Classification and Quality Assurance Flashcards
Cava is divided into how many different styles?
Cava is divided into seven different styles in accordance with how much sugar it contains. It also is divided into two broad groups of categories depending on aging. [Note that not all styles apply to both categories;
Sugar->Style; Age->categ] **
What is the residual sugar level in Brut Nature Cava?
0 - 3 g/l **
What is the residual sugar level in Extra Brut Cava?
0 - 6 g/l **
What is the residual sugar level in Brut Cava?
<=12 g/l **
What is the residual sugar level in Extra Dry Cava?
12 - 17 g/l **
What is the residual sugar level in Dry Cava?
17 - 32 g/l **
What is the residual sugar level in Medium Dry Cava?
32 - 50 g/l** [Semi-sec]
What is the residual sugar level in Sweet Cava?
> 50 g/l **
Which sweetness level of Cava is considered ‘pure Cava’?
Brut Nature **
Which sweetness level of Cava is considered ‘versatile’?
Extra Brut [Cava dogma]
Which sweetness level of Cava is considered ‘barely perceptible’?
Brut
Which sweetness level of Cava is considered ‘suitable’ for extreme pairings’?
Extra Dry [what is extreme?]
Which sweetness level of Cava is considered ‘daringly’ sweet’?
Dry
Which sweetness level of Cava is considered ‘ideal’ accompaniment for desserts’?
Medium Dry
Which sweetness level of Cava is considered ‘a treat for the senses’?
Sweet
The concept of “Guarda” refers to what?
It refers to the potential of a wine to remain, evolve, and age in the bottle.
How many months of aging are required for Cava de Guarda?
a minimum 9 months
What are the tasting notes for Cava de Guarda?
It’s light, fruity and citrusy, with a lively bubbles that reflects its youth. On the palate it suggests white flowers, green apples or pears.
What are the defining regulatory characteristics of Cava de Guarda Superior?
aging for a minimum of 18 months, vines at least 10 years old, 100% organic vineyards, production yields limited to 10,000 kg/ha, vintage dated, full traceability ** [18, 10, 100, 10000, VT]
What are the subcategories included within the Guarda Superior?
Reserva, Gran Reserva and de Paraje Calificado.
What are the classical pairings for Cava de Guarda?
appetizers, salads, fish and seafood
What are the classical aromatic notes for Cava de Guarda?
apple blossom, apples and acacia [flowery autolytic aroma of a recently disgorged sparkling wine; methyl p-tolyl ketone] with a trace of aniseed (sweet, powerful black licorice flavor) [AAAA]
What is the permitted range of alcohol content for Cava de Guarda?
10.8 to 12.8% abv
What is the preferred serving glass for Cava de Guarda?
tulip, not flute
What is the preferred serving temperature for Cava de Guarda?
very cold, 8 degrees C [46 F]
What is the classical color for Cava de Guarda?
straw yellow with green highlights
What is the classical taste profile for Cava de Guarda?
fresh and fruity with a fine balance of acidity and fruit
What is the bubble profile for Cava de Guarda?
crisp and very present bubbles
What are the classical pairings for Cava de Guarda Superior Reserva?
ideal to accompany any dish, sophisticated appetizers, complex sauces
What are the classical aromatic notes for Cava de Guarda Superior Reserva?
medium high intensity, aniseed, peach, apricot, apple blossom with light toasted almond notes
What is the range of alcohol content for Cava de Guarda Superior Reserva?
10.8 to 12.8% abv
What is the preferred serving glass for Cava de Guarda Superior Reserva?
tulip, not flute
What is the preferred serving temperature for Cava de Guarda Superior Reserva?
cold, 8-10 degrees C [46-50 F]
What is the classical color for Cava de Guarda Superior Reserva?
pale yellow with golden highlights
What is the classical palate profile for Cava de Guarda Superior Reserva?
Fruity with a very pleasant mouthfeel, good acidity and a slightly bitter finish.
What is the bubble profile for Cava de Guarda Superior Reserva?
good presence of fine, well-integrated bubbles
What are the conditions of aging for Cava de Guarda Superior Gran Reserva?
silence, constant humidity and temperature
What are the recommended pairings for Cava de Guarda Superior Gran Reserva?
dishes of culinary complexity, baked casseroles, any dish (gastronomic)
What are the classical aromatic notes for Cava de Guarda Superior Gran Reserva?
intense aromatic intensity with baked apple, dried apricot, toasted hazelnut, pleasant pastry notes of brioche and butter, with a smoky and toasted finish
What is the range of alcohol content for Cava de Guarda Superior Gran Reserva?
10.8 to 12.8% abv
What is the preferred serving glass for Cava de Guarda Superior Gran Reserva?
tulip, not flute
What is the preferred serving temperature for Cava de Guarda Superior Gran Reserva?
cold, 10-11 degrees C [50-52 F]
What is the classical color for Cava de Guarda Superior Gran Reserva?
intense yellow to golden or old gold reflections
What is the classical palate profile for Cava de Guarda Superior Gran Reserva?
structured and silky with persistence in the mouth
What is the bubble profile for Cava de Guarda Superior Gran Reserva?
very fine, well-integrated bubbles
What is the percent red grapes in rosé Cava?
minimum 25% **
What are the recommended pairings for rosé Cava?
less aged bottles ideal for appetizers and smoked food, rice dishes, aged bottles with white meat and game
What is the range of alcohol content for rosé Cava?
10.8 to 12.3% abv
What is the preferred serving glass for rosé Cava?
tulip, not flute
What is the preferred serving temperature for rosé Cava?
cold, 8-10 degrees C [46-50 F]
What is the classical color for rosé Cava?
onion skin to raspberry pink
What are the classical aromatic notes for rosé Cava?
red fruits, fresh berries, bay leaf and flowers
What is the classical palate profile for rosé Cava?
forest fruits, smooth and creamy mouthfeel
What is the bubble profile for rosé Cava?
fine and persistent bubbles
Which category of Cava is synonymous with exceptionally high quality and uniqueness?
Cava de Guarda Superior Paraje Calificado
What are the requirements defining Cavas de Guarda Superior de Paraje Calificado?
smaller qualified area, maximum production yield of 8000 kg/hectare, manual harvest, vines over 10 years old, wine made on estate, pressing yield of 48 hectoliters per hectare, 36 months of aging, only Brut levels of sweetness, vintage aged, traceability, tasting panel [B, M, V, 8, 10, 36, 48] **
What is an advantage of hand-harvesting in terms of improving aromatic profile?
it minimizes exposure of grapes to oxygen during the harvest.
What aspect of viniculture can reduce the effect of skin compounds on the base wine?
limiting the yield from pressing; this first fraction produces more delicate aromatics
What are the classical aromatic notes for Cavas de Guarda Superior de Paraje Calificado?
pastries, coffee, baked apples
Which wineries produce Cavas de Guarda Superior de Paraje Calificado?
Alta Alella, Cordoníu, Juvé & Camps, Pere Ventura, Vins el Cep, Vins Familia Ferrer
What is the only winery that produces a Cavas de Guarda Superior de Paraje Calificado in a natural park?
Alta Alella
Which winery produces the most Mediterranean of the Cavas de Paraje?
Alta Alella
What is the characteristic soil of Alta Alella?
sauló
Which winery produces the Ars Collecta line of Cavas de Paraje?
Cordoníu
What is the aging regimen for the Ars Collecta line of Cavas de Paraje?
minimum of 90 months
What are the advantages of older vineyards?
greater concentration and less vintage variability (e.g. Vins El Cep, Claror)
What are the classical aromatic notes for Cava de Paraje?
great aromatic complexity, very ripe yellow and white fruits, toasted nuts, dried apricots, mushroom, truffle, dried fig, stewed apple **
What is the singulair distinction of Can Sala Cava de Paraje?
predominance of Parellada **
What is the preferred serving glass for Cava de Paraje?
tulip, not flute
What is the preferred serving temperature for Cava de Paraje?
cold, 10-11 degrees C [50-52 F] ???
What is the classical color for Cava de Paraje?
golden yellow with deep gold or amber highlights
What are the classical palate profile for Cava de Paraje?
extremely creamy mouthfeel
What are marchamos?
seals of quality or back labels
Who issues the marchamos?
the DO
Who places the marchamos?
the winery
Are the marchamos numbered?
yes
What information is found on the new seals of quality?
origin, volume, category, color according to aging, bottle number
What are the colors for seals of quality?
green - Cava de Guarda, silver - Reserva, gold - Gran Reserva
What is the Integral Producer Stamp?
A Cava certification applicable when the production process is carried out from beginning to end on the same property. [14 approved in 2024]
What is the required planting density for Cava?
between 1,500 and 3,500 vines/ha
What aspects of viticulture does the DO verify?
location, planting density, vine training, varietal grown
What is the load capacity for trailers hauling harvested grapes?
10,000 kg
What information must be on the Cava cork?
month and year of production
If no sugar is added to a Cava, what is it called?
Brut nature
Who carries out the inspections to ensure that the necessary quality requirements are being met?
technicians of the regulatory board
Based on the amount of sugar added, there are how many styles of Cava?
7 [not all styles are present for all categories of Cava]
What is the certificate of guarantee on a bottle of Cava?
quality seal or marchamo
What are the two criteria used to classify Cava?
aging and quantity of sugar added in the liqueur de expedition
What is the sugar added to Cava called?
dosage or liqueur de expedition
Which is the new seal of quality created in 2020 to identify those wineries that carry out the entire Cava production process on site?
Integral producer
What are the two broad categories of Cava depending on aging?
Cava de Guarda and Cava de Guarda Superior
Only Brut levels of sweetness (or less) are allowed for which types of Cava?
Cava de Guarda and Cava de Guarda Superior Reserva ** [not Gran Reserva or de Paraje]
