Spain - Catalunya Flashcards
How many DOs and DOQs does Catalunya have?
- 11 DOs
- 1 DOQ
What are the 5 most important DOs?
- Catalunya (whole region)
- Penedès
- Priorat
- Montsant
- Costers del Segre
What can wines be labeled if they follow strict restrictions on yields and ageing?
Vi de Finca
Catalunya
What wines is this labeling mostly used for and what are the two advantages?
- Mostly used for inexpensive and mid-priced wines
- Allows more freedom than the smaller DOs (e.g., grape sourcing and varieties)
- Recognized name in export markets
Penedès
What is the general climate and is it uniform or diverse?
- Warm Mediterranean
- Diverse - broadly divided into 3 zones
Penedès
What is the rough planting between black and white grapes?
- 80% white
- 20% black
Penedès
What are the white varieties grown here?
- Xarel-lo
- Macabeo
- Parellada
- Chardonnay
- Moscatel (Muscat of Alexandria and Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains)
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Gewürztraminer
- Riesling
Penedès
What are the red varieties grown here?
- Merlot (most planted black variety)
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Tempranillo
- Pinot Noir
- Syrah
- Other permitted varieties
Penedès
How is Penedès divided and into what three climatic zones?
- From the Mediterranean to further inland
- Penedès Marítim
- Penedès Central
- Penedès Superior
Penedès Marítim
Where is it located and what is the general climate?
- Between the sea and coastal range of hills
- Low altitude and proximity to the sea
- Warm climate
Penedès Marítim
What types of wines are produced?
- Mainly full-bodied red wines from late ripening varieties (e.g., Monastrell)
- Inexpensive still wines from Xarel-lo, Macabeo and Parellada
Penedès Central
Where is it located and what is the general climate?
- Flat plains between the coastal range and inland mountains
- Higher altitude (up to 500m) -> cooling influences
Penedès Central
What types of grapes are planted?
- Large plantings of Xarel-lo, Macabeo and Parellada
- Also Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo and Chardonnay
Penedès Superior
Where is it located and what is the general climate?
- 500-800m altitude in inland mountains
- Cooling influence
- High diurnal range
- Spring frost is often a problem
Penedès Superior
What types of grapes are planted?
- White
- Chardonnay
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Riesling
- Gewürztraminer
- Black
- Pinot Noir
Penedès
What is the rainfall and is irrigation allowed?
- 500mm
- Irrigation is allowed but regulated
Penedès
What is the soil?
- Loamy with some calcareous components
- Can store enough water through the ripening period
Penedès
What types of wines are produced? (incl. quality, price)
- Clean, fruity, aromatic white wines
- Clean, fruity, early-drinking reds
- More expensive red wines matured in oak
- Some Chardonnay matured in oak
- Good to very good quality
- Inexpensive to mid-priced (some premium)
Penedès
What happened in recent years regarding regulations?
- Introduced ten sub-zones
- Sub-zone allowed to be labeled if, e.g.
- 100% of grapes from the sub-zone
- 100% organic
Penedès
How much is exported and what are the main export markets? What are drivers of consumption from the domestic market?
- 30%
- Germany, Canada, Switzerland, China and the USA
- Tourists and consumers from Barcelona
Priorat
Briefly outline Priorat’s history
- Long history of winemaking
- Not very popular because of challenging topography and some extremes of weather
- 1989: local producer, René Barbier, formed a small group of viticulturists blending in Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot with Priorat’s local varieties, Garnacha and Cariñena
- Mid-1990s: received much acclaim from critics
- 2009: promoted from a DO to a DOQ
Priorat
What is the climate, rainfall and resulting conditions?
- Warm continental
- Protected from cold winds by the Serra de Montsant in the north
- Mediterranean influence by the Serra de Llaberia to the south
- High diurnal range
- Spring frost can be a problem
- 500-600mm rainfall
- Irrigation only permitted in driest years and establishing new vineyards
Priorat
What is the size? (ha planted)
2,000 ha
Priorat
What is the topography, where are the vineyards located and how are they worked?
- River Siurana runs through the region
- Broad range of altitudes (100-750 m) and aspects
- Many vineyards on slopes (“costers”), ranging in gradient from 5-60%
- Often narrow terraces to reduce soil erosion
- Mostly by hand
Priorat
Describe the soil. What effect does it have?
- Mostly poor and stony, some clay
- Mostly slate-based soils (“llicorella”), thin, rocky and lacking in nutrients, reflecting light and heat
- Bedrock of vertically layered slate -> roots can grow deep in search for water
- Low nutrient and water levels -> low yields
Priorat
How are vines typically trained?
- Old vineyards: Low density bush vines
- Newer vineyards: VSP trellised where possible
Priorat
What are the max and avg. yields?
- Max yield: 39 hL/ha
- Avg. yield: 5–6 hL/ha
Priorat
What is the relation between black and white varieties planted?
- Black (94%)
- White (6%)
Priorat
What are the two types of grape varieties? List them and comment on the trend.
- Traditional, local varieties (2/3)
- Garnacha (most planted)
- Cariñena (grown in warmest sites)
- International varieties (1/3)
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Syrah
- Merlot
- Trend towards only local varieties
Priorat
What varieties are used to make the small amounts of white wine?
- Garnacha Blanca
- Macabeo
Priorat
Describe some of the winemaking practices (fermentation vats, yeast, oak)
- Traditional: old basket presses and large oak fermentation vats
- Modern: stainless steel tanks and optical sorting machines
- Cultured yeasts
- Typically matured in oak (French) for 1-2 years
Priorat
Describe a typical very good to oustanding red wine (aromas, acidity, alcohol)
- Concentrated, ripe, but not jammy, fruit
- Medium(+) acidity
- High alcohol
Priorat
What are the 4 classifications?
- Vi de Vila (from 1 of 12 sub-zones)
- Vi de Paratge (from a named site, lieu dit)
- Vinya Classificada (single vineyard, cru)
- Gran Vinya Classificada (grand cru)
Priorat
What other specifications have to be met in order to label the wines with one of the 4 classifications?
- Producers must own the vineyard or rented for min 7 years
- Specific to category:
- Min proportion of Garnacha and Cariñena
- Vine age
- Max yields
- Vinya Classificada or Gran Vinya Classificada: critical ‘recognition’ over min 5 years
Priorat
When is the term “old vines” allowed?
If vineyard is min 75 years old and planted before 1945
Montsant
Where is the region located?
Form almost a complete ring around Priorat
Montsant
Where are vineyards located and what is the climate?
- Majority in the south: flatter land with Mediterranean influence
- Some in the more mountainous north: higher altitudes (300-700m) and cooler temperatures
Montsant
What is the soil?
- Mixture of soils
- Ranging from clay-based to sandy
- Slightly more fertile than in Priorat -> higher yields
Montsant
What is the topography and how are vines trained?
- Flatter than in Priorat
- Some terraced to avoid erosion
- Mostly trellised, but also some bush vines
Montsant
What is the ratio of black and white varieties planted?
- 94% Black
- 6% White
Montsant
What are the two most important black varieties, what is their % of plantings, and what other varieties are planted?
- 2/3 of black varieties planted:
- Garnacha and Cariñena
- Other varieties:
- Tempranillo
- Syrah
- Merlot
- Cabernet Sauvignon
Montsant
Describe the typical style of red wines (varieties, aromas, acidity, body, alcohol, oak, quality, price)
- Many blends, some single varietal from Garnacha and Cariñena
- Ripe, fruity
- Medium(+) acidity
- Full body
- High alcohol
- 1-2 years in French or American oak
- Good to very good quality
- Mid-priced (some premium to super-premium)
Montsant
Name two significant producers
- Espectacle
- Celler de Capçanes
Montsant
From what varieties are the small amounts of white wines made?
- Garnacha Blanca
- Macabeo
Montsant
What is the vineyard area’s size and what role do co-ops play?
- 1,900 ha
- An important one
Montsant
How much is exported and what are the main export markets?
- 45%
- Germany, USA, France, Switzerland, and UK
Costers del Segre
Where is it located and what is the climate and rainfall?
- In the north in Catalunya
- Continental climate
- Low with 400mm
Costers del Segre
Where are the vineyards located and what is the soil? What does it mean?
- 200-700m
- Sandy and free-draining
- Irrigation needed in most vineyards
Costers del Segre
What are the varieties planted for white wines and Cava?
- Xarel-lo
- Chardonnay
- Garnacha Blanca
- Sauvignon Blanc
Costers del Segre
What are the varieties planted for red and rosé wines?
- Garnacha
- Tempranillo
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Merlot
Costers del Segre
Describe the typical style of wine (variety, style, oak, price)
- Mostly blends, but also single varietal wines
- Fresh, fruity style for early drinking
- Red wines and some Chardonnay may be aged in oak
- Mid-priced (some premium)
Costers del Segre
What is the most important producer and how much of vineyards do they own?
- Raimat
- 1/3 of the area
Costers del Segre
What is the size of vineyard plantings?
4,000 ha
Costers del Segre
Is sustainability of importance?
- Yes, they have their own program
- 70% adhere to it
