Spain - Catalonia

Question 1

when did Priorat received their DOQ status?

Answer 1

2000 (by Catalan authorities)
6 July 2009 (by Spain)
(second region to received)

Question 2

what is DOCa called in Catalonia?

Answer 2

Denominación de Origen Qualificada (DOQ)

Question 3

how many DOs are there in this region?

Answer 3

12 DOs and 1 DOQ

•Priorat DOQ
•Alella DO
•Catalunya DO
•Cava DO
•Conca de Barberà DO
•Costers del Segre DO
•Empordà DO
•Montsant DO
•Penedès DO
•Pla de Bages DO
•Tarragona DO
•Terra Alta DO

Question 4

where is Penedès DO situated?

Answer 4

south of Barcelona

Question 5

Penedès DO is subdivided into three based on height:

Answer 5

•Baix-Penedès (low) up to 250 meters
•Medio/Mitja-Penedès (medium) at 250-500 meters
•Alt/Superior-Penedès (high) at 500-800 meters

Question 6

what are the local grape varieties in Penedès DO?

Answer 6

•Tempranillo (Ull de Llebra)
•Monastrell (Mourvèdre)
•Cariñena (Carignan)
•Macabèo (Viura)
•Xarel-lo
•Parellada

Question 7

what are the imported grape varieties in Penedès DO?

Answer 7

•Cabernet Sauvignon
•Merlot
•Chardonnay
•Riesling
•Gewürztraminer

Question 8

Cava and majority of better quality wines are from which region in Penedès DO?

Answer 8

Medio/Mitja Penedès (middle)

Question 9

the best quality white wines are from which region in Penedès DO?

Answer 9

Alt/Superior Penedès (high)

Question 10

what wines are produced in Penedès DO?

Answer 10

80% are white
(best wines are white too)

Question 11

who is Miguel Torres?

Answer 11

-introduced hygienic
-controlled cool fermentation
-new grape varieties
-different vine densities

Question 12

Penedès DO also famous for sparkling wine, what is it?

Answer 12

Cava DO

Question 13

where is Cava DO located?

Answer 13

Sant Sadurní d’Anoia
(centre of Cava production)

Question 14

where is Sant Sadurní d’Anoia?

Answer 14

a municipality in the comarca of Alt Penedès

Question 15

where is Tarragona DO located?

Answer 15

coast south of Penedès DO

Question 16

the traditional wine in Tarragona DO is graded as?

Answer 16

Tarragona Classico Licoroso

Question 17

what is Tarragona Classico Licoroso?

Answer 17

a sweet red fortified wines that are high in alcohol and matured in oak

Question 18

what wines are produced in Tarragona DO?

Answer 18

predominantly dry white wines but red and rosé are permitted as well

Question 19

Priorat DO was originally part of which region?

Answer 19

Tarragona DO

Question 20

in 2001 what happened in Tarragona DO?

Answer 20

Montsant gained their DO status and moved out from Tarragona DO

(Montsant was previously a subzone in Tarragona DO, called Falset)

Question 21

when did Montsant DO got their DO status?

Answer 21

2001
(they were originally part of Tarragona DO)

Question 22

where is Montsant DO situated?

Answer 22

next to Priorat DOQ
(considerably larger than Priorat)

Question 23

what wines are produced in Montsant DO?

Answer 23

similar to Priorat DOQ
(not so concentrated)

Question 24

what are the soils in Montsant DO?

Answer 24

it’s a mixture of:

•granitic sand
•large pebbles
•pieces of slate
•calcerous

Question 25

where is **Priorat DOQ** located?

Answer 25

a small region **30 miles (48km)** inland from *Tarragona DO*

Question 26

what is the *principal* soil in **Priorat DOQ**?

Answer 26

**Llicorella** (slate soil)

Question 27

what wines are produced in **Priorat DOQ**?

Answer 27

**90%** is *red*, a small quantity of *sweet white dessert* wines are produced as well (like **Madeira**)

Question 28

what are the grape varietals in **Priorat DOQ**?

Answer 28

majority: **Garnacha** & **Cariñena** (replanted on slopes) **Cabernet Sauvignon**, **Syrah**, **Merlot**, **Tempranillo**

Question 29

how are the red wines in **Priorat DOQ** like?

Answer 29

-powerful dark high-alcohol -highly priced -very high quality

Question 30

what are the *classifications* in **Priorat DOQ**?

Answer 30

•**Priorat DOQ** •**Priorat Vi de Vila DOQ** (*village*) •**Priorat Vi de Paratge DOQ** (*lieudit*) •**Vi de Finca** (*single vineyard*, only in *Viña*, *Gran Viña*) •**Priorat Viña classificada DOQ** (*Premier Cru*) •**Priorat Gran Viña classificada DOQ** (*Grand Cru*)

Question 31

what is **Priorat DOQ**?

Answer 31

**regional wine** that must **100%** from *Priorat*

Question 32

what is **Priorat Vi de Vila DOQ**?

Answer 32

**Village wine** min **60% Garnacha/Cariñena** in *stated village (10)* or *zone (2)* (determined by *Consejo Regulador*) from **vineyards** owned/rented for min **7 years** (**90% of vineyards min 10 years old**, the rest **min 5 years old**)

Question 33

what is **Priorat Vi de Paratge DOQ**?

Answer 33

**100%** sourced from a single zone **60% Garnacha/Cariñena** from *one* of the **459 paratge (lieu-dit)** (*determined by Consejo Regulador*) vineyards owned/rented must be **min 7 years** (**90%** of vineyards must at least **15 years old**, remainder **5 years old**)

Question 34

what is **Priorat Vin de Finca**?

Answer 34

**single vineyard** (*independent of Vin de Vinya*) (**100%** sourced from designated vineyard for at least **10 years**)

Question 35

what is **Priorat Viña classificada DOQ**?

Answer 35

**Premier Cru** wines **60% Garnacha/Cariñena** from a **single vineyard (*vin de Finca*)**, *determined by Consejo Regulador* vineyards owned/rented **min 7 years**, **80%** vineyards must at least **20 years old**, remainder **min 10 years old**

Question 36

what is **Priorat Gran Viña classificada DOQ**?

Answer 36

**Grand Cru** wines **90% Garnacha/Cariñena** from **single vineyard** (*determined by Consejo Regulador*) vineyards owned/rented **min 7 years**, **80%** of vineyards must at least **35 years old**, remainder **min 10 years old**

Question 37

what is **Old Vines/Velles Vinyes**?

Answer 37

**75 years old vines** or vineyards planted before **1945**

Question 38

what is **Clàssic Penedès**?

Answer 38

**espumosos** wines under **Penedès DO**

Question 39

what so special about **Clàssic Penedès**?

Answer 39

first **organic** sparkling wine appellation in the world, **100%** organic certified by *The Catalan Council of the Organic Production (CCPAE)*

Question 40

what are the aging requirements for **Clàssic Penedès**?

Answer 40

min **15 months** prior disgorgement all wines are technically *Reserva*, numbers will be indicated on the labels to clarify years of aging (**3-15 years**)