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Overview: Spain is the world's third-largest producer
of wine, behind Italy and France. Spain has more land
dedicated to grape vines than any other country: 4.5 million
acres! |
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Denominaciones de Origen (D.O.):
"Appellation" or "Official Wine-producing Region": an
official wine region with its own governing body and rules |
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Denominación de Origen Calificada (D.O.Ca.): wineries
that attain the highest standards
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Denominación de Origen
(D.O.):
standard appellation that ensures a wine is from a
particular region and meets the standard characteristics of
the wines of that region
- Vino de
la Tierra (regional wine): often a small winery aspiring
to earn a D.O. classification.
- Vino de
Mesa (Table Wine): table wine often sold to foreign
countries for blending
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Independant Wineries: Many wineries choose to steer
clear of the D.O. in order to stay away from its many
restrictions. This can result in the production of
very fine wines (or wines at the other end of the spectrum).
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Quality Levels
Spain's wine laws are similar to those of the French
appellation system, with the best vineyard regions delimited
and regulated. Most bodegas (wineries) offer red wine in
four quality levels which correspond to the amount of aging
(in wooden barrels and bottle) the wines receive before
release. |
- "Sin
Crianza": released in the year after harvest; light
wines that rarely leave Spain
- "Crianza":
aged one year in oak barrels and one year in the bottle
before release
- "Reserva":
aged ont year in oak barrels and two years in the bottle
before release
- "Gran
Reserve": aged two years in oak barrels and two years in
the bottle; are commonly released 5 to 7 years after harvest
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Main Winemaking Regions |
- Red Wine
Regions: Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Toro, Priorat, Navarra,
Cariñena, La Mancha, Valdepeñas, Jumilla, Bierzo, Almansa,
Montsant, Yecla, Campo de Borja, Castilla, Valdepeñas,
Manchuela
- White
Wine Regions: Rías Baixas (Albariño), Rueda, Penedès,
Ribeiro Valdeorras, Txacolí regions, Alella, Lanzarote
- Rosés:
Navarra, Cigales, Utiel-Requena
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Well-rounded Regions (producing a variety of wines):
Somontano, Penedès, Costers del Segres, Catalunya, Madrid
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Fortified Wines: Jerez (sherry), Montilla-Moriles,
Malaga
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Sparkling Wine: Cava
- Sweet
Wines: Valencia (Muscatel), Malaga (Pedro Ximenez),
Montilla-Moriles (Pedro Ximenez), Lanzarote (Malvasía)
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Common Grape Varietals |
- Albarino:
fruity, crisp white wines
- Carignan:
high in acid and ages well; used in many red blends
- Garnacha
(Grenache): typically makes intense, hearty reds; used
in many of Spain's exceptional rose's
- Mencia:
typically produces fruity reds
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Monastrell (Mourvedre): able to produce both dry reds
and sweet dessert wines
- Moscatel
(Muscatel): commonly used to make sweet dessert wines
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Palomino: grape primarily used to make Sherry
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Tempranillo: well-balanced; produces both fruity young
wines and wines capable of aging; 'black fruit' is a common
descriptor
- Verdejo:
dry white wines with substantial character
- Viura:
light white wines that are very low in acid; contributor to
some of Spain's Cavas (sparklers)
Of course there
are other grape varietals successfully used in Spain.
These include not only vines native to Spain but imports such as
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc,
and Riesling. |
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Habersham Hint: Most red
wines taste best between 60 to 65 degrees; whites and roses
between 50 to 58 degrees; sweet wines between 55 to 60
degrees.
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