Castilla Y León (9): León, Palencia, Burgos, Zamora, Valladolid, Soria, Salamanca, Ávila, Segovia
Name the first 2 Vino de Pagos (VPs)
Dominio de Valdepusa: clay atop limestone, red wine only but not Tempranillo
Finca Élez: sandy clay atop limestone, known for Chardonnay
Both in Castilla-La Mancha
Both pioneers in international varieties
What is the signature red grape of DO Vinos de Madrid?
Garnacha Tinta
Describe DO Vinos de Madrid
3 non-contiguous areas surrounding Madrid
4 subzones:
El Molar: Garnacha Tinta, Malvar
San Martín de Valdeiglesias: Garnacha Albillo Real
Navalcarnero: Garnacha Tinta, Malvar
Arganda: Tempranillo, Malvar
Which DO has nearly 50% of all of Spain's planted vineyards?
DO La Mancha
Describe Albillo Real
White grape native to Castilla y León (Valladolid). Popular in Vinos de Madrid and Tenerife DOs.
Describe Malvar
Drought-resistant white grape variety native to Andalucía. Popular in Vinos de Mádrid and Malaga.
Synonym: Lairén
What is the most-planted red grape in DO La Mancha?
Tempranillo/Cencibel
Which subzone in DO Vinos de Madrid has the highest production?
Arganda
What are the two primary red grapes of DO Vinos de Madrid?
Garnacha Tinta
Tempranillo
What is the main river in Extremadura?
Guadiana River
Which worldwide food phenomenon originated in Andalucía?
Tapas
Name the 8 provinces and 4 coasts of Andalucía
Huelva, Sevilla, Córdoba, Jaén
Cádiz, Málaga, Granada, Almería
Costa de la Luz, Costa de Sol, Costa Tropical, Costa de Almería
What is the name of the chalky soil located in SW Andalucía?
Albariza
What are the three Sherry grapes?
Palomino Fino
Pedro Ximénez
Moscatel de Alejandría
Name the 9 towns in the Sherry production zone, north to south
Lebrija
Trebujena
Sanlúcar de Barrameda
Chipiona
Jerez de la Frontera
Rota
El Puerto de Santa María
Puerto Real
Chiclana de la Frontera
What is the name of the primary soil in the sherry region?
Albariza
What is the name of the subdivision of the Zona de Producción which consists ONLY of vineyards planted in albariza soil?
Jerez Superior
What is the fractional blending system used in sherry production called and why was it created?
The Solera [Criaderas y Soleras] system was created because of generous harvests. It is a fractional blending (of new wine into old) and aging system that maintans both house style and consistent quality.
Note: criaderas means nurseries
What is the aging method (biological, oxidative, or both) for each type of dry sherry?
Fino/Manzanilla: bio
Amontillado: both
Palo Cortado: both
Olorosso: oxy
Which DO in Andalucía makes still and sweet wines from Pedro Ximénez?
Montilla-Moriles
On which island is Mt. Teide (Spain's highest peak) located?
Tenerife
What is the name of the clay topsoil found in the vineyards of Mallorca?
Call Vermell
Name the 7 tribuaries of the Ebro River from west to east
Tirón (flows into Oja)
Oja
Najerilla
Iregua
Leza
Cidacos
Alhama
Notes
:
The first four rivers (Western zone) are those with the highest flow, regularity and freshness in its waters.
The Jubera is also a significant tributary to the Leza river.
Which grape is NOT native to the Canary Islands?
B. Listán Blanco
What is sherry fortified with?
Destilado, a distilled wine usually made from the Airén grape.
Name the 3 types of Sherry
Vinos Gererosos: Dry Sherries
Vinos Dulces Naturales: Naturally Sweet Sherries
Vinos Generosos De Licor: Blended Sherries
What term designates the practice of blending dry and naturally sweet sherries?
Cabeceo
Name the 3 categories for age-designated sherries
Vinos de Vejez Calificada: Sherry Wines of Certified Age 20 (VOS) or 30 (VORS) years average age of bottled sherry
Vinos con Indicación de Edad: Sherry Wines with Indication of Age 12 or 15 years average age of solera
Añada: Vintage Sherry is aged oxidatively and is not part of a solera system
Name the categories of blended sherry
Dry: aka Pale or Pale Dry, <45 g/L, Fino/Manzanilla with RCGM
Pale Cream: 45-115 g/L, Fino/Manzanilla with RCGM
Medium: 5-115 g/L, Amontillado with RCGM or Moscatel or PX
Subcategories of Medium:
Medium Dry: 5-45 g/L
Medium Sweet: 45-115 g/L
Cream: 115-140 g/L, Oloroso
with PX
Name the three regional classifications of Rioja
Viñedos Singulares (VS): single vineyard, vines min 35 years, yields 20% lower, hand-harvested
Vinos de Municipio (VM): min 85% from single village,
Vinos de Zona (VZ): min 85% from single zone, mostly used in Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Alta
Name the production requirements of Espumosos de Calidad de Rioja
Método Tradicional
Only Brut, Extra Brut, Brut Nature
Min 15/24/36 months sur lie for general/reserva/Gran Añada
Gran Añada must be vintage labeled
Min 25% authorized red grapes for espumoso rosado
What is Alejandro Fernández known for?
International success with Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) using grapes grown around the village of Pesquera de Duero in the 1970s.
What is Don Eloy Lecanda y Chaves known for?
Beginning Spain's vinicultural renaissance at Vega Sicilia (founded in 1864 in Ribera del Duero) using Tempranillo and French varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec), winery hygiene and new barrels.
What is Colonel Luciano Murrieta (aide to winery owner General Baldomero Espartero) known for?
Introducing large vats for crushing and fermentation and small oak barrels to Rioja in mid-19th century, earning him the nickname "Marqués de Murrieta".
When did Josep Raventós i Fatjó create the first Spanish sparkling wine at the Codorníu winery?
1872
DOQ Priorat was the first wine region in Spain to adopt the notion of estate wines.
True
In 2002 the Vi de Finca category was approved as the highest rung in its wine quality pyramid. This was replaced in 2019 by a new Burgundy-inspired classification system called "Els Noms de la Terra" (Names of the Land).
Describe the 5 levels of the DOQ Priorat wine quality pyramid
Gran Vinya Classificada (Grand Cru):
Vines: 80%/20% 35/10 years old,
Grapes: min 90% Garnacha Tinta and/or Samsó
Vinya Classificada(Premier Cru):
Vines: 80%/20% 20/5years old,
Grapes: min 60% Garnacha Tinta and/or Samsó
Vi de Paratge (Lieu-dit):
Vines: 90%/10% 15/5 years old,
Grapes: min 60% Garnacha Tinta and/or Samsó
Vi de Vila (village):
Vines: 90%/10% 10/5 years old,
Grapes: min 60% Garnacha Tinta and/or Samsó
DOQ Priorat: grapes sourced from anywhere in DOQ Priorat
Name the 5 provinces of Castilla-La Mancha
Guadalajara, Toledo, Cuenca, Ciudad Real, Albacete
Note: No wine is produced in Guadalajara
Name the main DOs in Castilla-La Mancha
La Mancha
Manchuela
Valdepeñas
Jumilla
Name the 5 subregions of Ribiera Sacra, west to east
Chantada
Amandi
Ribeiras do Miño
Ribeiras do Sil
Quiroga-Bibei
Which modern-day appellation was historically referred to as "Tierra de Medina?"
DO Rueda
What is the name of the traditional fortified sweet wine from DO Málaga?
Pajarete
Name synonyms for Samsó
Mazuelo, Cariñena
What are the traditional aging requirements for Spanish wine?
Release
Red: 24/36/60
White/Pink: 18/24/48
Barrel
Red: 6/12/18
White/Pink: 6/6/6
How do the traditional aging requirements for Spanish wine differ in Ribera del Duero?
Only reds
Release: no change
Barrel: 12/12/24 (6 months longer for Crianza and Gran Riserva)
How do the traditional aging requirements for Spanish wine differ in Rioja?
Release:
Red: 24/36/60 (no change)
White/Pink:24/24/48 (6 months longer for Crianza)
Barrel:
Red: 12/12/24 (6 months longer for Crianza and Gran Riserva)
White/Pink: 6/6/6 (no change)
Added Bottle Aging for reds:
6/24 for Riserva/Gran Riserva
Describe the Via de la Plata ("Silver Way")
Commercial trade route (gold, copper, and goods) connecting Asatorga to Mérida. Also part of the Camino de Santiago as an alternative to the Camino Francés which it joins in Astorga.
Describe the Camino de Santiago ("Way of Saint James")
The cathedral Santiago de Compostela was built on the site where the remains of apostle Saint James were rediscovered in 814 AD. There are multiple routes to this holy site but the most common is the Camino Francés ("French Way"), about 500 miles through Castilla y León.
Describe Via Augusta
Communication and trade route (precious metals, wheat, olive oil, wine) linking Rome to Hispania. Built in the 1st C AD it covered 932 miles from Cádiz to the Pirineos.
Rank the autonomous communities in terms of population
Rank the autonomous communities in terms of size
Describe the rivers and mountains of Cataluña
Name the subzones of Priorat and Montsant
Describe the Canary Islands
Santa Cruz de Tenerife (West province) islands: Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro)
Las Palmas (East province) islands: Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria
Training: Cordón Trenzado on Tenerife
Soil: Lapilli formed into Hoyo (hole) + Abrigo (wall) on Lanzarote
Describe the Balearic Islands
Gymnesic Islands: Menorca, Mallorca
Pityusic Islands: Ibiza, Formentera
Winds: Tramontana, Embat
Soil: Call Vemell on DO Pla i Llevant
Events: Bubonic Plague wipes out Formentera, Phylloxera 1891
Describe vineyard/production%, grapes and soils in each of the 4 subzones of DO Vinos de Madrid
San Martin de Valdeiglesias: 23/30%; Garnacha, Albillo Real; Alluvium, Loamy-Clay
El Molar: Garnacha, Malvar; Granite, Slate
What are the aging requirements for Cava?
Describe the Tenerife "duck" DOs and which use "braided vines"
Head: Tacoronte-Acentejo uses cordón trenzado
Back: Valle de la Orotava uses cordón trenzado
Tail: Ycoden-Daute-Isora
Throat: Valle de Güímar
Belly: Abona
Name the four types of Albariza soil
Tejón: 80% limestone
Tosca Cerrada: 60% limestone
Lentejuelas: 50% limestone
Barajuelas: high purity of limestone
Describe the 3 soil types in Jerez-Xérès-Sherry
Albariza: upper slopes; Alba = white, Riza = stone; up to 80% limestone
Barros: low areas; dark grey-brown; 60-80% clay and sand with lower limestone content than Albariza
Arenas: coastal areas; sandy soil with some clay and up to 20% limestone
Name 7 names for Jerez and who referred to it that way
Xera: Phoenician
Ceret: Roman; wines called Vinum Ceretensis
Sherish: Moors
Sack: English term taken from Spanish word sacar ("to take out", referring to export)
Jerez: Spain
Xérès: France and ancient Castillian
Sherry: England
Describe Marco de Jerez and its zones
Marco de Jerez: 7,000 ha of vineyards located around nine towns, near the Guadalquivir and Guadalete rivers
Zona de Producción: nine towns suitable for growing grapes
Jerez Superior: vineyards in the zona de producción planted in albariza soil (92% of vineyards)
Zona de Crianza (Sherry Triangle): three towns, where sherry may be aged and labeled as DO Jerez-Xérès-Sherry. Wines aged in Sanlúcar de Barrameda may be labeled DO Manzanilla-Sanlúcar de Barrameda
Note:
3 towns: Jerez de la Frontera, Sanlúcar de Barrameda, El Puerto de Santa Maria,
9 towns: 3 towns plus Lebrija, Trebujena, Chipiona, Rota, Puerto Real, Chiclana de la Frontera
Name the grapes used in the 5 subzones of DO Málaga
Norte: PX
Axarquia: Moscatel (sweet wines)
Montes de Málaga: PX, Moscatel
Manilva: Moscatel (raisins from DO Pasas de Málaga)
Serranía de Ronda: Still wines (60% red, 37% white, 3% pink) from DO Sierras de Málaga
