Catalonia Flashcards
Why is Catalonia considered a leader in modernism in winemaking in Spain?
- First part of Spain to see stainless steel
- In 1960s Miguel Torres brought stainless steel and temperature controlled fermentations to Catalonia
- First sparkling wines made here
Why does Catalonia share a lot of common culture and lineage with Rousillon
- Right on the border of Rousillon
- Catalonia and Rousillon split in the 17th Century when the King of Spain ceded Rousillon to France
What are the DOs of Catalonia from East to West?
(East to West ish)
Catalunya DO
Empordà DO
Pla de Bages DO
Alella DO
Penedès DO
Cava DO
Costers del Segre DO
Conca de Barberà DO
Tarragona DO
Montsant DO
Priorat DOQ
Terra Alta DO
Who is Rene Barbier?
Winemaker for Clos Magador
How did Priorat get its name?
From Priorato de Scala Dei -A Carthusian monastery founded on the site of a boy’s vision of angels ascending to heaven
What grapes are authorized for Priorat?
Blanc: Garnatxa Blanca, Macabeu, Pedro Ximénez, Chenin Blanc, Moscatell d’Alexandria, Moscatell de Gra Petit, Xarel·lo, Picapoll, Viognier
Negre: Recommended: Garnatxa Negre (Grenache), Carinyena/Samsó (Carignan)
Authorized: Garnatxa Peluda, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Ull de Llebre (Tempranillo), Pinot Noir, Syrah, Merlot, Picapoll Negre (Puntxó Fort)
What is another name for Tempranillo in Priorat?
Ull de Llebre
Where is Picapoll Negre found?
Priorat, Catalunya
-Also known as Puntxó Fort
What is the soil of Priorat?
- Rock-strewn schist soils
- Llicorella: a mix of black slate and quartzite (in the best vineyards)
Who was the first to plant a mix of local and French vines in the llicorella soils of Gratallops in Priorat?
Rene Barbier
Who did Barbier make wine for originally?
Alvaro Palacios
What were the 5 original “Clos” wines of Priorat?
Clos Mogador
Palacios’ Clos Dofi
Clos Erasmus
Clos de l’Obac
Clos Martinet
-all released as Vino de Mesa
Who founded Costers del Siurana (Clos l’Obac)?
Carles Pastrana
(Clos l’Obac)
Who produced Clos de l’Obac?
Carles Pastrana
What is the climate of Priorat?
Warm, Mediterranean
What is Vino de Pueblo
Also known as Vi de Vila in Catalan
-for estate-grown wines from 12 villages including Gratallops
-est 2009
What 12 villages can append their names to Priorat from North to South?
La Morera de Montsant
Escaladei
Poboleda
La Vilella Alta
La Vilella Baixa
Torroja del Priorat
Porrera
El Lloar
Gratallops
Solanes del Molar
Bellmunt del Priorat
Masos de Falset
What does Vi de Vila mean?
Village
-Village wines are released under the village name followed by “Vi de Vila” on the label
In Priorat, what percentage of the blend must be present in the wine in order for the wine to be labeled by authorized grape variety?
Minimum 85%
What is the Vin del Finca classification in Priorat?
- Single vineyard, independent of Vi de Vinya
- 100% Sourced from designated parcel. Only allowed for wines that also qualify for Catalan “Vi de Finca”.
What is the Vi de Paratge classification in Priorat?
100% Sourced from a single zone.
What is the Vi de Vinya Classificada classification in Priorat?
Quality vineyard designation given to single parcel wines by the Consell.
What is the Vi de Gran Vinya Classificada classification in Priorat?
Top-Quality vineyard designation given to single parcel wines by the Consell.
What is the Velles Vinyes classification in Priorat in Priorat?
Vineyard designation given to vineyards planted prior to 1945 (75 year old vines)
Who established Mas Martinet in Priorat?
Jose Luis Perez
Who establised Clos Erasmus in Priorat?
Daphne Glorain
Who established Finca Dofi and L’Ermita in Priorat?
Alvaro Palacios
What protects Priorat from the Northwest?
The Sierra de Montsant
-a long ridge of craggy outcrops
Why do vines in Priorat not need irrigation even though there is very little rainfall here and the climate is so warm?
The soils are unusually damp and cool
- The vine dig deep through the llcorella soil to find water
- The result in the best sites is low yields
Where is Carinena (Carignan) grown the most in Priorat?
In the North of the region around Torroja and Poboleda
What is Alvara Palacio’s L’Ermita vineyard famous for?
Ancient Garnacha planted in cooler, slower-ripening sites
What mountain range separates Catalonia and France? What region in France is closest?
- Pyrennes
- Rousillon
When did Priorat get DOCa?
2009
-recognized as DOQ in 2000….
Colors produced in Priorat? Grapes?
- MOSTLY red
- Garnacha, Samsó (Cariñena)
- white - garnacha blanca, macabeo, PX, moscatel, Xarel-lo -also rosado, vino rancio, mistela, VDN
Most important Vi de la Vila in Priorat?
-Gratallops
*where Barbier first planted mix of local and french wines leading to “5 Clos”
When was first wine from Clos of Priorat produced? When did Clos split to focus of separate production?
- 1989 -was cooperatively made and released under 5 labels
- Split in 1991 to do their own thing
Other notable Priorat producers (beyond clos).
- Vall Llach (scottish overlord….)
- Scala Dei
Min alcohol for wines from Priorat
Blanc: 13%
Rosado: 13%
Tinto: 13.5%
Vino Rancio/Vino Dulce Natural/Mistela: 15%
Donut shaped DO around Priorat?
Monsant DO
When did Montsant become a DO what was it a subzone of before?
2002 -subzone of Tarragona DO
Styles of Montsant
-“value alternative to Priorat”
Blanco / Blanc
Rosado / Rosat
Tinto / Negre
Vino Rancio / Vi Ranci: white or red authorized grapes (fortified)
Mistela (Blanca/Negra)
Garnatxa de Montsant: Vi de Licor (fortified)
Vino Dulce Natural / Vi Dolç Natural: Vi de Licor, min. must weight of 272 g/l (fortified)
Vimblanc: Vi de Licor, 100% Pansa (dried grapes, fortified)