Spain: Castilla y Leon Flashcards
(16 cards)
Bierzo DO : Thr Growing Environment
- new emerging market
-NW of Castilla y Leon
-Warm summers and cooler winters
-Open to the West allows some Maritime influence
-Eastern sides are surrounded by moutains
SOILS : slate slopes
-The flaty plain in the middle and lower slopes of mountains have fertilee silty loam soils = inexpensive wines of red fruits , cherry , raspberruy and Medium minus body and tannins - also some carbonic and semi carbonic
-Best vineyards are on the hillside slopes at 500-850m with good drainage and shallow, slate soils = cooling with large diurnal range slowing sugar development
Mostly old vines - 80% over 60 yrs , means costly hand picking and low yields
Bierzo DO : Mencia
- 75% of all plantings
-early to mid ripening, and accumulates sugar quickly , losing character / high alcohol
-Medium plus to high acidity if picked earlier
-Must contirubte to 70% of any blend with Alicante Bouschet making up the difference ( only 2% plantings )
The flaty plain in the middle and lower slopes of mountains have fertilee silty loam soils = inexpensive wines of red fruits , cherry , raspberruy and Medium minus body and tannins - also some carbonic and semi carbonic
Wines from the slopes tend to nbe more concentrated with med to med plus body and tannins , higher alcohols and riipe red cherry , plum and spice from oak maturation
Very good to outstanding and mid -prem priced ( some super prem)
eg. Raul Perez
Bierzo DO : Wine Law and Business
- 2,400ha tended by 1,000 growers means lots are small
-Hand harvesting is common and half the growers sell to the Co-ops
-74 wineries , only in the last 10-15 yrs
2017 Consejo Redulador recognised new classifications in Bierzo based on geographical characters in villages and vineyards
Restrictions on yields
Similiar to Priorat DOQ
Toro DO : The Growing Environment
- West of Castilla y Leon
-The River Duero running through
-Far inland, continental climate with large diurnal range
-spring frost is a problem
-Rainfall is low and irrigation is not permitted from June until after harvest - vines are planted at low density with low bunches MAX Density is 2,700 per hectare - LOW
-BUSH vines are the vast majority
SOILS : Sandy, never had phylloxera and many vines are ungrafter and over 100 yrs old ( 1/5th are over 50yrs )
Toro DO: Tinta de Toro
- main grape - mutant of Tempranillo that has adapted to the local climate
-thick skins creating greater colour and higher tannins
-RED wines must be min 75% Tinta de Toro with the remainder Garnacha
Rose from Tinto de Toro are also made - wines are deep coloured, frull bodied , with high albv , high tannins and ripe bllackberry and blueberry
Cool nights help keep acid Med plu to high - site selection is important and higher altitude in the west region with north facing slopes is important as the Consejo only allows max 15% abv for reds
Toro DO: Winemaking
- Inexpensive wines undegro Carbonic maceration for less tannin and easy approachable style
Acceptabel to good
Prem and super prem wines are matured in oak - concentrated flavours balance in new oak
American and French is used
eg. Teso La Monja
Toro DO: Wine Business
- far from cities and ports the region is emerging as Ribera del Duero becomes more expensive and popular
In the last 20 years , it has gone from 8 wineries to 60
96,000hL was sold in 2016
Ribera Del Douro DO: History
-first and most prestigious winery Vega Sicilia
- exploded in the 90’s - previous only nine or so and now over 300 in 2021
-Pesquera sparked the change with international acclaim in the 80’s
-estates started bottling under their own label
-clost to Madrid , became popluar in the domestic market
-danger of diluting the market with new found popularity
Ribera del Douro DO : The Growing Environment
- upper valley of the River Duero
- Similar to Toro in climate but warmer summers and colder winters
Vines are planted at 750-1,000m
Frost are an issue in spring and autum - can cause loss of yield - using helicopters and sprinklers
-Rainfall 400-600mm - only irrigate before the ripening period
Ribera del Douro DO : Tinto Fino
- aka Tempranillo - blending from different sites to create balance, complexity and consitent yields
-Flat sites and North facing are at risk of frost
-96% of all plantings
50% are bush vines over 40yrs
with some over 100 years
Avg. size plot is 3 ha
Ribera del Douro DO : Winemaking and Wine Law / Business
- DO only recently allowed for white wines in the DO
Local variety Albillo Mayor must be 75% of the blend
RED : Must be min 75% Tempranillo, with Cab Sauv, Merlot, Malbec and Garnacha permitted
Most are made from 100% Temp
Wines are full bodied with high abv and ripe flavour os blackberry, plum, vanill and chocolate from oak
Most us French oak and not uncommon to see 50-100% new oak in prem and super prem wines
Most use less extraction / time on skins and less new oak
Wines are good to outstanding and mid to super prem prices
eg. Vega Sicilia
Crianza (most common) Reserva and Gran Reserva are commonly used
No ageing catergory is specified
Top export Markets are Switzerland, Mexico, USA ,Germany and China - 20% of production
Rueda DO : THe Growing Environment
- Hot dry summers, cold winter and low rainfall
- 700-800m , cool nights to help retain acid
-SOILS: bedrock limestone and with sandy clay sub layer and topsoil of stones or sand
Free draining and low in organic matter = greater concentration
New vineyards are trellised harvest at night by machine = during cool temps
Some very old bush vines on sandy soils - 10% of planting - not grubbed up due to the quality of the fruit
Rueda DO: Verdejo
- drought tolerant
-wines are medium to medium plus acid, medium alcohol, apple, pear and peach with fennel note
-SB is also an important blending grape int he region
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Rueda DO : Winemaking and Wine Law
- wines are made using cool, protective SS tanks
bottled and sold quickly
-Cultured yeats for reliablity
-Acceptable to good
Mid priced wines are aged on lees ( 3-12 months ) with regualr stirring = body and texture
Good quality
Mid priced ( Very Good ) wines are aged in oak - texture and aromatic toasty notes
MLFC avoided to retain acidity
eg . Bodega Belondrade y Lurton
Must contain 85% of the Verdejo or SB to be labelled
DO Rueda can be used for labels that do not meet the requirements
Reds and Rose meet competition from Toro and Ribera del Douro nearby
Rueda DO : Wine Business
- last 20 years have seen huge growth
-2000-2019 - volumes 4 times , mostly domestic - exports are only 14% - populare on the export marekt for the crisp, early drinking style
-looking to produce more high quality wines to compete - 40 % of the wineries are owned by producers outside the area who have the Verdejo added to thier portfolio
Castilla y Leon VT : General
- North part of the Meseta , protected from the Atlantic
-continental climate with summer temps regualted by altitude - both local and international varieties are permitted
VT allows the DO producers to make GI wines
Most are DO in the region ( 63,000ha compared to the 9,000ha of VT )
-Inexpensive and mid priced wines
