Spanish Wine Scholar - Fundamentals

How long have people inhabited the Iberian Peninsula?

1.4 million years. Modern humans 35,000 years ago.

When did the Phoenicians come to Spain?

They traveled to southern Spain around 3,000 years ago.

What major settlements did the Phoenicians found?

Gadir (Cadiz), Xera (Jerez) and Malaka (Malaga)

What kinds of wines did the Phoenicians produce at first?

Strong, sweet, white wines that could last on sea voyages. They were traded across the Mediterranean and North Africa.

What 2 other groups settled in Spain?

The Iberians (nomads from North Africa) settled in the Southern Part.

The Celts, from 10th to 7th century BCE, settled in the North.

These groups merged to form the Celtiberians.

When and where did the Greeks settle?

They came in 640 BCE and settled in Catalonia.H

How did the Greeks name it ‘Iberia’?

Likely after the River Iber (Ebro).

Who replaced the Phoenicians?

The Carthaginians, starting in the 6th century BCE.

When did the Romans arrive?

3rd Century BCE

How long did it take for Rome to conquer the peninsula?

170 years

Who did the Celtiberians wage war with for the fertile Ebro River Valley?

The Vascones, known today as the Basques

Describe the Roman winemaking technique vinum ceretensis

Grape must is boiled in order to concentrate flavor, and then added to fermenting must.

This creates a strong, sweet, stable wine capable of aging and transport.

What did the Romans call their province in Iberia?

Hispania

What Germanic tribe did the Romans contract rule of Hispania out to?

The Visigoths. They founded their capitol at Toledo and maintained a 200 year reign over the province starting in the Mid-6th century.

When did the Moors cross the straight of Gibraltar?

711 CE

Who did the Moors defeat to conquer Hispania?

King Roderic, a Visigoth, at Guadalete, near Jerez.

What did the Moors name Iberia?

Al-Andalus

What happened after the Moorish victory over the Visigoths?

They conquered much of Iberia over 20 years, getting as far as the Duero River.

Why did the Muslim Moors tolerate winemaking during their various ruling states?

1) They were fond of nabibi, a sweet raisin wine made in the South

2) Wine was a source of tax income

Who established the Christian kingdom of Asturius in 718?

Pelagius

What started the Reconquista?

A Christian victory over the Moors in 722 at Covadonga in Northern Asturias.

What benefit did the Cistercians bring to Spanish winemaking starting in the 12th century?

1) selection of the best soil types and areas

2) extended maceration times

3) completing filling barrels to limit oxidation

What did King Henry I of England do for Spanish wine?

He traded wool for “sherish” wine (aka ‘sherries sack’ or ‘sack’). It was produced near Jerez. At the time it was very sweet and unfortified.

What kingdoms consolidated their holdings into the Kingdom of Spain?

Kingdoms of Castile, Leon, Aragon and Portugal (not part of Spain since 1139)

Which “Catholic Monarchs” united Spain in 1469?

Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile

Who was Don Juan Manuel and what did he do?

He ruled Ribera del Duero and issued many ordinances related to wine production. Due to political stability, grapes could be grown further from cities and population centers.

What happened on January 2nd, 1492?

The last Moorish Kingdom (Grenada) was conquered, ending the Reconquista.

What was the Spanish Inquisition?

An attempt for the “Catholic Monarchs” to control religious life in Spain. Involved decrees forcing Jews to convert to Christianity or face expulsion.

How did Portugal receive its independence from powerful Spain?

After the death of Henry, King of Portugal, the kingdom reverted to his relative, King Phillip II of Spain. The Portuguese nobility did not appreciate this, and initiated a War of Restoration in 1640, crowning the Duke of Braganza as King Joao IV of Portugal. The Treaty of Lisbon in 1668 formally recognized Portugal as fully independent.

How much of colonial trade was reserved for Spanish Wine during their empire stage?

Up to 1/3rd of all cargo ships leaving the country.

Describe wines in the 1600s and the Dutch contribution to them?

They were weaker in alcohol and production left less tannin, so they tended to be lower in alcohol and was less preservable. The Dutch began to fortify the wines, particularly in Jerez, opening many distilleries.

Describe the War of Spanish Succession and any impacts.

After the death of heirless Charles II in 1701, Spain fell to Philip V, who held claims to the throne of France. Fear of a united Spanish-French kingdom led to wars and resulted in territory swaps (particularly in the colonies) and resulted in consolidation of the Spanish nation.

Madrid became the capital and Castilian Spanish the state language.

What was the impact of the Napoleonic Wars on Spain?

King Ferdinand VII was ousted in favor of Joseph Napoleon. This led to a revolt aided by Portugal and England that resulted in the return of Ferdinand.

Unfortunately, Rioja’s vineyards were devastated by the fighting.

Who are Baldomero Espartero and Colonel Luciano Murrieta and what are their contributions to Spanish wine?

They were Bodega owners from Rioja with training in Bordeaux. They introduced a) large vats for crushing and fermentation in order to reduce heat and oxidation, b) reintroduced small oak barrels for aging.

The Marquis de Murreita vineyard is still operated in Rioja today, amongst its oldest.

How devastating was phylloxera to European vineyards?

Up to 2/3rds of all vineyards were killed.

Who was Don Manuel Quintana and what did he do?

Starting in the late 1700s, he began to experiment with aging his wines in Rioja (after learning from winemakers in Bayonne).

This was cost-prohibitive at the time due to laws requiring all export wines to be uniform in price.

Aging did not return to Rioja until the late 1800s.

During the Phyllloxera outbreak, what did Rioja implement?

A law limiting vineyards with less than 750,000 liters production from exporting grapes to Bordeaux (to replace their dead vineyards).

What impacts did the Phylloxera outbreak have on Spanish winemaking.

French winemakers came to Northern Spain (Rioja, Catalunya, Navarra and Ribera del Duero), bringing technical expertise as well as their grape varieties (Cabernet and Merlot in particular).

Who was Don Eloy Lecanda y Chaves and what did he do for Spanish wine?

In 1864 he bought French Cabernet, Merlot and Malbec cuttings and planted them at Vega-Sicilia outside Ribera del Duero.

This is still considered one of Spain’s iconic wines.

Who was Josep Raventos i Fatjo and what was his contribution to Spanish winemaking?

He traveled Europe marketing the wines of Cordoniu Vineyard. He brought Champagne techniques to Catalonia’s Penedes region, creating cava in the Champagne method.

How did Phylloxera impact Spanish wines?

It came to Jerez in 1894 and Rioja in 1899, but by then the solution had been found (grafting American lambrusco rootstock). This led to more critical consideration of replantings and changed the Spanish wine landscape.

What is the consejo regulador de la de Denominacion de Origen Jerez-Xerez-Sherry

Established in 1932, it set the viticultural standards for winemaking, including regulations, quality control and proof of origin.

When did Rioja’s regulatory body come into being?

First by Royal Decree in 1926 and became active in the mid-1950s.

What was the impact of the Franco regime on winemaking in Spain?

1) white wine production was decimated (because Franco wanted only red for sacramental purposes)

2) economic conditions required some vineyards to replant into farms (wheat) - particularly bad in Catalonia and Valencia

3) Foreign investment could not be attracted to improve winemaking techniques and introduce new technologies

What was the reputation of Spanish wines after WW2?

Very bad. Dominated by large wine cooperatives (due to lack of investments), exports were labelled cheaply as imitations of French wines (“Spanish Sauternes”).

When were the regulations for the DO system organized?

1970

When did Spain join the European Economic Community (EEC, forerunner to the EU)?

1986

What has joining the EU done for Spanish winemaking?

Previously poorer regions (such as La Mancha) have received development funding as part of EU processes. Also, Spanish winemakers had to evolve to adapt to European regulations and align with other EU wine regions, leading to improved investments and technical know-how.

When was irrigation allowed for Spanish wines?

1996

Does Spanish have more land under vine than any other country?

Yes, this has been true for more than 20 years, and 85% is good enough for PDO wine.

Describe Spain’s political geography.

17 autonomous regions plus 2 autonomous cities. These operate within constitutional limits under self-government (with a capital) and the right to declare certain official cultural distinctions (including official language in addition to Castilian Spanish).

Describe Spain’s geography

3rd largest country in Europe and the second highest. 45% is covered by a huge central plateau called the Meseta, where Madrid is centered (and at the center of the country). Mountain ranges surround the Meseta.

What are the Pirineos?

Mountains that run 305 miles between the Bay of Biscay and the Mediterranean, forming a natural barrier/border with France. The highest peak is Aneto at 11,168 ft / 3404 m.

What is the Cordillera Cantabrica?

The Cantabrian Mountains. Extend from the Western Pyrenees to the Galician Massif for 186 miles. Separates Green Spain from central Spain. Home to the Peaks of Europe and some of the world’s deepest caves.

How many rivers is Spain home to? Describe a characteristic of them.

1800. Many are short and do not carry water for much of the year.

List the 5 major rivers of Spain in order of length.

1) Tajo / Tagus

2) Ebro

3) Duero

4) Guadiana

5) Guadalquivir

Describe the metamorphic soils of Spain

Primarily in the northern part of the country, particularly near the Cordillera Cantabrica, Sistema Iberico, and the Cordilleras Costero-Catalanas.

Wine producing regions include Galicia/Pais Vasco (in Green Spain), Castilla y Leon, parts of Rioja, Aragon, Navarra and parts of Catalonia.

What is Ilicorella?

Metamorphic soil unique to Priorat in Catalonia. It is a thin layer of Devonian and Carboniferous slate with low organic content, requiring vines to dig deep roots to access moisture and nutrients.

Describe the sedimentary soils of Spain.

Limestone and Chalk are ideal for tempranillo wines. Most of Spain is sedimentary, including the Meseta and the coasts. Regions include Castilla La Mancha, Madrid, most of Catalunya, Murcia, Extramadura, and Andalucia. The Islas Baleares are mostly sedimentary as well.

What is albariza?

A unique, chalky soil native to Jerez. It is a light colored soil containing 30 to 80 percent chalk mixed with limestone, sand and clay.

It can absorb a lot of water in the rainy season, and then crust over to reflect sunlight in the dry season and retains moisture.

Describe the volcanic soils of Spain.

The Canary Islands (Islas Canarias) are volcanic in nature. They tend to produce highly aromatic wines.

The soils of Rias Baixas are also volcanic, being igneous.

What are the 3 climatic zones of Spain?

1) Maritime

2) Continental

3) Mediterranean

What are the characteristics of Spain’s Maritime climatic zone?

“Green Spain” extending from Galicia to Asturias, Cantabria and Pais Vasco. The Cordillera Cantabrica separates from the Meseta. It has the lowest variations of diurnal and seasonal temperatures. There is year-round rainfall (heavy in Winter) and lots of clouds.

Great for high acidity and fruit-forward wines.

What are the characteristics of Spain’s continental climatic zone?

The Meseta, extends from Castilla La Mancha, Castilla y Leon, Madrid, Extramadura, and portions of Aragon and Navarre.

Extreme diurnal variance and seasonal temperature differences. Can be humid with high winds.

Rainfall is irregular, coming mostly in the spring (heavier in North) and fall (heavier in South).

Conducive to earlier ripening varieties (i.e. Tempranillo).

What are the characteristics of Spain’s Mediterranean climatic zone?

Stretches from Andalusian plain up to the Pirineos by Barcelona. Low diurnal differences, with low rainfall (mostly in the winter).

What is the leveche?

A hot, dry and dust-laden southwest wind originating over Northern Africa. Felt strongly in Valencia and Alicante during the spring.

What is the levante or solano?

A strong, hot easterly wind that is funneled between the Atlas Mountains and the Cordillera Penibetica.

What is the Poniente?

Wind from the west through the Andalusian plains that brings humid air to the otherwise dry Jerez growing regions.

What climate does the Canary Islands have?

A subtropical climate characterized by temperate winters and moderate summers.

What are the major white (blanco) Spanish grape varieties?

Airen,

Alarije,

Albarino,

Albillo Mayor,

Albillo Real,

Cayetana Blanca (Pardina),

Courbu Blanc,

Dona Blanca (Siria),

Doradilla,

Forastera Blanca,

Garnacha Blanca,

Godello,

Hondarribi Zuri,

Lairen (Malvar),

Listan Blanco (Palomino Fino),

Macabeo (Viura),

Malvasia Aromatica,

Malvasia de Lanzarote,

Moscatel de Alejandria,

Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains (Moscatel de Grano Menudo),

Parellada,

Pedro Ximenez,

Picapoll Blanco,

Prensal Blanc,

Siria (Dona Blanca),

Treixadura,

Verdejo,

Vijiriego,

Xarel.lo (Pansa Blanca),

Zalema

Describe Airen

White grape. Most planted variety, but also most maligned. Drought, pest and disease resistant.

Neutral, mildly acidic

Synonyms: Manchega, Valdepenas

DOs: DO La Mancha, DO Valdepenas

Describe Alarije

White grape, native to Extremadura. Genetic cross between Gibi and Planta Nova and related to Pedro Ximenez.

Thick skinned and late ripening, but prone to fungal disease. High acidity, well suited to oak. Prone to oxidation. Good for dry, sweet and fortified wines.

Synonyms: Subirat Parent

ARs: Extremadura, Catalunya

DOPs: DO Penedes, DO Catalunya, DO Ribera del Guadiana.

Describe Albarino

Indigenous to NW corner of Iberia. Val do Salnes in Rias Baixas (oldest growing area) claims to be the origin. Thick skinned but mildew-prone. Mineral, bright acidity wines with floral aromatics and flavors of peach, apricot and grapefruit.

Synonyms: Alvarinho (Portugal)

ARs: Galicia

DOPs: DO Rias Baixas

Describe Albillo Mayor

Disease resistant, low-yield grape. Thin skinned so susceptible to frost and sunburn in spring. Aromatic, low in acidity, high in alcohol.

Synonyms: Albilla, Pardina, Turruntes

ARs: Castilla y Leon

DOPs: DO Ribera del Duero

Describe Albillo Real

Great in hot, dry regions with sandy soils. Thin-skinned and buds early, making Spring frosts a problem at times. Neutral wines with weighty mouthfeel.

Synonym: Albillo, Albillo de Madrid, Albillo Criollo

ARs: Madrid, Las Islas Canarias

Primary DOPs: DO Vinos de Madrid, DO Tacoronte-Acentejo, DO Valle de la Orotava, DO Ycoden-Daute-Isora

Describe Cayetana Blanca

One of Iberia’s oldest grape varieties, and parent to at least 16 varieties. Drought resistant, productive and thrives in warm regions and sandy soils.

Moderate in alcohol and acidity, and neutral in aroma and flavor.

Synonyms: Jaen Blanco, Pardina

ARs: Extremadura

Primary DOPs: DO Ribera del Guadiana

Describe Courbu Blanc

French variety. Small-berried, produces subtle wines with moderate acidity and alcohol.

Synonyms: Hondarribi Zuri

ARs: Pais Vasco

Primary DOPs: DO Arabako Txakolina/Txakoli de Alava/Chacoli de Alava, DO Bizkaiko Txakolina/Txakoli de Bizkaia/Chacoli de Bizkaia, DO Geteriako Txakolina/Txakoli de Getaria/Chacoli de Getaria

Describe Doradilla

Native to Malaga in Andalucia. Offspring of Albillo Mayor. Medium-sized clusters with small berries prone to mildew. Full-bodied and highly aromatic wines, with notes of pear, citrus peel and almond. Racy acidity with a touch of saline.

Synonyms: Forastera Blanca

ARs: Las Islas Canarias

Primary DOPs: DO La Gomera

Describe Garnacha Blanca

A color mutation of Garnacha. Buds slightly later and ripens sooner than Garnacha. High-alcohol, moderately low acid wine prone to oxidation. Oak commonly used, as is low-temp fermentation, lees aging and skin maceration. Textured wines with floral notes.

Synonyms: Garnatxa Blanca, Grenache Blanc

ARs: Catalunya

Primary DOPs: DO Alella, DO Terra Alta

Describe Godello

Assumed native to Galicia. Nearly went extinct but recovered in the 1970s in DO Valdeorras. High quality, aromatic variety similar to Chardonnay. Full-bodied with ample alcohol good for barrel-aging. Capable of aging with good acidity.

Synonyms: Prieto Picudo Blanco, Verdelho (Portugal)

ARs: Galicia

Primary DOPs: DO Monterrei, DO Valdeorras

Describe Hondarribi Zuri

Most likely not a grape at all - could be one of 3 varieties: Courbu Blanc, Crouchen, or Noah.

Synonyms: Hondarribi Zuri, Courbu Blanc

ARs: Pais Vasco

Primary DOPs: DO Arabako Txakolina/Txakoli de Alava/Chacoli de Alava, DO Bizkaiko Txakolina/Txakoli de Bizkaia/Chacoli de Bizkaia, DO Geteriako Txakolina/Txakoli de Getaria/Chacoli de Getaria

Describe Lairen

Native to Andalucia but also grown near Madrid. Genetically separate from Airen. Productive and drought-resistant, especially in Clay soils. High alcohol, high acidity.

Synonyms: Malvar, Layren

ARs: Madrid, Andalucia

Primary DOPs: DO Vinos de Madrid, DO Malaga

Describe Macabeo

Believed native to Catalunya. Late to bud/ripen, does best in hot, dry growing conditions (prone to rot). Aromatically subtle, low to moderate acidity. Responds well to barrel-aging.

One of 3 grapes used in making Cava (adds softness and perfume to the blend).

Synonyms: Viura, Macabeu, Maccabeu

ARs: La Rioja, Cataluna

Primary DOPs: DOCa Rioja, DO Cava

Describe Malvasia Aromatica

Ancient grape from across Europe. Early ripening, producing highly aromatic, medium-to-full bodied wines with moderate acidity. Primarily used in production of vinos dulces that display exotic tropical flavors and aromatics.

Synonyms: Malvasia de Tenerife, Malvasia de Sitges

ARs: Las Islas Canarias

Primary DOPs: DO La Palma

Describe Malvasia de Lanzarote

Recently named, not in Spain’s official register. A local, natural cross of Malvasia Aromatica and Marmajuelo. Early ripening, resistant to pests and diseases. Characteristically full-bodied and low in acidity with notes of citrus and tropical fruit.

Synonyms: Malvasia Volcanica

ARs: Las Islas Canarias

Primary DOPs: DO Lanzarote

Describe Moscatel de Alejandria

Ancient, aromatic grape. Likes warm areas with big bunches of large berries that ripen late (warm autumn is essential). High sugar levels, known for dessert wines with exotic aromas of orange blossom and rose petal.

Synonyms: Moscatel, Moscatel de Chipiona, Moscatel de Grano Gardo, Moscatel de Malaga, Moscatel Gordo

ARs: Valencia, Andalucia

Primary DOPs: DO Alicante, DO Jerez-Xeres-Sherry, DO Manzanilla-Sanlucar de Barrameda, DO Malaga

Describe Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains

Produces vibrant, aromatic wines with hints of raisin, honey, peach, apricot, mango orange blossom and musk. Ripens with high sugar levels, high extract levels and good acidity.

Synonyms: Moscatel de Grano Menudo, Moscatel de Grano Pequeno

ARs: Cataluna, Castilla-La Mancha

Primary DOPs: DO Emporda, DO Penedes, DO La Mancha

Describe Palomino Fino

Native to Andalucia, thin-skinned grape known for Sherry. Thrives in albariza soils. Needs proper root stock to prevent chlorosis, a condition common in chalky soils with high calcium.

Productive vine with low acidity fruit and not particularly aromatic.

Synonyms: Palomino, Listan Blanco, Listan Blanco de Canarias.

ARs: Andalucia, Las Islas Canarias

Primary DOPs: DO Jerez-Xeres-Sherry, DO Manzanilla-Sanlucar de Barrameda, DO Abona, DO Gran Canaria, DO Valle de Guimar, DO Valle de la Orotava, DO Ycoden-Daute-Isora

Describe Parellada

Native to Aragon, one of the 3 traditional Cava varieties. Early-budding, very late to ripen, lower in alcohol than the other cava grapes. Brings finesse and a lemony freshness to the blend.

ARs: Cataluna

Primary DOPs: DO Cava

Describe Pedro Ximenez

Believed native to Andalucia. Productive vine yielding large bunches of grapes with both large and small berries. Thick skins, but susceptible to rot and mildew. Often sun-dried to concentrate sugars and aromas which yields rich, luscious fortified wines. Low in acidity, moderately high in alcohol and often viscous with an overt grapey, raisiny character.

Synonyms: PX, Pero Ximen, Verdello

ARs: Andalucia

Primary DOPs: DO Jerez-Xeres-Sherry, DO Manzanilla-Sanlucar de Barrameda, DO Malaga, DO Montilla-Moriles

Describe Picapoll Blanco

Believed native to Catalunya. Similar genetically to Clairette Blanche.

Synonyms: Picapoll, Picapolla Blanca

ARs: Cataluna

Primary DOPs: DO Pla de Bages

Describe Prensal Blanc

Native to Las Islas Baleares. Productive but produces wines with low acidity prone to oxidation.

Synonyms: Prensal Blanca, Moll

ARs: Las Islas Baleares

Primary DOPs: DO Binissalem, DO Pla i Llevant

Describe Siria

More acreage in its native Portugal than in Spain. Prefers warm growing conditions, but acidity can drop too low if not harvested at the right time. Provides aromatics of acacia, laurel, citrus and stone fruit.

Synonyms: Dona Blanca, Malvasia Castellana

ARs: Castilla y Leon

Primary DOPs: DO Tierra del Vino de Zamora

Describe Treixadura

Brought to Galicia, genetically similar to Vinho Verde. Vigorous and productive, with thin-skinned grapes susceptible to rot and mildew. Citrus and stone fruit aromatics. Often blended with other Galician varieties.

Synonyms: Trajadura (Portugal)

ARs: Galicia

Primary DOPs: DO Ribeiro

Describe Verdejo

From Spanish word for Green (verde). Introduced to Rueda by the Arabs. Not vigorous, drought resistant but susceptible to mildew. Moderate to high acidity and alcohol, distinctive bay leaf aromas. Barrel fermented and barrel-aged bottlings develop distinctive nuttiness.

Synonyms: Albillo de Nava (Ruedo)

ARs: Castilla y Leon

Primary DOPs: DO Rueda

Describe Vijiriego

Taken from Andalucia to the Canary Islands in the 15th or 16th centuries. Productive, vigorous and disease-resistant. Produces fresh, low-alcohol, high-acid white wines.

Synonyms: Diego, Vijariego Blanco, Vijiriega

ARs: Andalucia, Las Islas Canarias

Primary DOPs: VC Granada, DO Islas Canarias, DO Lanzarote

Describe Xarel.lo

Believed to be native to the Catalan town of Sitges near Penedes. High-yielding, with high-acid ripening, high-extract fruit with high sugar levels. Used to craft both still and sparkling wines, where it delivers structure and flavors of herbs and citrus.

Synonyms: Xarello, Xarel-lo, Xarelo, Pansa Blanca, Pansal Blanc

ARs: Cataluna

Primary DOPs: Do Alella, DO Cava, DO Penedes

Describe Zalema

Believed to be native to the Huelva province of Andalucia. Vigorous, productive and drought-resistant variety. Large bunches with medium sized berries. Delivers neutral wine with hints of almonds with a propensity to oxidize.

ARs: Andalucia

Primary DOPs: DO Condado de Huelva

List the major Tinto (Red) varieties of Spain

Alicante Henri Bouschet (Garnacha Tintorera)

Bobal

Callet

Fogoneu

Garnacha Peluda

Garnacha Tinta

Graciano

Hondarribi Beltza

Listan Negro

Manto Negro

Mazuelo (Carinena)

Mencia

Monastrell

Prieto Picudo

Rufete

Tempranillo

Trepat

Describe Alicante Henri Bouschet

Cross of Grenache and Petit Bouschet. High-yielding and vigorous, thriving in warm growing conditions. Adds fruit and color to the blend.

Synonyms: Garnacha Tintorera

ARs: Castilla-La Mancha

Primary DOPs: DO Almansa