Cataluna

Question 1

1. where are extraordinary rock paintings found that became a UNESCO site in 1998?
2. the ancient city of ___ was situated along the ____, a conduit for wine (and metals, wheat, olive oil) transport.
3. What did Charlemagne establish to pacify the region?

Answer 1

1. Roca dels Moros in El Cogul
2. Terraco, Via Augusta
3. “Marca Hispanica”: “self governing” counties

Question 2

1. what was the result of Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Barcelona, marrying Petronila, daugher of King Ramiro II?
2. What is the significance of the book “Majorcan Book of the Deeds of the Illustrious Pisans” around 1117?
3. What happened in 1410?
4. What is the Cartoixa d’Escaladei?

Answer 2

1. united Kingdom of Aragon with County of Barcelona
2. First mention of “Catalans” and homeland of Catalonia
3. County of Barcelona folded into Aragonese Crown (King Ferdinand I)
4. Birthplace of winemaking in Priorat

Question 3

1. What happened in 1640?
2. What happened a decade later?
3. What were the Nueva Planta decress in 1716?

Answer 3

1. Catalans defined Spanish Crown and put themselves under rule of French king Louis XIII
2. Catalans rebelled again, war of Spanish Succession, Bourbon dynasty won
3. No more autonomy

Question 4

1. who crafted Spain’s first sparkling wine in 1872?
2. Catalan reformers did what in 1919?
3. What is the Caganer?
4. What is the Tio de Nadal?
5. Who is the star of Catalan Modernism and what is his most famous work?

Answer 4

1. Josep Raventos i Fatjo
2. EUR’s first 8 hour workday
3. figurine that shows up in nativity scenes
4. “Uncle Christmas Log”
5. Antoni Gaudi, La Sagrada church in Barcelona

Question 5

1. What are the 4 provinces of Cataluna?
2. Overall climate?
3. What are the rainiest seasons in Cataluna?

Answer 5

1. Lerida, Gerona, Barcelona, Tarrgona
2. Mediterranean
3. spring and autumn (usually in Mediterranean it’s winter)

Question 6

1. What is the highest peak in the Catalan PIrineos?
2. What are the two ranges of the Cordilleras-Costero-Catalanas mountain range?
3. What is located between #1 and #2?

Answer 6

1. PIca d’Estats (10312 ft)
2. Cordillera Litoral (coastline), Cordillera Perlitoral (inland)
3. Central Catalan Depression

Question 7

1. What is Llicorella?

Answer 7

1. Prized soil type mainly in DOQ Priorat. shallow, copper colored, decomposed slate/shale of low organic content. wines are rich, powerful, considerable minerality

Question 8

1. What are the 3 primary cava grapes?
2. What is the main white grape?
3. What are the 2 main red grapes?
4. What is INCAVI?
5. Are Cataluna wines mainly vareitals or blends?

Answer 8

1. Xarel.lo, Parellada, Macabeo (largest acreage)
2. Garnacha Blanca
3. Garnacha Tinta, Samso/Mazuelo/Carinena
4. Catalan Wine Institute (promotes/advances wine/vineyard tech)
5. Blends

Question 9

DO Cataluna/Catalunya:

1. Wine styles?
2. It is an “umbrella DO”. what does that mean?

Answer 9

1. White 49%, Red 41%, Rosado 10%

2. encompasses all wineries within all Catalan wine regions as well as vineyards outside official DO boundaries.

Question 10

DO Cava:

1. Wine styles?
2. Soils?
3. Climate?
4. Grapes?
5. What family has been paramount to success of cava?
6. When did “cava” become official as a reference to Catalan sparkling wine using metodo tradicional?

Answer 10

1. Espumoso 100%
2. Calcareous, clayey with high limestone content
3. Mediterranean with continental influence
4. Macabeo, Xarel.lo, Parellada
5. Reventos family of Penedes
6. 1972

Question 11

1. what did Cataluna invent in the 1970s?
2. what 7 autonomous regions does DO Cava encompass?
3. Cava rosado requires ____ % of red varieties

Answer 11

1. Girasol
2. Cataluna, La Rioja, Comunidad Valenciana, Aragon, Navarra, Extremadura, Pais Vasco
3. 25%

Question 12

1. Sweetness scale of Cava:

2. DO Cava aging designations for Cava? Reserva? Gran Reserva? Paraje Calificado?

Answer 12

1. Brut Nature <3g/l, extra brut 0-6, brut 0-12. extra seco 12-17, seco 17-32, semi seco 32-50 dulce >50
2. 9 months, 15 months, 30 months, 36 months

Question 13

Cava de Paraje Califcado:

1. what does it mean?
2. strict requirements include:

Answer 13

1. “Qualified Single Vineyard Cava”
2. vines 10+ years old, single vineyard, manual harvest only, lower yields than standard cava, must all be vinified on estate, must be labeled with vintage, aged less 36+ months, brut/extra brut/brut nature, tasted by intl unbiased panel, production traceable vineyard->shelf

Question 14

1. How is cava different from Cremant and Champagne?

2. bars of pressure?

Answer 14

1. lower acidity, slightly heavier on palate

2. 5-6 (fully sparkling)

Question 15

DO Emporda:

1. Styles?
2. Soils?
3. Climate?
4. Preferred grapes?
5. Elevation?
6. What is “Garnacha del Emporda”?

Answer 15

1. Reed 58%, white 24%, rosado 15%
2. Alluvium (plains, slate/granite (mountains)
3. Mediterrnean (affected by Tramontana winds)
4. W: Garnacha Blanca R: Samso (carinena/mazuelo), Garncha Tinta/Lledoner
5. Lowest in Cataluna
6. minimum 90% Garnacha Tinta and/or Garnacha Peluda, 2+ years aging

Question 16

DO Montsant:

1. Styles?
2. Soils?
3. Climate?
4. Preferred grapes?
5. What mountain ranges does the area encompass?

Answer 16

1. Red 90%, white 6^
2. Silty loam (panal), limey clay/granitic sand (saulo), slate (llicorella)
3. Mediterranean with continental influences
4. Samso, Garncha Negra/Tinta
5. Serra de Montsant, Serra de La FIguera, Serra de Llaberia