Catalunya Flashcards

1
Q

How history helped to shape Cataluña’s modern wine industry

A

Via Augusta through Tarragona, conduit for wine transport to europe. Monks resuscited wine production - used for sacrament and to supply troops during reconquista. Cartoixa d’Escaladei - monastery that is considered birthplace of wines and winemaking in Priorat. Josep Raventos i Fatjo traveled around Champagne and broughtback to create Spains’ first sparkling in 1872. Benefited from phylloxera - eventually it hit the region but recovery was swift given a solution was found. 7 DOs recognized in 1972, but nationally recognized until later. Coops started here after phylloxera and are still important.

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2
Q

Main topographical features of Catalunya (mountain ranges, rivers, etc.)

A

Three major topgraphical features: Catalan Pireneos, Cordilleras Costero-Catalanas, and the Central Catalan Depression (which sits between the two, water flows here to the rivers Ter and Llobergat - ter is longest in Catalunya, Llobregat is second)

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3
Q

The factors influencing the Catalunya’s climate

A

rainfall decreases as you go south. Mediterranean, duh. Dry, hot summers. Med moderates. most rain in spring and autumn.

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4
Q

Dominant soil types of Catalunya

A

largely sedimentary - coastal: alluviums, limestone, and clay (pockets of granite and slate - in cordillera litoral). Penedes has well-draining soil. LLiorella is the most prized - found in Priorat.

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5
Q

The “need to know” (NTK) grape varieties and their regional synonyms - in Catalunya

A

Three main cava grapes: xarel.lo (Pansal blanc or pansa blanca), parellada and macabeo (most acreage). Garnaxta Blanca. Chard and Sauv Blanc most planted intl varieties. Red: Garnatxa tina, Samso /Mazuelo. Some tempranillo. Syrah and Cab primary intl.

From class:
White grapes: Primary: garnaxta blanca, macabeo, xarel.lo
Red grapes: garnacha negra, samso/mazuelo/carinena

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6
Q

Dominant wine styles in Catalunya

A

Mostly blends. xarel.lo and garnacha blanca primary in whites. Garnacha tinta is backbone in rosados, and usually blended with temp and cab. Reds a blend of garnacha and cariñena (samso/mazuelo). Whites and roses known for being young and fresh, aromatic. Reds more full-bodied, complex with some aging. Mostly follow traditional aging reqs. Priorat more strict and origin focused.

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7
Q

What is llicorella?

A

shallow, copper-colored, decomposed slate/shale of low orgarnic content. Fragile, foliated (layered) rock with fine texture. Breaks apart easily at surface, but requires vines to search for access to water and nutrients. Produces wines that are rich, powerful and with minerality. DOQ Priorat (most dominant), Do Montsant, DO Conca de Barbara

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8
Q

what is cava de paraje calificado?

A

2015, to highlight uniqueness of particular terriors in region. Reqs: vines 10yrs+, single vineyard source, hand harvest, lower tha avg yields, vintage label, sur lie min 36ms, brut levels, tasting panel approved, traceable.

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9
Q

Aging for cava?

A

9 months

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10
Q

Aging for cava reserva?

A

15 months

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11
Q

Aging for cava Grand reserva?

A

30 months (solely for brut levels)

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12
Q

Aging for paraje calificado?

A

36 months

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13
Q

What is CORPINNAT?

A

group that broke off from Cava - organic, hand harvested, vinitied at winery, 18mo min aging., indigenous grapes

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14
Q

About Cava

A

fully sparkling with 5-6 bars of pressure. lower acidity than Cremant and Champagne, and slightly heavier on palate. Largely shows less autolytic character, and has distinct hint of fennel and herbs.

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15
Q

Els Noms de la Tierra classification system

A
  1. Five levels Terroir-based classification system, supercedes Vin de Finca category. Burgundy inspired. Includes: DOQ Priorat (anywhere in DOQ), Vi de Villa, Vi de Paratge, Vinya Classificada, and Gran Vinya Classificada. Must contain 60% Garnacha Tinta and/or Samsó (Cariñena). GVC requires 90%.
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16
Q

Vin de Vila

A

Grapes from village, Grapes minimum 60% Garnacha tinta and/or samso

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17
Q

Vi de Paratge

A

Grapes from paratge (single location), grapes min 60% garnacha and/or samso. There are 459 paratges.

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18
Q

Vinya Classificada

A

Single vineyard. Grapes min 60% garnacha and/or samso. Four wines authorized.

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19
Q

Gran Vinya Classficada

A

Single vineyard, grapes 90% garnacha and/or samso. Currenlty only one brand.

20
Q

Vinyes Velles

A

grapes from plots at least 75 years old / before 1945

21
Q

Three types of soils in Montant

A

llicorella, sauló, panal

22
Q

Tarragona Clasico

A

high-alcohol sweet wine crafted from overripe Garnacha grapes which are aged for 12 years in large oak containers. Sometimes solera.

23
Q

Dominant wine styles in DO Catalunya

A
  1. can source fruit from across the region. covers wineries within all existing Catalan wine regions as well as those outside official boundaries. Large range of styles. A little more white than red.
24
Q

HIstory of DO Cava

A
  1. 1872 - josep raventos
    1888 - son manuel raventos first to use local grapes
    1950 - term “cava” first used
    1972 - cava becomes official name when consejo was created
    1970s - catalans created girasol

Term cava referenced caves where the wine was made. Always traditional method. New yeasts. Very technologically advanced winemaking. Sweetness levels the same as champagne.

25
Q

Main topographical features (mountain ranges, rivers, etc.) of DO Cava

A

150 municipalities over 7 autonomous regions (Cataluna, La Rioja, Valencia, Aragon, Navarra, Extremadura and PV). But Penedes is the spiritual home (95%).

26
Q

Dominant wine styles and reqs of DO Cava

A

cava rosatl rosado requires min of 25% red varieties (only 8% of production). To be labeled cava, wine must be produced according to the traditional method and aged a min of 9 months on its lees. “premium cavas” have longer time sur lie (such as reserva, gran reserva and cava de paraje calificado)

27
Q

The climate, topography, and soils of DO Cava

A

calcareous, clay with high limestone content. Med with contininental influences.

28
Q

The grape varieties and the principal wine styles of DO Cava

A

Macabeo, xarel.lo, parellada

29
Q

History of DO Emporda

A
  1. Phylloxera first appeared in Catalunya in 1879 in Emporda DO. Coops helped rebound. Used to do mostly sweet, fortified wines, but now more success with young vinos tintos based on garnacha tinta/lledoner and samsó/cariñena.
30
Q

Dominant wine styles in DO Emporda

A

Wines typically show fresh fruit and more acidity, grippier tannins than other parts of Catalunya. Vinos tinos, which are labeled “garnacha del emporda” must be 90% garnacha tinta and/or garnacha peluda, with min two years of aging. Mostly red wine producing

31
Q

The climate, topography, and soils of DO Emporda

A

alluvium, slate/granite (class: alluvial soils). Med climate, heavily affected by Tramontana winds - pretty beneficial, removes moisture in air, helps grape ripen. Northeastern corner of Catalunya. Alt Emporda in north, Baix Emporda in south. Coastal, lowest elevation vineyards in Catalunya. Benefit from strong north wind Tramontana. Dry and similar to Mistral. Blows throughout autumn, winter and spring. Can desicate grapes close to harvest and concentrate flavors and sugars as long as not pushed to extreme.

32
Q

The grape varieties and the principal wine styles of DO Emporda

A

Garnacha blanca, Samsó (cariñena/macabeo), garnacha tinta/lledoner.

33
Q

The climate, topography, and soils of DO Montsant

A
  1. soils: llicorella, sauló, panal. Mediterranean with continental influences. Almost complete encircles DOQ Priorat in southern Catalunya. Encompasses multiple mountain ranges. Two rivers flow through - Siurana and Montsant. Three primary soil types: llicorella, plus a decomposed granitic sand known as sauló, and a limestone-based silty loam called panal. Tough terrain, often hand harvested
34
Q

The grape varieties and the principal wine styles of DO Montsant

A

Mostly red. Samsó/mazuela/Carignane, Garnacha negra/tinta. 95% red grapes. Wines typified by concentrated red fruits, minerally finish. Wine production in large coops and small wineries.

35
Q

About DO Penedes

A

1960, one of oldest most progressive wine regions in Spain. First to adopt temp controlled stainless steel tanks. Birthplace of cava.

36
Q

Dominant wine styles in DO Penedes

A

Diversity of landscape means diff wine styles - sparkling, white and red.

37
Q

The climate, topography, and soils of DO Penedes

A

limestone, loamy clay. Mediterranean. Central, along coast and extending inland. Three subzones: Penedes Superior (mountains), Penedes Central (central and largest), Penedes Martim (coastol, home to regional capital and center of cava production Sant Sadurni d’Anoia).

38
Q

Main grape variety of DO Penedes

A

xarel.lo. Native to Sitges

39
Q

About DOQ Priorat

A

2009 (2000 in Catalunya). DO 1932? Phylloxera devastated vineyards. In 1980s, a group of forward thinking wine makers moved there - rene barber, alvaro palacios, carlos pastrana, dafne glorian, jose luis perez all ganed intl fame. First region to adopt notion of estate wine - Vi de Finca highest rung. Vi de Vila - so can label this and then subzone.

40
Q

The climate, topography, and soils of DOQ Priorat

A

quartz-rich slate (llicorella). Med with lots of continental influences. Foothills of Montsant, and almost framed by mts on all sides - protects from cold dry cierzo winds, which can caus diurnal swings. Siurana Rvr bisects. Vineyards planted on slopes called costers. Noted for the copper-colored llicorella soils that are shallow and sit above bedrock. Causes roots to struggle, grapes to be concentrated, mineral, finess, high quality. Terraces - difficult to mechanize.

41
Q

The grape varieties and the principal wine styles of DO Priorat

A

Land of Garnacha tinta, samsó (cariñena). 95% vinos tintos, regularly aged in oak, often for quite a bit of time. Typically highly concentrated. Some of Spain’s finest red. Great aging potential. Mostly red!

42
Q

The climate, topography, and soils of DO Terra Alta

A

1982 SW Catalunya. loamy-clay with high limestone content. Mediterrranean. Southwestern Catalunya between Ebro and Aragon. Highest elevations in Catalunya. Mostly co-ops.

43
Q

The grape varieties and the principal wine styles of Terra Alta

A

Garnacha blanca, Garnacha negra, Garnacha peluda. 75% red grapes. Historically was vinos blancos but also limited quantities of fortified sweet wines, late-harvest wines, and brisats (orange wines) still produced. Garnacha blanca is of note and gaining fame and is specifically labeled Terra Alta Garnaxta blanca (it’s 100% Garnacha blanca and taste tested).

44
Q

What is Classic Penedes?

A

2014, created to distinguish cavas produced in DO Penedes vs DO Cava. Reqs: 100% organic grapes, all from Penedes appellation, traditional method and all process must happen in DO. 15mos min sur lie (so reserva automatically), can also be Corpinnat

45
Q

What is tempranillo called in Catalunya?

A

Ulle de Llebre

46
Q

Cava sweetness levels in order

A
Brut nature - NO DOSAGE
extra brut
brut
extra seco
seco
semi-seco
dulce