Navigating the Wines of Spain and Portugal

Interesting Facts about Spain


	Spain has the most land under the vine in the world and is the third largest producer of wine.

"Most of Spain has an..."


	Most of Spain has an arid climate and yields are low in persistent droughts.
	Grapes were cultivated in Spain between 4,000 and 3,000 years B.C. and were growing in Spain before Homo Sapiens.

A Brief Wine-History of Spain


	Wine-growing Phoenicians arrive in C‡diz around 1100 B.C., and the Carthaginians and the Romans after them. Many empires and wars follow.
	Rome pacifies the whole peninsula under Augustus. Political stability furthers wine trade. Spanish wine is being sold in Rome and England in the 2^nd century.
	The Roman Empire disintegrates, the Visigoths have their day.
	By 711 Iberia is in the hands of Islamic rulers who tolerate, rather than encourage, wine production and trade.
	Christians largely succeed in the re-conquest of Spain by the 12^th century, including many important wine-growing areas.
	The wine industry grows around monasteries in Rioja, and the countryÕs first wine laws are written.

"In 1492 Spain emerges as..."


	In 1492 Spain emerges as a united Christian country and Columbus discovers the New World.
	But after a couple hundred years of wars the influence and quality of Spanish wine suffers. By the middle of the 19^th century even Rioja is having trouble selling wine outside of Spain and South America.
	Then the big killers, phylloxera and powdery mildew strike, but move slowly through SpainÕs sparsely-planted regions, and give the French time to arrive with the cures. The French also bring their grape varieties, the new hygienic methods of Louis Pasteur, and many traditions, including barrel ageing, and the Champagne method.
	The DO (Denominacion de Origen) system is introduced in 1926.
	Civil War. 2^nd World War.

"The wine industry revives under..."


	The wine industry revives under cooperatives - big companies making cheap wine.
	The market booms in the 70s and 80s, and economic freedoms under democracy lead to an educated middle class interested in better wine.
	Changes in the 90s include internationally trained winemakers, private estates taking over cooperatives, international varieties becoming more common, and winery and vineyard modernization that cause style changes favored on international markets.

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Important Wine Areas of Spain

Jerez (Sherry)


	Sherry is a seriously undervalued, fortified wine from Jerez, made from the white variety, Palomino.

There are two main styles of Sherry


	Pale, dry, Fino (also called Manzanilla) which ages under the film-forming yeast, flor.
	And the dark, but dry, Oloroso, which does not.
	Other styles, Amontillado, Palo Cortado, and Cream Sherry are derived from these two types.

flor

Castilla y Leon


	Largest of the 17 autonomous regions of Spain
	The Northern part of the Central Plateau between 2,000 and 3,000 feet above sea level, thinly populated and almost entirely encircled by mountains, giving the region a harsh climate of short, hot summers followed by long, cold winters.
	Nineteen inches of rain fall mainly in the winter.
	Frost is a threat in the spring.
	The Duero River provides water and vines are planted along its length.

Ribera del Duero


	Although some of SpainÕs finest wine has been produced here since the mid-19^th century, the region was only awarded DO status in 1982.
	Over 50 private estates.
	The quality of wines from Ribera del Duero are challenging Rioja and the wines keep getting better.
	Tinto Fino, a variant of Tempranillo that is locally adapted, is usually the only grape in red wine but Cabernet, Merlot and Malbec are allowed.

Rioja


	The leading wine region of Spain, named after the river Ojo, a tributary of the Ebro.
	Rioja has several climatic regions but is generally sheltered from the rainy Atlantic weather and doesnÕt experience the extremes of Central and Southern Spain.
	Seven grape varieties are allowed under DO laws, but the Tempranillo is the basis for the best wines. Garnacha adds body and makes the Rosadas of the region. Cabernet is allowed in some vineyards.

"Barrel size (225-l),..."


	Barrel size (225-l), and barrel ageing times in Rioja are strictly controlled by DO laws. Crianza and Reserva must spend 1 year in oak; Grand Reserva, at least 2 years. American oak is favored.
	Oak-aged Rioja must also be aged in tanks or bottles for specified times: Crianzas for 1 year, Reservas for 2 years, and Grand Reservas must spend 3 years in the bottle before release.

Portugal


	Portugal is arguably as important for its cork production as for its wine.
	One of the most traditional, or Òold worldÓ of wine-producing countries, because of the many indigenous grape varieties, and because of its isolation from the rest of the wine world until it joined the EU in 1986.
	Although small, Portugal produces about as much wine as Germany, making it the 4^th (or 5^th) biggest producer of wine.

"That Portugal is a sea..."


	That Portugal is a sea faring nation always enjoying friendly relations with Great Britain has been an important reason for its success.
	Portugal has quite a diversity of climates and wines for so small a country, but generally enjoys a maritime climate with warm summers and cool, wet winters.

	Portugal has some of the oldest wine laws. Duoro was defined in 1756 to protect the authenticity of its famous fortified wine, Port.
	Half of the Duoro region is for un-fortified, table wine production. The licensing body, Casa do Duoro, designates which vineyards are suitable for Port.

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