A large flat plateau in the centre of Spain
What is the Sistema Central of Spain?
A mountain range stretching from the centre of Portugal through Central Spain.
Essentially splits the Maseta Plateau in half
True or False
Spain has the largest land under vine, and is the largest producer of wine by volume.
False.
Spain has the largest land under vine with 946,000ha, but is only the world’s third largest producer of wine behind Italy and France
Why does Spain boast the largest land under vine, but is the only the third largest producer of wine?
Many spanish vineyards are planted to bush vines at very low densities.
Vineyards can be planted at densities as low as 1000 vines per hectare
Why is low density planting favourable in many growing regions of Spain?
Low annual rainfall (as little as 300mm in some parts).
Its best to reduce competition between vines.
What are the biggest climactic hazards experienced in Spain?
- Lack of rain
- Untimely rainfall (where rain does fall in the growing season, it can fall in heavy storms, increasing the threat of Mildew
- Spring frosts in continental climates
- European grapevine moth
What are the typical vineyard holding sizes of Spain?
Spain remains a country of small vineyard holdings, with 68 per cent of vineyard plots
being less than 0.5 ha in size and a further 20 per cent between 0.5 and 3 ha.
What is the most planted black grape variety of Spain?
Tempranillo
What is the most planted white variety of Spain?
Airén
What are the four most planted white varieties of Spain?
Airén
Macabeo
Verdejo
Pardina
What are the six most planted black varieties of Spain?
Tempranillo
Garnacha Tinta
Bobal
Garnacha Tintorera
Monastrell
Cabernet Sauvignon
Outline the viticultural characteristics of Tempranillo
- Early ripening
- Capable of producing medium to high yields
- Prone to Eutypa dieback and powdery mildew.
Name the six synonyms of Tempranillo in Spain and Portugal.
Cencibel (Valdepeñas)
Tinto del País (Ribera del Duero)
Tinta de Toro (Toro)
Tinto Fino (Ribera del Duero)
Tinto Roriz/Aragonez (Portugal)
Ull de Llebre (Catalonia)
Outline the viticultural characteristics of Airén.
Airén is extremely vigorous, in addition to being both drought and disease resistant.
Name two synonyms of Macabeo.
Viura in Rioja
Macabeu in Catalunia
Outline the viticultural characteristics of Macabeo.
- Late ripening
- Susceptible to botrytis
What is Monastrell more commonly known as in France?
Mouvédre
Where in Spain is Verdejo mostly planted?
Castilla y León and especially in Rueda DO
Pardina is a grape variety mostly used for the production of what?
Brandy
