Spain - Castilla Y León Flashcards
(56 cards)
What area does the autonomous community of Castilla y Leon cover?
A vast area in the North of Spain.
Made up of a high altitude plateau (the northern part of the meseta) with mountains to the north and south. As a result, many regions have a continental climate, though with maritime to the west.
Which important DOs lie within Castilla y Leon?
Bierzo, Toro, Rueda, Ribera del Duero and Castilla y León VT.
What reputation did wines from Bierzo have? What caused this to change?
Until recently, rustic wines for the local market.
It was the arrival of Alvaro Palacios and his nephew Ricardo Pérez in the late 1990s, attracted by slate slopes in the area (similar to vineyards that had made their reputations in Priorat), that first demonstrated Bierzo could make high quality wines, and gave winemakers and growers the confidence to strive for quality and higher prices.
Where is Bierzo located? What is the climate?
NW Castilla y León.
It is Climatically similar to some Galicia regions, but being further inland, it has a more continental climate, with less but sufficient rainfall.
The region has mountains or hills on 3 sides but opens to the west, allowing for a maritime influence.
Some years can be cool and rainy, whereas others can be warm and dry, resulting in marked vintage variation
Which varieties are planted in Bierzo?
Mencía 75%, with Godello and some other Galician white varieties grown.
Which different styles of Mencía are produced in Bierzo?
Light bodied and fruity with medium tannins, to more concentrated examples with fuller bodies and higher tannins (environment & winemaking)
Which varieties are permitted in red Bierzo?
At least 70% Mencía, with Alicante Bouschet making up the remainder.
However, it only makes up 2% of plantings so most wines are 100% Mencía.
What is the topography in the centre of Bierzo? What styles of wine are produced?
A flat plain, alongside the lower slopes of the mountains, have fertile silty loam soils, and produce inexpensive or mid priced wines grown at relatively high yields.
Medium (-) body and tannins with simple red fruit.
Made for early consumption and sometimes with carbonic or semi-carbonic. Not usually oak.
Good and mid priced.
Where are the best vineyards of Bierzo located? What makes them so?
On the hillside slopes at 500-850m, offering good drainage and poor, thin, shallow slate soils to limit vigour.
The altitude cools the climate, and a large diurnal range helps slow sugar accumulation and retain acidity while flavours and tannins develop.
The steepness of the slopes and age of the vineyards mean bush vines are most common.
High proportion of old vines (80% estimated to be over 60 years old), this with poor soils mean yields are low.
What is the typical profile of wines from the slopes of Bierzo?
More concentration, medium to (+) body and tannins, higher alcohol and ripe red cherry and plum, sometimes with a floral or herbal note.
Often matured in oak for a spicy character, but care has to be taken to not overpower Mencías delicate aromas.
V good to outstanding and mid to premium, with some super premium.
What is the average production in Bierzo?
There can be significant differences annually, the average over the last 10 years is approximately 96,000hL.
What is the breakdown of wine businesses in Bierzo? (Plantings, growers, viticulture, and businesses)
3000ha planted.
Just over 2000 growers, many with small plots. (Making tending or harvesting with machine very rare).
75 wineries, with a significant amount having been established in the last 10-15 years.
Almost half of the growers are associated with co-operatives.
What was introduced in Bierzo in 2017?
The Consejo Regulador recognised new classifications within the DO, based on specific geographic characteristics, that will be used to designate wines sourced exclusively from villages and vineyards of particular note, with significant restrictions on yields compared to the DO. (Similar to what was introduced in Priorat)
Where is Toro located? What’s the general climate?
In the west of Castilla y León, the River Duero runs through the region.
It has a continental climate with hot summers and cold winters which, when combined with its altitude (620-700m) means the region has a large diurnal range. Without any moderating influences, spring frosts can be a problem
What is the main grape of Toro? What are its characteristics?
Tinta de Toro, considered by some to be a form of Tempranillo that has adapted to the local climate, and by others as an indigenous variety.
Due to the intensity of the sun, its thought to have thicker skins than Tempranillo grown elsewhere in Spain, which results in greater colour and higher tannins.
Which varieties are permitted in Toro?
Reds must be minimum 75% Tinta de Toro, remainder is Garnacha.
Rosados from either variety, and whites from Malvasia or Verdejo can also be made.
What is water availability like within Toro? What does this result in?
Rainfall is low and irrigation is not permitted from June until harvest.
To manage this, many vineyards are planted at low densities with a low number of bunches per vine (the max is 2700 per ha).
What is typical training in Toro?
Bush vines
What are the typical soil types of Toro? What has this resulted in?
Sandy soils, meaning phylloxera has never been a problem and vines have never been grafter. Around 20% of vines are over 50 yrs old, and a number of vines are over 100 years.
What is the typical profile of wines from Toro?
The warm growing season, intense sun, and low yields all contribute to wines deep in colour, full-bodied, and often high in alcohol, with high tannins and ripe blackberry and blueberry, but cool nights help deliver medium (+) or even high acidity.
Why is site selection important in Toro?
Cooler sites can provide slower ripening and can be found at higher altitudes west of the region, and by choosing North facing aspects.
What does the Consejo Regulador regulate in Toro?
Abv level, reds are a max of 15%, and whites and roses are lower.
What is typical winemaking in Toro?
The two common styles.
Inexpensive and mid wines might have undergone carbonic maceration to enhance fruit and extract less tannin to make an approachable style. (Acceptable to good).
Premium to super of good to outstanding quality are matured in oak. American, French of a mixture is used.
Who are top quality producers of Toro?
Teso La Monja and Numanthia
