Spain

Question 1

What are the only two DOCa in Spain?

Answer 1

Rioja

Priorat

Question 2

What type of oak do the Spanish predominantly use?

Answer 2

American Oak (Quercus alba)

Question 3

Name three traditionalist Rioja wineries.

Answer 3

López de Heredia
CVNE
La Rioja Alta
Berceo

Question 4

Spanish Wine Law

Answer 4

Denominación de Origen (DO)
Denominacaión de Origen Calificada (DOCa)
Vinos de Calidad con Idicación Geográfica (VCIG)
Vindo de la Tierra (VdlT)
DO Pago (Vinos de Pago)

Question 5

Spanish Aging Requirements (General - Red)

Answer 5

Crianza - 2 years, including 6 months in cask
Reserva - 3 years, including 1 year in cask
Gran Reserva - 5 years, including 18 months in cask

Question 6

Spanish Aging Requirements (General - White)

Answer 6

Crianza - 18 months, including 6 months in cask
Reserva - 2 years, including 6 months in cask
Gran Reserva - 4 years, including 6 months in cask

Question 7

Spanish Aging Requirements (General - DOP)

Answer 7

Noble - 18 months in cask of less than 600 L or bottle
Añejo - 24 months in cask of less than 600 L or bottle
Viejo - 36 months aging, demonstrates marked oxidative character

Question 8

What are the three autonomías of North-Central Spain?

Answer 8

Navarra
La Rioja
Aragón

Question 9

What are the mountain ranges that separate North-Central Spain from it’s bordering countries of France and Spain?

Answer 9

Pyrenees Mountains to the northeast

Cantabrian Mountains to the northwest

Question 10

What river flows through Rioja DOCa?

Answer 10

Ebro River

Oja Tributary

Question 11

What are the main red grapes of red Rioja and also must dictate at least 85% of the red Rioja blend, or 95% if destemmed?

Answer 11

Tempranillo
Mazuelo (Carignan)
Graciano
Garnacha

Question 12

What “experimental” grapes can make up the remainder of the red Rioja blend?

Answer 12

Cabernet Sauvignon

Monastrel

Question 13

What are the main white grapes of white Rioja?

Answer 13

Viura (Macabéo)
Garnacha Blanca
Malvasía Riojano
Mataran Blanca
Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Verdejo may ne added but cannot account for more than a combined 49% of the blend

Question 14

What percentage of red grapes must be used for Rosado wines in Rioja?

Answer 14

25%

Question 15

Rioja Aging Requirements - Red

Answer 15

Crianza - One year in oak, one year in bottle (Two total)
Reserva - One year in oak, two years in bottle (Three total)
Gran Reserva - Two years in oak, three in bottle (Five total)

Question 16

What are the size of Rioja casks?

Answer 16

225 liters - the size of a barrique. This is a requirement.

Question 17

Rioja Aging Requirements - White

Answer 17

Crianza - Two years total, 6 months in cask
Reserva - Two years total, 6 months in cask
Gran Reserva - Four years total, 6 months in cask

Question 18

Three sub zones of Rioja

Answer 18

Rioja Alta (southwestern zone, slightly warmer climate, age worthy Tempranillo, Mazuelo and Graciano)
Rioja Alavesa (smallest and northernmost zone - Vino joven)
Rioja Baja (Hot climate, Garnacha performs best)

Question 19

Rioja Wine Styles

Answer 19

Many producers will blend grapes from all 3 sub zones to impart the different characteristics into their wines. Traditionalists like López de Heredia produce single vineyard wines from estate vineyards such as Bosnia and Tondonia.

Question 20

Ysios

Answer 20

A modern winery renowned for avant-garde architectural design - produces pure Tempranillo from its estate vineyards in the Rioja Alavesa region. At the forefront of a new movement in spectacular modern bodega design sweeping through Rioja.

Question 21

What is Navarra DO known for?

Answer 21

Rosado Bottlings, however 60% of production is devoted to red wines

Question 22

What are the four DOs located within the autonomía of Aragon?

Answer 22

Campo de Borja
Calatayud
Cariñena
Somontano

Question 23

Where is Galicia located?

Answer 23

Northwestern corner of the country

Question 24

What autonomías make up the Costa Verde, or green coast?

Answer 24

Asturias
Cantabria
País Vasco (Basque Country)

Question 25

What are the five DOs of Galicia?

Answer 25

Rías Baixas Ribeiro Ribeira Sacra Monterrei

Question 26

What are the five sub zones of Rías Baixas and what is it known for?

Answer 26

``` Borders Portugal on the coast Five sub zones: Val do Salnés Ribeira do Ulla Soutomaior O Rosal Condado do Tea The are is known for it's classic representations of Albariño ```

Question 27

What grapes produce the red wines of Rías Baixas?

Answer 27

Caiño Espadeiro Mencía

Question 28

What are the País Vasco principal DO zones?

Answer 28

``` Getariako Txakolina Bizkaiko Txakolina Arabako Txakolina Wines may be red, white, or rosado. However, the white wines produced from the native Ondarrabi Zuri grape are predominant Ondarrabi Beltza is red ```

Question 29

Castilla y León - The Land of castles

Answer 29

Continental climate Slightly moderated by proximity to Atlantic and Mediterranean Northern part of the Meseta Central (Arid, central plain of Spain) The Duero River flows westward through the center of the region.

Question 30

Which DOs does the Duero River pass in Castilla y León on it's path to Portugal?

Answer 30

``` Ribera del Duero Ruedo Toro Tierra del Vino de Zamora Arribes ```

Question 31

What is the predominant grape varietal and producer of the Bierzo DO?

Answer 31

Mencía Alvaro Palacios created Descendientes de José Palacios with his nephew Ricardo Palacios in 1999, achieved instant recognition for their biodynamic "Corullón" bottling: extracted, old-vine Mencía-based wines sourced from mountainside schist soils.

Question 32

Ribera del Duero DO

Answer 32

Duero River Valley Considered one of Spain's top red wine-producing regions Did not achieve DO status until 1982

Question 33

Vega Sicilia

Answer 33

Located in Ribera del Duero DO. Founded by Don Eloy Locanda y Chaves. Planted Bordeaux varietals, Pinot Noir alongside Tinto del País (Tempranillo) in order to make brandy. Domingo Txomin - achieved international acclaim at World's Fair in 1929 with his 1917 and 1918 bottling of Único, Vega Sicilia's benchmark wine.

Question 34

Ùnico

Answer 34

Vega Sicilia's benchmark wine. Blended from Tinto del País, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and often aged for a decade or more in American and French oak barrels.

Question 35

Ribera del Duero - Top Producers

Answer 35

Vega Sicilia Dominio de Pingus Aalto

Question 36

Ribera del Duero Aging Requirements

Answer 36

Crianza - One year in cask, one in bottle (two) Reserva - One year in cask, two in bottle (three) Gran Reserva - Two years in cask, three in bottle (five)