cava

Question 1

Where is the birthplace of Cava?

Answer 1

Sant Sadurní d’Anoia in Alt-Penedès. Jose Raventós of Codorníu introduced método tradicional sparkling winemaking to Spain, in 1872

Question 2

When was the DO for Cava established?

Answer 2

1986 (last revised in 2022)

Question 3

Name the three altitude zones in Penedès?

Answer 3

Baix-Penedès, Medio-Penedès, and Alt-Penedès.

Question 4

What does all Cava DO bottles have on the corks?

Answer 4

Imprint of a four pointed star

Question 5

Who is Antoni Galí Comas?

Answer 5

Antoni Galí Comas entered his bottle of sparkling to a competition in Madrid in 1851

Question 6

Who is Luis Justo I Villanueva?

Answer 6

A laboratory director at Catalonia’s Agricultural Institute of Sant Isidre, who taught the first generation of sparkling winemakers, three of whom entered a Barcelona wine competition in 1872

Question 7

What did Cava used to be called in old Catalan dialect?

Answer 7

Champán or Xampany

Question 8

Define girasol?

Answer 8

Gyropalette. A mechanized riddling system that Catalonia was first to use in the 1970s, the gyropalette can perform remuage in as fast as three days, a task that would take hand-riddlers six weeks.

Question 9

Name the two largest Cava houses?

Answer 9

Freixenet and Codorníu Raventós

Question 10

Name the seven autonomous communities (regions) of Cava DO?

Answer 10

Catalonia, Valencia, Aragon, Basque Country, La Rioja, Navarra, and Extremadura

Question 11

What are the Cava DO zones?

Answer 11

Comtats de Barcelona, Valle del Ebro,
Videos de Almendralego,
Zona de Levante (Cava de Requena)

Question 12

What river runs through the Ebro Valley?

Answer 12

Rio Ebro

Question 13

What body of water borders north Spain and western France?

Answer 13

Golfo de Vizcaya

Question 14

Name the two sub zones of the Ebro Valley for Cava production?

Answer 14

Alto Ebro, Valle de Cierzo

Question 15

Name the rivers inside Comtats de Barcelona zone?

Answer 15

Rio Anoia, Rio Fox, Rio Gaià

Question 16

What are the five different sub zones of Comtats de Barcelona?

Answer 16

Valls d’Anoia Foix, Serra de Mar, Conca del Gaià, Serra de Prades and Pla de Ponent.

Question 17

What is the name of the warm wind in Viñedos de Almendralejo?

Answer 17

Solano wind

Question 18

List the styles produced for Cava DO?

Answer 18

Escumós and Espumoso
(Blanc and Rosado)

Question 19

Authorized Blanco grapes for Cava DO?

Answer 19

Parellada, Macabeo, Xarel-lo
Chardonnay, Malvasia (Subirat)

Question 20

Authorized Negre grapes for Cava DO?

Answer 20

Pinot Noir, Monastrell, Garnatxa Negre, Trepat

Question 21

How is Rosado Cava produced?

Answer 21

Brief maceration of red skins, saignée, or blending red and white base wines.

Question 22

What is a sub classification of DO Penedès?

Answer 22

Clàssic Penedès

Question 23

Wha are the sub zone inside Penedès?

Answer 23

Conca del Riu Anoia (Anoia River Basin)
Valls de Bitlles Anoia (Valleys of the Bitlles and Anoia Rivers)
Conca del Riu Foix (Foix River Basin)
Serra d’Ancosa (The Ancosa Range)
Massís del Garraf (The Garraf Massif)
Costers d’Ordal (Slopes of Ordal)
Marina del Garraf (Garraf Shore)
Costers del Montmell (Slopes of Montmell)

Question 24

Name some top producers of Cava?

Answer 24

Recaredo
Juvé y Camps
Mestres
Gramona
Perelada
Albet I Noya
Colet
AT Roca

Question 25

Minimum/maximum alcohol for base wine for Cava and Cava?

Answer 25

Base wine 9.5%-11.5% Cava 10.8%-12.8%

Question 26

Cava sweetness levels?

Answer 26

Brut Nature: 0-3 g/l Extra Brut: 0-6 g/l Brut: 0-12 g/l Extra Dry (Extra Sec): 12-17 g/l Dry (Sec): 17-32 g/l Semi-Dry (Semi-Sec): 32-50 g/l Sweet (Dolç): 50+ g/l

Question 27

Aging requirements for Cava/Cava de Guarda?

Answer 27

Cava / Cava de Guarda: min. 9 months on the lees from the day of tirage.

Question 28

Aging requirements for Cava de Guarda Superior?

Answer 28

Cava de Guarda Superior: min. 18 months on the lees from the day of tirage. Reserva: 18 months on the lees from the day of tirage. (previously 15 months, prior to the 2021 harvest) Gran Reserva: min. 30 months on the lees from the day of tirage (Brut, Extra Brut, and Brut Nature only)

Question 29

Aging requirements for Cava de Parade Calificado?

Answer 29

Cava de Paraje Calificado (Cava de Paratge Qualificat): min. 36 months on the lees from the day of tirage.

Question 30

Cava de Guarda Superior winemaking rules?

Answer 30

Vines must be at least 10 years old. Vineyards must be farmed organically. Max yield: 10 tons/ha Must be vintage dated Wine should be traceable from vine to bottle.

Question 31

Cava de Paratge Qualificat (Paraje Calificado) winemaking rules?

Answer 31

Single vineyard wines from hand-harvest fruit. Vines must be at least 10 years old. Minimum 36-month tirage. Minimum TA is 5.5 g/l. No acidification Must be vintage-dated. May only be Brut, Extra Brut, or Brut Nature.

Question 32

Designated foil covers (marchamo) for Cava?

Answer 32

Green: Cava de Guarda Silver: Reserva Gold: Gran Reserva Antique Gold: Paraje Calificado. Gold marchamo in rhomboid shape, with P (for Paraje) and “Cava de Paraje Calificado”.

Question 33

Permitted Vine Training/Pruning Systems for Cava?

Answer 33

En Vas (Bush) En Espatllera (Trellis): Cordón (simple or double) or Vara i Polze (simple or double)

Question 34

Maximum yields for Cava?

Answer 34

Cava: 12 tons/ha, 100 liters/150 kg (reduced to 10 tons/ha for the 2020 vintage) Cava de Guarda / Cava de Guarda Superior: 10 tons/ha Cava de Paraje Calificado (Cava de Paratge Qualificat) 8.8 tons/ha

Question 35

What does the stamp Elaborador Integral stand for?

Answer 35

Created in 2020 launched in 2022. The stamp indicates that the producer carries out the entire production themselves, from grape growing to bottling.

Question 36

Explain the four pointed star on Cava corks?

Answer 36

The four-pointed star is used in Cava as a further mark of authenticity. This seal of tradition is located on the cork, indicating that the product has been made using the traditional method, with the second fermentation in the same bottle that reaches the consumer.

Question 37

When did Cava hit the vineyards of Penedés?

Answer 37

1887

Question 38

When was the Regulatory Council of Sparkling Wines established and approved the denomination “Cava” when referring to Spanish sparkling wine?

Answer 38

1972

Question 39

When was Cava de Paraje Calificado created?

Answer 39

2015. A recognition of the singularity and excellence of exceptional vineyards, where winemakers use small, demarcated plots.