GETTING TO KNOW SPANISH WINE

Rick FisherBodega: Adventures in Spanish Food & Wine

Spain is the…

#1 country in area of vine cultivation in the EU (30%) and the world (15%)

#2 exporter world-wide (17% of total market) – 60% white (primarily Cava) and 40% red

#3 largest wine producer in the world (behind France and Italy)

Wine Production in Spain

• Castilla-La Mancha (47%)

• Cataluña (10%)

• Rioja (7%)

• Valencia (6.5%)

Most Common White Varietals

• Airén

•Macabeo (Viura)

• Palomino

• Pedro Ximenez

Most Common Red Varietals

• Tempranillo (aka Tinto Fino,

Cencibel)

• Bobal

•Garnacha

•Monastrell

Spanish Wine Terminology

• Blanco – “White”• Bodega – “Winery”• Cosecha – “Harvest” or “Vintage”• Roble – “Oak”• Rosado – “Ros锕 Tinto – “Red”• VORS – “Very Old Rare Sherry”• VOS – “Very Old Sherry”

Designations of Age (Red Wine)

Designation Time In Barrel Time Before Release

Joven None 1st year following

Crianza 6 months 24 months

Reserva 12 months 36 months

Gran Reserva 18 months 60 months

Spanish Wine Categories

• Table Wines• Vino de Mesa (“Table Wine”)• Vino de la Tierra (“Wine from the Country”) – currently

46

• Quality Wines• DO (“Denomination of Origin”) – currently 68• DOCa (“Qualified Deonomination of Origin”) – currently

2• DO Pago (Single vineyard, strict criteria) – currently 11

Reading a Spanish Wine Label

Spanish Wine Regions

Green Spain

North Central Spain

The Meseta

Ebro River Valley

Mediterranean Coast

Andalucia

Islands

Source: Wines from Spain