Spain & Portugal

What is the equivalent to the French AOC system in Spain?

Denominación de Origen (DO) & Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa/DOQ)

What are the classifications of Spanish wines?

Vino de Mesa, Vino de la Tierra (VT), Vino de Calidad (VC), Denominación de Origen (DO), Vino de Pago (VP)

What is a fortified wine (in Spain)?

added spirits to increase alcohol content (ex: Sherry)

What are the classifications of Sherries?

Fino, Manzanilla, Amontillado, Oloroso, Pedro Ximénez

Sherry Classification: Fino

Dry, aged under a layer of flor yeast

Sherry Classification: Manzanilla

A lighter type of Fino from Sanlúcar de Barrameda

Sherry Classification: Amontillado

Aged first under flor, then oxidatively

Sherry Classification: Oloroso

Fully oxidatively aged, richer and darker

Sherry Classification: Pedro Ximénez

Sweet, made from sun-dried grapes

How and when are the different styles of fortified wines generally served?

Sherries are served at various temperatures depending on style (Example: Finos chilled, Olorosos at room temperature) and are used as an aperitif or with meals

What winemaking practices are unique to the fortified wines made in Spain? E.G. solera system, etc.

Fortification, biological aging under flor, oxidative aging, solera system

Oxidative Aging

Wine ages in contact with air, creating rich, nutty, darker styles like Oloroso

Solera System

method for aging Sherry where younger wines are gradually blended with older ones in barrels

What are the major grape varieties grown in Spain? (Emphasis will be on the ones discussed in class.)

For white wines: Albariño, Verdejo, Macabeo (also called Viura), and Airén
For red wines: Tempranillo (Spain’s most important red), Garnacha (Grenache), Monastrell, and Mencía

What are the most important Spanish wine regions?

Jerez de la Frontera, Sanlúcar de Barrameda, and Montilla-Moriles are key for Sherry production

What are the labeling requirements and how does one decode Spanish wine labels?

wine’s quality level, region, producer, vintage, and aging category

How does Spain’s climates influence wine styles produced in various regions?

Hot places like La Mancha make strong, rich wines. Cool coastal areas like Rías Baixas make light, fresh whites. High-up regions like Rioja and Ribera del Duero make smooth, balanced reds.

What, if any, historic events influenced the growth of the wine industry in Spain?

Roman rule expanded vineyards, Moorish rule limited wine, and phylloxera in France led French winemakers to Spain, helping regions like Rioja grow and modernize their wine production.

What terms on a Spanish label (table and fortified wines) are meaningful and what do they tell us?

Words like DO or DOCa show wine quality. Joven, Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva tell how long the wine was aged. For Sherry, names like Fino or Oloroso tell you the style and taste.

What is the equivalent to the French AOC system in Portugal?

DOC (Denominação de Origem Controlada) is the main term, like the French AOC. DOP (Denominação de Origem Protegida) is also used under EU rules and means the same thing.

What are the classifications of Portuguese wines?

Vinho – Basic table wine
Vinho Regional – From a larger region, like IGP wines
DOC (or DOP) – Highest quality, from regulated regions with strict rules

Fortified wines in Portugal

Port and Madeira

Classifications of Port and Madeira

Port: Includes styles like Ruby, Tawny, Vintage, and Late Bottled Vintage (LBV).
Madeira: Categorized by the grape varieties such as Sercial, Verdelho, Boal, and Malmsey, with styles ranging from dry to very sweet.

How and when are the different styles of fortified wines generally served?

Dry styles like Fino or Manzanilla (Spain) and Sercial (Madeira) are served chilled as an aperitif.
Sweeter styles like Port, Oloroso, Boal, and Malmsey are served after dinner with dessert, cheese, or on their own.

What winemaking practices are unique to the fortified wines made in Portugal?  E.G. arresting fermentation, heating the finished product, etc.

Port: Fermentation is arrested by the addition of grape spirit to preserve some of the natural sweetness of the grape.
Madeira: Utilizes the estufa system where the wine is heated, promoting aging and developing unique flavors

What are the major grape varieties grown in Portugal?

Port: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Roriz, and Tinta Cão.
Madeira: Sercial, Verdelho, Boal, Malmsey.
For red wines: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo), and Baga.
For white wines: Alvarinho (Albariño), Loureiro, Arinto, and Encruzado.

What are the most important wine regions in Portugal?

Douro Valley: Famous for Port.
Madeira: Known for Madeira fortified wine

What are the labeling requirements and how does one decode Portuguese wine labels?

Labels tell you the wine’s quality (like basic or top), where it’s from, who made it, and how strong it is. For Port, labels also say the style (like Ruby or Tawny) and sometimes the age (like 10 or 20 years). “Quinta” means it’s from one farm.

How does Portugal’s climate influence wine styles produced in various regions?

Cooler, wetter areas like Vinho Verde make light, fresh wines. Hot, dry regions like Alentejo make bold, full-bodied wines. The Douro has steep slopes and heat, making strong reds and sweet Ports.

What, if any, historic events influenced the growth of the wine industry in Portugal?

Roman rule started wine production. The Treaty of Windsor and Methuen Treaty with England boosted the Port wine trade. Later, the phylloxera outbreak hurt vineyards but led to replanting and change.

What terms on a Portuguese label (table and fortified wines) are meaningful and what do they tell us?

DOC/DOP means top quality. Vinho Regional is from a large region. Reserva and Garrafeira mean better quality and more aging. Ruby, Tawny, LBV, and Vintage show Port styles. Colheita is a Tawny Port from one vintage. 10, 20, 30, 40 years show Tawny Port age. Quinta means it’s from one estate.