Spain - Rioja Flashcards
(50 cards)
1
Q
What is the region’s size (ha and km) and what river is running through it?
A
- 65,000 ha
- 100km long, 40km wide
- Along the river Ebro
2
Q
What is the avg. production in hL?
A
3 mn hL
3
Q
What influences the region’s climate?
A
- Sierra de Cantabria to the north -> protection from Atlantic weather
- Sierra de la Demanda to the south, protection from the warmer center
- The eastern side of Rioja gets some Mediterranean influence
4
Q
What are the three zones in Rioja? (incl. relative size)
A
- Rioja Alta (largest)
- Rioja Alavesa (smallest)
- Rioja Oriental (Slightly smaller than Alta)
5
Q
Rioja Alta
What is the general climate?
A
Continental with maritime influences
6
Q
Rioja Alta
Describe the climate of the three different areas within Alta
A
- Area around Ebro: low altitudes, relatively warm, with alluvial soils
- North west: cooler and wetter, calcareous clay
- South: 700m altitude, relatively cool and wet, with ferrous clay
7
Q
Rioja Alavesa
What is the climate, altitude, and soil?
A
- Similar to North west of Rioja Alta
- Relatively cool and wet
- 700m altitude
- Calcareous clay
8
Q
Rioja Oriental
Describe the climate of the two different areas
A
- Northern part: relatively low altitude, warmest and driest area in Rioja
- South: 500-1000m altitude, can be as cool as Alta and Alavesa, calcareous clay and ferrous clay.
9
Q
What area suffers the most from climate change?
A
- Low altitude vineyards in Rioja Oriental
- Already warm and suffering from drought
10
Q
Describe the two main influences for vintage variation and how producers react to it
A
- Atlantic (bringing cooler, wetter weather)
- Mediterranean (bringing warmer, drier weather)
- Some aim to produce consistent products through blending
- Others look to represent the vintage
11
Q
How are vines typically trained?
A
- New vineyards: trellised with VSP
- Old: Bush vines (> 100 years old)
12
Q
What is the plantings ratio of black vs. white grapes?
A
- 90% black
- 10% white
13
Q
Name the six black varieties (in descending order, incl. % of ALL plantings)
A
- Tempranillo (80%)
- Garnacha (7%)
- Graciano (2%)
- Mazuelo (2%)
- Maturana Tinta
- Cabernet Sauvignon
14
Q
The describe how plantings of Tempranillo and Garnacha developed over the last 50 years
A
- 50 years ago: similar plantings of both
- Garnacha was replanted with Tempranillo because of it ability to reliably produce larger yields (esp. in Rioja Oriental)
- As irrigation was permitted, the trend increased -> Garnacha’s drought resistant not as important
- Nowadays, Garnacha replanted as better suited to the warm, dry conditions
- Tempranillo better stuited to Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa -> cooler, high altitude sites with cool clay soils
15
Q
What does Tempranillo contribute to the blend? (aromas, acidity, tannin)
A
- Dominant component in most Rioja
- Raspberry, black plum
- Medium to medium(+) acidity
- Medium to medium(+) tannins
16
Q
What does Garnacha contribute to the blend? (where does it thrive, aromas, tannin, body)
A
- Well suited to the warm, dry conditions of Rioja Oriental
- Strawberry
- Lower tannins and fuller body than many of the other grape varieties
17
Q
What are the characteristics of Graciano? (ripening time, water need, yields, diseases)
A
- Late ripening
- Drought resistant
- Small yields
- Susceptible to fungal diseases
18
Q
What does Graciano contribute to the blend? (aromas, acidity, tannin)
A
- Fresh black fruit
- High acidity
- High tannin
19
Q
Under what names is Mazuelo elsewhere known and what does it contribute to the blend?
A
- Cariñena and Carignan (outside of Spain)
- High acidity
20
Q
Under what name is Maturana Tinta elsewhere known and what does it contribute to the blend? (color, aromas, acidity)
A
- Trousseau (Jura)
- Deep purple
- Fresh cranberry and blackberry
- High acidity
21
Q
Name the six white varieties (in descending order, incl. % of ALL plantings)
A
- Viura (7%)
- Tempranillo Blanco (1%)
- Malvasía
- Garnacha Blanca
- Verdejo
- Sauvignon Blanc
22
Q
Under what name is Viura elsewhere known?
A
- Macabeo (other areas in Spain)
- Macabeu (Roussillon)
23
Q
Viura
What is the budding, ripening time and what climate it is most suited to?
A
- Late-budding
- Late-ripening
- Warm, dry sites
24
Q
Viura
How aromatic is it and what types of wines can it produce?
A
- Relatively neutral grape variety
- Simple early drinking: high yields and stainless steel
- Concentrated, complex wines with ageing potential: lower yields and matured in oak
25
What does **Tempranillo Blanco** contribute to the blend? (aromas, acidity)
* Lemon, grapefruit and pineapple
* High acidity
26
How and for what are **Malvasía** and **Garnacha Blanca** mostly used?
* As blending components in oak-matured mid-priced and premium wines
* To add a greater diversity of flavours
27
How and for what are **Verdejo** and **Sauvignon Blanc** mostly used?
* Single varietal
* Blends with Viura, typically in inexpensive unoaked styles
28
**Red Winemaking**
Describe the impact of ageing regulations
* Led to standard branding hierarchy with young wines at the bottom and the oldest wines at the top
* However, practices in the vineyard and winery are not classified
* Strong variation of style, quality and price between Gran Reserva
29
**Red Winemaking**
In general, what are the two extreme stilistics in Rioja
* **Modern**: Ripe-fruit, concentrated and structured wines aged in French oak
* **Traditional**: Not as much focus on concentration and extraction, but long ageing in American oak -> dried fruit, mushroom, cured meats, vanilla, coconut
30
**Red Winemaking**
What is the current trend and how is it achieved?
* Trend: highlight characteristics and quality of the variety
* Selection of harvest dates
* More gentle extraction
* Use of older and/ or larger oak vessels or other vessels
* Shorter maturation
* French oak is now more common (often blended with American oak)
31
**Red Winemaking**
Are there more single varietal wines or more blends? Why?
* Both often practiced
* Many small growers
* Blending of grapes or wine from different zones is desirable to create a certain style and quality
* Garnacha is best suited to Rioja Oriental whereas Tempranillo to Rioja Alta and Alavesa -> often blended
32
**White Winemaking**
What are the three different styles of white wines?
* Simple, unoaked
* Modern: Oaked but fresh and balanced
* Traditional: Oxidative and oak-styled
33
**White Winemaking**
Describe the two types of simple, unoaked wines (winemaking, varieties, quality, price)
* Protective winemaking, cool temps
* High yields of Viura -> neutral with medium acidity
* Verdejo, Tempranillo Blanco and Sauvignon Blanc -> more flavor intensity and acidity
* Acceptable to good quality
* Inexpensive
34
**White Winemaking**
Describe the more modern, oaked style (varieties, aromas, acidity, body, quality, price)
* Viura at lower yields: main grape variety
* Malvasía and Garnacha as blending components
* Citrus fruit and smoky, nutty notes
* Medium(+) acidity
* Medium(+) body
* Good to very good quality
* Mid- to premium priced
35
**White Winemaking**
Describe the classic oxidative style (name & producer, aromas, acidity, quality, price)
* Castillo Ygay from Marqués de Murrieta
* Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva from López de Heredia
* Tertiary notes of nuts, honey and dried fruits
* High acidity
* Outstanding quality
* Super-premium prices
36
**Rosé Winemaking**
How much Rosé is produced and what is the variety, method and quality?
* Small volume
* Tempranillo or Garnacha
* All methods (more/less skin contact and oak/no oak)
* Highest quality and most expensive in Spain
37
**Wine Law and Regulations**
What did change recently?
* Before 2018: not allowed to label wines with sub-zones or villages/vineyards
* Since 2018: new legislation for labling sub-zone, village, and vineyard
38
**Wine Law and Regulations**
What are the three newly (in 2018) introduced geographical categories?
* Vino de Zona
* Vino de Municipio
* Viñedo Singular
39
**Wine Law and Regulations**
Describe the specifications for "Vino de Zona"
* All grapes sourced from one of the 3 sub-zones
* Exception: 15% may come from outside, but bordering the zone + already 10 consecutive years of sourcing grapes from there
* Vinification, ageing and bottling must take place within the zone
40
**Wine Law and Regulations**
Describe the specifications for "Vino de Municipio"
* All grapes sourced from a municipality
* Exception: similar to Vino de Zona
* Vinification, ageing and bottling must take place within the municipality (different to, e.g., Burgundy)
41
**Wine Law and Regulations**
Describe the specifications for "Viñedo Singular"
* All grapes sourced from particular vineyards or estates
* Vinification, ageing, storage and bottling must take place within the same winery
* Producer must have owned the vineyard for min 10 years
* Vineyard must be min 35 years old
* Hand harvest
* Treated in a sustainable way
* Further restrictions on pruning
* Checks on traceability
* Authorised by tasting panel
42
**Wine Law and Regulations**
What are the min total/barrel/bottle ageing times in months for the three ageing categories for red wines?
* **Crianza**: 24/12/-
* **Reserva**: 36/12/6
* **Gran Reserva**: 60/24/24
43
**Wine Law and Regulations**
What are the min total/barrel ageing times in months for the three ageing categories for white and rosé wines?
* **Crianza**: 24 (from 1st of Oct) /6
* **Reserva**: 24/6
* **Gran Reserva**: 48/6
44
**Wine Business**
What is the avg. size of vineyard plots?
* 50% < 1 ha
* 75% < 2 ha
45
**Wine Business**
How many growers are there and what role to co-ops and merchants play?
* 15,000 growers (sell to co-ops)
* Co-ops sell typically do merchants
46
**Wine Business**
What are the sizes of producers?
* Top 10 produce 40% of sales
* Besides that, many small producers
* Many producers are also merchants
47
**Wine Business**
How much is exported, what is the trend and what are the top export markets?
* 37%
* Increasing
* UK, Germany, USA
48
**Wine Business**
What is the general trend regarding ageing categories, and types of wines?
* Crianza mostly in Spain
* Reserva and Gran Reserva popular in export markets
* Rapid growth in white and rosé
49
**Wine Business**
What is the region known for regarding prices?
* Very good value for money
* Small investment market
50
**Wine Business**
How are wines promoted?
* Consejo Regulador
* Producer groups (e.g., Bodegas Familiares de Rioja or Rioja ’n’ Roll)
