Cava Pt 1 Flashcards
CAVA -Highlights
-name the pioneers of Cava?
Ferrer who founded the Freixenet company
Raventos who founded the Codorniu company
CAVA -Highlights
the name Cava?
1960s informally used to describe traditional method sparkling
1972 became a protected denomination for sparking wines
1986 Spain recognized Cava as a quaity wine in specific regions
1989 EU authorities gave PDO status name after a wine, rather than a place- it was unusual for a PDO to be sourced from a number of unconnected areas
CAVA -Highlights
regulation and overseen by?
Consejo Regulador del Cava
CAVA -Highlights
varieties in Cava?
Macabeo, Xarel-lo and Parellada
Chardonnay increasingly in blends- quality producer not
CAVA -Location and Climate
where is Cava produced?
Most grapes are grown and most Cava produced in Penedes in Cataluna- 95%
Grown also in: Rioja, Valencia
Important production areas: Lleida, Penedes, and Tarragona
CAVA -Location and Climate
Penedes region- climate, altitude, and soil?
Predominantly Med climate – bright sunny summer, mild winters, moderate rainfall spread throughout the year
-altitude range from coast to higher inland 200-300 m majority
soil alluvial to clay at lower altitudes to stony clay and granite sub-soil at higher altitudes
poor nutrients, adequate drainage
CAVA -Location and Climate
Penedes region- a minority of regions?
____ are 700-800M above sea level
summers nights can be distinctly chilly
produce grapes with intense flavors and higher acidity then lower altitude
Macabeo based wines here have ability to age well in the bottle
CAVA -Location and Climate
Penedes region- principal towns
Principal cava producers are located towns around San Sadurni d’Anoia
headquarters for Consejo is Vilafranc del Penedes
CAVA -Location and Climate
Lieida Province climate
Called Lerida in Spanish
province in mountains
altitude of 100-700 m slopes and high plain
Climate- Med at lower levels w/ increasing Continental at higher altitudes
Irrigation system from Pyrenees
protection from spring frost
CAVA -Location and Climate
Lieida Province- Characteristic of wine produced here?
in general
Lower level has riper fruit flavors
higher levels grapes have a fresher acidity
CAVA -Location and Climate
Tarragona Province
Med Climate: low lying grape growing areas - area border on Med sea.
wines are simple – meant for early drinking
Macabeo dominated
With in this province, the Conca de Barbera area is the home of Trepat
black grape used for making Cava Rosado
CAVA -Location and Climate
Rioja’s climate for cava production?
Rioja where the Cantabrian Mountains protect frm excess rainfall from the Atlantic
-higher altitude (Alta is 425M) help acidity
Macabeo (known locally as Viura) -Ripens much later than at lower altitudes (Penedes)
Chardonnay
CAVA- Grape Varieties- White Grape
Harvest for Cava grapes?
picked at different times and each grape variety may be picked over a one -two week period
gain different characteristics for base wine
Macabeo, Xarel-lo, and Parellada -majority
Chardonnay- smaller amounts
CAVA- Grape Varieties- White Grape
Macabeo- where planted?
makes up 36% of vineyards registered
100-300 m above sea –
Penedes mainly, some higher altitude in Rioja and Lleida.
Rioja- only indigenous white planted and is sometime a single varietal cava
Commonly blended with Chard
CAVA- Grape Varieties- White Grape
Macabeo’s Varietal Characteristic
Late budding - less risk of spring frost
early ripeing -picked first of the local varieties
high yield
susceptible to botrytis and Bacterial blight (no cure)
light intensity apple, lemon aromas and flavors
Bacterial Blight
disease that affects vines
in warm, moist conditions
reduces yield for which there is no cure
CAVA- Grape Varieties- White Grape
Xarel-lo – where planted?
accounts for 25% vineyards registered
planted on higher sites (400 m) in Penedes
indegenous to Cataluna
CAVA- Grape Varieties- White Grape
Xarel-lo’s Varietal Characteristic
mid-budding and ripening
prone to spring frosts some years
susceptible to powder and downy mildew
greengage and gooseberry notes, herbal (fennel)
becomes earthy when fruit is over-ripe
reasonable affinity with oak
CAVA- Grape Varieties- White Grape
Parellada -where planted?
20% of vineyards registered
planted 500 M Penedes
indigenous to Cataluna
CAVA- Grape Varieties- White Grape
Parellada’s Varietal Characteristic
Early Bud- Hazzards for spring frost and Powdery Mildew
low yielding but late ripening
best planted at highest altitudes
need altitude for long ripening season to reach flavor maturity w/o excess alcohol, adds fitness and floral notes
CAVA- Grape Varieties- White Grape
Chardonnay
makes up 9% of vineyards registered
adds body, richness, and finesse
choice of clone and rootstock are vital for balance ripeness
otherwise would ripen too quickly and accumulate too much potential for alcohol
CAVA- Grape Varieties- Black Grape
what black grapes are authorized for Cava?
-small volumes of rose Cava are make using below:
Garnacha Tinta
Trepat
Pinot Noir
Monastrell
NOT Tempranillo
CAVA- Grape Varieties- White Grape
Garnacha Tinta
variety is used less and less b/c tendency to oxidise
contributes ripe red fruit and spicy notes
CAVA- Grape Varieties- White Grape
Trepat
local to Conca del Barbera - in the Penedes
adds strawberry flavors and high acidity
used in Rosado production
CAVA- Grape Varieties- White Grape
Pinot Noir
used for Rosado blends as a single variety
often made into Blanc de Noirs wines
