Spain - Galicia

Question 1

Where is the community of Galicia located? What does that mean?

Answer 1

• In the north west
• Proximity to the Atlantic -> cool and wet

Question 2

What is the largest DO in Galicia?

Answer 2

Rías Baixas DO

Question 3

Rías Baixas
What is the production (hL) and what is the trend?

Answer 3

• Today: 250,000 hL
• 1991: 3,500 hL

Question 4

Rías Baixas
What is the size (ha) and how many grape growers are there?

Answer 4

• 4,000 ha
• 5,500 growers

Question 5

Rías Baixas
Name the largest producer

Answer 5

Bodegas Martín Códax (co-op)

Question 6

Rías Baixas
What happened after phylloxera?

Answer 6

• Replanted with hybrid varieties and high-yielding Palomino vines
• Many tiny plots selling to local producers
• 1970s and 80s: incentives to grow indigenous varieties and modernize winery equipment
• Improvement in quality
• Provide quality wines, in a desirable style (fresh and fruity) and at an affordable price point

Question 7

Rías Baixas
What is the climate and rainfall and what effect does it have on grape growing?

Answer 7

• Maritime climate
• High rainfall (1,700mm)
• Fungal diseases
• Rain prior to harvest

Question 8

Rías Baixas
What are the soils?

Answer 8

• Free-draining
• Sand over granite bedrock

Question 9

Rías Baixas
What is the most planted variety? (incl. %)

Answer 9

• Albariño
• 95% of plantings

Question 10

Rías Baixas
Describe characteristics of the Albariño variety (skin, ripening time)

Answer 10

• Thick skin -> reduced disease risk
• Early to mid-ripening

Question 11

Rías Baixas
Is Albariño usually blended?

Answer 11

No, mostly single varietal wines

Question 12

Rías Baixas
What are the three varieties Albariño is sometimes blended with? (incl. ripening time, acidity, aromas)

Answer 12

• Loureira (early ripening, medium (+) acidity, aromatic citrus, pear, floral and herbal notes)
• Treixadura (mid-ripening, low acidity, apple and peach flavours)
• Caiño Blanco (late ripening, high acidity, citrus flavours)

Question 13

Rías Baixas
Are there black varieties planted for red wines? If yes which ones?

Answer 13

• Small volumes of (1% of production)
• Sousón (same as Vinhão in Vinho Verde)
• Caiño Tinto

Question 14

Rías Baixas
Name the 5 sub-zones incl. rough characteristics

Answer 14

• Val do Salnés (oldest sub-zone with greatest plantings; coolest and wettest; highest acidity)
• O Rosal (close to Portugal -> often blended with Loureira, Treixadura, Caiño Blanco; south-facing -> lower acidity)
• Condado do Tea (even warmer -> lower acidity, riper fruit, easy drinking)
• Ribeira do Ulla (newest sub-zone; inexpensive to mid-priced wines)
• Soutomaior (smallest sub-zone)

Question 15

Rías Baixas
Describe the typical style of wine

Answer 15

• Peach, melon, lemon
• High acidity
• Medium(–) to medium body
• Medium alcohol
• Good to very good quality (some outstanding)
• Mid- to premium priced

Question 16

Rías Baixas
Name two quality driven producers

Answer 16

• Pazo de Senorans
• Palacio de Fefiñanes

Question 17

Rías Baixas
What training system is generally used, what are the benefits, and what is the trend?

Answer 17

• Pergola (called “parral”) remains popular
• Originally, other agricultural crops were planted underneath
• The high training promotes air circulation
• Many bigger growers use VSP (mechanization)

Question 18

Rías Baixas
Describe the general winemaking process (skin maceration, vessel, fermentation temps, malo, lees ageing, stirring, oak)

Answer 18

• Protective
• Sometime macerated for few hours
• Cool fermentation in stainless steel
• Sometimes malo to reduce acidity
• More expensive wines are stored on lees (sobre lias) for 1-2 years, sometimes longer; NOT stirred (no oxygen wanted)
• The most expensive wines are sometimes in oak, even some proportion of new oak

Question 19

Rías Baixas
How much of the wine is exported, what is the trend and what are the main export markets?

Answer 19

• 25%
• Strongly increasing
• USA, UK

Question 20

What are the four other Galician wine regions?

Answer 20

• Ribeiro
• Ribeira Sacra
• Valdeorras
• Monterrei

Question 21

Ribeiro
Where is it located and what is the climate and rainfall?

Answer 21

• Most westerly, just east of southern Rías Baixas
• Slightly more sheltered than Rías Baixas
• Maritime climate with high rainfall

Question 22

Ribeiro
What types of wines does it produce? (incl. variety, oak)

Answer 22

• Mainly white wines
• Treixadura most planted
• Either single variety or as blend with other Galician varieties
• The most expensive wines sometimes in oak

Question 23

Ribeiro Sacra
Where is the DO located?

Answer 23

• Further inland
• Close to rivers
• Mainly continental, some maritime influences

Question 24

Ribeira Sacra
Where are the vineyards located and what is the soil?

Answer 24

• Very precipitous valley sides
• Stony slopes with good drainage and heat absorption
• Extremely labour intensive

Question 25

**Ribeiro Sacra** What types of wines are produced? (incl. variety, aromas, body, acidity, price, style)

Answer 25

* Red wine from Mencía * Red cherry, raspberry * Medium body * Medium tannins * Medium(+) acidity * Mid-priced * Fresh, early drinking style

Question 26

**Valdeorras** Where is it located, what is the climate and rainfall?

Answer 26

* Most easterly * Continental climate * Plenty of rain (700–1,000mm)

Question 27

**Valdeorras** Where are the vineyards planted and what is the soil?

Answer 27

* 300m altitude * Diverse range of soil

Question 28

**Valdeorras** What does it have a reputation for? (variety, aromas, acididty, oak, quality)

Answer 28

* Godello (white variety) * Citrus, stone fruit, sometimes herbal or wet stone * Medium(+) acidity * Premium wines often in oak * Good to very good quality

Question 29

**Valdeorras** What is the next most planted variety after Godello?

Answer 29

Mencía (black variety)

Question 30

**Monterrei** Where is it located, what is the climate and rainfall?

Answer 30

* South of Ribeira Sacra, on the border of Portugal * Inland and sheltered from ocean influence * Continental climate * Low rainfall

Question 31

**Monterrei** What are the three styles of wines produced?

Answer 31

* Mostly inexpensive bulk wine * Some good quality Mencía (riper style than in Ribeira Sacra) * Some fruity Godello