Catalonia Flashcards
What is the official language of Catalonia?
Catalan
What is Catalonia called in Catalan?
Catalunya
Where is Catalonia located?
Northeast Spain, on the border of Roussillon, France. In the foothills of the Pyrenees Mountains and on the Mediterranean coast.
What is the main city in Catalonia?
Barcelona
When did Roussillon and Catalonia split? Why?
- Split by the Treaty of the Pyrenees, ending the Franco-Spanish War. Catalonia felt overstepped by the Spainish crown during the Thirty Years War, and allied with France.
Who first produced Cava? When was it debuted? Why?
Josep Raventós. 1872. Josep returned from training in France due to Phylloxera.
What is the quality tier of Priorat?
DOCa (DOQ in Catalan)
Where does Priorat derive it’s name?
Carthusian monastery (priory), called Priorato de Scala Dei (La Cartoixa d’Escaladei in Catalan).
From which DO did Priorat split? When?
Priorat split from the Montsant DO. It was approved as a DOQ by the Catalonia govt in 2000, but not approved as a DOCa by the Spanish Consejo until 2009.
What vintage is referred to as the Clos vintage in Priorat? Why?
- The beginning of 3 vintages of the same “Burgundy inspired” wine released by the 5 “Clos” of Priorat under different labels.
What were the original five Clos of Priorat? Who made them?
- Clos Mogador (Barbier)
- Clos Erasmus (Dafne Glorain)
- Clos Martinet (Jose Luis Pérez Verdú)
- Clos de l’Obac (Carles Pastrana)
- Clos Dofi (Alvaro Palacios, later renamed to Finca Dofi)
What are the varieties planted by Rene Barbier?
Garnacha, Cariñena, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah
Who founded Clos de l’Obac? What project followed after Clos de l’Obac?
Carles Pastrana. Costers del Siurana.
What is the village wine category of Priorat called?
Vi de Vila
What is Gratallops?
Village in Priorat (now under the Vi de Vila category). The location of Clos Mogador.
What is the soil type of Priorat? What is it made of? What does it do to the vines?
Llicorella. Mix of black slate and quartzite. Offers high levels of drainage, heat reflection, and makes vines fight for survival. (some vineyards see 40% mortality for vine replanting).
What is the timeline of denomination for Priorat?
- 1947 Tarragona DO established.
- 1954 Priorat DO established.
- 2000 Priorat granted DOQ status by Catalonian authorities
- 2001 sub-zone “Falset” splits from Tarragona DO to become Montsant DO
- 2009 Priorat granted DOCa status by Spanish authorities
What are the recommended varieties for Priorat?
Garnatxa Negre (garnacha), Carinyena (cariñena)
What is the synonym for Carinyena in Catalan?
Samsó
Within which DO is Priorat nestled?
Montsant DO
