Spain

Question 1

Spain - Regional Wine Law

Answer 1

• Wines without geographic indication
  
  • Vino
• Wines with geographic indication
  
  • IGP Wines: nothing a specific location yet with few requirements in terms of grape variety, yields or aging.
  • DOP Wines
    
    • VCIG
    • DO
    • DOCa
  • Vinos de Pagos: a single estate wine that is noted as a great estate of Spain and can be situatd outside of the DO system.

Question 2

Spain - Northwest Spain - Rias Baixas DO

Answer 2

• Climate: due to proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and the numerous rivers, the climate is humid and maritime.
• Soil: Granite, alluvial and slate
• Grape Varieties
  
  • White: Albarino 90% of plantiings
• Vinification
  
  • Stainless steel fermentations
  • Crisp, dry, aromatic white wine

Question 3

Spain - North Central Spain - Rioja DOCa

Answer 3

• Climate: Continental
  
  • Mt creates a rain shadow from harsh Atlantic weather.
  • 3 sub-regions with slightly different climates
• Grape Varieties
  
  • White: Viura
  • Red: Tempranillo, Garnacha
• Vinification
  
  • Rioja DOCa aging quality levels for red wines
    
    • Crianza: 2 years of aging
    • Reserva: 3 years of aging with 1 year in oak.
    • Gran Reserva: at least 2 years in oak and 3 years in bottle.

Question 4

Spain - The Duero River Valley - Ribera del Duero DO

Answer 4

• Climate: Continental with a challenging climate of very hot summers and cold winters and extreme diurnal shifts.
• Grape Varieties
  
  • Red: Tempranillo (known locally as “Tinto Fino”
• Viticulture: high elevation and intense diurnal shifts

*Unico, Pingus

Question 5

Spain - The Duero River Valley - Toro DO

Answer 5

• Climate: Continental, with extremely hot, dry summers
• Grape Varieties
  
  • Red: Tempranillo (known locally as “Tinto de Toro”)
• Vinification: Toro is known for rich, intense red wines

Question 6

Spain - The Duero River Valley - Rueda DO

Answer 6

• Climate: Continental
• Grape Varieties
  
  • White: Verdejo, Sauvingnon Blanc
• Vinification: Rueda is best knwn for crispl dry white wines

Question 7

Spain - Northeastern Spain (Catalonia) - Penedes DO / Cava DO

Answer 7

• Climate: Mediterranean
• Grape Varieeties
  
  • White: Macabeo, Xarel-lo, Parellada
• Vinification: Sparkling wines made by the traditional method

Question 8

Spain - Northeastern Spain (Catalonia) - Priorat DOCa

Answer 8

• Geography: A very rugged area just a few miles from the Mediterranean Sea but Completely Isolated and surrounded by mountains
• Climate: Hot and Dry
• Soil: Stony schist soils, with the best vineyards situated on “llicorealla” (mix of back slate and quartzite)
• Grape Varieties
  
  • Red: Garnacha (Grenache), Carinena (Carignan)
• Viticulture: low yields due to the climate and vines must dig deeply for water due to the nature of the soil.
• Vinification: intense, concentrated, dry red wines

Question 9

Spain - In which DO will you find wines made from the Albarino grape?

Answer 9

• Rias Baixas DO
  
  • Penedes DO
  • Rueda DO
  • Cava DO

Question 10

Spain - What are the two DOCa regions of Spain?

Answer 10

• Rioja and Priorat

Question 11

Spain - Priorat DOQ produces which of the following styles of wine?

Answer 11

• Powerful, dry red wines

Question 12

Spain - Which aspect of topography affects the climate of Ribera del Duero?

Answer 12

• All of the above
  
  • Strong diurnal difference
  • Warm to hot summer
  • High elevation of the Meseta

Question 13

Spain - The main white grape variety of Rueda is?

Answer 13

• Verdejo
  
  • Chardonnay
  • Riesling
  • Xarel-lo

Question 14

Spain - Which combination of region and grape variety is not correct?

Answer 14

• Priorat and Tempranillo
  
  • Rioja and Tempranillo
  • Ribera del Duero and Tempranillo
  • Toro and Tempranillo

Question 15

Spain - What does “Gran Reserva” on a label of Rioja refers to?

Answer 15

• Aging requirements for time in barrel and bottle
  
  • Sweetness level
  • Location
  • Estate bottled