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Spanish Wine Scholar > The Islands: Las Islas Baleares > Flashcards

The Islands: Las Islas Baleares Flashcards

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1
Q

Which is the smallest autonomous community in Spain?

A

Las Islas Baleares

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2
Q

Who is Lycophron?

A

He was a Greek poet to whom the earliest recorded history of Las Islas Baleares is attributed. He chronicled a shipwreck in which Greek sailors washed up on the islands w/o clothes.

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3
Q

What did the Greeks name the primary islands - Mallorca & Menorca?

A

Illes Gimnesias (“Naked” Islands); because the local inhabitants were known to go naked or were scantily clad.

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4
Q

What did the Greeks name the minor Balearic Islands - Ibiza & Formentera?

A

Illes Pitiuses (Pityusic or “Pine” Islands)
These islands were covered in pine trees.

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5
Q

What did Pliny the Elder have to say about the wines in the Balearic Islands in his Historiae Naturalis, Book XIV?

A

He said that the wines of these islands could be compared to the best of the wines in Italy.

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6
Q

What are the official languages of the Balearic Islands?

A
  • Castilian Spanish
  • Catalan
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7
Q

In the Balearic Islands, significant investment was made in research & technology with a special focus on the cultivation/production of the island’s indigenous varieties. Name these varieties.

A
  • Prensal Blanc/Moll
  • Manto Negro
  • Callet
  • Fogoneu
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8
Q

Where is Las Islas Baleares located?

A

These islands are located in the western Mediterranean Sea 50-186mi/80-300km off the eastern coast of Spain.

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9
Q

What islands does Las Islas Baleares comprise of?

A

This archipelago comprises 2 groups of islands.

Balearics proper: formed by the larger, easternmost group of islands
* Mallorca
* Menorca
* Cabrera (small island)

Pityusas: the smaller, western group of islands
* Ibiza
* Formentera

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10
Q

How many provinces are there in Las Islas Baleares?

A

One

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11
Q

What is the capital of Las Islas Baleares? Where is it located?

A

Palma de Mallorca; located on Mallorca.

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12
Q

Which island in Las Islas Baleares is the largest?

A

Mallorca

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13
Q

What is the climate in Las Islas Baleares?

A

Mediterranean
* moderate temperatures throughout
* warm summers
* mild winters
* eastern islands are warmer
* some areas affected by Tramontana & Embat
* rainfall is some of the lowest in Spain
* rainfall is autumn & winter dominant
* 12-26in/300-650mm annual rainfall

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14
Q

Where in Las Islas Baleares can the coolest temperatures be found?

A

Serra de Tramuntana Mountains in northwestern Mallarca.
Rainfall here is also highest in the islands.

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15
Q

What is the Tramontana?

A

This cold, dry wind whistles between the Pirineos & Massif Central in southern France, and shoots across the Gulf of Lion to put everything in motion.

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16
Q

Which areas in Las Islas Baleares are subject to the Tramontana?

A
  • Menorca: most affected
  • Mallorca: shields from most of this wind by the Serra de Tramuntana Mountain range
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17
Q

What is the Embat?

A

This is a localized thermal wind affecting Mallorca in Las Islas Baleares.
It is a soft, humid sea breeze which blows over land during the sunniest part of the day.
It normally starts around noon & reaches max. speed a few hours later, then tapers off when the sun goes down.

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18
Q

How does the Embat wind influence the wines produced in Mallorca of the Las Islas Baleares?

A

This salt-laden breeze imparts some saline notes to many of the wines produced on the island.

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19
Q

Las Islas Baleares is an extension of which mountain sytem?

A

Sistema Betico

This mountain range originates in Andalucia, exits via southern Valencia, then reemerges as the Serra de Tramuntana Mountains (runs southwest to northeast) on the northwestern coast of Mallorca.

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20
Q

What is the highest peak in the Serra de Traumuntana mountains?

A

Puig Major (4,741ft/1,445m)

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21
Q

Name the rivers of Las Islas Baleares.

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A

These islands are virtually void of rivers, with the exception of:
* Santa Eulalia River (Ibiza): more of a stream until there is a storm (11mi/17km long); flows into the Mediterranean on the northeastern part of the island

22
Q

What water sources are used in Las Islas Baleares?

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A
  • freshwater lakes
  • desalination plants
  • irrigation
23
Q

What natural threats influence the vineyards of Las Islas Baleares?

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A
  • hydric stress
  • violent autumn downpours
  • occasional hailstorms
24
Q

What soil types are found in Las Islas Baleares?

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A
  • nutrient-poor
  • calcareous in nature
  • limestone subsoil, high in calcium & magnesium
  • high water-retention
  • limestone-rich soils in Mallorca form hardpans, which must be broken to allow vines to penetrate
  • Menorca: marl atop limestone & sandstone
  • Ibiza: clay-loam atop limestone
  • Formentera: limestone & sand
  • DO Pla i Llevant (central/eastern Mallorca): call vermell (a reddish clay mixed w/ limestone gravels or stones; free-draining), pockets of loamy-clay
25
Name the grape varieties indigenous to **Las Islas Baleares**.
White: * **Prensal Blanc** (**Moll**) Red: * **Manto Negro** * **Callet** * **Fogoneu**
26
Name the international varieties planted in **Las Islas Baleares**.
* **Cabernet Sauvignon** * **Merlot** * **Chardonnay**
27
Which grape varieties are most popular in the ***Serra de Tramuntana*** production zone on **Mallorca** in **Las Islas Baleares**?
* **Malvasia** * **Chardonnay**
28
Which grape varieties are favored on **Menorca** in **Las Islas Baleares**?
* **Merlot** * **Cabernet Sauvignon**
29
Which grape variety is favored on **Ibiza** & **Formentera** in **Las Islas Baleares**?
**Monastrell**
30
How are vines trained in **Las Islas Baleares**?
* ***en vaso***: traditional; required near the ***Serra de Tramuntana Mountains*** * ***espaldera*** (trellis): growers are switching; landscape is relatively flat, allowing for mechanization
31
Where in **Las Islas Baleares** is most industry growth taking place?
Mallorca
32
What styles of wine are being produced in **Las Islas Baleares**?
* *vinos blancos* * *vinos rosados* * *vinos tintos* * *vinos espumosos*
33
Which white grape variety are vintners in **Las Islas Baleares** experimenting with extended lees aging and barrel aging with?
**Prensal Blanc**
34
Which indigenous varieties in **Las Islas Baleares** are producing high-quality, age-worthy *vinos tintos*?
* Manto Negro * Callet
35
Name the **DOP**s of **Las Islas Baleares**.
1. **DO Binissalem** (1990) 2. **DO Pla i Llevant** (1999)
36
Where is **DO Binissalem** located?
This small wine region is in west-central **Mallorca** near the foothills of the ***Serra de Tramuntana Mountains***.
37
How does **DO Binissalem** benefit from the ***Serra de Tramuntana Mountains***?
This range shields the vineyards from the brutal ***Tramontana*** winds.
38
What is the climate in **DO Binissalem**?
**Mediterranean** * 22in/550mm annual rainfall
39
What soil types are found in **DO Binissalem**?
* *Limestone* * Large *limestone* *gravel*
40
What styles of wine are produced in **DO Binissalem**?
* **Tinto** (64%): min. **30%** **Manto Negro** & max. 30% Gorgollassa * **Rosado** (18%): no requirements * **Blanco** (16%): min. **50%** **Prensal Blanc**/**Moll** or **Moscatel** * **Espumoso** (2%): min. **50%** **Prensal Blanc**/**Moll**
41
Name the *white* varieties permitted in **DO Binissalem**.
Preferred: * **Prensal Blanc**/**Moll** (56% of white plantings) * Moscatel de Alejandria * Moscatel de Grano Menudo Authorized: * Parellada * Macabeo * Chardonnay * Giro Ros
42
Name the *red* varieties permitted in **DO Binissalem**.
Preferred: * **Manto Negro** (37% of red plantings) Authorized: * Callet * Tempranillo * Monastrell * Cabernet Sauvignon (26% of red plantings) * Merlot * Syrah * Gorgollassa Note: *red* varieties represent 75% of the total plantings
43
What aging designations are used for *vino tinto* in **DO Binissalem**?
* **Crianza** * **Reserva** * **Gran Reserva**
44
What are the characteristics of **Manto Negro** wines made in **DO Binissalem**?
These wines are pale in color w/ notes of berry fruit and flowers and are generally light, low in tannins, and high in alcohol. This grape is commonly blended w/ international varieties which provide additional color & structure.
45
Where is **DO Pla i Llevant** located?
This wine region spans the southeastern half of **Mallorca**. It is a broad, flat landscape and is the warmer side of the island.
46
What is the climate in **DO Pla i Llevant**?
**Mediterranean** * ***Embat*** wind brings moisture & saline to vines * 18in/450mm annual rainfall
47
What soil types are found in **DO Pla i Llevant**?
* *Limestone* * ***Call vermell*** (red clay topsoil)
48
What styles of wine are produced in **DO Pla i Llevant**?
* ***Tinto*** (43%) * ***Blanco*** (39%) * ***Rosado*** (18%) * ***Espumoso*** (<1%) * Other (<1%) Majority of these wines are blends; *varietals* are chiefly made w/ international varieties.
49
Name the *white* varieties authorized in **DO Pla i Llevant**.
* **Prensal Blanc**/**Moll**: dominates white plantings * Chardonnay: dominates white plantings * Macabeu * Moscatel de Grano Menudo * Moscatel de Alejandria * Parellada * Riesling * Giro Ros * Viognier **42%** of plantings are white varieties.
50
Name the *red* varieties authorized in **DO Pla i Llevant**.
* **Callet**: 3rd most widely planted * **Cabernet Sauvignon**: most widely planted * **Merlot**: most widely planted * Fogoneu * Manto Negro * Monastrell * Pinot Noir * Syrah * Tempranillo * Gorgollassa **58%** of plantins are red varietites

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