Cava Flashcards
How long has Spain been producing traditional method sparkling wine?
Since the late 19th century
Which region/provenience is the original home to Cava?
Barcelona, in Cataluna in the northeast part of Spain
Name the two biggest producers of Cava
- Freixenet - Codorniu
What are the 3 traditional varieties for the production of Cava?
- Xarel-lo
- Macabeo
- Parellada
Most Cava is grown and produced in what region in Cataluna?
Penedes
Where else is Cava produced outside of Cataluna?
- Rioja
- Valencia
List the 3 main growing regions within Cataluna
- Pendes
- Lledia
- Tarragona
What is the climate for Penedes?
Mediterranean climate
List the main soil types found in Penedes
- Alluvial and clay at lower altitudes
- Stony Clay and Granite sub-soils at higher altitudes
- Both of these soils types are poor in nutrients, with adequate drainage and water retention
What are the two different elevations where grapes are grown at in Cataluna, and which ranges has the majority of grapes planted there?
- Between 200-300 meters (majority)
- Between 700-800 meters
Give the example from the book about how the elevation and soil variations can express themselves in Cava production
Macabeo-based wines made from grapes grown in higher altitudes vineyards have more flavor and higher acidity than grapes grown closer to sea level. This gives the wines the ability to age well in the bottle.
What are the two principal towns in Penedes?
- Sadurni d’Anoia where the principal Cava producers are found
- Vilafranca del Penedes where the consejo has its headquaters
What is the Spainish name for Lleida?
Lerida
What is the range of altitudes for the Lleida province?
100 to 700 meters
What is the climate in Lerida?
Mediterranean at lower levels, moving to continental at higher altitudes
What is the general syle of the wines made in Lleida?
Riper fruit styles from grapes grown at lower altitudes, and fresher flavors with higher acidity from grapes grown at higher altitudes
What is the climate of Tarragona?
Mediterranean
What is Trepat?
A black-skinned grape that is increasingly valued for Cava Rosado
What are the varieties used to make Cava in Rioja?
- Viura
- Chardonnay
What is the most planted grape variety for Cava production?
Macabeo as it makes up 36% of the plantings
What are some of the characteristics that make Macabeo more attractive to growers?
- Late budding
- High yielding
What are some problems that Macabeo can face in the vineyard?
- It is susceptable to botrytis bunch rot
- It is susceptable to Bacterial Blight which is a serious disease accosiated with warm, moist conditions which reduces the yield as there is not cure
List the black grape varieties that are used to make Rosado Cava?
- Garnacha Tinta
- Pinot Noir
- Trepat
Why is Garnacha Tinta falling out of favor with producers?
Because of its tendency to oxidise
What is the maximum yield for Cava?
12,000 kg per hectare
How are the wines trained for Cava production?
- Tradition bush vines
- Single or Double Cordon
True or False
Irrigation is not permitted
False, irrigation is permitted, though strictly controlled, to relieve hydric stress and protect the future viability of vineyards.
Irrigation may not be used to increase yields
What are some of the vineyard pest and diseases Cava producers may face?
- Grapevine Moths
- Downey Mildew
- Powdery Mildew
- Botrytis Bunch Rot
How are Cava producers handling the vineyard pest and diseases?
- For Grapevine Moths, sexual confusion techniques are being used
- Canopy Management such as leaf removal are used to increase air circulation and reduce shade
- Producers are also spraying with copper and sulfur
Why are Cava producers testing for gluconic acid values?
Because this lets them know if those grapes are infected with botrytis bunch rot. Too high of a level can have a negative affect on the yeast during the secondary fermentation, and will affect the wines stability.
Why are most producers picking their fruit by hand even though mechanical harvesting is allowed?
Because the vineyards are widely scattered in ownership, fragmented and on very uneven terrain.
True or False,
Producers do use multiple bin sizes depending on the quality of the fruit?
True!
Basic fruit if it is being handpicked will be placed into 25 kg bins, but if it is premium fruit 10 kg bins will be used instead.
This is done to keep quality levels up by reducing the instance of splitting and microbial spoilage.
What is something that the larger Cava producers are doing to avoid oxidation of the grapes after harvest?
If a larger producer is harvesting grapes in a different region than their winery is located, they will press in that different region, chill it down and then transport it to the main winery.
What is the main type of press used by Cava Producers?
Pneumatic Presses
Rosado must contain what percent of black grapes?
25%
Is blending permitted when making Rosado?
No, color must be obtained by direct pressing off the skins
Is MLC carried out in Cava?
No, most producers opt to prevent it to preserve the natural acidity
Are Cava producers like Champagne producers where they have multiple vintages blended together?
No. Generally Cava, whether it is vintage or non-vintage, are typically just the fruit of one season.
This is because vintage varitation is limited and storing reserve wines would ad to the cost
Most Cava is Brut in style with 8-9g/L as a typical dosage level. But what other two styles are gaining more popularity?
- Semi-Seco is more popular in certain markets like Germany and Spain
- Quality producers have begun to focus on the Brut Nature style
What are the three main categories of Cava?
- Cava
- Cava Reserva
- Cava Gran Reserva
How long must Cava be aged on the lees?
Cava must be aged on the lees 9 months minimum (triage to disgorgment)
How does Cava qualify to be Cava Reserva?
- Wines must spend a minimum of 15 months on the lees, making the autolytic notes more apparent
How does Cava qualify to be Cava Gran Reserva?
Wines must age on the lees for a minimum of 30 months
Cava Gran Reserva and Cava de Paraje Calificado may only be made in what styles?
- Brut
- Extra Brut
- Brut Nature
The Consejo Regulador del Cava administers four separate registers regarding the whole production process of Cava.
What are they?
- Growers
- Producers of base wines
- Storekeepers of base wines
- Cava Producers
Although there are four separate registers, how common is it for a Cava Producer to figure on all four registers?
Fairly common.
For example, it is legal, for grapes grown in Tarragona to be turned into base wines there. Then the wine to be transported to Barcelona to be turned into Cava.
As long as all movements are appropriately logged and all other legal parameters are met.
What are the four high volume export markets for Cava?
- Germany
- Belgium
- UK
- USA
What makes Cava de Paraje Calificado so special?
- It is Single Estate or Single Vineyard Cava that is estate bottled and produced.
- The cava must be made from the grapes of one single estate
- The vines must be at least 10 years old
- The wine cannot be acidified
- Must be aged for a minimum of 36 months
Where is Trepat from?
Conca de Barbera
When was DO Cava created?
- It was created in 1972, but recognized in the EU in 1986
What is the min./max. planting density for Cava vineyards?
- 1,500 - 3,500
