About the Country of SPAIN Denominacion de Origin 1926 . revised for EU 1990's Table Wine: Tapas: Vino de Mesa Bodega = wine cellar = winery without specific geography 3rd largest wine producing country Vino de la Tierra Most acres planted to vineyard in world must come from 1 of several large designated areas Dry climate >> low yields Steeped in tradition used by innovative winemakers for specialty wines 1960's movement to cool fermentation, Quality Wine Produced in a Specific Region (QWPSR): less aging, American to French oak Sherry from Andalucia, south coast regulates varietals by area, max yields, min alcohol, Multiple names for same grapes some viticulture, irrigation, viniculture, aging French influence from 1860 phylloxera Denominacion de Origin (DO) Less than 50 designated Largest category Modeled from Italy's DOC and France's AOC QWPSR regulations Denominacion de Origin Calificada (DOCa) Category Red min age/oak White min age/oak Highest category Vino Joven < 1 yr / no oak < 1 yr / no oak Rioja & Priorat only Crianza 2 yrs / 1 oak 1 yr / 6 mos oak Rioja longer specified aging requirements Reserva 3 yrs / 1 oak 2 yrs / 6 mos oak Gran Reserva 5 yrs / 2 oak 4 yrs / 6 mos oak MAP BY SOCIETY OF WINE EDUCATORS About the Country of SPAIN Region Grapes Climate & Soil of Note Cuisine Andalucia Southern Coast Moscatel, Pedro Chalky limestone. Sherry. Table wines emerging. Grilled sardines, Ximinez gazpacho. Bierzo DO Castilla y Leon Godello, Mencia Fertile valley. New home to Spain's top Trout, botillo (local winemakers. sausage), empanada. Carinena DO Ebro River Garnacha, Hot summers, dry, hail, ciezro Red, white & rose. Roast lamb, kid & Valley Tempranillo north wind. Limestone, slate, sucking pig. alluvial. Chacoli de Bizcaia DO Basque Hondarrabi Zuri Steep. Sand, limestone. Light, dry whites. Shellfish, olives. La Mancha DO Castilla- Cencibel Hot and dry. World's largest region. Vines low Pisto manchego (pepper, LaMancha (Tempranillo), CS, and wide for shade and ground tomato, squash soup), Syrah moisture. heavy stews, ham, cod. Madrid DO Communidad Malvar, Garnacha, Hot summers, varied rains, Old tradition, very good wines. Cocido madrileno Autonoma Tempranillo frost threats. South of city. (chickpea stew), cod, snails, garlic soup. Montsant DO Catalunya Macabeo, Garnacha Dry summers, occasional hail Surrounds Priorat, powerful reds, Fish, rabbit, duck, fresh Blanca, Carinena, and frost. Mtns, rocky white & rose, rancio from solera. vegetables. Drizzled with Garnacha, CS outcrops. Limestone, granite, liquid gold olive oil. slate. Navarra DO Ebro River Viura, Garnacha, North: cool Atlantic winds. Most French oak usage of Spain. Trout, beef, game, paella, Valley Tempranillo, South: hot & dry. Summer fiesta, Pamplona. cheese. International Garnacha rosado. Varietals Penedes DO Catalunya Chard, Macabeo, Monserrat Massif, Innovative, dynamic & varied. Seacoast, farm, mtns. Parellado, Xarel-lo, Mediterranean, rugged steps, Introduced Cava. Near Garlic, tomatoes, nuts. Ull de Llebre, warm coast to cool high Barcelona and French border. Aioli, sofrito, picada, Carinena, Garnacha, plateaus. Calcaire, alluvial, clay, Modern style. romesco sauces. Monastrell, CS limestone. Priorat DOCa Catalunya Carinena, Garnacha, Brown slate / quartzite soil Low yields. Intense, inky, Seafood, nuts, rice, goat international (Illorcella), dry. Terraced, steep powerful reds. Mules work & sheep cheese. slopes. vineyards. Not categorized. Rias Baixas DO Galicia Albarino Cool Atlantic winds, rainy. Horizontal trellises (pergola) Shellfish. ventilate. Small scale winemaking. Ribera del Duero DO Castilla y Leon, Tinto 2500-3000', spring frost, Rotate from oak barrels to casks Lechazo (roast baby Duero River Fino/Fina/Pais autumn rain, hot days, cool to concrete vats. Top wines in lamb), blood sausage, (Tempranillo) nights. world. sheep milk. Ribera del Guadiana DO Extremadura. Pardina, Dry, warm-hot summers. DO approved 1997, 6 diverse Iberian ham, beef, lamb, Tempranillo. Most Sandy, clay, limestone, regions. goat & sheep cheese. variety. alluvium. Ribera del Jucar DO Castilla- Moscatel, SB, Dry. 750' plateau pebbly, clay Independent panel decides if Rich stews, cod, fresh LaMancha Cencibel, Bobal subsoil. Riverbank. region allowed on label. vegetables. Rioja DOCa Ebro River Viura , Garnacha, Maritime. Plateau @ 1500'. Spain's finest region. Long oak Roast lamb, tomatoes, Valley Tempranillo, Clay, limestone, sandstone, iron aging tradition (used American). red peppers, goat cheese. Mazuelo rich, loamy alluvial silt. Modernists using less oak, (Carignane), CS French on the rise. Rueda DO Castilla y Leon, Verdelho #1, Viura Ample rain in spring & fall. Spain's finest whites. Lamb, partridge, Duero River & SB Chalk. asparagus, leeks. Valencia DO Levante Macabeo. Cencibel Extreme temps, varied rain, Clean, simple, affordable wines. Paella. (Tempranillo) hail, winds. Limestone, chalk, clay. Valdeorras DO Galicia Godello, Mencia Rolling hills, valley floor. Hail, 9 boroughs gaining international Cocido valdeorras - frost, violent storms. Alluvial, interest. chicken, chorizo, fertile. chickpea stew. Terra Alta Catalunya Traditional, Chard, Hot summers, ciezro & garbi Summer home for Picasso. Chicken, lamb, prunes, Garnacha Tinta, winds keep grapes dry and pine nuts. Samso (Carinena) healthy. Limestone & clay. Toro DO Castilla y Leon, Tinto de Toro Extremely hot summers. Reserva & Gran Reserva more Sheep cheese. Duero River (Tempranillo) tannic than Rioja. Yecla DO Southeast Airen, Merseguera, Hills 1800', mountain 15% rosados. Known for reds. Seafood, jamon iberco Macabeo, Monastrell surrounds, continental. Low (cured ham), fruits, draining soils. vegetables, olive oil. Copyright © 2010 Best Year Ever, Wine Agency.