Catalonia

Question 1

What is the official language of Catalonia?

Answer 1

Catalan

Question 2

What is Catalonia called in Catalan?

Answer 2

Catalunya

Question 3

Where is Catalonia located?

Answer 3

Northeast Spain, on the border of Roussillon, France. In the foothills of the Pyrenees Mountains and on the Mediterranean coast.

Question 4

What is the main city in Catalonia?

Answer 4

Barcelona

Question 5

When did Roussillon and Catalonia split? Why?

Answer 5

1659. Split by the Treaty of the Pyrenees, ending the Franco-Spanish War. Catalonia felt overstepped by the Spainish crown during the Thirty Years War, and allied with France.

Question 6

Who first produced Cava? When was it debuted? Why?

Answer 6

Josep Raventós. 1872. Josep returned from training in France due to Phylloxera.

Question 7

What is the quality tier of Priorat?

Answer 7

DOCa (DOQ in Catalan)

Question 8

Where does Priorat derive it’s name?

Answer 8

Carthusian monastery (priory), called Priorato de Scala Dei (La Cartoixa d’Escaladei in Catalan).

Question 9

From which DO did Priorat split? When?

Answer 9

Priorat split from the Montsant DO. It was approved as a DOQ by the Catalonia govt in 2000, but not approved as a DOCa by the Spanish Consejo until 2009.

Question 10

What vintage is referred to as the Clos vintage in Priorat? Why?

Answer 10

1989. The beginning of 3 vintages of the same “Burgundy inspired” wine released by the 5 “Clos” of Priorat under different labels.

Question 11

What were the original five Clos of Priorat? Who made them?

Answer 11

• Clos Mogador (Barbier)
• Clos Erasmus (Dafne Glorain)
• Clos Martinet (Jose Luis Pérez Verdú)
• Clos de l’Obac (Carles Pastrana)
• Clos Dofi (Alvaro Palacios, later renamed to Finca Dofi)

Question 12

What are the varieties planted by Rene Barbier?

Answer 12

Garnacha, Cariñena, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah

Question 13

Who founded Clos de l’Obac? What project followed after Clos de l’Obac?

Answer 13

Carles Pastrana. Costers del Siurana.

Question 14

What is the village wine category of Priorat called?

Answer 14

Vi de Vila

Question 15

What is Gratallops?

Answer 15

Village in Priorat (now under the Vi de Vila category). The location of Clos Mogador.

Question 16

What is the soil type of Priorat? What is it made of? What does it do to the vines?

Answer 16

Llicorella. Mix of black slate and quartzite. Offers high levels of drainage, heat reflection, and makes vines fight for survival. (some vineyards see 40% mortality for vine replanting).

Question 17

What is the timeline of denomination for Priorat?

Answer 17

• 1947 Tarragona DO established.
• 1954 Priorat DO established.
• 2000 Priorat granted DOQ status by Catalonian authorities
• 2001 sub-zone “Falset” splits from Tarragona DO to become Montsant DO
• 2009 Priorat granted DOCa status by Spanish authorities

Question 18

What are the recommended varieties for Priorat?

Answer 18

Garnatxa Negre (garnacha), Carinyena (cariñena)

Question 19

What is the synonym for Carinyena in Catalan?

Answer 19

Samsó

Question 20

Within which DO is Priorat nestled?

Answer 20

Montsant DO