vdt
vino de tavola
table wine. no limits. red white or rose.
igt 1992
indicazione graphica tipica
loose rules, open laws, broad regional styles. 130 IGT none in piedmont
doc 1963
deniminazione de origine controllata - represents 'style of the region'
region
vintage
min abv
varietals
yield
docg 1963
deniminazione de origine controllata garantita
same as doc, but double panel tasting ensures the wine is of proper regional style
all docg must be aged, ex barolo, 3 years and 5 years for riserva
need 5 years at doc before docg
Superiore
.5 to 1% more alcohol that what doc/g allows, is labeled as superiore
Riserva
lower yields and min aging requirements
Classico
refers to the original delimited doc area, the heart of the area and usually the oldest producers
Monday, April 19, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Castilla y Leon
Castilla y Lyon is out of green spain, away from the ocean, protected by the Cantabrian mountains, creating a rain shadow effect.
Rueda
red clay, brings a freshness to verdejo. bright fruit, tropical, guava grapefruit
Toro
Hot and dry sandy soil, resisted phylloxera and as a result there are staggered aged old bush vines
the grape is called Tinto de Toro and is a thick skinned clone of tempranillo
dark fruit, spiced, tobacco, roasted meat, french oak
Ribera del Duero
along the Duero river banks, high altitude, dry chalky red soil, growing Tinto Fino and Tinta del Pais
also clones of Tempranillo growing in bush vines
complex, earthy reds, with smoked meat and spice
Bierzo
furthest east region in Castilla y Leon, higher altitude, more sun, and drier than Ribera Sacra with the rainshadow from the Cantabrian mountains. Mencia is the grape here, and it is richer, and more oak is used.
Rueda
red clay, brings a freshness to verdejo. bright fruit, tropical, guava grapefruit
Toro
Hot and dry sandy soil, resisted phylloxera and as a result there are staggered aged old bush vines
the grape is called Tinto de Toro and is a thick skinned clone of tempranillo
dark fruit, spiced, tobacco, roasted meat, french oak
Ribera del Duero
along the Duero river banks, high altitude, dry chalky red soil, growing Tinto Fino and Tinta del Pais
also clones of Tempranillo growing in bush vines
complex, earthy reds, with smoked meat and spice
Bierzo
furthest east region in Castilla y Leon, higher altitude, more sun, and drier than Ribera Sacra with the rainshadow from the Cantabrian mountains. Mencia is the grape here, and it is richer, and more oak is used.
Galicia DOs
Riberio was made a DO in 1988
Its main grape is Treixadura, a floral yet lean mineral white
aluvial soils with clay and limestone
A lot of wines from Riberio are field blends, mixed with Albarino, and Godello
Valdeorras literally 'valley of gold' DO 1945
Godello is the most important grape. Fatter and fleshy, but still able to maintain acid and minerality
Vina Godeval was a 12th century monastery
Runs along the river Sil with exposed diverse soils
Rias Baixas DO 1988
The most known of the Galician DOs
Albarino is the grape, floral, salty, mineral, grassy
Runs along the Mino river in parts (O Rosal)
5 sub regions
O Rosal, Condado de Tea are the important ones?
Vines are trellised due to moisture, allowing breezes to dry
Vintage variation due to early rains at harvest time
Moneterrei
Monterrei is a small inland DO, wikipedia says it was a DO in 1960 but then suspended until 1994
Local whites make up the grapes, treixadura, dona blanca and godello, with a little bit of mencia and tempranillo
Ribera Sacra 'Sacred Banks'
Was made a DO in 1997 but vines have been planted since the 12th century on terraced hillsides above the Mido and Sil rivers
Menica is the dominant grape, with some albarino and godello
Aluvial over slate subsoil
Its main grape is Treixadura, a floral yet lean mineral white
aluvial soils with clay and limestone
A lot of wines from Riberio are field blends, mixed with Albarino, and Godello
Valdeorras literally 'valley of gold' DO 1945
Godello is the most important grape. Fatter and fleshy, but still able to maintain acid and minerality
Vina Godeval was a 12th century monastery
Runs along the river Sil with exposed diverse soils
Rias Baixas DO 1988
The most known of the Galician DOs
Albarino is the grape, floral, salty, mineral, grassy
Runs along the Mino river in parts (O Rosal)
5 sub regions
O Rosal, Condado de Tea are the important ones?
Vines are trellised due to moisture, allowing breezes to dry
Vintage variation due to early rains at harvest time
Moneterrei
Monterrei is a small inland DO, wikipedia says it was a DO in 1960 but then suspended until 1994
Local whites make up the grapes, treixadura, dona blanca and godello, with a little bit of mencia and tempranillo
Ribera Sacra 'Sacred Banks'
Was made a DO in 1997 but vines have been planted since the 12th century on terraced hillsides above the Mido and Sil rivers
Menica is the dominant grape, with some albarino and godello
Aluvial over slate subsoil
Galicia / Green Spain
Galicia is called green spain due to its atlantic climate, cool temperatures and the fact that it is quite green and lush with vegetation.
Aluvial soils, from the two major rivers Mino and Sil (Xil)
Lots of rain, meaning less sun, meaning lower ABC whites, more humidity ripening
5 D.O.'s in Galicia and their most important grapes
Ribiera - Treixedura
Rias Biaxas - Albarino
Valdeorras - Godello
Ribera Sacra - Bierzo
Monterrei
Aluvial soils, from the two major rivers Mino and Sil (Xil)
Lots of rain, meaning less sun, meaning lower ABC whites, more humidity ripening
5 D.O.'s in Galicia and their most important grapes
Ribiera - Treixedura
Rias Biaxas - Albarino
Valdeorras - Godello
Ribera Sacra - Bierzo
Monterrei
Sunday, April 4, 2010
priorat / montsant / catalunya
along the Mediterranean coast, south of Barcelona is Catalunya and amongst the important Catalunya regions are
Priorat DO 1989 DOQ 2001
Montsant DO 2001
Montsant surrounds Priorat, but Priorat has a special soil, mineral rich slate and quartzite called Llicorela
grapes are
Garnacha
Carinena = Mazuelo
Syrah
Cab Sauv
Merlot
white grapes
Garnacha Blanca
Pedro Ximinez
Priorat DO 1989 DOQ 2001
Montsant DO 2001
Montsant surrounds Priorat, but Priorat has a special soil, mineral rich slate and quartzite called Llicorela
grapes are
Garnacha
Carinena = Mazuelo
Syrah
Cab Sauv
Merlot
white grapes
Garnacha Blanca
Pedro Ximinez
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
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
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
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