Catalunya Flashcards
Important DO’s
Catalunya DO Penedes DO Priorat DOQ Montsant DO Costers del Segre DO
Catalunya DO
Grapes grown anywhere in Catalunya
Widely used for inexpensive and mid price wines
More freedom of location and variety
And more recognized than some DOs like Penedes
Penedes DO Viticulture
Covers a diverse area from Mediterranean to the inland mountains for a range of styles
Warm Mediterranean climate. But three zones with diff climates and topographies.
White grapes are 80%. Xarel-lo and Parellada most planted grapes and used for Cava, other sparkling and still. Sizable plantings of Chard and smaller amounts of others like: Moscatel (Alexandria and Blanc a Petits Grains), Sauv Blan, Gewurz, and Riesling. Merlot most black, then Cab Sauv, Tempranillo, Pinot Noir, Syrah, others.
500mm rainfall with driest in summer. Irrigation allowed if vines are suffering but must be authorized by the Consejo Regulador. Soils are loamy with some calcareous components and generally can store enough water through ripening. Many plots of bush vines and many (espec large) trellised.
Penedes Zones
Penedes Maritim: Between the sea and the coastal range of hills. Due to low altitude and proximity to sea has warm climate without temp extremes. Full bodied reds from late ripening varieties like Monastrell; Some Xarel-lo, Macabeo, Parellada are also grown for inexpensive still wine.
Penedes Central: Relatively flat plains known as Pre-Coastal Depression. Between coastal ranges and inland mountains. Up to 500m for some cooling influence. Large plantings of Xarel-lo, Macabeo, and Parellada as well as Merlot, Cab Sauv, Tempranillo, Chard.
Penedes Superior: 500 - 800m in inland mountains (b/n Montserrat and Montmell). Altitude cools during night for high diurnal range, but spring frost often an issue. Chard, Sauv Blanc and small amounts of Riesling, and Gewurtz become ripe with acidity. Pinot Noir.
Penedes DO Business
One of the first places in Spain to modernize in the 1960s and 70s. Led by Dijon educated Miguel Torees.
Stainless for early consumption wines. More expensive reds and Chards matured in French oak. Good to very good, inexpensive to mid with some prem.
30% exported (DE, CA, Swiss, China, US). Sales in Catalunya are 90% of local sales.
Priorat DOQ History
Long history with Carthusian monks planting in the 12th century. But only last few decades getting national attention.
lack of easy access, challenging terrain and extreme weather have always made viticulture challenging.
At the end of the 19th century, the outbreak of phylloxera and and growth of the textile industry in Catalunya caused many to be abandoned.
In 1989, Rene Barbier formed a small group to reinvigorate several specific vineyards and produce wine blending Cab Sauv, Syrah, Merlot with local Garnacha and Carinena. Using French inspired techniques like maturation in French oak. These wines; Clos Mogador, Clos Dofi, Clos de L’Obac, Clos Martinet, Clos Erasmus; received critical acclaim in the 90’s and were being sold at prem and super.
From then the number of estates increased with 50 by mid 2000’s. In 2009 promoted from DO to DOQ.
Priorat DOQ Growing Environment
Warm continental climate. Protected from cold winds by the Serra de Montsant in the north and from Mediterranean influence by the Serra de Llaberia to the south. Summers are hot, but high diurnal ranges. Winters are cold and spring frost can be an issue. Rainfall 500 - 600mm with heavy storms in winter and spring. Irrigation permitted in driest years and for new vineyards.
River Siurna runs through giving a broad range of altitudes (100 - 750m) and aspects. Very rugged and area covers 17,600 ha but only 2,000 planted (well below pre-phylloxera).
Many are on slopes (Costers) ranging from 5% to 60% slope. Narrow terraces are common, reducing erosion, allowing rainfall to infiltrate soil. Most work therefore done by hand.
Soils are varied; poor stony with some outcrops of clay. The common slate based known as licorella and is thin, rocky, low nutrient, with mica particles that reflect light and heat onto the vines. The slate bedrock splits into vertical layers so roots grow deep for water.
This leads to low yields per vine. and even more so for older vines. Old vines are low density bush while newer are VSP where terrain allows. Yields can be as low as 5 - 6hl/ha with max 39hl/ha
Priorat DOQ Grapes
Garnacha and Carinena are 2/3 of black plantings with Garnacha most. Both well suited to hot dry climate.
Carinena is best suited and grown in harshest sites.
Cab Sauv, Syrah, Merlot are remainder. The popularity of these is falling.
Garnacha Blanca and Macabeo are 6%
Priorat DOQ Winemaking
Ranges from traditional using old basket presses and large oak fermentation vats to modern stainless and optical sorting.
Cultured yeasts are often used as high potential alcohol means fermentation with ambient can be slow and last many weeks. Reds are typ matured in oak, often French, 1 - 2 years.
Quality minded aim for freshness. with such a warm climate wines are often 14.5% or higher abv. But good wines are balanced with concentrated ripe (not jammy) fruit with medium plus acid.
Priorat Laws and Regulations
Four classifications based on where grapes grown:
Vi de Villa: Grapes from one of the 12 sub zones. Name of sub zone and Vi de Villa on label.
Vi de Paratge: Grapes grown within a single paratge or named site, lieu-dit in FR, 459 paratge’s noted for their terrain, geology, microclimate
Vinya Classificada: wine from a single vineyard of particular merit within a paratge; equivalent to a Cru.
Gran Vinya Classificada: wine from a single vineyard of exceptional merit within a paratge; equivalent to a Grand Cru.
To qualify producers must own the vineyard or have rented it for 7 years. Each class has its own regulations for proportions of Garnacha and Carinena; vine age, max yields. Vinya and Gran Vinya involve critical recognition over a min of 5 years.
Consejo Regulador also certifies that old vines must be at least 75 years or planted before 1945.
Montsant DO
Forms a ring around Priorat with majority of vineyards in the south where the land flattens out to the lower valley of the River Ebro.
More Mediterranean due to prox to the coast. (Serra de Llabaria provides some shelter) and temps in summer and winter are not so extreme. Summers are warm and dry with rain in spring and winter. Some vineyards in the mountainous north at 300 - 700m with cooler temps.
Topography is less extreme. Some vineyards are terraced to prevent erosion and retain water. Trellised and bush vines are both present.
Black are 94% with 2/3 being Garnacha and Carinena. Tempranillo next then Syrah, Merlot, Cab Sauv. Many wines are blends with some varietal Garnacha and Carinena. Typically matured 1 - 2 years in French or American oak. Generally ripe, full bodied, high alcohol, med plus acid for freshness (cooler sites). Good to very and mid to prem with some super. Espectacle and Celler de Capcanes.
1,900 ha by 700 growers and 60 wineries. Coops are majority. Awarded DO in 2001.
32% export (DE, US, FR, Switz, UK)
Costers del Segre
Farther north than other DO’s. 7 non contiguous sub zones. Far from Mediterranean has a continental climate with hot summers and cold winters. Rainfall low at 400mm.
First planted in early 1900’s by Miguel Raventos (Cordoniu). Saline soils were gradually improved, irrigation channels installed. Raventos winery, Raimat, produced first commercial vintage in 1978 and DO established in 1980’s.
200 - 700m altitude. Cooler sites at the top are used for Cava, white varieties and early ripening black. Soils are sandy and free draining, this with low rain means irrigation is needed in most.
Wide range permitted: Macabeo, Parellada, Xarel-lo (Cava); Chard, Garnacha Blanca, Sauv Blanc, Garnacha, Tempranillo, Cab Sauv, Merlot. Blends are common.
Generally fresh fruity early drinking style. Some may be aged in French or American oak (red & Chard) but using less than in past. Mid priced with a few prem.
4,000ha with Raimat owning a third. 40 wineries. including Castell d’Encus. 40% of producers adhere to the local sustainability program (70% of production)
