Wset Level 3 - Spain

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Spain Wine Classifications: 4 levels of PDO(DOP)

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Denominacion de Origen (DO)

- Currently 69 DO's.

- Meet a certain minimum criteria.

Denominacion de Origen Calificada (DOCa)

- DO's of 10 years standing may apply for DOCa status.

- Only 2 DOCa currently: Rioja and Priorat (Priorat use Catalan terminology of denominacio d'Origen Qualificada - DOQ).

Vinos de Pago (VP)

- Single estates with high reputation.

- Focuses on international grape varieties but can also be rewarded to people operating in DO regulations.

Vinos de Calidad con Indicacion Geografica (VCIG)

- Stepping stone between VdIT and DO wines.

- Rules are less stringent than DO and DOCa.

- Once VCIG has been held for 5 years, DO status can be applied for.

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1 level of PGI (IGP) wines

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Vino de la Tierra (VdIT)

- 46 of this level but only 2 are of importance.

- Vino de la tierra de Castilla and Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y Leon.

- Typically, most VdIT wines get promoted to VCIG or DO status.

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Aging System: Typical for Spanish wine. Ribera del Duero and Rioja are slightly different.

Joven-

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- May or may not have spent time in oak.

- Ready for immediate release after being bottled.

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Crianza-

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Red Wine:

- 24 months of ageing with a minimum of 6 (12 in Rioja and Ribera) months in small oak barrels.

White and Rose Wine:

- Minimum of 18 months ageing with no required time in oak.

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Reserva- Generally wines from better vintages

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Red Wine:

- 36 months ageing with at least 12 months in oak and the rest in bottle.

White and Rose Wine:

- Ageing for 18 months with 6 months in small oak barrels.

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Gran Reserva- Produced from exceptional vintages

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Red Wine:

- 60 months ageing with 18 (24 in Rioja and Ribera) months in small oak barrels and the rest in the bottle.

White and Rose Wine:

- 48 months ageing, 6 (12 in Rioja) months in oak barrel and the rest in bottle.

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Geography and Climate

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- Meseta is central plateau in Spain.

- 3 broad climatic zones

- North-West Spain has a maritime climate zone:

- Summer temperatures average at 24C with mild winters.

- East coast (Catalan- Levante) has Mediterranean climate.

- Warm summers with mild winters.

-Meseta is cut off from influence of the sea so has Continental climate.

- Winter temperatures fall below freezing and summer temperatures in excess of 30C.

- Low rainfall.

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Black Grape Varieties:

Tempranillo

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- Thick skinned

- Low in acidity

- Sufficient warmth to reach physiological ripeness.

- Fresh strawberry flavours.

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Garnacha Tinto

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- Grenache

- High in alcohol

- Matures early

- Widely used for Rose

- Important in the region Priorat

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Monastrell

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- Spanish for Mourvedre

- Thick skinned

- Drought tolerant

- Hot, sunny conditions to ripen

- Dark, spicy wines.

- High tannin levels

- High alcohol

- Medium - low acidity

- Used in Catalan for Cava.

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Graciano

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- Used in finest Rioja wines.

- Powerful aromas

- High tannin

- High acidity

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Carinena (Mazuelo in Rioja)

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- Carignan

- High acidity

- High tannin

- High colour

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Mencia

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- Grows in cooler conditions

- Medium-high acidity

- Hints of herbaceousness

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White Grape Varieties

Verdejo

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- Used to make Sherry style wines due to susceptability to oak.

- Light bodied

- Melon and peach flavours

- Fuller body when contact with skins.

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Albarino

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- Thick skinned so can resist fungus.

- Aromatic, peach and apricot flavours

- High acidity

- Can be made into fuller bodied and richer style

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Airen

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- Most widely planted grape in Spain.

- Grows mainly in the Meseta.

- Can cope with extreme drought conditions.

- Used in Brandy de Jerez.

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Parellada, Xarel-lo and Macabeo

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- Planted mainly in Catalan.

- Main Cava grapes.

- Macabeo (Viura in Rioja) can be made into crisp white with herb spice.

- Main grape in heavily oaked white Rioja.

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International Varieties

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- Cabernet Sauvignon

- Merlot

- Chardonnay

- Sauvignon Blanc

- Pinot Noir

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Viticulture and Vinification

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- Biggest viticultural issues are heat and lack of water.

- Dry climate so risk of fungus is low.

- Low density bush trained vines maximise water available to vines and provides shade for berry.

- Yields remain relatively low.

- Irrigation is now used since legalisation in 1996.

- Wire training is slowly being introduced for machine harvesting.

- French oak and European oak is used a lot, particularly in red wines.

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Wine Producing Regions

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- The Upper Ebro

- Catalunya

- Duero Valley

- North West

- Levant

- Castilla-La Mancha

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The Upper Ebro - Rioja DOCa

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Red Varieties

- Tempranillo

- Garnacha (Rose also)

- Mazuelo

- Graciano

White Varieties

- Viura

- Malvasia

- Garnacha Blanca

- First region to gain DOCa status.

- 3 distinct sub regions with Logrono used as a reference point;

Rioja Alavesa

- West of Logrono.

- Vineyards up to 800 metres.

- Soil is very chalky

- Lightest style wines in Rioja with more finesse.

Rioja Alta

- South of Logrono.

- Vineyards are planted between 500-800 metres.

- Limestone based clay soil some have high proportion of Iron.

- Climate is similar to Alavesa due to no influence of ocean.

- Rainfall is roughly 500mm (annually).

Rioja Baja

- East of Logrono.

- Climate is more continental with hotter summers and more severe winters..

- Soil is largely heavy clay.

- Annual rainfall is 300 mm meaning drought is an issue.

- Main grape Garnacha Tinta generally has less ageing potential.

- Most vineyards in Rioja are bush trained.

- Wire-training is now permitted to facilitate machine harvesting.

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The Upper Ebro - Navarra DO

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Red Varieties

- Tempranillo

- Garnacha

- Mazuelo

- Graciano (Rose also)

- Region split into sub regions.

- Climate in plain similar to Rioja. Climate in foothills much cooler and wetter.

- Tempranillo no most widely planted grape.

- Garnacha grapes used for Rose are picked early for higher levels of acidity, lower sugar levels and handled anaerobically to provide refreshing fruity wine with moderate alcohol.

- International varieties are also used; Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

- Wines range from good value Joven wines to premium Gran Reservas.

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The Upper Ebro - Carinena and Calatayud

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Grape Varieties

- Garnacha

- Tempranillo

- Warm continental climate with low rainfall.

- Variety of micro climates.

- Garnacha is main grape variety.

- Tempranillo is now being promoted.

- Inexpensive to mid priced wines.

- Deep colour and intense flavour.

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The Upper Ebro - Somontano

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- North of Ebro.

- Mix of microclimates but generally not as hot.

- High rainfall so less problems of drought.

- Wide range of local and international varieties.

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Catalunya

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Has generic DO for still wines that covers entire region.

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Catalunya - Penedes

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White Grape Varieties

- Parellada

- Macebeo

- Xarel-lo

Black Grape Varieties

- Tempranillo

- Cabernet Sauvignon

- Three distinct climate zones means wide varieties of wine style.

- Coast has Mediterranean climate with hot dry summers - Mainly produces full bodied reds.

- Inland climate is more temperate - Most of white wine for Cava is supplied from this area.

- In the hill areas the vines are grown up to 800 metres above sea. Climate is cool and Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Noir are grown.

- Regions wines are based on Cava grapes (Parellada, Macabeo and Xarel-lo)

- Very few white wines are aged in cask.

- Styles typically display varietal fruit.

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Catalunya - Priorat

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Grape Varieties

- Grenache

- Carinena

- Cabernet Savignon

- One of two regions with DOCa (DOQ) status.

- Soil is layers of slate with particles of mica (Llicorella) that sparkle which aids ripening by warmth.

- Soil is low in nutrients but because of depth it retains water well.

- Steep sloped and often terraced vineyards provide perfect exposures and because of altitude of 500-700 metres grapes benefit from cool nights.

- Deeply coloured wines, high in tannins but more restrained alcohol levels.

- Aromas have fresh black fruit qualities with time spent in French oak.

- White and Rose Priorat is very rare.

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The Duero Valley - Ribera del Duero

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- Grape variety is Tempranillo.

- Cut off from maritime influence due to surrounding mountains.

- Highest part of the Meseta (up to 850 metres).

- Cool temperatures at night - up to 20C cooler at night in the summer.

- Only DO for red and rose wines - Mainly red.

- Garnacha is mainly grown for rose.

- Clone of Tempranillo known at Tinto Fino is more thick skinned than Tempranillo in Rioja resulting in darker wines and more powerful tannins in RdD.

- Flavours include dark fruit and plum.

- Long macerations and short ageing in French oak.

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The Duero Valley - Toro

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- DO that is having changes similar to Ribera del Duero.

- Similar climate and thick skinned clone of Tempranillo (Tinto de Toro).

- Rose and white wines are in small quantities.

- Reds are full bodied, powerful and high in alcohol because of sunny conditions.

- Harvested at advanced stage of ripeness.

- Garnacha wines make good Joven wines.

- Reservas and Gran Reservas are generally deep coloured and tannic when young with good ageing potential.

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The Duero Valley - Rueda

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- Between Ribera del Duero and Toro.

- Mainly white wine production with Verdejo and Sauvignon Blanc.

- Red is now permitted.

- Used to make sherry style wine but not as much now.

- Chalky soil

- Continental climate with cool summer nights.

- Verdejo gives aromatic flavours with retained acidity.

- Verdejo must make up 50% of wines.

- Some are young and fresh, some have skin contact and barrel fermentation.

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North Western Spain - Rias Baixas

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- Main grape is Albarino.

- Humid conditions means bush training has not been used.

- Sophisticated pergola vine training systems are being developed do lower chance of rot.

- Other grapes permitted as well as red wine but not as important and subzone rules vary.

- Gentle handling and temperature control helps with varietal fruit characteristics of Albarino.

- High acidity and crisp refreshing wine best drunk young. Occasionally has small amount of oak can benefit from a little bit of ageing.

- Difficult viticultural conditions posed by maritime climate mean these wines are rarely cheap.

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North Western Spain - Bierzo

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- Cooling maritime influence.

- Main grape is Mencia.

- Vines grown on steep, schist slopes mean most concentrated wines with aromatic fruity intensity with high acidity.

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