Catalonia

Question 1

What is Trepat?

Answer 1

Trepat is a red grape grown in Catalonia. It can be used for Rose cavas and is also blended into still wines.

Question 1

What is Corpinnat?

Answer 1

Corpinnat is a designation used by a group of mostly small Cava producers with its own set of standards. It is not a legal designation but an EU-recognized brand name. They must be hand harvested grapes, a minimum lees aging, and at least 90% historic varieties.

Question 2

What is Cava de Guarda?

Answer 2

Cava de Guarda is a new tier of high quality Cava wines established in 2021.

Question 3

What is the minimum lees aging requirement for Cava?

Answer 3

The minimum lees aging requirement for Cava is 9 months.

Question 4

What is the minimum lees aging requirement for Cava Gran Reserva?

Answer 4

The minimum lees aging requirement for Cava Gran Reserva is 30 months.

Question 5

What is the minimum lees aging requirement for Cava Reserva?

Answer 5

The minimum lees aging requirement for Cava Reserva is 18 months.

Question 6

What is the minimum lees aging requirement for Cava de Paraje Calificado?

Answer 6

The minimum lees aging requirement for Cava de Paraje Calificado is 36 months.

Question 7

What are the Costers del Segre?

Answer 7

The Costers del Segre is a non-contiguous wine region in the Catalonian area of Spain, with more than a dozen varieties, a mix of indigenous and international.

Question 8

What are the requirements for Cava de Guarda?

Answer 8

Cava de Guarda has yield restrictions, it must be traceable from vineyard to bottle, organic, vintage dated, and use grapes from vines that are over 10 years old.

Question 9

Where is Montsant and what grapes are grown there?

Answer 9

Montsant DO is in Catalonia in Spain. The dominant grapes are Garnacha and Carinena, with significant plantings of Ull de Llebre (Tempranillo) as well.

Question 10

What is DO Catalonia?

Answer 10

Includes all of the other DOs of Catalonia and approved grape varieties, allows for a wide range of types and styles to be labeled as Catalonia DO.

Question 11

Besides Catalonia, what other regions are approved for the production of Cava DO?

Answer 11

Valle del Ebro (Ebro Valley)
Altos de Levante (located in Valencia)
Viñedos de Almendralejo (located in Extremadura)

Question 12

What are the three main grapes approved for use in Cava?

Answer 12

Macabeo (Viura), Xarel-lo, and Parellada

Question 13

Besides Macabeo, Xarel-lo and Parellada, what grapes are permitted in Cava?

Answer 13

Chardonnay, Malvasia (Subirat Parent), Pinot Noir, Garnacha, Monastrell, and Trepat

Question 14

What is Llicorella?

Answer 14

A blackish-colored slate/schist rock that is very porous and drains well, found in Priorat.

Question 15

Where is Tarragona, and what type of wines are made there?

Answer 15

Catalonia. Mostly full-bodies, aromatic whites.

Question 16

Where is Penedes, and what are the main wines produced?

Answer 16

Cava is the main wine produced in Penedes. Still whites from Xarel-lo (leading), Macabeo, and Parellada varieties are made as well. Chardonnay is the next most popular white grape. Also makes some reds from both indigenous and international varieties.