Spain - Castilla y León Flashcards
(54 cards)
1
Q
Where is this community located and what is the rough climate?
A
- Vast area in the north of Spain
- High-altitude plateau
- Mostly continental climates, some maritime influences
2
Q
Bierzo
How has the region evolved in the last 30 years?
A
- Used to make rustic wines
- Late 1990s: Alvaro Palacios was attracted by the slate slopes (similar to Priorat)
- Demonstrated the potential of the region
3
Q
Bierzo
Where is the region located and what is its climate and rainfall?
A
- In the north west of Castilla y León
- Climate similar to some Galician regions
- More continental than Galician regions
- Some maritime influence
- Marked vintage variation
4
Q
Bierzo
What are the most important varieties?
A
- Mencía (75%) (black)
- Godello (white)
- Other white varieties
- Alicante Bouschet (2%) (black)
5
Q
Bierzo
What is the ripening time of Mencía and what is a problem?
A
- Mid-ripening
- Loses its characteristics if picked too late
6
Q
Bierzo
What are the requirements regarding red wine?
A
- Min 70% Mencía (often 100%)
- Alicante Bouschet (rest of the blend)
7
Q
Bierzo
In general, where are vineyards located?
A
- Flat plain with fertile silty loam
- Hillside slopes (500-850m) with poor shallow slate soil
8
Q
Bierzo
Describe the style of wine from the flat, fertile plain
A
- Red fruits (raspberry, cherry)
- Medium(-) body
- Medium(-) tannins
- Sometimes carbonic or semi-carbonic maceration
- Usually not matured in oak
- Good quality
- Inexpensive to mid-priced
9
Q
Bierzo
Describe the characteristics of the hillside slopes where the higher quality wines come from
A
- Shallow, poor slate soils with good
- 500-850m altitude -> cooling influence and larger diurnal shift
- Slow sugar accumulation
- Retain acidity
- Mostly bush vines as it is very steep
- Significant proportion of old vines
- Low average yields
- High production costs
10
Q
Bierzo
Describe the style of wine from the hillside slopes (concentration, aromas, body, tannins, alcohol, oak, quality, price)
A
- Higher concentration
- Ripe red cherry and plum fruit, sometimes floral or herbal notes
- Medium to medium(+) body
- Medium to medium(+) tannins
- High alcohol
- Often matured in oak
- Very good to outstanding quality
- Mid- to premium priced (some super-premium)
11
Q
Bierzo
Name two significant producers
A
- Descendientes de J. Palacios
- Raul Perez
12
Q
Bierzo
What is the size, number of growers, and hL produced?
A
- 3,000 ha
- 2,000 growers
- 96,000 hL (significant variation)
13
Q
Toro
Where is it located, what is the climate, rainfall, and altitude? What is the effect on grape growing?
A
- In the west of Castilla y León
- Continental climate
- Low rainfall
- 620-750m altitude
- Large diurnal range
- Acidity maintained
- Spring frosts can be a problem
14
Q
Toro
What are the grape varieties?
A
- Tinta de Toro (form of Tempranillo) (b)
- Garnacha (b)
- Malvasía (w)
- Verdejo (w)
15
Q
Toro
How does Tinta de Toro compare to Tempranillo?
A
- Thicker skin
- Greater color
- Higher tannin levels
16
Q
Toro
What types of wines are produced?
A
Red, Rosé and White
17
Q
Toro
What are the requirements for producing red wine?
A
- Min 75% Tinta de Toro
- Garnacha (rest of blend)
18
Q
Toro
How do growers cope with low rainfall?
A
- Low density plantings (max density: 2,700 vines/ha)
- Low number of bunches per vine
- Mainly bush vines
19
Q
Toro
Describe the typical style of wine (color, aromas, acidity, body, tannins, alcohol)
A
- Deep color
- Ripe blackberry and blueberry
- Medium(+) acidity
- Full body
- High tannins
- High alcohol
20
Q
Toro
Why is site selection important?
A
- Max 15% abv allowed for red wines
- Slower ripening at higher-altitude
- North-facing aspects
21
Q
Toro
Describe the style of an inexpensive wine (method, quality, price)
A
- Often carbonic maceration to boost fruity flavours and extract lower tannin
- Acceptable to good quality
- Inexpensive and mid-priced
22
Q
Toro
Describe the style of a premium wine (concentration, oak, quality, price)
A
- High fruit concentration
- High proportions of new oak (American or French)
- Very good to outstanding quality
- Premium and super-premium price
23
Q
Toro
Name two quality-driven producers
A
- Teso La Monja
- Numanthia
24
Q
Toro
What is the development in the last 20 years?
A
- Number of wineries more than doubled
- Today: 96,000 hL
25
**Ribera del Duero**
Briefly describe the development in the last 40 years
* DO status in 1982
* Since then from 9 to >280 wineries
* Investments boosted the region
26
**Ribera del Duero**
Where is it located and what is the climate and rainfall?
* Upper valley of the River Duero
* More continental than Toro and Rueda
* Low rainfall (400-600mm)
* Irrigation can be used at certain times (not during the ripening period)
27
**Ribera del Duero**
How is the risk of frost tackled?
* Heaters
* Vine spraying with water
* Helicopters
28
**Ribera del Duero**
Where are the vineyards located?
* Range of altitudes and aspects
* Higher altitude (750-1,000m)
29
**Ribera del Duero**
What are the main grape varieties and blending options?
* Tempranillo only (called "Tinto Fino")
* Different sites are blended for balance
30
**Ribera del Duero**
What training systems are used?
* Mostly bush vines (often > 50 years old)
* Newer vineyards with trellises
31
**Ribera del Duero**
What types of wines are produced?
* Red
* Rosé
* White (NEW)
32
**Ribera del Duero**
What are the rules regarding varieties for producing red wines?
* Min 75% Tempranillo
* Rest: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Garnacha, and Albillo (w)
33
**Ribera del Duero**
What are the rules regarding varieties for producing white wines?
Min 75% Albillo
34
**Ribera del Duero**
Describe the typical style of red wine (variety, aromas, body, alcohol, oak, trend, quality, price)
* Typically, 100% Tempranillo
* Ripe blackberry and plum, with vanilla and chocolate
* Full body
* High alcohol
* French oak is popular (often 50-100% new oak)
* Trend for less extraction, with less time on skins and/or less new oak
* Good to outstanding quality
* Mid- to super-premium priced
35
**Ribera del Duero**
Name three significant producers
* Vega Sicilia
* Dominio de Pingus
* Bodegas Aalto
36
**Ribera del Duero**
Are there any ageing categories?
* Crianza to Gran Reserva used
* Mostly no labeling regarding ageing
37
**Ribera del Duero**
How much is produced (hL)?
600,000-700,000 hL
38
**Ribera del Duero**
How much is exported and what are the top export markets?
* 20%
* Switzerland, Mexico, USA, Germany, China
39
**Rueda**
How did Rueda become what it is now and what is it known for?
* Before 1970: Oxidative fortified wines
* Local Verdejo variety identified to make
* Fresh, fruity white wines, made protectively
40
**Rueda**
What is the climate and rainfall?
* Similar to Toro and Ribera del Duero
* Low rainfall
41
**Rueda**
Where are the vineyards located and what soils are there?
* At 700-800m altitude
* High diurnal shift and retained acidity
* Stones with sandy clay sub-layer and limestone bedrock
* Free draining and low fertility
42
**Rueda**
What are the two most important varieties?
* Verdejo
* Sauvignon Blanc
43
**Rueda**
How does Verdejo cope with low rainfall and what wines does it produce? (aromas, acidity, alcohol)
* Drought tolerant
* Apple, pear and peach, often herbal notes
* Medium to medium(+) acidity
* Medium alcohol
44
**Rueda**
Comment on training options and harvesting
* New vineyards: VSP
* Some very old bush vines
* Harvest best at night
45
**Rueda**
Describe the typical style of wine (winemaking style, fermentation temps, yeast, malo, oak, lees, quality, price)
* Protective winemaking
* Cool fermentation in stainless-steel vessels
* Cultured yeasts
* No malo
* Best wines with fermentation in oak and lees ageing
* Acceptable to very good
* Inexpensive to mid-priced
46
**Rueda**
Name two significant producers
* Ossian
* Bodega Belondrade y Lurton
47
**Rueda**
Describe the labling options for white wines
* Min 85% of variety to be labeled as such (DO Rueda-Verdejo)
* Otherwise: DO Rueda
48
**Rueda**
How did the wine business develop in the last 20-30 years?
* Substantial increase in vineyard area, export and domestic market
* Producers looking to produce higher quality
49
**Rueda**
How much wine is produced (hL)?
616,000 hL
50
**Rueda**
How much is exported and what are the top export markets?
* 15%
* Netherlands, Germany, USA, Switzerland
51
**Rueda**
Where do most producers come from?
From outside the region (e.g., Rioja and Ribera del Duero)
52
**Castilla y León VT**
Where is it located and what is the climate and altitude?
* Vast area in the north that covers all DOs
* Protected from Atlantic influence by mountains
* Continental climate
* Moderated by altitude
53
**Castilla y León VT**
What are some of the rules?
* Producers outside the DO boundaries can produce wines with GI
* Allows producers to make wine stlyes that are not permitted in their DO
54
**Castilla y León VT**
What is the size?
* Fairly small with 9,000 ha
* In comparison, vineyards in all 4 DOs are 63,000 ha
