Spain

Question 1

Factor effecting climate, hazards, Terroir

Answer 1

The climate is split in:
North - moderate maritime
East - mediterranean (sea and altitude moderate the hot)
Center - hot continental (Maseta Central mountain cut off the sea influence)

Low density and bush trained are the best option to tackle heat.
Newer: Vertical Shoot Positioning (VSP) - higher density planting, irrigation possible.

Gobelet training system (for bush vine), low trained vine. can, hot and dry regions, provide extra shades. but in cool and wet region can impede grape to ripen fully and promote disease.
Diurnal range: cool nights refresh the grapes getting them ready for the next day.
Summer are long and rainfall very low.

Question 2

White grape varieties

Answer 2

Albariño, Verdejo, Viura, all citrus, peach, high acid light body

Others
Cava blend: Macabéo, Xarel-lo e Parellada.
Airén (can cope with drought)

Question 3

Red grape varieties

Answer 3

Tempranillo,
Blend with Tempranillo:
- Graciano (black fruit, acidity and tannin = structure)
- Cariñena or Mazuelo(structure and colour)
Granacha tinta (alcohol, lower acidity, fullness of body, softer tannins with red fruit such as strawberries and cherry)

Garnacha tinta, Monastrell (can cope with drought)

Question 4

Winemaking

Answer 4

• Cap management such as pumping over, punching down to increase colour, favour and tannin extraction.
• American oak is frequently used.
  It gives hints of vanilla, dill, coconut and sweet spices to the wine.
• Semi carbonic maceration can be used for early drinking wines

Question 5

Classification

Answer 5

• Vino de Pagos introduce in 2003 is above all
  Is a category reserved for prestigious single estates whose work exceeds basic DOCa requirements.
• DOCa (Denominació de Origen Calificada) only Priorat and Rioja
• DO (Denominación de Origen; on par with French AOC) after 10 they can upgrade
• VC (Vino de Calidad con Indicación Geogràfica )
  after 5 they can upgrade
• VT (Vino de la Tierra - IGP)
• VE (Vino d’espagna)

Question 6

Label Terminology

Answer 6

• Joven: no oak ageing, early consumption
  Fresh fruity style, made by semi-carbonic
• Crianza: fresh with primary fruit flavors, lightly oaked for more complexity
• red age 2 years with 6 in barrique.
• white age 1 year with 6 in oak
• Rioja is 1 year in oak and 1 year in bottle
• Reserva: complex, long maturation, controlled oxidation.
  red age 3 years with 1 in barrique.
  whites and rose age 2 years with 6 in oak
• Gran Reserva:
  red age 5 years with 2 in barrique.
  white and rose age 4 years with 6 months in oak

In 2003 the following were added to VE, IGP e VCIG. :
- Noblé: age 18 month in oak or bottle.
- Anejo: age 2 years in oak or bottle
- Viejo: age 36 months with 12 in oak

Question 7

Upper Ebro - Rioja DOCa

Answer 7

City: Logroño
River: Ebro (provide warmth and reflect sunlight
Mountain: Cantabrian Mountains protects from the rain and provides altitude to mitigate hot weather

White grape Viura (rot resistant) and Albarino
Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Verdejo

Red grape Tempranillo usually blend with
- Graciano (black fruit, acidity and tannin = structure)
- Cariñena or Mazuelo(structure and colour)
- Granacha (alcohol, lower acidity, fullness of body, softer tannins with red fruit such as strawberries and cherry)
- Mencia

3 Subzones:
- Rioja Alta (west) - Tempranillo
Vineyards are planted at a range of 500-800m, less finess then Alavesa

• Rioja Alavesa (north west) - Tempranillo
  Vineyards are in the foothill of the Cantabrian Mountains
  Altitude provide higher acidity and more tannin structure due to the late picking.
• Rioja Oriental (east) - Granacha
  Warmer continental climate. Droughts is a big issue.

Question 8

Upper Ebro - Navarra

Answer 8

City: Logroño
River: Ebro
Mountain: Pyrenées Mountains, Cantabrian Mountains

• Navarra (North of Rioja)
  Vineyard are located in the foothill of the Pyrenees.
  The climate is continental, moderated by the Atlantic Ocean (Seabreeze) and the mountains (shield for rain).
  Tempranillo is usually blend with Rioja grapes or Cab Sauv. and Merlot.

Garnacha, Tempranillo grapes used for rosé production.

Viura, Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc.

Question 9

Upper Ebro - Cariñena and Calatayud

Answer 9

(South of Rioja)
Warm continental climate and low rainfall.
Garnacha, Cariñena (Carignan, Mazuelo) grow well here.
Wines are inexpensive, fruity, early drinking

Question 10

Catalunya

Answer 10

City: Barcelona, Tarragona
Hot mediterranean climate
Hazard: Rain can dilute flavour, disrupt buds, lead to rot,
Pyrenees / altitude

• Catalunya (North east corner of Spain)
  Vineyards are on the coastal plain and the hills west of Barcelona.
  Blending of volumes wines.
  Cava being the most famous
  Cava blend: Parellada, Macabeo and Xarel-lo
• Penedès (south west of Barcelona) Cava
  Three different climate:
  1. Mediterranean on the plain
  2. Cooler inland, has mountain and sea influence
  3. Moderate on the hills (800m)

White grape varieties
Parellada, Macabeo and Xarel-lo
Also: Chardonnay, sauv blanc, gewurztraminer.

Red grape varieties
Tempranillo, Pinot noir, Merlot, Cab Sauvignon.

• Priorat - Fine, Powerful, concentrated, dry reds
  Vineyards are located within the hills on steep slopes, low nutrient produce lower yields.
  Ideal for Garnacha and Carignan / Cariñena. Usually blend with Cab sauv

Often new french oak is used to ferment or mature the wines

Question 11

Duero Valley

Answer 11

City: Valladolid
River: Duero
Mountain: Sierra de Gredos, Maseta Central

White grape Verdejo, Sauvignon blanc
Red grapes. Quality Tempranillo, Cab Sauvignon, malbec, merlot, garnacha (rose)

• Ribera del Duero - Tempranillo
  Hot, dry climate due to ring of mountains.
  The vineyards are located on the highest part of the Maseta Central (850m). Altitude and diurnal range helps cool down the hot climate and retain acidity.
  Focus on red and rose wine production
• Toro - Tempranillo
  Hot, dry climate due to ring of mountains.
  Deeply coloured, high tannin and alcohol wines.
• Rueda - Verdejo and Sauvignon blanc
  Continental climate with cool summer nights
  Fruity simple to richer, barrel fermented.

Question 12

North West

Answer 12

• Rías Baixas (near Vigo city) - Albarino
  Lees or oak might be used.
  Situated on the Atlantic coast.
  Moderate maritime, humid climate.
  Rot and Mildew are common problem, vines are trained on pergola, other training and trellising system
  Soil Granite, Alluvial, Slate
• Bierzo (near Leon city) - Mencia
  Red fruits, floral like lavander, peppery
  More inland then Rias baixas. Moderate continental climate benefits from a cooling maritime influence
  Vineyards are planted on steep stony slopes on the mountain between Galicia and Meseta central.

Question 13

The Levante - Valencia

Answer 13

• Valencia
  Monastrell is the most planted grape variety, like granacha blanc
  Merseguera is a local aromatic white grape .
  Muscat of Alexandria produce the local Moscatelle de Valencia, sweet fortified wine
• Jumilla and Yecla (near Alicante)
  Located further inland
  Hot, arid climate perfect for Monastrell in youthful and fruity style

Question 14

Castilla-La Mancha

Answer 14

• La Mancha (south of Madrid) - largest DO
  Quantity wines from Airen grape.
  The majority of Vinos de Pago are from here
  also Tempranillo ,cab sauv, merlot, syrah, chardonnay, sauv blanc
• Valdepeñas
  Quality wine, fruity, more concentrated and oak matured.
  Grape varieties are Airen, Tempranillo ,cab sauv, merlot, syrah, chardonnay, sauv blanc