level: Green Spain
Questions and Answers List
The need-to-know DOs of Green Spain and selected sub-zones
level questions: Green Spain
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| DO Rias Baixas: Styles (primary grapes), climate, soils, sub-zones | 99% blanco (Albarino); maritime; shallow sandy soils; 5 sub-zones: Val do Salnes, Condado do Tea, O Rosal, Soutomaior, Ribeira do Ulla |
| Val do Salnes: Generally, secondary grapes | Subzone of Rias Baixas: 50% of production, coolest subzone, Loureira, Treixadura & Carino Blanco secondary grapes |
| Condado do Tea: Generally, secondary grape | Subzone of Rias Baixas: most inland, most mountainous, second largest, Treixadura second grape |
| O Rosal: Generally, secondary grape | Subzone of Rias Baixas: on right bank of Mino River, vineyards on terraces facing river, Loureira second grape |
| Soutomaior: Generally, secondary grape | Subzone of Rias Baixas: smallest subzone, only Albarino |
| Ribeira do Ulla: Generally, secondary grapes | Subzone of Rias Baixas: northernmost sub-zone, best reds (Mencia), Loureira, Treixadura & Carino Blanco secondary grapes |
| DO Ribeira Sacra: Styles (primary grapes), climate, soils | 94% tinto (Mencia); maritime; slate and granite soils; 5 sub-zones, Ribeira Sacra Summum special designation |
| Ribeira Sacra Summum | Special DO Ribeira Sacra designation: tintos from minimum 85% preferred varieties, minimum 60% Mencia; blancos 100% preferred, i.e., Albarino, Loureira, Treixadura, Godello, Dona Branca, Torrontes |
| DO Ribeiro: Styles (primary grapes), climate, soils | 90% blanco (Treixadura); maritime; granite (70%), schist (20%), sedimentary (10%); oldest in Galicia, colleiteiro |
| What is a Colleiteiro? | Unique to DO Ribiero: boutique winery wth no more than 60,000 l annual production, owners manage entire production cycle |
| DO Valdeorras: Styles (primary grapes), climate, soils | 55% blanco (Godello), 45% tinto (Mencia); maritime w/continental; shallow slate topsoil atop quartzite and schist bedrock, 8 sub-zones |
| DO Valdeorras labeling requirements | "Godello" must be 100% Godello; espumosos at least 85% Godello; "Mencia" at least 85% Mencia; Valdeorras Castas Nobles (85% preferred) |
| Valdeorras Castas Nobles | DO Valdeorras special designation: wine must be at least 85% preferred varieties, the most important of which are Godello and Mencia |
| DO Arabako Txakolina/Txakoli de Alava/Chacolli de Alava: Styles (primary grapes), climate, soils | 94% blanco (Hondarribi Zuri), 6% espumoso; maritime; limestone with stone and clay; wines riper, richer, fuller bodied than other Pais Vasco DOs |
| DO Bizaiko Txakolina/Txakoli de Bizkaia/Chacoli de Bizkaia: Styles (primary grapes), climate, soils | 99% blanco (Hondarribi Zuri); maritime; clay-loam, limestone and marl; wines light and easy drinking, high in acid |
| DO Getariako Txakolina/Txakoli de Getaria/Chacolli de Getaria: Styles (primary grapes), climate, soils | 93% blanco (Hondarribi Zuri), 6% rosado (Hondarribi Beltza); maritime; sandy topsoil with alluvial clay subsoil; wines light, easy drinking, acidic |
| DO Rias Baixas White Wine Designation: Rias Baixas | No restriction on grapes used |
| DO Rias Baixas White Wine Designation: Rias Baixas Albarino | 100% Albarino |
| DO Rias Baixas White Wine Designation: Rias Baixas Condado do Tea | At least 70% Albarino and balance Treixadura (note that Condado do Tea is adjacent to DO Ribeiro, which uses Treixadura as its primary grape) |
| DO Rias Baixas White Wine Designation: Rias Baixas Rosal | At least 70% Albarino and balance Loureira |
| DO Rias Baixas White Wine Designation: Rias Baixas Salnes | At least 70% Albarino, balance Treixadura, Loureira & Caino Blanco |
| DO Rias Baixas White Wine Designation: Rias Baixas Ribeira do Ulla | At least 70% Albarino, balance Treixadura, Loureira & Caino Blanco |
| What are the two most important rivers in Galicia? | The Mino River and the Sil River |
| The Macizo Galaico/Galician Massif form the western part of what mountain range? | Cordillera Cantabrica |
| What is the primary soil type in Galicia? | Granite |