Spain

Front 1

List the white grape varieties in spain?

Back 1

Verdejo: the “it grape” of the moment, grown in Rueda and used for grassy young whites

Albariño: considered by many to be strain of Riesling, this grape is grown in Rias Baixas and makes Spain´s most elegant white wines.

Viura/Macabeo: Also known as Maccabeu in France. Main white grape in Rioja and in Penedes.

Pedro Ximenez: the best grape used in quality Sherry and Montilla production, aged and used to produce ultra-unctuous sweet wines

Malvasia: This grape originated in Greece. Also known as Subirat-Parent, Blanca-Roja and Malvasia Fina in Italy and Portugal, this is a blender grape

Xarel.lo: Also known as Pansa Blanca in Alella. One of the Cava grapes, also seen more and more in single varietal wines

Parellada: Also known as Montonec, native to Catalonia, key component of Cava

Treixadura: a varietal found in Rias Baixas (Galicia), used on its own and for blending

Moscatel: a delicious “grapey” grape, found prominently in Alicante and more and more in Navarra

Merseguera: a common white grape used for everyday wines in Valencia

Airén: most abundant white grape in Spain, is slowly being eradicated in favor of other varietals that offer more voluptuous whites.

Godello: main white grape found in the beautiful Ribeiro wine region of Galicia

Hondarrabi Zuri: the near impossible to pronounce grape used to make Basque Country´s zippy Txakoli wines

Palomino: main grape used in the production of finos in Jerez

Front 2

List the red grape varieties in spain?

Back 2

Tempranillo: Spain´s most famous and noble grape. Also known as Ull de Llebre, Cencibel, Tinto Fino. Grown in many regions including Rioja, Ribera del Duero, La Mancha and Penedes

Garnacha: known as Grenache in France & America, this is the most prominent grape in Priorat

Mencia: Spain´s hot and upcoming cult grape used in Bierzo, and also in Valdeorras

Graciano: Also known as Morrastel, Courouillade in France and Xres in California

Mazuelo: Also known as Mazuelo Tinto, Cariñena, and Carignan in France

Manto Negro: the main grape in Mallorca, used to make some very interesting wines

Listan Negro: most common red grape in the Canary Island, particularly Tenerife. Main grape in top wine “Crater”

Negramoll: another red varietal from the Canary Islands, often mixed with Listan Negro

Bobal: used in the Levante to make mainly rosé wines

Cariñena: main red grape in Calatayud and Aragon in general. Carignan in France.

Monastrell: interesting red used mainly in Jumilla (Murcia) and Catalonia, makes juicy wines, Known as Mourvèdre in France.

Moristel: unusual grape found in Somontano and Aragon, makes young fruity wine

Front 3

What are the cava varietals?

Back 3

Macabeo
Xarello
Parellada
Subirat
Chardonnay
red Garnacha
red Monastrell

Front 4

List and describe the spanish wine classifications.

Back 4

Vino de Mesa (VdM): “table wine” status, and labeled under this quite literal term, “Vino de mesa.” These wines typically do not include a region, grape or specific vintage on the label.

Vino de la Tierra (VdlT) : Used for categorizing and naming Spanish wines that are not in DO designated growing regions. The label designation “Vino de la Tierra” romantically translates to “wines of the land” or “country wines.” wine of the land from a single geographical area

Vinos de Calidad con Indicaciòn Geografica (VCIG) : quality wines with a geographical description

Denominaciòn de Origen (DO) : Spanish wines with the DO designation let you know that the wines are sourced only from the designated growing regions and have met specific criteria and quality standards. These wines represent good quality wines from over 60 indicated Spanish wine regions. Penedès, Rías Baixas and Ribera del Duero are some popular DO designated wine hotspots.

Denominaciòn de Origen Calificada (DOCa) : This is the most strict Spanish wine classification that is pretty analogous to Italy’s DOCG classification. Only the designated regions of Rioja and Priorat have captured this top label honor to date. These DOC regions represent the cream of the crop and the highest quality of wines offered from Spain.

DO Pagos : Denominación de Pago (DO de Pago): Recently revived by the Spanish government, los Vinos de Pago aspire to the very highest standards with extremely strict geographical criteria, centering on individual single-estates with an international reputation. There are currently only 7 estates with this status: 4
To acquire D.O. Pago status, an estate must meet certain criteria.
• The wine must be made only from grapes of the single estate
• The winery must be located on that estate
• The estate must have an international reputation for quality
• The wine must have a premium price
• And it must comply with certain quality assurance regulations

Front 5

what is vino joven?

Back 5

Joven - A term applied to any DO or DOC wine; typically the wine sees little or no time in oak and is sold as a fresh and fruity wine.

Front 6

what is vino joven?
what coutry uses this term?

Back 6

Noble - A new term used to designate a wine with at least 12 months in oak barrels. The term can be applied only to a Vino de la Tierra wine or better.

Front 7

what is vino anejo?
what coutry uses this term?

Back 7

Añejo - A new term designating any Spanish wine that has been aged a minimum of 24 months in oak barrels. The term can be applied only to a Vino de la Tierra wine or better.

Front 8

what is Vino viejo?
what coutry uses this term?

Back 8

Viejo - A wine with a minimum of 36 months in barrel, and showing an "oxidative" character. The term can be applied only to a Vino de la Tierra wine or better.

Front 9

what are the rioja wine classifications?

Back 9

Crianza – Reserva – Gran Reserva

Front 10

what is crianza?

Back 10

• Crianza red wines are aged for 2 years with at least 6 months in oak. Crianza whites and rosé must be aged for at least 1 year with at least 6 months in oak

Front 11

what is reserva?

Back 11

• Reserva red wines are aged for at least 3 years with at least 1 year in oak. Reserva whites and rosé must be aged for at least 2 years with at least 6 months in oak.[5]

Front 12

what is gran reserva?

Back 12

• Gran Reserva wines typically appears in above average vintages and with the red wines requiring at least 5 years aging, 18 months of which in oak. Gran Reserva whites and rosé must be aged for at least 4 years with at least 6 months in oak

Front 13

what is
Galicia & Rias Baixas?

Back 13

Galicia, Spain's most isolated and unique province, is in the northwest corner of the country, directly north of Portugal. Rías Baixas, Galicia's most important wine district, is in the southwest corner of the province, near the Atlantic Ocean.

Front 14

what grape varietal does well in rias baixas and why?

Back 14

. The thick-skinned Albariño variety thrives in this environment; its sturdy skin helps to prevent fungal diseases, an occupational hazard of damp climates.

Front 15

what kind of wine comes from rias baixas?

Back 15

of Spain's most sought after dry white wines based on the Albariño grape.

Front 16

what is the minimum alcohol level for rias baxias wines?

Back 16

12%

Front 17

what kind of soil is in rias baxias and what is the soil best suited for?

Back 17

granite based and ideally situated for the damp maritime climate of the area

Front 18

Rioja is the first and only spanish ______.

Back 18

DOCa

Front 19

where is rioja located?

Back 19

area that is in northern Spain around the town of Logroño and along the Ebro River.

Front 20

what subzones is rioja divided into?

Back 20

La Rioja Alavesa
La Rioja Alta
La Rioja Baja

Front 21

explain where all rioja alavesa, rioja alta, and rioja baja are locted

Back 21

-La Rioja Alavesa is the northwestern portion, La Rioja Alta in the southwestern section, and La Rioja Baja in the eastern segment.

Front 22

the ______ climate of rioja alavesa and rioja alta produce ___________ kind of wines.

Back 22

The cooler, wetter climate of the two western subzones produces more delicate wines.

Front 23

the ______climate of rioja baja produces ______ wines.

Back 23

The hotter, drier eastern section, La Rioja Baja, produces bigger, more ALCOHOLIC wines.

Front 24

out of the 3 rioja subzones, which produces the best wines?

Back 24

rioja alta

Front 25

rioja alavesa wines are very much _________ style.

Back 25

bordeaux

Front 26

red wine makes up what % of production in rioja?

Back 26

Red wines make up 75 to 80 percent of the total production

Front 27

what is the primary grape of the rioja region? what other grapes are allowed?

Back 27

TEMPRANILLO is the primary red grape used. Garnacha Tinta (GRENACHE), Mazuelo (CARIGNAN), and GRACIANO are also allowed.

Front 28

a limited amount of white wine is made in rioja, what grapes are used?

Back 28

Viura (MACABEO), Garnacha Blanca (GRENACHE) and MALVASIA.

Front 29

give a brief description of rioja alavesa, characteristics of the wine, & expain the vine density

Back 29

Despite sharing a similar climate as the Alta region, the Rioja Alavesa produces wines with a fuller body and higher acidity.[4] Vineyards in the area have a low vine density with large spacing between rows. This is due to the relatively poor conditions of the soil with the vines needing more distance from each other and less competition for the nutrients in the surrounding soil

Front 30

give a brief description of rioja alta and expay how the growing season affects wine flavors

Back 30

Located on the western edge of the region, and at higher elevations than the other areas, the Rioja Alta is known more for its' "old world" style of wine.A higher elevation equates to a shorter growing season, which in turn produces un-ripe fruit flavors and a lighter on the palate wine

Front 31

give a brief description of rioja baja including the climate, some of the hazards of the region, and characteristics of the wine.

Back 31

Unlike the more continental climate of the Alta and Alavesa, the Rioja Baja is strongly influenced by a Mediterranean climate which makes this area the warmest and driest of the Rioja. In the summer months, drought can be a significant viticultural hazard, though since the late 1990s irrigation has been permitted. Temperatures in the summer typically reach 95 °F.[3] A number of the vineyards are actually located in nearby Navarra and the wine produced from those grapes belongs to the Rioja appellation. Unlike the typically pale color Rioja wine, Baja wines are very deeply colored and can be highly alcoholic with some wines at 18% alcohol by volume. The wines typically do not have much acidity or aroma and are generally used as blending components with wines from other parts of the Rioja.[4]

Front 32

name the 4 categoris of classification for rioja

Back 32

Vino Joven – Vino de Crianza -Reserva – Gran Reserva

Front 33

describe roija gran reserva.

Back 33

Gran Reserva – The creme de la creme of Spain's Rioja red wines is the appropriately named, Gran Reserva. These wines require barrel aging for two years and must have an another three years (minimum) of bottle aging before they are released, making them a terrific wine find as they have already enjoyed 5 years of aging before they may even grace the merchant shelves. The Gran Reserva is not made every year, but enjoys its high status because it is only made in extraordinary vintages. The Gran Reserva boasts both depth and body, intrigue without pretense and elegance without breaking the bank, as it starts at around $20 a bottle and rivals many New World reds that are asking triple the price.

Front 34

describe rioja reserva

Back 34

The Reserva ups the ante a bit from the Crianza both in complexity and in price. Again, Spain's beloved Tempranillo is the dominant red grape and makes its presence known with commanding cherry flavors. The aging requirements for a Reserva are a minimum of one year in the barrel and another two years aging in either the barrel or bottle. The pricepoint for a Reserva ranges from around $15 to over $35, with super value packed into every dollar. Reserva is a very versatile red wine that eagerly complements an assortment of food options. Consider pairing it with grilled dishes, fish, beef, lamb and it’s made for ham (or jamón as the say in Spain).

Front 35

rioja vino joven:

Back 35

This particular wine spends less than one year in the oak aging barrel process.

Front 36

rioja vino de crianza:

Back 36

. The "Crianza" is the second youngest, aged for at least two years, one of which is in oak

Front 37

The navarra rejion falls under what classificaiton

Back 37

Denominación de Origen (DO)

Front 38

The navara region is located?

Back 38

Denominación de Origen (DO) extends over practically the entire southern half of the autonomous community of Navarre

Front 39

what is the climate of Navarra like?

Back 39

The climate in Navarra is continental (long, hot , dry summers and cold winters).

Front 40

what kind of wine is made in navarra?

Back 40

The region used to be renowned only for its rosé wines but in recent years has been producing quality reds and whites as well.

Front 41

Navarra is divided into 5 subzones, what are they?

Back 41

Valdizarbe
Tierra Estella
Ribera Alta
Baja Montaña
Ribera Baja

Front 42

Explain the location of each of these Subzones:
Valdizarbe
Tierra Estella
Ribera Alta
Baja Montaña
Ribera Baja

Back 42

Valdizarbe
Valdizarbe, the northernmost sub-zone on the upper reaches of the river Arga is a strategic location on the Way of St. James as several paths crossing Navarre converge there. The vineyards cover 25 different municipalities

Tierra Estella
To the west of Valdizarbe, Tierra Estella covers 38 different municipalities and extends along the Way of St. James in Western Navarre, on the middle reaches of the Ega River.

Ribera Alta
The Ribera Alta sub-zone is centred around the town of Olite on the left bank of the river Ebro, above the lower reaches of the rivers Arga, Ega and Aragón, and covers 26 municipalities.

Baja Montaña
This sub-zone covers 22 municipalities and is located in the northeast of the DO, on the middle reaches of the river Aragón.

Ribera Baja
The Ribera Baja sub-zone is in the south of Navarre and is the most important of the five in terms of area and number of wineries. It covers 14 different municipalities, all on a dry, sandy plain on the right bank of the river Ebro.

Front 43

the wines of ribera baja use what grapes? (red & white)

Back 43

Garnacha represents 32%, Tempranillo 36%, Cabernet Sauvignon 13%, Merlot 11% with Graciano and Mazuelo making up the remaining percentage.
The main white varieties are Viura, Chardonnay and Garnacha Blanca

Front 44

Ribera del Duero is classifed as?

Back 44

Denominación de Origen (DO)

Front 45

where is Ribera del Duero located and what is it?

Back 45

) on the country's northern plateau and is one of five wine regions within the autonomous community of Castile and León.

Front 46

What famous wines are produces in ribera del duero? what grape is used?

Back 46

Ribera del Duero is home to the world-famous and highly-prized Vega Sicilia and Tinto Pesquera wines and is dedicated almost entirely to the production of red wine from the Tempranillo grape.

Front 47

ribera del duero has what kind of soil & climate?

Back 47

Geologically, tertiary sediments, consisting of gently lenticular layers of silty or clayey sand, alternate with layers of limestone, marl and chalky concretions
The climate is continental and Mediterranean,

Front 48

the only white grape used in ribera del duero is?

Back 48

Albillo

Front 49

Wines produced in the Ribera del Duero DO are mainly?

Back 49

The vast majority of production is dedicated to Tinto Fino (the local name for Tempranillo[9]) which is very popular in the northern half of the Spanish peninsula. The much smaller quantities of Garnacha (grenache wines) Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Merlot are mostly grown to blend with the Fino, although the famous Tinto Pesquera, grown by Alejandro Fernández in Pesquera de Duero, is a 100% Tempranillo varietal wine.

Front 50

is the largest continuous vine-growing area in the world is?

Back 50

La Mancha

Front 51

where is la mancha located?

Back 51

. It is located in the autonomous region of Castile-La Mancha in central Spain

Front 52

what is the climate in la mancha?

Back 52

The climate is continental (long hot summers and cold winters) and ranges from extremes of -15°C in winter to 45°C in summer. Drought is also common due to the micro-climate of La Mancha which prevents moisture bearing winds from crossing it; mean annual rainfall is about 300 to 400 mm. On the other hand, the vines are exposed to about 3000 hours of sunlight per annum.

Front 53

what is the soil in la mancha?

Back 53

The soil structure is very homogenous throughout the region and tends to be flat. It is formed of reddish-brown sandy clay, poor in organic material, and rich in lime and chalk. Strata of lime are common and are often broken to allow the roots of the vines to pass through. The land rises constantly from north to south, from 480 m above sea level in Aranjuez, to 700 m in La Mancha in the south.

Front 54

what are the grape varieties in la mancha?

Back 54

Red: Cencibel (also known as Tempranillo), Garnacha, Moravia, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah

White: Airén, Macabeo (also known as Viura), Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc

Front 55

After Rioja, what is the best wine producing region?

Back 55

Pendes

Front 56

where is penedes located?

Back 56

of the city of Barcelona in northeast Spain's CATALONIA region

Front 57

what are the varietals produced in Penedes?

Back 57

Parellada, Macabeo, Xarel·lo, Garnacha, Tempranillo, Merlot

Front 58

what is the soil in penedes?

Back 58

The region has a highly varied geology characterised by very poor-quality, well-drained soils of mostly Miocene sediments, both continental and maritime, with occasional quaternary deposits. The sandy, clay-like soil is poor in organic matter and rocky in the main, the pre-litoral uplands consisting of Triassic, Cretacious and oceanic deposits, while coastal mountains are mostly jagged Cretaceous limestone.

Front 59

what are the subzones of penedes & give a brief description of location

Back 59

• Alt Penedès, the most inland and mountainous subzone, characterised by relatively low yield and high quality
• Penedès Central, situated to the southwest and resposnsible for the majority of the region's total production
•Baix Penedès, comprising mostly low-lying, coastal areas

Front 60

what is the climate in penedes?

Back 60

Whereas a largely Mediterranean climate prevails, the Penedès enjoys a wide variety of micro-climates, due to the proximity of the coast and a varied terrain ranging from sea level to over 800m. Coastal areas are hot and dry, while upland vineyards are much more prone to frosts, with some areas recording annual rainfall of up to 900l/m²

Front 61

Priorat DOCa, where is it located?

Back 61

This DOCA is located next to the larger TARRAGONA DO in the southern part of Spain's CATALONIA region.

Front 62

what is the climate of Priorat DOCa?

Back 62

Even though El Priorat DOQ is a small area, there are several different micro-climates present. Generally, the climate is more extreme than most continental climate areas, though there is a marked contrast between the valleys and the higher areas. There are both freezing winds from the north (mitigated somewhat by the Montsant mountain) and also the warm Mistral wind from the east.
Summers are long, hot and dry (max temperature 35°) while winters are cold (min temperature -4°C). There is the occasional risk of frost, hailstones and drought. The average annual temperature is 15°C, and average annual rainfall is 400-600 mm.

Front 63

what is the soil of Priorat DOCa?

Back 63

The area is of volcanic origin which confers interesting characteristics to the soil. The basis (called llicorella in Catalán) comprises reddish and black slate with small particles of mica, which reflects the sunlight and conserves heat. The 50 cm thick topsoil is formed of decomposed slate and mica. These characteristics force the roots of the vines to reach the base for water, nutrition and minerals. These soil characteristics confer special quality to the wine and keep the vines firmly anchored to the earth during the strong winds and storms which are common to the area.

Front 64

What are the wine characteritics of the Priorat DoC and what grapes are used?

Back 64

,full-flavored, full-bodied (see BODY) wines that are generally high in ALCOHOL (from 13.5 percent to 18 percent). Most of the wines are red, made from Garnacha Tinta (GRENACHE), Carinena (CARIGNAN), and a variant of Garnacha Tinta called Garnacha Peluda. A small amount of white wine is made from Garnacha Blanca (Grenache), MACABEO and PEDRO XIMÉNEZ. This area also produces FORTIFIED WINES ranging from DRY to sweet. Non-native grape VARIETIES have been introduced into the area including CABERNET SAUVIGNON, CHENIN BLANC, MERLOT and SYRAH.

Front 65

what happend to priotrat in 2000?

Back 65

. In the year 2000, Priorat was raised from a DO to a DOCa (DENOMINACIÓN DE ORIGEN CALIFICADA), Spain's top classification. Priorat is only the second DO (after the RIOJA DOCA) to be so honored.

Front 66

what are the grape varieties of Priorat DOCa

Back 66

The traditional grape variety grown in El Priorat is the red Garnacha Tinta, which is found in all the older vineyards. Also authorised are the following red varieties: Garnacha Peluda, Cariñena, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. Four white varieties are also authorised: Garnacha Blanca, Macabeo, Pedro Ximénez and Chenin.
Yields are very low, usually much lower than the authorised maximum yield of 6,000 kg/ha, due to the rocky nature of the soil that does not allow the accumulation of water. The vines are usually planted as low bushes (en vaso) though the newer vineyards tend to be planted on trellises (en espaldera).

Front 67

What are the aging guidlines of priorat wines and what are the traditional reds from the region made from?

Back 67

The traditional reds from El Priorat are either 100% Garnacha or a blend of Garnacha and Cariñena. Crianza wines must remain in oak barrels for 6 months and then 18 months in the bottle. Reserva wines must remain in oak barrels for 12 months and then 24 months in the bottle. Gran Reserva wines remain in oak barrels for 24 months and then 36 months in the bottle.
Few wineries (bodegas) follow these guidelines strictly, and the usual practice is to produce what is known as vino de guarda (aged wine) that has been in oak barrels for 18 months followed by 6 months in the bottle, the optimal moment for consumption being 2 years later.

Front 68

where is Toro DO located?

Back 68

Tucked away in western Castilla y León and only a mere 40km from the Portuguese border

Front 69

what kind of soil does toro have?

Back 69

a mix of clayey, sandy and calcareous soils.

Front 70

what kind of climate does toro have?

Back 70

summers can be long, hot and dry (although with cool, crisp nights

Front 71

what is the primary grape used in Toro?

Back 71

tempranillio aka Tinto Toro

Front 72

what are the wine characteristics of Toro wines?

Back 72

bold red wines
Today's Tinto de Toro is an early-ripening grape known for being thick-skinned and potent, which translates into character-filled wines noted for their color, strength and jammy flavors

Front 73

The vinyards in toro sit at a _______ altitude.

Back 73

high

Front 74

the regions of toro, rueda, and ribera del duero are fed by _____

Back 74

a floodplain bounded by the rivers .Río Guareña and Río Duero

Front 75

Rueda DO is located?

Back 75

in the Community of Castile and Leon.

Front 76

Describe the climate of Rueda?

Back 76

The climate is continental (long hot summers, cold winters) with a certain Atlantic influence. Temperatures vary widely and can drop below zero in winter (-1°C) and can reach 30°C in summer, which is not as high as similar wine-producing regions in southern Central Spain. There is a risk of frost, freezing fog, high winds and hailstones in winter/spring. On the other hand there is only a very small possibility of drought.

Front 77

Describe the soil of Rueda

Back 77

Close to the River Duero the soils are alluvial with a high lime content (max 24%). To the south the topsoil is brown and sandy with a gravel and clay subsoil. Drainage is good, has a rich iron content and is easy to plough.

Front 78

what are the grape varieties of Rueda?

Back 78

The main authorised white varieties are: Verdejo, Viura, Sauvignon Blanc, while the authorised red varieties are Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Garnacha.