Spanish Wine Scholar
Wine Scholar Guild "Spanish Wine Scholar" program.
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Spanish Wine Scholar - Leaderboard
Spanish Wine Scholar - Details
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| DO Rias Baixas: Styles (primary grapes), climate, soils, sub-zones | 99% blanco (Albarino); maritime; shallow sandy soils; 5 sub-zones: Val do Salnes, Condado do Tea, O Rosal, Soutomaior, Ribeira do Ulla |
| Val do Salnes: Generally, secondary grapes | Subzone of Rias Baixas: 50% of production, coolest subzone, Loureira, Treixadura & Carino Blanco secondary grapes |
| Condado do Tea: Generally, secondary grape | Subzone of Rias Baixas: most inland, most mountainous, second largest, Treixadura second grape |
| O Rosal: Generally, secondary grape | Subzone of Rias Baixas: on right bank of Mino River, vineyards on terraces facing river, Loureira second grape |
| Soutomaior: Generally, secondary grape | Subzone of Rias Baixas: smallest subzone, only Albarino |
| Ribeira do Ulla: Generally, secondary grapes | Subzone of Rias Baixas: northernmost sub-zone, best reds (Mencia), Loureira, Treixadura & Carino Blanco secondary grapes |
| DO Ribeira Sacra: Styles (primary grapes), climate, soils | 94% tinto (Mencia); maritime; slate and granite soils; 5 sub-zones, Ribeira Sacra Summum special designation |
| Ribeira Sacra Summum | Special DO Ribeira Sacra designation: tintos from minimum 85% preferred varieties, minimum 60% Mencia; blancos 100% preferred, i.e., Albarino, Loureira, Treixadura, Godello, Dona Branca, Torrontes |
| DO Ribeiro: Styles (primary grapes), climate, soils | 90% blanco (Treixadura); maritime; granite (70%), schist (20%), sedimentary (10%); oldest in Galicia, colleiteiro |
| What is a Colleiteiro? | Unique to DO Ribiero: boutique winery wth no more than 60,000 l annual production, owners manage entire production cycle |
| DO Valdeorras: Styles (primary grapes), climate, soils | 55% blanco (Godello), 45% tinto (Mencia); maritime w/continental; shallow slate topsoil atop quartzite and schist bedrock, 8 sub-zones |
| DO Valdeorras labeling requirements | "Godello" must be 100% Godello; espumosos at least 85% Godello; "Mencia" at least 85% Mencia; Valdeorras Castas Nobles (85% preferred) |
| Valdeorras Castas Nobles | DO Valdeorras special designation: wine must be at least 85% preferred varieties, the most important of which are Godello and Mencia |
| DO Arabako Txakolina/Txakoli de Alava/Chacolli de Alava: Styles (primary grapes), climate, soils | 94% blanco (Hondarribi Zuri), 6% espumoso; maritime; limestone with stone and clay; wines riper, richer, fuller bodied than other Pais Vasco DOs |
| DO Bizaiko Txakolina/Txakoli de Bizkaia/Chacoli de Bizkaia: Styles (primary grapes), climate, soils | 99% blanco (Hondarribi Zuri); maritime; clay-loam, limestone and marl; wines light and easy drinking, high in acid |
| DO Getariako Txakolina/Txakoli de Getaria/Chacolli de Getaria: Styles (primary grapes), climate, soils | 93% blanco (Hondarribi Zuri), 6% rosado (Hondarribi Beltza); maritime; sandy topsoil with alluvial clay subsoil; wines light, easy drinking, acidic |
| 1A | Ribeira do Ulla, subzone of Rias Baixas |
| DO Rias Baixas White Wine Designation: Rias Baixas | No restriction on grapes used |
| DO Rias Baixas White Wine Designation: Rias Baixas Condado do Tea | At least 70% Albarino and balance Treixadura (note that Condado do Tea is adjacent to DO Ribeiro, which uses Treixadura as its primary grape) |
| DO Rias Baixas White Wine Designation: Rias Baixas Rosal | At least 70% Albarino and balance Loureira |
| DO Rias Baixas White Wine Designation: Rias Baixas Salnes | At least 70% Albarino, balance Treixadura, Loureira & Caino Blanco |
| DO Rias Baixas White Wine Designation: Rias Baixas Ribeira do Ulla | At least 70% Albarino, balance Treixadura, Loureira & Caino Blanco |
| What are the two most important rivers in Galicia? | The Mino River and the Sil River |
| The Macizo Galaico/Galician Massif form the western part of what mountain range? | Cordillera Cantabrica |
| DO Bierzo: Styles (primary grapes), climate, soils | 83% tinto (Mencia), 12% blanco (Godello); continental with significant maritime; granite, limestone, quartzite, slate |
| DO Cigales: Styles (primary grapes), climate, soils | 64% rosado & 34% tinto (Tinta del Pais/Tempranillo), 2% blanco (Verdejo); continental; sand and limestone topsoil atop clay and loam; one of Spain's largest producers of rosados |
| What are Majuelos? | Family owned and farmed plots within village who sell grapes to producers in DO Cigales |
| DO Ribera del Duero: Styles (primary grapes), climate, soils | 99% tinto (Tinto Fino/Tinta del Pais/Tempranillo); continental; 32 soils, primarily sandy limestone and clay; one of highest average elevations |
| DO Ribera del Duero - Crianza | 12 months in barrel, 24 months before release |
| DO Ribera del Duero - Reserva | 12 months in barrel, 36 months before release |
| DO Ribera del Duero - Gran Reserva | 24 months in barrel, 60 months before release |
| DO Rueda: Styles (primary grapes), climate, soils | 99% blanco (Verdejo); continental; gravel and stone, sandy limestone and limestone; approx. 40% of Spain's white wine production |
| "Rueda" white wine | ≥ 50% Verdejo |
| "Rueda Verdejo" white wine | ≥ 85% Verdejo |
| "Rueda Sauvignon" white wine | ≥ 85% Sauvignon Blanc |
| "Rueda Espumoso" | ≥ 50% Verdejo (Seco/Semi-seco), ≥ 85% Verdejo (Brut/Brut Nature) |
| "Rueda Dorado" | Oxidatively aged using only Verdejo, Sauvignon Blanc, Palomino Fino and/or Viura |
| DO Toro: Styles (primary grapes), climate, soils | 93% tinto (Tinta de Toro/Tempranillo); continental; sand and clay with limestone; typically Tempranillo, sometimes Garnacha Tinta added to blend |
| Rioja Alavesa: Location, climate, soil, dominant grape | North of Ebro River; continental with maritime influence; calcareous clay; 21% of DOCa Rioja vineyards, Tempranillo |
| Rioja Alta: Location, climate, soil, dominant grape | South of Ebro River; continental with maritime influence; calcareous clay, ferrous clay, alluvium; 42% of DOCa Rioja vineyards, Tempranillo |
| Rioja Oriental: Location, climate, soil, dominant grape | Mostly south of Ebro River; continental with Mediterranean influence; ferrous clay, alluvium; 37% of DOCa Rioja vineyards, Garnacha Tinta, Graciano |
| DOCa Rioja: Styles (primary grapes), climate, soils | 90% tinto; continental; calcareous clay, ferrous clay and alluviums; typical tinto blend 60%-80% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha Tinta, balance Mazuelo (Carinena) and Graciano |
| DOCa Rioja - Generico (tinto) | No minimum times in barrel, bottle or before release |
| DOCa Rioja - Joven (tinto) | Minimums: 12 months in barrel, no minimum in bottle, "minimum two calendar years from October 1 of the harvest year" |
| DOCa Rioja - Reserva (tinto) | Minimums: 12 months in barrel, 6 months in bottle, 36 months before release |
| DOCa Rioja - Gran Reserva (tinto) | Minimums: 24 months in barrel, 24 months in bottle, 60 months before release |
| DOCa Rioja - Generico (blanco) | No minimum times in barrel, bottle or before release |
| DOCa Rioja - Joven (blanco) | Minimums: 6 months in barrel, no minimum in bottle, "minimum two calendar years from October 1 of the harvest year" |
| DOCa Rioja - Reserva (blanco) | Minimums: 6 months in barrel, no minimum in bottle, 24 months before release |
| DOCa Rioja - Gran Reserva (blanco) | Minimums: 6 months in barrel, no minimum in bottle, 48 months before release |
| Requirements of Vinedos Singulares | DOCa Rioja: if grapes purchased, 10-year K, vines at least 35 years old, yields 20% less than standard, hand harvesting, transparency, quality assessment |
| Requirements of a Vino de Municipio | DOCa Rioja: winery located in municipio, up to 15% of grapes may be from neighboring village (10 year K), production figures transparent |
| Requirements of a Vinos de Zone | DOCa Rioja: winery located in zone, up to 15% of grapes may be from neighboring zone (10 year K), production figures transparent |
| Requirements of Espumosos de Calidad de Rioja | DOCa Rioja: between 11%-13% abv, metodo tradicional, 15-month sur lie aging, (24 mo for Reserva, 36 mo for Gran Reserva, which must be vintage), Brut Nature, Extra Brut, Brut only |
| What are Cosechos? | DOCa Rioja: grape growers who produce young red wine using method similar to carbonic maceration |
| DO Navarra: Styles, climate, soils | 63% tinto, 25% rosado, 11% blanco; continental with maritime influences; mostly marl, loam and sand, some limestone in south, clay along river |
| DO Navarra: Tierra Estella sub-zone: Generally, soils, dominant grapes | Westernmost; hilly and highest; clay, marl, loam, gravel and sand; Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay |
| DO Navarra: Valdizarbe sub-zone: Generally, soils, dominant grapes | North-central; most humid; marl, loam, alluvium; Tempranillo, Garnacha Tinta, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Malvasia Riojana |
| DO Navarra: Baja Montana sub-zone: Generally, soils, dominant grapes | Foothills of Pirineos; marl, loam, sand, limestone, gravel; vinos rosados of intense color; Tempranillo, Garnacha Tinta |
| DO Navarra: Ribera Alta sub-zone: Generally, soils, dominant grapes | Center of Navarra; vineyards on high terraces in loamy clay, marl, sand, limestone; Tempranillo, Graciano, Chardonnay, Moscatel de Grano Menudo |
| DO Navarra: Ribera Baja sub-zone: Generally, soils, dominant grapes | Southernmost; warmest; loam, limestone, marl, sand; Tempranillo, Garnacha Tinta, Viura, Moscatel de Grano Menudo |
| DO Calatayud: Styles (primary grapes), climate, soils | 91% tinto (Garnacha Tinta); continental; gray and red slate, clay, sand; high elevation; tintos generally varietal Garnacha |
| What are "Vinas Viejas"? | DO Calatayud: vines must be at least 35 years old, maximum yield of 4,500 kg/ha |
| What is "Calatayud Superior"? | DO Calatayud: minimum 85% Garnacha from vines at least 50 years old, maxiumum yield of 3,500 kg/ha |
| DO Campo de Borja: Styles (primary grapes), climate, soils | 82% tinto (Garnacha Tinta), 10% rosado, 8% blanco; continental, w/Cierzo wind; brownish-grey limestone, clay; old vines and cooperatives |
| What is the Cierzo? | Cold northwestern wind affecting Aragon |
| DO Carinena: Styles (primary grapes), climate, soils | 89% tinto (Garnacha Tinta), 8% blanco; continental, w/Cierzo wind; reddish-brown limestone, slate, clay; old vine Garnacha and Tempranillo |
| What is "Anejo"? | DO Carninena: (Garnacha Tinta) at minimum 15% abv, produced in oxidative method, 24 months in barrel |
| DO Somontano: Styles (primary grapes), climate, soils | 57% tinto (blends), 23% blanco (varietals), 19% rosado; continental with Mediterranean influences; brown limestone, clay; international and indigenous |
| DO Cataluna/Catalunya: Styles, Generally | 49% blanco, 41% tinto, 10% rosado; varies; catch-all for entire region, i.e., an "umbrella DO"; spread out over 150 municipalities and seven regions |
| DO Cava: Styles (primary grapes), climate, soils | 100% espumoso; (Cataluna) Mediterranean with continental; (Cataluna) calcareous clay with high limestone content |
| What seven autonomous regions make DO Cava? | Cataluna, La Rioja, Comunidad Valenciana, Aragon, Navarra, Extremadura and Pais Vasco |
| DO Cava Aging Desgination: Cava | 9 months minimum aging |
| DO Cava Aging Desgination: Reserva | 15 months minimum aging |
| DO Cava Aging Desgination: Gran Reserva | 30 months minimum aging; Brut Nature, Extra Brut and Brut only |
| Cava de Paraje Calificado | 36 months; Brut Nature, Extra Brut and Brut only; ≥10 year old vines; single vineyard; hand harvest; low yields; estate vinified; vintage; approved |
| Who was Josep Raventos I Fatjo? | Visited Champagne in 1872 and returned to Spain to create sparkling wines using same method |
| Who was Manuel Raventos Domenech? | Son of Josep; formulated classic blend: Xarel.lo, Macabeo, Parellada |
| What is a Girasol? | Hand operated pre-cursor to fully automated gyropalette for riddling |
| DO Emporda: Styles (primary grapes), climate, soils | 58% tinto (Samso/Carinena, Garnacha Tinta/Lledoner), 24% blanco (Garnacha Blanca); Mediterranean with Tramontana; alluvium (plains), slate/granite (mountains) |
| Where is Alt Emporda? | Northernmost of the non-contiguous sections of DO Emporda |
| Where is Baix Emporda? | Southernmost of the non-contiguous sections of DO Emporda |
| What is "Garnacha del Emporda"? | DO Emporda: ≥ 90% Garnacha Tinta and/or Garnacha Peluda, and ≥ 2 years aging |
| What is the Tramontana? | Strong, dry north wind that blows through autumn, winter and spring; desicates grapes and concentrates flavors and sugar, affects Emporda |
| DO Montsant: Styles (primary grapes), climate, soils | 90% tinto (Garnatxa Negra, Samso blends); Mediterranean with continental; panal, saulo, llicorella; reds similar to DOQ priorat, but lighter, less complex |
| What is Panal? | Silty loam soil found in DO Montsant |
| What is Sauló? | Limey clay with some grantic sand soil found in DO Montsant |
| What is Llicorella? | Copper-colored quartz-rich decomposed slate soil found in DO Montsant and DOQ Priorat |
| DO Penedes: Styles (primary grapes), climate, soils | 51% blanco (Garnatxa Blanca), 35% tinto (Garnatxa Negra, Samso), 11% rosado; Mediterranean; limestone, loamy clay; three sub-zones |
| What is "Classic Penedes"? | DO Penedes espumoso designation: 100% organic, all from Penedes, in registered cellars, ≥ 15 months on lees; first organic designation in world |
| DOCa/DOQ Priorat: Styles (primary grapes), climate, soils | 95% tinto (Garnacha Tinta, Samso); Mediterranean with continental, Cierzo winds; llicorella |
| What is Vi de Vila + [name of subzone]? | DOQ Priorat quality category: 12 villages and growing zones; grapes from village; max yields 7,000 kg/ha (whites), 5,000 kg/ha (reds) ; 90% of vineyards ≥ 10 years, balance ≥ 5 years |
| What are Els Noms de la Terra? | DOQ Priorat quality category: Available for non-regional bottlings, with 3 subcategories |
| What is Vi de Paratge? | DOQ Priorat, Els Noms de la Terra quality subcategory: grapes from paratge, max yields 6,000 kg/ha (whites), 4,000 kg/ha (reds), 90% of vineyards ≥ 15 years, balance ≥ 5 years |
| What is Vinya Classificada? | DOQ Priorat, Els Noms de la Terra quality subcategory (4 fincas): grapes from single vineyard, max yields 6,000 kg/ha (whites), 4,000 kg/ha (reds), 80% of vineyards ≥ 20 years, balance ≥ 5 years |
| What is Gran Vinya Classificada? | DOQ Priorat, Els Noms de la Terra quality subcategory (1 finca): grapes from single vineyard, max yields 4,000 kg/ha (whites), 3,000 kg/ha (reds), 90% of vineyards ≥ 35 years, balance ≥ 10 years |
| What is Clos Mogador? | DOQ Priorat Vinya Classificada |
| What is Mas de la Rosa? | DOQ Priorat Vinya Classificada |