What are the three broad climate zones of Spain?
- North and north-west coast has moderate maritime climate dominated by Atlantic weather systems. Rainfall high.
- East coast Mediterrranean climate. Catalonia and south.
- The central plateau. Continental climate.
What is the best way of maximising the amount of water available to each vine in Spanish vineyards?
Low-density, bush-trained vineyards.
What is commonly employed to make red wine in Spain.
Either semi-carbonic maceration or oak maturation.
Talk about Tempranillo in Spain.
Premier black variety, grown widely throughout northern and central Spain.
- has several synonyms
- thick skinned
- medium acidity
- red fruit flavours
- best in areas where summer temperatures are moderated by sea or altitude to allow it to ripen yet maintain acidity
Name six black grapes important in Spain
Tempranillo Garnacha (Grenache) Monastrell (Mourvèdre) Graciano Cariñena (Carignan) - also called Mazuelo in Rioja Mencia
Talk about Garnacha in Spain.
- widely used for rosé
- Priorat, where low-yielding old vines allow for production of intense, complex reds
Talk about Monastrell in Spain.
Spanish name for Mourvèdre.
- thick skinned and drought resistant
- needs hot, sunny conditions to ripen
- grown in south eastern DOs such as Jumilla and Yecla
- here easily reaches full ripeness and produces deeply coloured, full-bodied wines with high tannin and alcohol, low/medium acidity and ripe blackberry flavours
Talk about Graciano in Spain.
Blended with Tempranillo in Rioja.
- small amounts bring concentrated black fruit aromas, acidity and tannin
- richly perfumed, flowery/spicy
- difficult to grow; prone to downy mildew
- varietal bottlings being made in Rioja and Navarra
- plantings on increase
[being grown in Australia, e.g. Xanadu Wines in Margaret River do a varietal, as does David Paxton in McLaren Vale]
Talk about Cariñena in Spain.
Otherwise known as Carignan.
- blended in small proportions with Tempranillo in Rioja where it is known as Mazuelo
- dark colour
- high tannin
- high acidity
Originated in Aragon but plays small part in wine named Carinena from Carinena
What is Carignan known as in Spain?
Cariñena. But Mazuelo in Rioja.
Talk about Mencia in Spain.
Now grown widely in NW Spain
- now appreciated that wine of intensity and complexity can be made from old vines
- previous reputation for making a light red only is due to planting of it on fertile plains post-phylloxera
- used to be thought to be related to Cabernet Franc as the light, fresh acidic style of wine from it not unlike that from Cabernet Franc
- is the main red grape in Bierzo
- the same grape as Portugal’s Jaen.
Oz Clarke/Margaret Rand don’t like the new complex, oaked versions, OCW does.
What is Mencia known as in Portugal?
Jaen.
Name four white grape varieties important in Spain.
Verdejo
Albarino
Airén
Viura
Talk about Verdejo.
White grape variety.
- widely planted in Rueda
- highly susceptible to oxidation; used to make Sherry-like wines
- now (with protective wine making) makes high acid, melon and peach flavoured wines similar in style to Sauvignon Blanc
- often blended with Sauvignon Blanc
- richer style also made in which it has undergone skin contact and barrel fermentation
- nutty and honeyed after time in bottle
Talk about Albarino.
White grape variety.
- widely grown in Galicia
- thick skin copes well with the damp conditions
- citrus and stone fruit flavours
- one of the first Spanish grape varieties produced as a varietal
- made in both young and richer aged style
Talk about Bierzo.
Predominantly red wine area.
- closer to Galicia than to rest of Castile and Leon
- planted on gentle slopes
- mountains protect from Atlantic influence
- but maritime influence makes it cooler than rest of Castile and Leon
- rich, fertile soil
- Mencia for reds (high acid, fresh berry fruit, a bit Cabernet Franc-like); some oaked others not
- small amounts of Godello for aromatic whites
Talk about Airén.
White grape variety.
- most planted grape variety in Spain
- most of it in La Mancha
- can make acceptable dry white wine but most used for Brandy de Jerez
Talk about Viura.
The name for Macabeo in Rioja.
- traditionally the main grape in heavily oaked white Riojas
- non-aromatic
- second most planted white variety in Spain
- found everywhere except Galicia
- an ingredient of Cava
- a common lightener of potent reds (more so in past than now)
Talk about Viura.
The name for Macabeo in Rioja.
- traditionally the main grape in heavily oaked white Riojas
- non-aromatic
- second most planted white variety in Spain
- found everywhere except Galicia
- an ingredient of Cava
- a common lightener of potent reds (more so in past than now)
- if picked early has good acidity but even less in way of flavour
Which international varieties are important in Spain?
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc.
What are the three divisions of Rioja?
Rioja Alta
Rioja Baja
Rioja Alavesa
How many growers are there in Rioja? How many merchant bodegas, and how many co-operatives
Almost 20,000 growers.
About 500 merchant bodegas
30 co-ops
What percentage of grapes in Rioja goes to the co-ops, and what do they do with it?
45%. Turned into must or wine and sold on to merchant bodegas who blend, bottle and market the wine under their own labels.
What is the climate of Rioja?
Essentially maritime. Rioja Baja is the least maritime with hot summers and cold winters.
