Catalonia Flashcards
Where is Catalonia located?
North East Spain
In foothills of pyranees
near mediterranean sea
near Barcelona
What is the climate of priorat?
Hot and dry mediterranean
With significant diurnal shifts
What is the climate of Cava?
Moderate mediterranean due to altitude
Where are grapes grown in Cava & Priorat?
On steep terraced hillsides in Priorat
On high altitude sites in Pyranees for Cava
What is Priorat’s important soil?
Llicorella: black slate & quartzite that force vines to dig deep for water
What are the common viticultural practices in priorat?
bush vine/goblet training
hand harvesting due
naturally low yields
What is priorat’s style of winemaking? What is its use of oak?
Modern winemaking, with common use of french oak
Makes still, dry reds based on grenache, carignan, and ints.
What is cava’s style of winemaking?
Traditional method sparklers, with pioneered gyropalate instead of pupitre to get yeast to bottle neck
What are the primary grapes of Cava & Priorat?
Cava: Xerelo, Parellada, Macabeo, Garnacha blanca, and other international varieties
Priorat: Grenache, carignan, pinot noir & other international varieties
What rules govern Cava DO?
Traditional method sparklers based on native spanish grapes xarelo, parellada, macabeo.
Can be rosado
Cava de Garda must see 9 months lees
Cava Reserva must see 18 months lees
Where is the vast majority of Cava produced?
Penedes DO in Catalonia
Who are the key producers of Priorat? Can you tell me anything about them?
Rene Barbier: of Clos Mogdor: came to Priorat in the 70s while working for Alvaro Palacios, and convinced several other vintners to come plant vines to make wine for what would be known as the gratallops project.
Alvaro Palacios of Clos Dofi: Son of rioja producers, went to eonolgy school in bordeaux, and came to priorat with burgundian ideas of celebrating spanish terroir, which he’s done with his wines.
Clos Erasmus: Boutique, 10 ha estate by Daphne Glorian, swiss imigrant convinced by the above 2 producers of the area’s potential. Her 2004 vintage got the coveted parker 100pts
Clos Martinet: Very woke, ecofeminists; legit biodynamic with compost, cover crops, lunar calendars, & herbal treatments.
Scala Dei: The first priorat winery, making a priorat wine in 1878! Also where Priorat DOCa got its name: Scala Dei Priorati, the carthusian monestary where a boy saw angels ascending into heaven.
Who is the key Cava producer? Can you tell me anything about them?
Gramona: 5th & 6th generation wine makers showcasing xarello & true terroir viticulture that’s organic & biodynamic.
What factors in your style of priorat should you consider when pairing?
Alcohol levels, oak usage, ripeness, & intensity
