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Cava (Spanish sparking wine) > Regulatory Board > Flashcards

Regulatory Board Flashcards

1
Q

What are the three most important white grapes for Cava?

A

Macabeo, Xarel·lo and Parellada. ** [MXP]

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2
Q

In what town did Cava originate?

A

Sant Sadurní d’Anoia, in the Catalan region of Penedés

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3
Q

What major change in viticulture occured after phylloxera devastated the vineyards of the Penedés in the late 1800’s?

A

During replanting with American rootstock after phylloxera, some of the area’s most well-established landowners decided to replace the red varieties with quality native white grape varieties. **

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4
Q

When were the first bottles of Cava produced in Sant Sadurní d’Anoia using the traditional method with a second fermentation in the bottle?

A

1872; it is said that Josep Raventós of the Codorníu family was the one to produce the first bottles of Cava using the traditional method in Sant Sadurní d’Anoia.

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5
Q

When did most well-established owners in Penedès decide to replace the red varieties with high quality native white grapes?

A

After phylloxera, in 1887; more broadly this occurred throughout the late 1880’s.

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6
Q

When did King Alfonso XIII visit the Penedès to recognize the area’s sparkling wines, elevating the reputation to the category of quality wines?

A

1904

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7
Q

When did exports of Spanish sparkling wine exceed imports of foreign sparkling wines into Spain?

A

1911 **

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8
Q

When did the word “Cava” first appear in an official document, in what was to become the first ever legislation in Spain regarding sparkling wines?

A

1959

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9
Q

When was the Regulatory Board for Sparkling Wines set up, using the term “Cava” to refer to Spanish sparkling wines?

A

1972 [100 years after the first bottlings]

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10
Q

When was the Cava region was legally defined?

A

1986, and the name was reserved to describe the quality sparkling wines produced using the traditional method. A Ministerial order established the areas of production in what it called “the Cava Region”. [Coincident with joining the EU and allowing protection throughout Europe.]

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11
Q

When was the current Regulation approved regarding the Cava Designation of Origin and its Regulatory Board?

A

1991, approved by a ministerial order

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12
Q

When was the category Cava de Guarda Superior de Paraje Calificado legally defined?

A

Defined in 2015, a recognition of the uniqueness and excellence of exceptional vineyards as well as the closed-circle production and winemaking. [prior to recognition in 2017]

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13
Q

When were Parajes Calificados within the Cava P.D.O. recognized?

A

2017 ** [after legal definition created in 2015]

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14
Q

When did the Control Board unanimously approve the strategic plan based on the segmentation and zoning of Cava to protect the uniqueness and authenticity of the product. D.O.?

A

2020

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15
Q

When did the D.O. Cava start the implementation of a digital traceability platform to track the legal specifications?

A

2021

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16
Q

When was the decision taken to drop the word “Champagne” and instead to use the term “Cava”?

A

1970

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17
Q

Who are the members of the Cava Regulatory Board?

A

It is made up of winegrowers (6), producers (6), representatives of the autonomous communities (7) within the Cava Region and from the ministry (1). [gps-m] **

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18
Q

What is controlling body of the Cava Regulatory Board?

A

It is a decentralised body that falls under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

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19
Q

What does the Cava Regulatory Board certify?

A

It certifies the origin, the production method, and the analytical and organoleptic characteristics of Cava. [pot]

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20
Q

Who is responsible for the promotion and defense of the product and for protecting the Cava name?

A

The Cava Regulatory Board.

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21
Q

What is the only accreditation body in Spain that can grant ISO 17065 product certification?

A

ENAC (Entidad Nacional de Acreditación) represents Spain in the international organizations making up the global infrastructure of accreditation.

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22
Q

How long must Cava stay on the lees in the same bottle in which the second fermentation takes place?

A

It must spend at least nine months on the lees (lees are micro-organisms, mainly yeasts, that are responsible for fermentation.)

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23
Q

What color can Cava be?

A

white or rosé (blanco o rosado)

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24
Q

What factors influence consumption and exports of Cava?

A

Fluctuations in the consumer market.
Climatic conditions in the producer country.
Potential grapevine diseases.
Vintage conditions.

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25
What is the position and market share of Spain among wine exporters world wide?
Spain is the world's third leading wine exporter, behind only France and Italy, with a market share of over 20%.
26
What country is the leading buyer of Spanish wines and musts in terms of value?
USA became the leading buyer (valued in Euros) of wines and musts years ago.
27
What country is the leading buyer of wines and musts in terms of volume?
Germany with 14 million hectoliters (vs. 12 million for the USA)
28
What countries lead the category of worldwide sparkling wines and what is their combined market share?
France, Italy and Spain account for 84% of sales and 86% of volume.
29
What was total production of Cava in 2023?
Total production in 2023 was 253,838,296 bottles [one bottle per person in Indonesia or ~20 million cases in American speak] **
30
Compare the domestic and export markets for Cava.
One third of Cava production is for domestic consumption and two thirds for overseas markets. **
31
What is a hectoliter?
A hectoliter is a metric unit of capacity equal to one hundred liters. **
32
What are the most important export markets for D.O. Cava in terms of volume?
Germany, the United States, Belgium and the United Kingdom.
33
How many countries import Cava?
Exports go to a total of 144 countries.
34
What happened to Cava production in 2020 and what were the factors?
In 2020 Cava production fell due to a combination of the mildew that decreased production and the global pandemic which had an impact on restaurant consumption.
35
An increase of Cava production by 20% in the last 14 years is due to an increase in the domestic market, the export market or both?
Export market, domestic market has remained flat. **
36
What are the the most important export markets for D.O. Cava in terms of volume?
The most important markets for D.O. Cava in terms of volume are Germany, the United States, Belgium and the United Kingdom. **
37
The D.O. Cava accounts for what percent of the total value of sparkling wine produced in Spain?
The D.O. Cava accounts for 77% of the total value of sparkling wine produced in Spain. **
38
Where is Spain positioned among countries exporting sparkling wine?
third behind France (Champagne) and Italy (Prosecco,) both have a bigger market share than Spain.
39
To produce the 250 million bottles each year under the D.O. Cava, how many winemaking companies, base wine producing companies and winegrowers are there?
206 producers, 144 companies that make base wine and more than 6,000 winegrowers [Not all the base wine makers produce Cava.] **
40
Since 2018 which wine region has been number one in the world in terms of sparkling wines made using the traditional method?
D.O. Cava **
41
What percent of D.O. Cava bottling is organically produced?
About 13% **
42
What percent of Cava is produced in Catalonia?
95% **
43
What are the supra-regional D.O.'s in Spain?
There are 3: D.O. Cava, D.O. Jumilla, DOCa Rioja **
44
The D.O. Cava comprises how many municipalities?
D.O. Cava region comprises 159 municipalities. **
45
How does the number of kg of grapes grown in D.O. Cava compare to the number of bottles produced?
about 210 million kg of grapes and 250 million bottles [~85%]
46
How many hectares are used in the production of Cava?
Almost 40,000 hectares **
47
What does the Cava Regulatory Board guarantee?
It certifies the origin, the traditional production method and the analytical and organoleptic characteristics of Cava. [pot]
48
How many Spanish regions produce Cava?
7 ** (Catalunya, Pais Vasco, La Rioja, Navarra, Aragon, Valencia and Extramadura out of 17 total Spanish regions)
49
How many Spanish regions contain more than 3 municipalities producing Cava?
2, La Rioja and Catalunya **
49
A new zoning system for Cava was begun in 2020; what are the zones?
4, Comtats de Barcelona, Valle del Ebro, Viñedos de Almendralejo and Zona de Requena. [BEAR] **
50
What was the motivation for a zoning system for Cava?
To better inform consumers about the origins of the grapes in their Cava. [Possibly, the majority Catalunya producers want to reclaim name recognition for their region with the use of 'Barcelona.']
51
What is the meaning of Xamfrà?
Xamfrà, which in Catalan means “corner”, is this crossing of paths where balance meets with a clear personality all its own.
52
Which Cava zone has an Atlantic influence?
Valle de Ebro **
53
Which grape plays a larger relative role in Valle de Ebro zone than in other areas?
Macabeo **
54
What is the defining characteristic of the Zona de Requena?
Altitude **
55
What is the defining characteristic of the Viñedos de Almendralejo?
A hot and dry climate **
56
Which Cava zone represents the benchmark of production?
Comtats de Barcelona **
57
When will Reserva and Gran Reserva categories of Cava become 100% organic?
2025 **
58
What terms does Pedro Ballesteros use to describe the differences in tasting organic wines?
More aromatic precision. (He also uses the terms purity of expression and innate elegance.)
59
What are the subzones of Comtats de Barcelona?
5, Serra de Mar, Valls d’Anoia-Foix, Conca del Gaià, Serra de Prades, Pla de Ponent [from east to west, SVCSP] **
60
What is the smallest subzone of Comtats de Barcelona?
Serra de Mar **
61
What is the defining tasting note of wines from the Serra de Mar subzone?
minerality [from Pansa Blanca]
62
What is the defining soil of wines from the Serra de Mar subzone?
Sauló is decomposed granite soil that accentuates the minerality; a porous, sandy white soil that retains heat exceptionally well. **
63
What is the synonym for Xarel·lo in Serra de Mar?
Pansa Blanca
64
What are the expected tasting notes for a 100% Xarello Cava?
stone fruit, lime fruit, citric, high acidity, linear (enjoyed with seafood) [also herbal]
65
Which subzone of Comtats de Barcelona is considered the cradle of Cava?
Valls d’Anoia-Foix **
66
What are the tasting notes of aged Cava?
Deeper color, aromas of autolysis, dried fruit and freshness with balance, complexity and intensity. Balance of acidity and fruit intensity. Note that with aged Cava the distinctions between subzones becomes more distinct.
67
What is the warmest subzone of Comtats de Barcelona?
Conca del Gaià **
68
What is the typical assemblage of wines from Conca del Gaià?
balanced coupage of Xarello, Macabeo and Parellada
69
What are the tasting notes of wines from Conca del Gaià?
Rounded, more mellow, lacking in complexity. White fruit notes of Macabeo, stone fruit notes of Xarello
70
What are the tasting notes of wines from Serra de Prades?
Good bitterness and increased acidity along with freshness; in a more temperate climate
71
What Cava subzone is known as 'cultural cradle' of Catalunya?
Serra de Prades
72
What Cava subzone is known for use of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir?
Pla de Ponent **
73
What flavors does Chardonnay contribute in the subzone of Pla de Ponent?
Tropical notes and steely acidity.
74
What flavors does Pinot Noir contribute in the subzone of Pla de Ponent?
Red berry fruit aromatics
75
On what side of the river does the Alto Ebro subzone lie?
The subzone lies on both banks of the river Ebro.
76
What is maximum altitude of Alto Ebro subzone?
The maximum altitude reached is about 600 meters above sea level.
77
Where is the Valle del Cierzo subzone?
Near the Aragonese city of Zaragoza, in the central area of the Ebro River, more specifically in the municipalities of Ainzón and Cariñena.
78
What is impact of Xarel·lo in the Valle del Ebro zone?
none [as a result, less stone fruit and lime aromas are found in these wines] **
79
Which grapes play the most significant role in Cava from the Valle del Ebro zone?
Macabeo (Viura) and Chardonnay, promoting more apple aromatics [Garnacha is also used in this zone.]
80
What are the tasting notes of Cava from the Valle del Ebro zone?
Rounder and softer with less acidity, (less steely, often aged less than high end Cava from Catalunya)
81
What is the key grape in the Alto Ebro subzone?
Macabeo **
82
What is the key grape in the Valle de Cierzo subzone?
both Macabeo and Garnacha ***
83
What is distinctive about climate in Valle de Cierzo subzone?
more extreme with both lower and higher temperatures ** [diurnal variation at altitude]
84
What are the tasting notes of Cava from the Valle de Cierzo subzone?
"joyful aromas of berries," intensity and freshness [often with Garnacha and good acidity]
85
Where is the municipality of Almendralejo?
The municipality is in the Tierra de Barros comarca (county) in the Extremadura region.
86
Which grapes predominate in the Viñedos de Almendralejo zone?
The Macabeo and especially the Chardonnay varieties predominate in this area. **
87
How does the winemaker maintain freshness in the Cava of the Viñedos de Almendralejo zone?
Pick Chardonnay grapes early! **
88
Which Cava zone has been given a temporary name?
Zona de Requena (aka Zona de Levante)
89
At what altitude is the Zona de Requena found?
between 600 and 900 metres above sea level [quite high]
90
In what province is Zone de Requena found?
Zona de Requena, in the municipality of Requena, is situated in the interior of the region (communidad) and province of Valencia.
91
What are the borders of the Zona de Requena found?
It is bounded by the sweeping curve of the River Cabriel ** to the south, and by the Sierras Ibéricas del Molón to the north.
92
What is the role of the Xarel·lo grape in the Zona de Requena?
Although this is the zone closest to that of Catalonia, its more temperate (warmer) climate means that the Xarel·lo grape is not a preferred option here. **
93
In the Zona de Requena, which grapes predominate?
Production is centered on the Macabeo, Garnacha and Chardonnay varieties. **
94
How does color of Chardonnay in Zona de Requena compare to the color of Xarel·lo and Parelleda in Zona de Comtats de Barcelona?
Chardonnay is deeper in color. **
95
What is the distinctive aromatic profile of Cava from Zona de Requena made from Chardonnay?
Chardonnay gives it exuberant tropical fruit aromatics, compared to white fruit profile of Parelleda or citric (lime) fruit of Xarello. **
96
What is the main purpose of the DO Cava Regulatory Council?
to guide, supervise and control the production, elaboration and quality of the protected wines
97
What is a rough estimate of wine production for a kg of grapes?
One kg of grapes produces about one liter of wine. ** [This is not precise as 40K Ha in Cava at 10K kg/Ha would predict 500 M bottles, but actually only 250 M bottles produced.]

Cava (Spanish sparking wine) (7 decks)

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