level: Cataluna
Questions and Answers List
The need-to-know DOQ/DOs of Cataluna
level questions: Cataluna
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| DO Cataluna/Catalunya: Styles, Generally | 49% blanco, 41% tinto, 10% rosado; varies; catch-all for entire region, i.e., an "umbrella DO"; spread out over 150 municipalities and seven regions |
| DO Cava: Styles (primary grapes), climate, soils | 100% espumoso; (Cataluna) Mediterranean with continental; (Cataluna) calcareous clay with high limestone content |
| What seven autonomous regions make DO Cava? | Cataluna, La Rioja, Comunidad Valenciana, Aragon, Navarra, Extremadura and Pais Vasco |
| DO Cava Aging Desgination: Cava | 9 months minimum aging |
| DO Cava Aging Desgination: Reserva | 15 months minimum aging |
| DO Cava Aging Desgination: Gran Reserva | 30 months minimum aging; Brut Nature, Extra Brut and Brut only |
| Cava de Paraje Calificado | 36 months; Brut Nature, Extra Brut and Brut only; ≥10 year old vines; single vineyard; hand harvest; low yields; estate vinified; vintage; approved |
| Who was Josep Raventos I Fatjo? | Visited Champagne in 1872 and returned to Spain to create sparkling wines using same method |
| Who was Manuel Raventos Domenech? | Son of Josep; formulated classic blend: Xarel.lo, Macabeo, Parellada |
| What is a Girasol? | Hand operated pre-cursor to fully automated gyropalette for riddling |
| DO Emporda: Styles (primary grapes), climate, soils | 58% tinto (Samso/Carinena, Garnacha Tinta/Lledoner), 24% blanco (Garnacha Blanca); Mediterranean with Tramontana; alluvium (plains), slate/granite (mountains) |
| Where is Alt Emporda? | Northernmost of the non-contiguous sections of DO Emporda |
| Where is Baix Emporda? | Southernmost of the non-contiguous sections of DO Emporda |
| What is "Garnacha del Emporda"? | DO Emporda: ≥ 90% Garnacha Tinta and/or Garnacha Peluda, and ≥ 2 years aging |
| What is the Tramontana? | Strong, dry north wind that blows through autumn, winter and spring; desicates grapes and concentrates flavors and sugar, affects Emporda |
| DO Montsant: Styles (primary grapes), climate, soils | 90% tinto (Garnatxa Negra, Samso blends); Mediterranean with continental; panal, saulo, llicorella; reds similar to DOQ priorat, but lighter, less complex |
| What is Panal? | Silty loam soil found in DO Montsant |
| What is Sauló? | Limey clay with some grantic sand soil found in DO Montsant |
| What is Llicorella? | Copper-colored quartz-rich decomposed slate soil found in DO Montsant and DOQ Priorat |
| DO Penedes: Styles (primary grapes), climate, soils | 51% blanco (Garnatxa Blanca), 35% tinto (Garnatxa Negra, Samso), 11% rosado; Mediterranean; limestone, loamy clay; three sub-zones |
| What is "Classic Penedes"? | DO Penedes espumoso designation: 100% organic, all from Penedes, in registered cellars, ≥ 15 months on lees; first organic designation in world |
| DOCa/DOQ Priorat: Styles (primary grapes), climate, soils | 95% tinto (Garnacha Tinta, Samso); Mediterranean with continental, Cierzo winds; llicorella |
| What is Vi de Vila + [name of subzone]? | DOQ Priorat quality category: 12 villages and growing zones; grapes from village; max yields 7,000 kg/ha (whites), 5,000 kg/ha (reds) ; 90% of vineyards ≥ 10 years, balance ≥ 5 years |
| What are Els Noms de la Terra? | DOQ Priorat quality category: Available for non-regional bottlings, with 3 subcategories |
| What is Vi de Paratge? | DOQ Priorat, Els Noms de la Terra quality subcategory: grapes from paratge, max yields 6,000 kg/ha (whites), 4,000 kg/ha (reds), 90% of vineyards ≥ 15 years, balance ≥ 5 years |
| What is Vinya Classificada? | DOQ Priorat, Els Noms de la Terra quality subcategory (4 fincas): grapes from single vineyard, max yields 6,000 kg/ha (whites), 4,000 kg/ha (reds), 80% of vineyards ≥ 20 years, balance ≥ 5 years |
| What is Gran Vinya Classificada? | DOQ Priorat, Els Noms de la Terra quality subcategory (1 finca): grapes from single vineyard, max yields 4,000 kg/ha (whites), 3,000 kg/ha (reds), 90% of vineyards ≥ 35 years, balance ≥ 10 years |
| What is Clos Mogador? | DOQ Priorat Vinya Classificada |
| What is Mas de la Rosa? | DOQ Priorat Vinya Classificada |
| What is Coma Blanca? | DOQ Priorat Vinya Classificada |
| What is Clos Fonta? | DOQ Priorat Vinya Classificada |
| What is L'Ermita? | DOQ Priorat Vinya Gran Classificada |
| DO Terra Alta: Styles (primary grapes), climate, soils | 72% tinto, 18% blanco (Garnatxa Blanca), 10% rosado; Mediterranean; loamy clay with high limestone content; largely cooperatives |
| What is "Terra Alta Garnatxa Blanca"? | DO Terra Alta designation: series of quality standards, minimum vintage ranking of "very good"; numbered back label ensuring quality |