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Cataluña Flashcards

1
Q

Which invaders brought grapes to the Iberian tribes in Cataluña?

A

Phoenicians
Greeks

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2
Q

Which Roman road runs through Tarragona in Cataluña? In which century was it built, and when was it used until? What was Tarragona called by the Romans?

A

Via Augusta
1C BCE - 1920s
Tarraco

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3
Q

The Romans exported wine from Cataluña in amphorae. Where to, by land? Where to, by sea?

A

Italy and France by land
Africa by sea

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4
Q

Which order of monks resuscitated the vineyards in Cataluña in the Middle Ages? What was the wine for?

A

Cistercian
Sacrament, troops of Reconquista

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5
Q

Which monastery in Cataluña was founded because a shepherd told two knights about a vision of a staircase with angels ascending to heaven?
Which king instigated it?
Which monastic order established it?
When?
Caused nine villages to spring up in the foothills of which mountains?

A

Cartoixa d’Escaladei
King Alfonso II (King of Aragón and Count of Barcelona)
Carthusian Order of Provence (Carthusians)
Established 1194, flourished until 17C
Serra de Montsant

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6
Q

In the 18C Cataluña’s wine exports prospered. Through which port in particular? to which markets?

A

Tarragona
Britain, Scandinavia, Baltics, etc

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7
Q

In mid- to late-19C sparkling wine was developed in Cataluña.
By whom?
Travelling where and when?
Making Spain’s first sparking wine in which year?
How long before it was called cava?

A

Josep Raventós i Fatjó
1860s to Champagne
1872
Nearly a century

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8
Q

Outline the history and effect of phylloxera in Cataluña

A

France got phylloxera in late 19C, boosted Catalan wine exports. Phylloxera came to Cataluña in 1879 but swiftly remediated.

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9
Q

Which body provisionally recognised DOs in Cataluña in 1972? How many?
Bonus: name them.

A

Catalan Generalitat (parliament, president, executive council).
7

DO Alella
DO Conca de Barberà
DO Empordà
DO Penedès
DOQ Priorat
DO Tarragona
DO Terra Alta

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10
Q

What borders Cataluña?

A

N: France, Andorra
W: Aragón
S: Comunidad Valenciana
E: Mediterranean Sea

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11
Q

Name the four provinces of Cataluña. Which is inland?

A

Inland:
Lérida (Catalan: Lleida)

Coastal:
Gerona (Girona)
Barcelona
Tarragona

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12
Q

Cataluña: capital, largest city?

A

Barcelona (1.6m 21%)
2nd largest in Spain after Madrid
11th largest in EU

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13
Q

Climate of Cataluña generally

A

Mediterranean
(dry hot summers, cool winters)

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14
Q

How does the climate in northern Cataluña differ from the rest?

A

near Pirineos
cooler winters
more rain 1,000mm+

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15
Q

Contrast Cataluña’s climate between coast and inland

A

Coast: sea breezes moderate temperature range, bring humidity
Inland: continental influences

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16
Q

Which has higher maximum temperatures in Cataluña: coast or inland?

A

Inland (max 40ºC, vs Coast: 26-31ºC)

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17
Q

Which has higher rainfall in Cataluña: south or north? What is unusual about the rainfall patterns for a Mediterranean climate?

A

North (600 mm, vs. 500 mm south)

Unusually falls mostly in spring and autumn, not winter (summer too in the north)

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18
Q

Name the three major topographical features of Cataluña

A

Catalan Pirineos
Cordilleras Costero-Catalanas
Central Catalan Depression

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19
Q

What are the two ranges within the Cordilleras Costero-Catalanas in Cataluña? Which is higher? Which is closer to the coast?

A

Cordillera Litoral (closer to coast), up to 763m

Cordillera Prelitoral, up to 1,712m

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20
Q

What topographic features deliniate the Central Catalan Depression?

A

Catalan Pirineos
Cordilleras Costero-Catalanas

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21
Q

Central Catalan Depression:
elevation?
longest river in Cataluña?
second longest?
other source of water?

A

200-600m
Ter (208 km)
Llobregat (170 km)
other drainage from Pirineos

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22
Q

Which of these rivers in Cataluña is navigable?
Ter
Llobregat
Ebro

A

All three are navigable

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23
Q

What are the dominant soil types in Cataluña:
from Cordillera Litoral to the sea
from Cordillera Prelitoral to Cordillera Litoral
in DOQ Priorat and nearby

A

Cordillera Litoral to the sea
Sedimentary: alluviums, limestone, clay. Some granite, slate

Cordillera Prelitoral to Cordillera Litoral:
Metamorphic, igneous: slate, granite. Also limestone, calcareous clays.

DOQ Priorat: llicorella

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24
Q

Cataluña soils are generally low in…? Are better-draining where?

A

Organic content
Better draining nearer coast

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25
Llicorella is the soil most famous in which wine region? What type of rock is it? Describe it. When was it formed? What effect does it have on vines?
DOQ Priorat Decomposed slate/shale Shallow, copper-coloured, low organic content, fragile, foliated Devonian and Carboniferous 416-318mya Forces roots to search through fissures for water and nutrients
26
Are the grapes of Cataluña mostly international or indigenous?
Indigenous Some virtually unknown outside Cataluña
27
Name the three primary grapes of cava in its home, Cataluña. Which is most planted?
Xarel.lo Parellada Macabeo (most planted)
28
Give two synonyms of the Xarel.lo grape
Pansal Blanc Pansa Blanca
29
Which grape is of exceptional quality for vinos blancos in Cataluña? What international white grapes are also grown there?
Garnatxa Blanca / Garnacha Blanca Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc
30
What are the two main red grapes in Cataluña?
Garnatxa Negra/Garnacha Tinta Samsó/Mazuelo (Cariñena)
31
Name three red grapes that are less planted in Cataluña
Ull de Llebre/Tempranillo Syrah Cabernet Sauvignon
32
Which autonomous community was the first to establish a co-operative movement? Following what event?
Cataluña After phylloxera
33
Some Cataluña co-operatives are considered works of art. What are they nicknamed? Who designed many of them?
Wine cathedrals César Martinell (a student of Gaudí)
34
The Catalan government has established an institute to promote excellence in viticulture and winemaking, and make Cataluña the premier wine-producing region in Spain. What is it called?
INCAVI Institut Català de la Vinya i el Vi
35
Are most Catalan wines singles or blends?
Blends
36
Principal grapes and styles of Catalan: blancos rosados tintos
Blancos: Xarel.lo, Garnacha Blanco (fresh, young) Rosados: Garnacha Tinta, with Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon (fresh, young) Tintos: Garnacha Tinta, Cariñena aka Samsó/Mazuelo (aged, complex, full bodied)
37
Do DOs in Cataluña follow the usual Spanish ageing designations?
Yes... except DOQ Priorat which is more stringent and goes by place of origin rather than age
38
When was DO Cataluña created and why?
1999 To give winemakers freedom to experiment with a huge range of styles under an umbrella DO
39
The success of DO Cava is due to which family, in which town, in which region?
Raventós family Penedès central Cataluña
40
Who created the first Spanish sparkling wine, in what year, and what did he call it?
Josep Raventós i Fatjó 1872 xampany / champán
41
Who first made Spanish sparkling wine from today's main cava grapes? What are they? In what year?
Manuel Raventós Domènech (son of Josep) Xarel.lo, Macabeo, Parellada 1888
42
When did the term 'cava' appear? What does it come from?
mid 1950s winemaking caves/cellars
43
What is the name of the body that regulates sparkling wine in Spain, and in what year was it created?
Consejo Regulador de los Vinos Espumosos 1972
44
What two innovations happened in Cataluña in the 1970s in cava production?
girasol: semi-mechanical precursor to the gyropalette new yeasts for cool fermentation under pressure
45
DO Cava today is made in how many municipalities and autonomous regions? What proportion is still made in Penedès?
over 150 municipalities over 7 autonomous regions 95% from Penedès
46
Name seven autonomous regions in Spain producing DO Cava
Cataluña Aragón Navarra País Vasco La Rioja Comunidad Valenciana Extremadura
47
What proportion of Catalan DO Cava production is rosado? What is the Catalan for rosado? What are the requirements around grape varieties?
8% rosat/rosado Minimum 25% of the four authorised red grape varieties
48
Compare the production method, pressure, and acidity of DO Cava with Crémant/Champagne
Both are método tradicional / méthode traditionelle Both are fully sparkling at 5-6 bar Cava has lower acidity (also heavier palate, less autolytic, fennel/herbs)
49
What are the sweetness designations for DO Cava?
Same as Champagne: Brut Nature 0-3 g/L (no dosage) Extra Brut 0-6 g/L Brut 0-12 g/L Extra Seco 12-17 g/L Seco 17-32 g/L Semi-Seco 32-50 g/L Dulce 50+ g/L
50
Some DO Cava producers are adding complexity to their wine by doing what two things with the dosage?
Older wines Solera systems
51
What are the ageing designations for DO Cava? Which is the most common? Any other restrictions?
Cava: 9 months (87% of production) Reserva: 15 months Gran Reserva: 30 months only Brut Nature, Extra Brut, Brut Cava de Paraje Calificado (qualified single vineyard cava): 36 months only Brut Nature, Extra Brut, Brut 10+ year old vines single vineyard manual harvest vintage labelled lower yields vinified on the estate traceable, tasted/approved by unbiased panel
52
What is the 'Collective European Brand' formed by a small voluntary group of infighting terroir-driven sparkling wine producers in Cataluña? What quality rules have they set?
CORPINNAT 100% organic, hand harvested, vinified at winery, aged 18/30/60+ months
53
Name the two non-contiguous sections of DO Empordà in Cataluña
N: Alt Empordà S: Baix Empordà
54
Where is DO Empordà in Cataluña?
In the NE corner next to Roussillon in France
55
Which DO has the lowest elevation in Cataluña?
DO Empordà
56
Which strong wind affects DO Empordà in Cataluña? How strong is it? How long does it blow for at a time? In which seasons? From which direction? With what effect on grapes?
Tramontana Can be >75mph/120kph 3-12 days at a time Autumn, winter, spring From the north Generally beneficial: desiccates grapes to concentrate flavour and sugar
57
Which DO in Spain was first to get phylloxera? When?
DO Empordà in Cataluña 1879
58
What did DO Empordà in Cataluña traditionally produce? What is it successful with now?
Sweet, fortified wines. Young vinos tintos from Garnacha Tinta/Lledoner and Samsó/Cariñena
59
What do DO Empordà wines have more of, compared with wines elsewhere in Cataluña?
Fresh fruit Acidity Grippier tannins
60
DO Empordà has a unique quality designation. What is it called, what kind of wine, and what are the restrictions?
Garnacha del Empordà overripe 90%+ Garnacha Tinta and/or Garnacha Peluda Minimum 2 years ageing
61
How long has wine been made in DO Montsant in Cataluña?
2 millennia, since the Romans 12C Carthusian monks helped too
62
What was DO Montsant in Cataluña known as before it became a DO in 2002?
Falset subzone of DO Tarragona
63
Name the mountains of DO Montsant in Cataluña. Which range is the largest a part of?
N: Serra de Montsant (the largest, part of Cordillera Prelitoral) W: Serra de La Figuera SE: Serra de Llaberia
64
Name the rivers in DO Montsant in Cataluña. Can they be used for irrigation?
Siurana Montsant for irrigation when deemed necessary
65
Three soil types in DO Montsant in Cataluña
Llicorella (decomposed slate/shale) Sauló (decomposed granitic sand) Panal (limestone based, silty loam)
66
How many subzones of DO Montsant in Cataluña? Bonus: name them (this is not 'need to know')
Six subzones of DO Montsant 1) Marçà-Capçanes-Els Guiamets-La Serra 2) El Molar-El Masroig-Darmós 3) La Figuera-Cabacés-La Bisbal-Margalef 4) Cornudella de Montsant-Ulldemolins 5) Pradell de la Teixeta-La Torre de Fontaubella 6) Falset
67
What proportion of plantings are to red grapes in DO Montsant in Cataluña
almost 95%
68
Of the red plantings in DO Montsant, what proportion are the two main Cataluña red grapes?
65% of red plantings are Garnatxa Negra (Garnacha Tinta) and Samsó (Cariñena)
69
What proportion of plantings in DO Montsant in Cataluña are white grapes? What grapes, mostly?
5% Garnatxa Blanca (Garnacha Blanca) Macabeu (Macabeo)
70
Name the three subzones of DO Penedès in Cataluña, their previous names, and location
Penedès Superior (was Alt Penedès, inland, most mountainous) Penedès Central (central plain, largest vineyard) Penedès Marítim (was Baix Penedès, coastal)
71
In DO Penedès in Cataluña, the subzone Penedès Central is home to which of Spain’s largest wineries? and which town that is the centre of cava production?
Bodegas Torres Sant Sadurní d'Anoia
72
DO Penedès in Cataluña is further divided into how many sub-sub-zones with distinct mesoclimates? Bonus: name them (unlikely to be 'need to know')
10 sub-sub-zones in DO Penedès Alts d’Ancosa Conca del Foix Costers de l’Anoia Costers de Lavernó Costers del Montmell Marina del Garraf Massis del Garraf Muntanyes d’Ordal Turons de Vilafranca Vall Bitlles-Anoia
73
Which DO was first in Spain to use temperature controlled, stainless steel fermentation vessels?
DO Penedès in Cataluña
74
Which DO in Spain is the birthplace of cava?
DO Penedès in Cataluña
75
Apart from DO Cava, what DO in DO Penedès in Cataluña can be used since 2014 for vinos espumosos? What are the restrictions?
Clàssic Penedès 100% organic 100% sourced within DO Penedès Método Tradicional Winemaking from tirage to disgorgement must be in bottle in DO registered cellars 15+ months on lees (therefore Reserva)
76
First winemakers in DOQ Priorat?
12C Carthusian monks at Cartoixa d’Escaladei
77
What effect did phylloxera have on DOQ Priorat?
Already depopulated when phylloxera arrived, so small scale replanting
78
What did the Ministry of Agriculture do in 1932 that benefited Priorat?
Their Wine Statute recognised Priorat (one of 19 wine regions)
79
What happened in the early 1980s that propelled Priorat to international fame?
A small group of winemakers set out to make high quality wine there René Barbier Alvaro Palacios Carlos Pastrana Dafne Glorian José Luis Pérez
80
When was Priorat classified as DOQ (two dates)
2000 by Catalan government 2009 by Spanish government
81
DOQ Priorat is protected from which wind by what mountains?
Cierzo Serra de Montsant
82
Name the river in DOQ Priorat
Siurana
83
In DOQ Priorat, what are costers?
Steep slopes, or terraces as narrow as two rows, on gradients 15-60%, worked by hand
84
What is the oldest soil in Cataluña?
Llicorella
85
Which region was first in Spain to adopt the concept of 'estate wines'?
Priorat in 2002 Vi de Finca (later replaced in 2019)
86
In DOQ Priorat, what was Vi de Finca replaced with?
Els Noms de la Terra
87
Which wine region was first in Spain with village wines?
DOQ Priorat
88
When did DOQ Priorat introduce village wines? What is the designation? What vintage does it apply from? How many subzones? Bonus: What are they? (this is not 'need to know')
2009 Vi de Vila 2007 12 subzones Bellmunt del Priorat Gratallops El Lloar La Morera de Montsant Poboleda Porrera Escaladei Torroja del Priorat La Vilella Alta La Vilella Baixa Masos de Falset Solanes del Molar
89
In 2019, DOQ Priorat introduced a new classification: Els Noms de la Terra (the names of the land). What are all the designations available following this change?
Pre-existing: DOQ Priorat Vi de Vila New: (Burgundy inspired) Vi de Paratge (like lieu-dit) Vinya Classificada (like Premier Cru) Gran Vinya Classificada (like Grand Cru)
90
What are the restrictions for wine designated: DOQ Priorat?
Grapes from anywhere in the DOQ
91
In DOQ Priorat, what are the restrictions for wine designated: Vi de Vila?
Grapes from within village boundaries Max 7,000 kg/ha for whites, 5,000 kg/ha for reds 90% vineyards 10+yo, rest 5+yo
92
In DOQ Priorat, what are the restrictions for wine designated: Vi de Paratge?
Estate owned, or rented vineyards (min 7 year contract) Min 60% Garnacha Tinta and/or Samsó (Cariñena) Grapes from designated paratge Max 6,000 kg/ha whites, 4,000 kg/ha reds 90% of vineyard 15+yo, rest 5+y
93
In DOQ Priorat, what are the restrictions for wine designated: Vinya Classificada?
Estate owned of rented vineyards (min 7 year contract) Min 60% Garnacha Tinta and/or Samsó (Cariñena) Single vineyard Max 6,000 kg/ha whites, 4,000 kg/ha reds 80% of vineyard 20+yo, rest 5+y Traceability minimum 5y (There are four: Clos Mogador Mas de la Rosa Coma Blanca Clos Fontà)
94
In DOQ Priorat, what are the restrictions for wine designated: Gran Vinya Classificada?
Estate owned or rented vineyards (min 7 year contract) Min 90% Garnacha Tinta and/or Samsó (Cariñena) Single vineyard Max 4,000 kg/ha whites, 3,000 kg/ha reds 80% of vineyard 35+yo, rest 10+y Traceability minimum 5y Only one: L'Ermita
95
In DOQ Priorat, what are Vinyes Velles?
Old vines Plots at least 75yo or planted before 1945
96
Where in Cataluña is DO Terra Alta?
In SW Cataluña between the Ebro river and Aragón
97
In DO Terra Alta in Cataluña, is most production by individual estates or co-operatives?
Co-operatives
98
In DO Terra Alta in Cataluña, which 6 grapes account for 75% of the vineyard?
Garnatxa/Garnacha Blanco/Negra/Peluda Macabeo Parellada Samsó (Cariñena)
99
What did DO Terra Alta in Cataluña historically focus on producing?
Vinos blancos for local consumption
100
DO Terra Alta in Cataluña historically produced limited quantities of what? (3)
Fortified sweet wines Late harvest wines Brisats (orange wines)
101
What are orange wines called in Cataluña?
brisats
102
In DO Terra Alta in Cataluña, which wine style is gaining stature and becoming representative of the DO?
Vinos blancos made from Garnatxa Blanca (Garnacha Blanca)
103
In Cataluña, what is Terra Alta Garnatxa Blanca?
Quality standards including a minimum vintage rating 'very good'. Numbered back label from Consejo Regulador
104
Which need-to-know DOs in Cataluña have the highest and lowest proportion of vinos tintos
Highest: DOQ Priorat 95% Lowest: DO Cava (100% espumoso)
105
Which need-to-know DOs in Cataluña make more vinos blancos than any other style?
DO Cataluña/Catalunya 49% blanco DO Penedès 51% blanco
106
Which need-to-know DOs in Cataluña have the largest, smallest area under vine?
DO Cataluña/Catalunya 42,431 ha DO Empordà 1,756 ha
107
Which need-to-know DO in Cataluña is most famous for llicorella soils? Which other DOs also have small outcrops?
DOQ Priorat DO Monsant DO Conca de Barberà
108
Which need-to-know DOs in Cataluña are listed as having contintental influences on their Mediterranean climate?
DO Cava DO Montsant DOQ Priorat
109
Which need-to-know DO in Cataluña is exposed to the Tramontana wind?
DO Empordà
110
Which need-to-know DOs in Cataluña have elevations starting at sea level?
DO Empordà DO Penedès
111
Which need-to-know DO in Cataluña has the highest minimum elevation?
DO Terra Alta

Spanish Wine Scholar (25 decks)

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