Grapes

Question 1

Red Grapes

1. Temp aka C aka TF aka L
2. Gar
3. Car aka Maz aka Car
4. Mon aka Mour
5. Grac
6. Others: B, Sy, Mer, CS

Answer 1

400 Different grape varieites planted but 20 grapes represent 80% of production

Reds:

1. Tempranillo aka Cencibel aka Tinto Fino aka Lebre 17%
2. Garnacha aka Grenache
3. Carinena aka Mazuelo aka Carignan
4. Monastrell aka Mourvedre
5. Graciano
6. Others: Bobal, Syrah, Merlot, Cab Sav

Question 2

1. A
2. Al
3. V
4. M
5. V aka M

Answer 2

1. Airen 25%
2. Albarino
3. Verdejo
4. Malvasia
5. Viura aka Macabeo

Question 3

Reds

1. T / C / TF / Ull d L
2. 1er N Blk G w/thick sk, Rip early
3. Thrives in Ch soil + mod C for ac + ele
4. Little res to p + dis
5. M-F/Bod, l-m+ ac, m-T, fl of St, Ch, Rasp + Plum. Oak + Age + H, M L + Tob
6. 2nd most planted
7. G / G
8. Origin N/Sp
9. Strong wood + res to W = Dry, W+W climate
10. Early Bud, needs long growing S to Rip (last grape)
11. V Vines, hi Y pref hot dry soil
12. Thin Sk/ L pig = pale
13. Hi Alc, Low T w light fl of Rasp + Straw
14. Older vine = more T wine (Priorat) w/ dark F, more cplx
15. Bl to add body + fruit or Rosado
16. MOST planted grape
17. Car / Maz / Car
18. Origin Aragon
19. Hi Y, late bud + rip
20. Thick stalk = mech H diff
21. Deep C, hi Ac, hi T w/red fr + blkb
22. Often Bl
23. Mon aka Mou
24. B + Rip late
25. Thrives in S/f slope w/shallow w-retain clay soil
26. Dark FB wine w/hi A, hi T, med-hi Alc w/bramble + Meat, dev into M + Lea + Spice w/age
27. S/E Spain
28. G
29. Low Y, bud late, prone to DM
30. D Colour, strong Perf, hi T, hi A esp when young
31. Limited planting, Rioja bl

Others: Bobal, Sy, M, CS

Answer 3

Reds (% of plantings)

1. Tempranillo aka Cencibel aka Tinto Fino aka Ull de Lebre – 17%

1. Premier native black grape w thick skin that ripens early i.e. several weeks earlier vs. most Spanish red grapes (temprano: ‘early’)
2. Thrives in chalky soils & moderate climates for better acidity & elegance
3. Little resistance to pest and diseases
4. Wines are med->full bodied, low to med+ acidity, w med tannins and flavours of strawberry, cherry, raspberry & plum. Oak and ageing add flavours of herbs, mushrooms, leather & tobacco
5. 2nd most planted grape in the world

2. Garnacha aka Grenache

1. Mostly likely to originate from Northern Spain
2. Strong wood canopy & resistance to wind make it suited for dry, warm & windy climates
3. Buds early and requires a long growing season to fully ripen (often the last grape after Cab Sauv to be picked)
4. Vigorous vines i.e. hi yields that prefers hot dry soils
5. Thin skins w light pigments -> pale colour
6. The wines are hi in alcohol, low in tannins w relatively light flavours of raspberries, strawberries
7. Older vines/lower yields produce darker, more tannic wines (e.g. in Priorat) w darker fruit & more complex flavours
8. Often blended to add body and fruitiness or used for Rosados
9. Most planted red wine grape variety in the world

3. Carinena aka Mazuelo aka Carignan

1. Originates from Aragon
2. Hi yielding; late budding & ripening (-> warm climate)
3. Thick stalk that makes mechanical harvesting difficult
4. Deep colour, hi acidity, hi tannins w red fruits flavours (cherry, raspberry) and blackberry
5. Often blended

Monastrell aka Mourvedre

1. Buds & ripens late (-> warm climate)
2. Thrives in south facing slopes with shallow, water-retaining clay soils
3. Dark, full bodied wines w hi acidity, hi tannins, med+ to hi alcohol w fruity (bramble fruits) & meaty aromas that develop into leather, mushroom & spicy aromas with age
4. Grown in South-east of Spain

5. Graciano

1. Low yielding; buds very late & prone to downy mildew
2. Deep-coloured, strongly perfumed, hi tannins and hi acidity esp. when young
3. Limited plantings, mainly in Rioja to be blended in Rioja

Others: Bobal, Syrah, Merlot, Cab Sauv

Question 4

White

1. A 25%
2. Prized for H + Res to D
3. less char
4. prone to Ox
5. Mainly in La M
6. Al
7. Native from Gal
8. Thick-Sk, resist to damp
9. Almost ext post-Phy
10. Dry WW w/hi Ac, LB, Floral + Fruity A/A Lemon + Mineral
11. Atl Coast
12. V
13. MB w/hi Ac, delicate fl Trop + Stone F
14. Ox easy, H at night
15. M
16. FB W
17. Used in O-A Rioja w/Viura for Rich
18. V / Mac
19. From FR
20. Fl + Fresh F w/good Ac when low Y
21. Most in Rio + Cat
22. Base of Cava

others: Ch

Answer 4

Whites (% of plantings)

1. Aíren – 25%
2. Prized for hardiness and resistance to drought
3. Not a lot of character
4. Wines prone to oxidation
5. Mainly in La Mancha for spirits or light fresh whites
6. Albarino
7. Native grape from Galicia
8. Thick-skinned to resist damp climates
9. Almost extinct post-phylloxera
10. Produces dry whites w hi acidity, light body and floral and fruity flavours of apples, apricots, lemons & peaches along w a mineral edge
11. Mainly grown on the Atlantic coast
12. Verdejo
13. Wines medium-bodied w hi acidity and delicate flavours of tropical & stone fruit flavours e.g. melon, apricot & peach
14. Oxidises easily, generally harvested at night
15. Malvasia
16. Full bodied whites
17. Used in traditional oak-aged Rioja with Viura for richness
18. Viura aka Macabeo
19. Originally from France
20. Floral fresh fruit character with good acidity when grown in low yields
21. Mostly planted in Rioja & Catalunya
22. Forms the basis for Cava

Others: Chardonnay