level: The Meseta
Questions and Answers List
The need-to-know DOs of the Meseta
level questions: The Meseta
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| DO Jumilla: Styles (primary grapes) | 60% of Jumilla lies in Castilla-La Mancha; best known for Monastrell based tintos |
| Cencibel is a synonym for what grape? | Synonym for Tempranillo |
| Malvar is a synonym for what grape? | Synonym for Lairen |
| DO La Mancha: Styles (primary grapes), climate, soils | 75% tinto (Cencibel), 19% blanco (Airen); continental; limestone and chalk with sandy-clay topsoil; largest wine growing region in the world |
| DO Manchuela: Styles (primary grapes), climate, soils | 60% tinto (Bobal), 30% rosado; continental with Mediterranean; limestone with clay topsoil; varietal Bobal and blends |
| DO Valdepenas: Styles (primary grapes), climate, soils | 83% tinto (Cencibel), 14% blanco; continental; limestone, sandy loam, clay; some carbonic maceration |
| What is Aloque (aka Clarete)? | DO Valdepenas: Blend of Cencibel and Airen, traditionally aged in tinajas, now co-fermented in stainless |
| What is a Tinaja? | Large earthenware jar traditionally used in the production of Aloque |
| VP Dominio de Valdepusa: Styles (primary grapes), climate, soils | 100% tinto; continental; clay atop limestone; innovator; varietals of Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Graciano, 3 blends |
| VP Finca Elez: Styles (primary grapes), climate, soils | 95% tinto; high elevation; an original VP; 3 Chardonnays, 1 Syrah, 4 blends: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Tempranillo |
| DO Vinos de Madrid: Styles (primary grapes) | 68% tinto (Cencibel, Garnacha Tinta), 25% blanco (Malvar, Albillo); continental; three noncontiguous areas, four sub-zones |
| DO Vinos de Madrid: Arganda sub-zone: Generally, soils, primary grapes | Largest subzone (56%), least rain; soils alluviums, limestone and loamy clay; Cencibel and Malvar primary |
| DO Vinos de Madrid: Navalcarnero sub-zone: Generally, soils, primary grapes | Flat plain, 21% of vineyard land; alluviums and loamy sand; Garnacha Tinta and Malvar are primary |
| DO Vinos de Madrid: San Martin del Valdeiglesias sub-zone: Generally, primary grapes | Rugged Sierra de Gredos Mountains, rainiest; Garnacha Tinta and Albillo (Real) are primary |
| DO Vinos de Madrid: El Molar sub-zone: Generally, soils, primary grapes | High elevation; granite and decomposed slate soils; Garnacha Tinta and Malvar are primary |
| DO Ribera del Guadiana: Styles (primary grapes), climate, soils | Extremadura: 93% tinto (Cencibel), 5% blanco (Cayetana Blanca/Pardina); continental with Atlantic; clay, limestone; six sub-zones |
| What are Cayetana and Pardina? | DO Ribera del Guadiana: vinified as different grapes, but DNA says they're the same |
| Who is Carlos Falco, Marques de Grinon? | Owner of VP Dominio de Valdepusa |