Spanish Old School VS Modern styles

Old School

high acid,
light color,
longer aging
american oak
lower abv
barnyard, musty
whole bunch fermentation


Modern

concentrated
darker tannins
french oak
higher abv
ready to drink
grape selection

Spanish Aging Rules

In Rioja, Navarra, and Ribera del Duero they have the same aging requirements, everywhere else, the times are 6 months less. All times are MINIMUM



Vino Joven or Roble
less than 6 months in wood. can mean no wood at all.

Crianza 'aged'
1 year in oak, 1 year in a bottle

Reserva
1 year oak, 2 years in the bottle

Grand Reserva
2 year oak, and 3 years bottle

Rioja DOCa

Rioja is the most famous and the first DO in Spain, 1925, and the first DOCa in 1991

Rioja was named from its placement on the Oja river, Rio Oja in spanish

It sits in north central spain, in a nook between the Cantabrian mountians and the Pyrenees, giving it protection as well as letting a variety of weather affect it. Cool from the Bay of Biscane, Warm from the Med. Being between these mountains and on the rivers path provides them with irrigation.

Rioja has three districts
Rioja Alta - western and considered best
Rioja Baja - southern
Rioja Alavesa - Basque, in the Kingdom of Navarra

Grapes:

white
Viura aka Macabeo
Malvasia
Garnacha Blanca

now sauv blanc, chard, torrentes are allowed but must be labeled if single varietal

red
tempranillo queen of them all
garnacha
mazuelo = carignan
graciano

tempranillo is often late ripening in cool rioja, and produces lower sugar so the other grapes are blended for body and strength

Txakolina

In the Pais Vasco, the Basque Country, Green Spain or North Central Spain is Txakolina

Three subregions
Txakolina de Getaria (smallest)
Txakolina de Arrabako
Txakolina de Bizakia


Trellised indigenous grapes,
Hondurrabi -Zuri
Hondurrabi - Beltza

Cava

Cava is a DO that can be produced in a variety of non congruous locations, but the majority is made in Penedes in Catalunya

It is a sparkling wine that by law requires it to be made using the méthode champenoise.

The grapes are
Macabeo aka Viura
Xarello
Paralleda 

Chardonnay is also permitted, as is Pinot Noir in rose cava

Reserva or Vintage gets 9 months before disgorgement,
Grand Reserva gets 30 months

Spain Classifications

Vino De La Mesa
Table wine, doesn't need vintage, or classification. No limits on grapes or styles


Vino de Calidad Producido en Región Determinada


Vinos de la Tierra
large classified area, Catalunya, Levant, North-Central Spain are examples.

regions must produce VDLT for 5 years before they can apply for DO status

Denominacion de Origin
DO means more rigorous testing on quality. more rules.
DO often have stamps or logos used to mark their wines.
newest DO is zamora in castilla y leon

Denominacion de Origin Calificada 
Top level , shortened to DOCa and in the case of Priorat, DOQ (qualificada)


There are two top level

Rioja, Spains first DO in 1925 and first DOCa in 1991
Priorat, DO 1989 and DOQ 2001

(jerez was the second DO in Spain, malaga the third)


Denominacion de Pago
Pago's are single vineyard sites with DO status, due more to their individual production than their general area. There are few (9?) and the first and important ones are in La Mancha

Spain facts

Spain has the most land under vine in the world but produces the third most wine after France and Italy

Reasons include, lower yields per hectare, low rainfall, and the distillation of wine for brandy and spirits

La Mancha, where a lot of distillate bound wine is made, is the largest DO in the world.


The  Institute Nacional de Denominacions de Origine or INDO sets the Denominacions de Origine, but the DO's themselves are ruled by their own Consejo Regulador, a single person who sees over the DO production, rules, and quality

Garnacha is the most widely planted red grape
Tempranillo is second
Cabernet Sauvignon is third

Airen is the most widely planted white grape in spain