Spain - Catalunya Flashcards
(54 cards)
1
Q
How many DOs and DOQs does Catalunya have?
A
- 11 DOs
- 1 DOQ
2
Q
What are the 5 most important DOs?
A
- Catalunya (whole region)
- Penedès
- Priorat
- Montsant
- Costers del Segre
3
Q
What can wines be labeled if they follow strict restrictions on yields and ageing?
A
Vi de Finca
4
Q
Catalunya
What wines is this labeling mostly used for and what are the two advantages?
A
- 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
5
Q
Penedès
What is the general climate and is it uniform or diverse?
A
- Warm Mediterranean
- Diverse - broadly divided into 3 zones
6
Q
Penedès
What is the rough planting between black and white grapes?
A
- 80% white
- 20% black
7
Q
Penedès
What are the white varieties grown here?
A
- Xarel-lo
- Macabeo
- Parellada
- Chardonnay
- Moscatel (Muscat of Alexandria and Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains)
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Gewürztraminer
- Riesling
8
Q
Penedès
What are the red varieties grown here?
A
- Merlot (most planted black variety)
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Tempranillo
- Pinot Noir
- Syrah
- Other permitted varieties
9
Q
Penedès
How is Penedès divided and into what three climatic zones?
A
- From the Mediterranean to further inland
- Penedès Marítim
- Penedès Central
- Penedès Superior
10
Q
Penedès Marítim
Where is it located and what is the general climate?
A
- Between the sea and coastal range of hills
- Low altitude and proximity to the sea
- Warm climate
11
Q
Penedès Marítim
What types of wines are produced?
A
- Mainly full-bodied red wines from late ripening varieties (e.g., Monastrell)
- Inexpensive still wines from Xarel-lo, Macabeo and Parellada
12
Q
Penedès Central
Where is it located and what is the general climate?
A
- Flat plains between the coastal range and inland mountains
- Higher altitude (up to 500m) -> cooling influences
13
Q
Penedès Central
What types of grapes are planted?
A
- Large plantings of Xarel-lo, Macabeo and Parellada
- Also Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo and Chardonnay
14
Q
Penedès Superior
Where is it located and what is the general climate?
A
- 500-800m altitude in inland mountains
- Cooling influence
- High diurnal range
- Spring frost is often a problem
15
Q
Penedès Superior
What types of grapes are planted?
A
- White
- Chardonnay
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Riesling
- Gewürztraminer
- Black
- Pinot Noir
16
Q
Penedès
What is the rainfall and is irrigation allowed?
A
- 500mm
- Irrigation is allowed but regulated
17
Q
Penedès
What is the soil?
A
- Loamy with some calcareous components
- Can store enough water through the ripening period
18
Q
Penedès
What types of wines are produced? (incl. quality, price)
A
- 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)
19
Q
Penedès
What happened in recent years regarding regulations?
A
- Introduced ten sub-zones
- Sub-zone allowed to be labeled if, e.g.
- 100% of grapes from the sub-zone
- 100% organic
20
Q
Penedès
How much is exported and what are the main export markets? What are drivers of consumption from the domestic market?
A
- 30%
- Germany, Canada, Switzerland, China and the USA
- Tourists and consumers from Barcelona
21
Q
Priorat
Briefly outline Priorat’s history
A
- 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
22
Q
Priorat
What is the climate, rainfall and resulting conditions?
A
- 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
23
Q
Priorat
What is the size? (ha planted)
A
2,000 ha
24
Q
Priorat
What is the topography, where are the vineyards located and how are they worked?
A
- 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
25
**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
26
**Priorat**
How are vines typically trained?
* Old vineyards: Low density bush vines
* Newer vineyards: VSP trellised where possible
27
**Priorat**
What are the max and avg. yields?
* Max yield: 39 hL/ha
* Avg. yield: 5–6 hL/ha
28
**Priorat**
What is the relation between black and white varieties planted?
* Black (94%)
* White (6%)
29
**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**
30
**Priorat**
What varieties are used to make the small amounts of white wine?
* Garnacha Blanca
* Macabeo
31
**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
32
**Priorat**
Describe a typical very good to oustanding red wine (aromas, acidity, alcohol)
* Concentrated, ripe, but not jammy, fruit
* Medium(+) acidity
* High alcohol
33
**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)
34
**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
35
**Priorat**
When is the term "old vines" allowed?
If vineyard is min 75 years old and planted before 1945
36
**Montsant**
Where is the region located?
Form almost a complete ring around Priorat
37
**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
38
**Montsant**
What is the soil?
* Mixture of soils
* Ranging from clay-based to sandy
* Slightly more fertile than in Priorat -> higher yields
39
**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
40
**Montsant**
What is the ratio of black and white varieties planted?
* 94% Black
* 6% White
41
**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
42
**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)
43
**Montsant**
Name two significant producers
* Espectacle
* Celler de Capçanes
44
**Montsant**
From what varieties are the small amounts of white wines made?
* Garnacha Blanca
* Macabeo
45
**Montsant**
What is the vineyard area's size and what role do co-ops play?
* 1,900 ha
* An important one
46
**Montsant**
How much is exported and what are the main export markets?
* 45%
* Germany, USA, France, Switzerland, and UK
47
**Costers del Segre**
Where is it located and what is the climate and rainfall?
* In the north in Catalunya
* Continental climate
* Low with 400mm
48
**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
49
**Costers del Segre**
What are the varieties planted for white wines and Cava?
* Xarel-lo
* Chardonnay
* Garnacha Blanca
* Sauvignon Blanc
50
**Costers del Segre**
What are the varieties planted for red and rosé wines?
* Garnacha
* Tempranillo
* Cabernet Sauvignon
* Merlot
51
**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)
52
**Costers del Segre**
What is the most important producer and how much of vineyards do they own?
* Raimat
* 1/3 of the area
53
**Costers del Segre**
What is the size of vineyard plantings?
4,000 ha
54
**Costers del Segre**
Is sustainability of importance?
* Yes, they have their own program
* 70% adhere to it
