Non-Champagne Sparkling Flashcards
What are the 7 authorized regions of Cava?
Aragon Basque Country Catalonia Extremadura La Rioja Navarra Valencia
What are the 3 recommended white grapes for Cava?
Parellada, Macabeo, Xarel-lo
What other 2 white grapes are authorized for Cava?
Chardonnay, Subirat Parent (Malvasia)
What red grapes are authorized for Cava?
Pinot Noir, Monastrell, Garnacha Tinta, Trepat (for rose only)
What are the minimum/maximum alcohol levels for Cava base wine?
9.5/11.5%
What are the minimum/maximum alcohol levels for Cava?
10.8%/12.8%
What is the sweetness level of Cava Brut Nature?
0-3 g/l
What is the sweetness level of Cava Extra Brut?
0-6 g/l
What is the sweetness level of Cava Brut?
0-12 g/l
What is the sweetness level of Cava Extra Dry (Extra Seco)?
12-17 g/l
What is the sweetness level of Cava Dry (Seco)?
17-32 g/l
What is the sweetness level of Cava Semi-Dry?
32-50 g/l
What is the sweetness level of Cava Sweet?
50+ g/l
What is Cava’s aging requirement?
minimum 9 months on the lees
What is Reserva Cava’s aging requirement?
minimum 15 months on the lees
What is Gran Reserva Cava’s aging requirement?
minimum 30 months on the lees (Brut, Extra Brut, Brut Nature only)
What is the minimum/maximum planting density of Cava?
1500/3000 vines per hectare
What are Cava’s permitted vine training/pruning systems?
En Vaso En Espaldera (Trellis): Cordon or Vara y Pulgar
What is Cava’s maximum yield?
12 tons/hectare, and 100 liters per 150 kilograms
When was DO Cava established?
1986
By volume what are the percentages of the top 6 grapes under vine in Cava?
Macabeo - 34.7% Xarel-lo - 25.2% Parellada - 21.2% Chardonnay - 9.0% Garnacha Tinta - 3.8% Trepat -3.1%
When was Cava first made?
The second half of the 1800s
By percentage, how much Cava is produced in Penedes?
95%
Where is the birthplace of Cava?
San Sadurni d’Anoia
Who introduced metodo tradicional sparkling winemaking to Spain, and when?
Jose Raventos, 1872.
Who are the top 2 Cava houses by volume?
Freixenet
Codorniu
What Cava grapes are better suited for lengthy lees aging?
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
Who is the only producer of Cava in southwestern Spain?
Tierra do Baros
Who are often considered top producers of Cava?
Recaredo Masia Can Mayol Raventos Agusti Torello Mata Mestres
Describe Recaredo Winery
They are a very old Cava house, being grape growers and wine producers since 1924. Demeter certified organically and biodynamically. Winemaker is Ton Mata.
Known for:
Turo d’en Mota (single vineyard Xarello Cava, long lees aging)
Reserva Particular de Recaredo (sourced from old vines - 60 Macabeo/40 Xarello)
Desribe Masia Can Mayol winery
Cava estate managed somewhat organically or biodynamically, by director Josep Mitjans Buxens. Mostly Xarello grapes. All wines ferment with indigenous yeasts.
Known for:
Loxarel 109 Gran Reserva (all Xarello)
Loxarel Mm de Loxarel (somewhere between blanco and rosato, mostly Xarello)
Describe Raventos winery
21 generation family winery. Now Pepe Raventos. Growers since 1497. Producers of bottle-fermented sparkling wines since 1872. Pepe Raventos grandfather left Codorniu because of management disagreements. Winemaking philosophy is close to biodynamics but not quite.
Known for:
Enoteca Personal Manuel Raventos (60/40 Xarello/Parellada)
De Nit (with 5% Monastrell)
Silencis (Xarello)
Describe Agusti Torello Mata winery
Cava producer, started in 1959.
Known for:
Kripta Gran Reserva Brut Nature (blend known for rounded bottom)
Kripta
Describe Mestres winery
Cava, old house. Known for:
Aurea Brut (NV Blend)
Clos Nestre Senyor
Mas Via