Spain is considered a warm country generally, but it does have varying climates over several regions. Describe.
Fill in the blank:
While Spain has the largest vineyard plantings under production (964,000 ha), it is only the world’s _____ largest producer of wine by volume.
Third
see p.323 - Spain in behind Italy and France
Many Spanish vineyards are planted at low density with vines trained how?
Bush trained
Why is low density planting beneficial in Spain?
The (mostly) dry climate.
With as little as 300 mm in some parts of the country, it is helpful to reduce competition between vines for soil water.
In what year was irrigation nationally legalized in Spain? Who oversees control of irrigation?
Why do Toro and Rueda have some plantings of incredibly old ungrafted vines?
They were unaffected by phylloxera thanks to their sandy soils.
Why is vineyard mechanization still relatively limited in Spain?
Spain remains a country of small vineyard holdings, with about 68% of vineyard plots being <0.5 ha in size and a further 20% between 0.5 and 3 ha.
The two grape varieties with the largest plantings in Spain are:
What are some characteristics of Tempranillo (when does it ripen, etc.)?
It is common in Spain for wines of all quality levels to go through primary fermentation in this type of vessel.
Temperature controlled stainless steel.
Fill in the blank:
National aging legislation in Spain says that oak barrels have a maximum capacity of ____ L.
330 L
Under the national aging legislation in Spain, what are the minimum total aging times (and time spent in barrel) for Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva REDS?
This question is asking about national legislation, NOT legislation for individual DOs, e.g. RIoja, which may be stricter than the national legislation.
What do roble and joven mean on a bottle of Spanish wine?
What are the two Spanish wine regions that are DOCa?
Rioja and Priorat
What is needed for a region to apply to become a DOCa?
What is Vino de Pago? Where are most located in Spain?
Fill in the blank:
The Spanish equivalent of PGI is ______.
Vino de la Tierra
(VT)
Regulations of each denomination are generally set and controlled by their specific Consejo Regulador.
What are the regulations a Consejo Regulador oversees?
In Spain, why is production dominated in many regions by co-operatives?
It’s a country of many producers with tiny landholdings.
Select the correct answer:
Fill in the blank:
The climate of Rías Baixas is ______.
Maritime
The Atlantic moderates annual temperatures, giving warm summers and mild winters.
Because rain falls throughout the year in Rías Baixas, what hazards are present?
Why is Albariño well suited to Galicia (and Rías Baixas more specifically)?
It has thick skins which makes it less prone to damage from rot.