Catalunya Flashcards
Catalunya
Heartland of Cava production. Three cava varieties, Paraellada, Xarel-lo, and Macabeo also important for still wine production. DO covers whole region, broad range of climates and wine styles. Allows for blending across a large region.
Penedes
South west of Barcelona, plantings from the coast into the hills. Potential realised in the 60s by Miguel Torres Jr. Dominant area for Catalan still wines. Three distinct zones. Hot Mediterranean climate on the coastal plain. More temperate inland where Cava production is centred. Further inland are high altitude plantings where the climate is cool continental. Sandy soils in coastal areas, chalk and clay in hill sites, high quality of limestone. Good drainage and soil depth. Traditionally Parellada, Xarel-lo and Macabeo. Large plantings of international varieties such as Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc for whites and Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir for reds. Garnacha and Monastrell traditional red varieties.
Conca de Barbera
Mostly planted in the Francolin and Ganguera river valleys, but land rises to around 400m around Tarragona in the south. Plantings at altitudes between 200-400m. Cool, sunny climate, low rainfall, experiences cooling winds from the sea. Limestone bedrock, brown topsoil containing chalk and alluvial soils. Vineyards classified as experimental so irrigation is allowed. Raiment has invested heavily in this area. Chardonnay dominates, some Joven and Crianza reds produced from Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo. The Torres family has had success with Pinot Noir.
Costers del Segre
Inland, protected by mountain ranges, near the city of Lerida. Inextricably linked to the Raiment estate, owned by the Raventos family (Condorniu Cava) since 1918. Raiment have invested heavily into vineyards and winery equipment, gaining a DO status for the region. Severe, semi- arid climate, very low rainfall. Mainly sandy topsoil over limestone. Building of an irrigation network network by Raimat allowed this area to be suitable for vines. Irrigation automatically starts when temperatures go above 35 degrees, and also provides frost protection in winter. International and local varieties; Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Tempranillo, Parellada and Macabeo.
Priorat (Priorato)
Sparsely populated area of Spain with winemaking traditions still rooted in the 12th Century. High altitude plantings. 70- 700m above sea level. Continental; hot and dry but cooler altitudes, low rainfall. Volcanic origin, topsoil locally known as Licorella, contains red slate and mica, about 50cm thick, over a bedrock of schist. Winemaker Rene Barbier sae the potential of the area and has been rewarded. Priorat is one of the two Spanish DOCa’s. Best vineyards are on steep near Gratallop. Produces some of Spain’s best wines from low yielding Garnacha, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Traditional Priorat is aged for long periods in oak, developing ranch aromas of game and mushroom. Produced from low yielding Garnacha and Carinena and is high in alcohol. Modern wines produced from international as well as local varieties show intense bramble fruit, powerful tannins and oak character. Long ageing potential.
Tarragona
North and South of the city of Tarragona on the coast, inland to Lerida province and DOC Priorat. Variety of altitudes ranging from 40- 400m above sea level. Mediterranean climate near the coast, continental further inland. Dark soils with some limestone in the hills, alluvial soil on the plains. Largest DO in Catalunya, covering five wine styles, but production predominately Joven, for white, red and rosado. Mostly modern, international varieties, also Tempranillo and Carinena.
Tarragona Campo- Close to the coast, alluvial soils. Modern easy drinking fruity wines.
Tarragona Falset- High attitude, loam over limestone soils. Famous for Tarragona Classico, made from Garnacha, fortified then aged for minimum of twelve years. Similar style to Tawny Port. Also produces Cupcakes, an aged style from Tempranillo, Carinena and Cab Sauv. Mostly modern easy drinking styles.
Terra Alta
Influenced by Priorato styles, but less improvement in quality seen. High altitude (up to 962m on Aragon border) planted on rolling hills and in the valley of the Serra de Pandol mountain. Dark brown topsoil on a base of limestone and clay. Carinena, Garnacha Blanca and Macabeo grown with broad range of style from Joven through to Mistelas and Generosoj’s. Mainly domestic consumption.
VdlT de Castilla
VdlT for central Spain, noted for its hot, arid plains. It was formed in 1999 to take in those areas outside of the several DOs in the area. There are 600,000 hectares of vineyards in the VdlT, which represents nearly 6% of the world’s vineyards. Tempranillo grown, along with international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
Catalunya- 2010
Hot in early summer, becoming cooler toward the end, allowing slow and gradual ripening into autumn. Alcohol levels are rather lower than usual. Reds are better than whites.
Catalunya- 2011
Very hot throughout August and September, creating some dehydration. Immensely powerful wines with a great deal of flesh.
Catalunya- 2012
Greater elegance than 2011, with Garnacha and Cabernet Sauvignon thriving in the warm, dry conditions. Yields were down by up to 25% in some areas, however.
Catalunya- 2013
Very healthy fruit at harvest, with lots of promise across the varieties. Good quality, and higher yields than in 2012.
Catalunya- 2014
Quite a lot of rot at harvest due to humid conditions. Together with modest temperatures throughout the summer, this is a lighter and fresher vintage – especially when compared with the more typically full 2013s.
Catalunya- 2015
Priorat and Montsant escaped the harvest rains unscathed in 2015, and producers are very enthused about the quality. Potentially the best harvest of the last five years.
Catalonia (Catalunya)
DOCa
Priorat DOCa
DO Alella DO Cataluna DO Conca de Barbera DO Costers del Segre DO Emporda DO Monstant DO Penedes DO Pia de Bages DO Tarragona DO Terra Alta DO Cava DO
Priorat DOCa: Vi de la Vila/ Vino de Pueblo (Villages):
La Morera de Monstant Gratallops Bellmunt del Priorat Escaladei Porrera Poboleda La Vilella Baixa La Vilella Alta El Lloar Maos del Terme de Faiset Solanes del Terme de El Molar Torroja del Priorat
Costers del Segre DO- Subzones:
Urgeil Garrigues Pallars Jussa Raimat Artesa de Segre Segria Valls de Riu Corb
Emporda DO- Subzones:
Alt Emporda
Baix Emporda
Catalonia is Located where?
It’s a stones throw from (a trek over Pyrenees) from Rousillion in France, shares common culture and lineage
When did Catalonia seperate from Rousillion?
In the 17th Century
Catalonia has always?
Provided new technology or launched new practices to Spain (ie Miguel Torres debued stainless steel here in the 1960s)
What style of wine is made in Priorat?
Richest, most concentrated red wines
