level: The Islands
Questions and Answers List
The need-to-know DOs of the Islas Baleares and Islas Canarias
level questions: The Islands
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| DO Binissalem: Location, climate, soils | Island of Mallorca, Mediterranean protected from Tramontana by Serra de Tramuntana Mountains; limestone, large limestone gravel |
| DO Binissalem: Styles (primary grapes) | 64% tinto (Manto Negro), 16% rosado, 14% blanco (Prensal Blanc/Moll); typically blends, tintos use age designations |
| What are the characteristics of the Manto Negro grape? | Wines pale in color, notes of berry fruit and flowers, generally light, low in tannins and high in alcohol, commonly blended with international varieties |
| What is the Tramontana? | Brutal winds that batter Mallorca |
| DO Pla i Llevant: Location, climate, soils | Island of Mallorca, Mediterranean, tempered by Embat; limestone, red clay topsoil: call vermell |
| DO Pla i Llevant - wines | 43% tinto (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Callet), 39% blanco (Prensal Blanc/Moll); mostly blends and international varietals |
| What is Call Vermell? | Red clay topsoil on Island of Mallorca (DO Pla i Llevant) |
| What is the Embat? | Mallorca sea breeze that brings moisture during the warmer months and gives wines a hint of saline |
| DO Islas Canarias: Styles, location, generally | 66% blanco, 29% tinto, 5% rosado; covers all islands in the Canarias; tintos may carry age designations |
| DO Lanzarote: Location, climate, soils | Island of Lanzarote, subtropical; lapilli/picon atop sand/clay; many reds undergo carbonic maceration |
| DO Lanzarote: Styles, primary grapes | 80% blanco (Malvasia Volcanica/Malvasia de Lanzarote), 12% tinto (Listan Negro/Almuneco) |
| What is Lapilli/picon? | Soil comprised of lava and volcanic ash |
| What are Hoyos? | Holes dug into lava in which vines are planted and then surrounded by abrigo as a wind break |
| What is an Abrigo? | Wall surrounding a vine in an hoyo |
| DO Tacoronte-Acentejo: Location, climate, soil | Island of Tenerife, subtropical; volcanic soil |
| DO Tacoronte-Acentejo: Styles, primary grapes | 83% tinto (Listan Negro/Almuneca), 13% blanco; most tintos varietal Listan Negro, some with carbonic maceration |
| DO Valle de la Orotava: Location, climate, soils | Island of Tenerife, subtropical; volcanic, sandy clay; vineyards on terraced northern slopes of Mt. Teide |
| DO Valle de la Orotava: Styles, dominant grapes | 60% tinto (Listan Negro), 34% blanco (Listan Blanco); both produce light, fresh, easy drinking, mineral driven wines |
| What does Cordon trenzado mean? | DO Valle de la Orotava: braided training system, allowing cordons to be moved aside for other crops |
| DO Ycoden-Duate-Isora: Location, climate, soils | Island of Tenerife, subtropical; volcanic, sandy clay; vineyards on steep and treacherous slopes of Mt Teide at high elevation |
| DO Ycoden-Duate-Isora: Styles, primary grapes | 78% blanco (Listan Blanco de Canarias), 21% tinto (Listan Negro/Almuneca); reputation for vinos blancos |