The document provides an overview of Spanish wine regions and styles, discussing the different Denominación de Origen classifications and aging categories for Spanish wines. It also profiles 8 Spanish wines tasted in an intermediate level wine course, describing the grapes, regions, producers, and sensory characteristics of each pour.

1. Intermediate Wine
Course: III
25 April 2012

3. DOs of Spain (Mainland only)
 Andalucia  Catalonia
 Condado de Huelva; Jerez-Xeres-  Alella; Catalunya; Conca de Barberà; Costers
Sherry; Málaga; Manzanilla Sanlúcar de del Segre; Empordà; Montsant; Penedès; Pla
Barrameda; Montilla-Moriles; Sierras de de Bags; Priorat; Tarragona; Terra Alta
Málaga  Extremadura
 Aragon  Ribera del Guadiana
 Calatayud; Campo de Borja; Cariñena;
Somontano
 Galicia
 Monterrei; Rías Baixas; Ribeira Sacra;
 Castile-Leon Ribeiro; Valdeorras
 Arlanza; Arribes; Bierzo; Cigales;
Ribera del Duero; Rueda; Tierra de
 La Rioja (DOCa)
León; Tierra del Vino de Zamora; Toro  Madrid
 Castile-La Mancha  Vinos de Madrid
 Almansa; Dehesa del Carrizal; Dominio  Navarra
de Valdepusa; Finca Élez; Guijoso;
Jumilla; La Mancha; Manchuela;
 Valencia
Méntrida; Mondéjar; Ribera del Júcar;  Alicante; Utiel-Requena; Valencia
Uclés (DO); Valdepeñas

5. 4
7
3
6
1&2
5
8

6. Classification of Spanish wines
 Vino de Mesa
 Vino Comarcal – regionally specific
 Vino de la Tierra – Spain's answer to French vin de pays
 Denominacion de Origen (DO) – equivalent to
French AC
 Denominacion de Origen e Calificada
(DOCa) – only awarded to Rioja & Priorat (DOQ in Catalan!)

7. Aging: Four Categories
 Joven is wine released  Reserva is aged for at
the year after vintage least three years, of
which may or may not which at least one year is
have been in oak. in oak.
 Crianza is wine aged for  Gran Reserva wines
at least two years, at have been aged five
least six months of which years, at least eighteen
was in oak. months in oak and the
rest in bottle.
More stringent regulation in Rioja and Ribera del Duero

8. 1. Codorniu Seleccion Raventos
Brut, NV
 Méthode Champenoise
 A modern example of Cava from the
Catalan region of Spain. The Codorníu
family have been pioneers in the region
since first producing Cava in 1872.
 In 1985 incorporated Chardonnay into the
blend of traditional grape varieties
(Macabeo & Xarel-lo) in order to make a
more aromatic style.

10. Codorniu Seleccion Raventos Brut,
NV
 Pale lemon - golden colour
 Good streams of fine bubbles. (mousse)
 Peachy and lemon aromas
 Full bodied, vibrant with fruit flavours.
 Crisp mineral acidity.

11. 2. Torres Viña Esmeralda, DO
Penedes, 2010
 Torres – a major family-owned business
based in Catalonia
 Grape variety: 85% Muscat, 15 %
Gewurztraminer
 Nose:
 Taste:

12. Torres Viña Esmeralda, DO
Penedes, 2010
 Lovely delicate honey and fresh grapefruit
characters are tempered by the zip and
spice of a little Gewürztraminer.

13. Compania de Vinos Telmo
Rodriguez
 Telmo Rodríguez, a bright young winemaker” sees
huge, unrealised potential in his own country. Based in
Logroño, he is a “driving” winemaker, visiting projects
as far flung as Galicia, Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Malaga
and Jumilla.

14. 3. Gaba do Xil, Godello, DO
Valdeorras, 2010
 Grape variety: Godello, an indigenous variety
 The vineyard is called La Falcoeira, in the town of Santa
Cruz
 An ancient vineyard, planted with a mixture of varieties,
but Telmo Rodriguez has focused its work on the native
varieties, Godello and Mencia.
 Telmo believes that the area has enormous potential,
and could be one of the great discoveries from the past.
 Unoaked, this is made from vines grown on slate and
granite soils

15. Gaba do Xil, Godello, DO
Valdeorras, 2010
 Colour: Pale straw yellow
 Nose: Nose subtle, not very intense, but very frank and
fruity. Tropical fruit, apricot, citrus; hint of honey; and
soft minerality
 Palate: Good texture, full flavoured (unctuous) and silky
with strong acidity. Tasty and long finish.

16. Manga Culture
 Manga: the Japanese word for
comics/cartoons and consists
of comics and print cartoons
 The Compañía de Vinos spends a lot of
time in Asia and Japan and have become
intrigued by Manga culture.

18. 4. La Sabrosita Garnacha Tinta
2010
 Grape variety: Garnacha (Fr. Grenache)
 Young [Joven]; medium-bodied; unoaked
 Nose
 Taste

19. La Sabrosita Garnacha Tinta 2010
 A succulent and moreish light wine with
inviting flavours of ripe cherries and a hint
of spice
 Fruit flavours dominate rather than
flavours from oak
 Good example of a Joven wine

20. 5. Laderas de El Seque, DO
Alicante, 2010
 Grape variety: 85% Monastrell [Fr.
Mourvèdre], 15% Syrah & Cabernet
Sauvignon.
 Alicante is the homestead of the
Monastrell
 A is thick skinned grape variety. Wine has
a powerful smoky aroma and can take on
a gamey complexity with age.

21. Laderas de El Seque, DO Alicante,
2010
 Colour: Attractive cherry red colour with purple edges.
Clean and bright wine.
 Nose: Intense and juicy ripe red fruit accompanied by
creamy spices, light toasted notes and fresh balsamic
aromas. Subtle mineral background.
 Flavour: A soft attack and a long and intense, very tasty
and sweet mid-palate. Sweet and creamy notes of fruit
with roasted hints. Good acidity confers freshness. It has
very noticeable tannins and a long finish.

22. Ribera del
Duero

23. Ribera del Duero
 Elevated northern plateau of the Iberian Peninsula at a
height of 2800ft (800m)
 It is divided by the Duero river, which provides the local
vineyards with a much-needed water supply.
 Inland location, coupled with the sheltering effects of
nearby mountains, creates an extreme climate- hot and
dry summers are followed by harsh winters.
 High daytime temperatures are combined with
considerably cooler nights – a condition which assists in
the optimum accumulation of aromas and other chemical
compounds (phenolics) in the grapes.
 Notable and expensive wine - Bodegas Vega Sicilia

24. 6. Momo Vendimia Seleccionada,
DO Ribera del Duero 2008
 Grape variety: Tinto del pais (aka
Tempranillo
 Crafted by Bodegas Bóhorquez shows the
estate's stylish balance and intensity at a
very affordable price.
 Now - 2014

25. Momo Vendimia Seleccionada, DO
Ribera del Duero 2008
 Colour: Intense cherry red.
 Nose: Aroma of forest fruits and seamless integration of
oak, which gives it great complexity.
 Palate: Powerful, complex, accompanied by a refreshing
natural acidity and a solid phenolic structure.

26. France
Rioja

28. Hotel Marqués de Riscal

31. DVD Interlude
Bodegas Muga
The most traditional Rioja producer
22 minutes

33. Malolactic fermentation
 Malic acid Lactic acid + CO2
 Reduce acid in red wines and selected
white wines by organic rather than
chemical means
 Initiated by lactic acid bacteria, such
as Oenococcus oeni
 Occurs after main fermentation in casks,
not bottles

34. 7. Muga Reserva, DOCa, Rioja 2007
 Muga, the most traditional of Rioja’s bodegas, with not a
stainless steel tank in sight.
 In-house cooperage which makes the barrels, from a
variety of oak sources, which are key to the Muga style.
 Complex aging process with much racking and fining
 Grape variety: 75% Tempranillo, 25% Garnacha,
Mazuelo (aka Carignan) and Graciano
 24 months in oak plus one year in bottle before release

35. Muga Reserva, DOCa, Rioja
2007
 Colour: Dark purple, with lighter rim.
 Nose: Stinky Burgundian nose with a core of leather and
spice notes gently backed with vanilla tones. Expansive
notes of reduced red berries.
 Palate: Opulent and layered in the mouth with black
cherry fruit of almost syrupy quality. Lots of very fine
tannins add support to the fruit and the superbly
integrated acidity keeps everything fresh.
 This is very youthful and absolutely delicious. Drink
2008-2016

36. 8. MR Mountain Wine, DO Malaga,
2009 [50cl]
 Grape variety: Muscat of Alexandria
 Made by Compania de Vinos Telmo
Rodriguez
 A brightly coloured, lemon-scented sweet
dessert wine made from vineyards 700
metres up in the hills behind Málaga.
 On wine list at El Bulli

37. MR Mountain Wine, DO Malaga,
2009 [50cl]
 Appearance: Deep yellow-gold.
 Nose: Ripe peach and nectarine on the
nose, with exotic notes of gingerbread and
orange marmalade adding complexity.
Palate: Sweet, fleshy, expansive fruit
nectar flavors are lifted by a gentle
minerality.

38. Today’s wines
n Codorniu Seleccion Raventos Brut NV £7.99 *
n Torres Viña Esmeralda, DO Penedes, 2010 £7.99 *
n Gaba do Xil, Godello, DO Valdeorras, 2010 £8.95 WS
n La Sabrosita Garnacha Tinta, DO Navarra 2010 £7.40 MS
n Laderas de El Seque, DO Alicante, 2010 £6.95 WS
n Momo Vendimia Seleccionada, DO Ribera del Duero 2008
£9.75 WS
n Muga Reserva, DOCa, Rioja 2007 £13.50 WS
n MR Mountain Wine, DO Malaga, 2009 [50cl] £12.25 WS
* Majestic WS Wine Society MS Marks & Spencer

39. Aroma test
 Which of today’s wines is this?
 Think of characteristic aromas!

40. Best value
 Which of today’s range offers best value?

41. Next session
Wednesday 16 May 2012
at 2.30pm
Nth California & Oregon