The production of Cavas de Guarda Superior of the D.O. Cava will be 100% organic by 2025

May 24, 2021 by evebushman

Spain’s most exported Designation of Origin announces a turning point in sustainability as a result of its new regulations, the most demanding in the world for quality sparkling wines made using the traditional method.

The new Master of Wine, Álvaro Ribalta, moderated a pioneering roundtable focused on organic and biodynamic viticulture and oenology in Cava, a joint effort by D.O. Cava to “guarantee the conservation of the territory and the future of the sector for generations to come”.

Vilafranca del Penedès, April 2021 – The D.O. Cava has announced today that by 2025 the production of Cavas de Guarda Superior, a category of the highest quality that includes Cavas Reserva (minimum 18 months of ageing), Gran Reserva (minimum 30 months of ageing) and Cavas de Paraje Calificado (from a specific area and with a minimum of 36 months of ageing), will be 100% organic.

This milestone is the result of the demanding new regulations that the D.O. Cava has introduced, the most exacting standards in the world for quality D.O. sparkling wines made using the strict traditional method. With their enforcement, the D.O. Cava strengthens its qualitative foundations by committing to 100% organic, long aging, vineyards with a minimum age of 10 years, production limited to 10,000 kilos of grapes per hectare, mention of the year of harvest on the bottle, and rigorous traceability (guaranteed from grape harvesting to bottling).

All these controls aim to ensure the conservation of the territory and the future of the sector for generations to come, consolidating the growing trend of organic wine, which is also gaining more importance within D.O. Cava itself. Javier Pagés, president, confirms that “D.O. Cava is evolving. The number of bottles of organic Cava produced has now reached 13,780,711 units, 34.09% of which corresponds to Premium organic Cava.” He highlights the considerable effort of the D.O. in promoting organic production. “We know that both the consumer and the market are demanding it. This care and preservation of the territory is something with which we identify closely.”

The Cava D.O. towards organic production, for a more sustainable and environmentally friendly world

The D.O. Cava’s firm commitment to ecology and biodynamics was reflected at a recent roundtable discussion “The D.O. Cava towards organic production, for a more sustainable and environmentally friendly world,” moderated by Álvaro Ribalta Master of Wine.

During the session, in which five organic and biodynamic wineries from DO Cava took part, representing the wide range of the appellation, the most important aspects of ecology applied to the vineyard and winery were analyzed, from soil management to marketing, concluding that its benefits are extraordinary.

Special emphasis was placed on relevant issues already being actively discussed in D.O. Cava, such as the conservation and development of terroirs, biodiversity and landscapes, responsible water management, and the measurement and reduction of the carbon dioxide footprint or greenhouse gases that affect global warming. The benefits of using recyclable and compostable materials in both bottles and packaging (recycled paper, non-polluting inks and plant-based plastics, among others) were also addressed.

The speakers who brought their considerable experience and knowledge to the roundtable were Eva Plazas (Vilarnau oenologist), Mireia Pujol-Busquets (Alta Alella assistant manager), Salvi Moliner (Oriol Rossell oenologist), Marta Casas (Parés Baltà oenologist), Toni Cantos (Juvé & Camps oenology director) and Isabel Vidal (vine and wine sector spokesperson for the agricultural union, Joves Agricultors i Ramaders de Catalunya).

D.O. Cava, committed to origin, land and sustainability

With more than 60% of sales to the international market, Cava is the Spanish D.O. that exports the most wine: its 370 associated wineries are present in over 100 countries. The D.O. encompasses more than 38,000 hectares of vineyards and more than 6,800 winegrowers. Cava harmonizes perfectly with every type of gastronomy, and is made using the traditional method, with a strict commitment to origin, land, and sustainability.

Web: Cava.wine

Facebook: facebook.com/do.cava

Instagram: instagram.com/Cava.do/

Twitter: twitter.com/DO_Cava

YouTube: youtube.com/c/doCava

Welcome to Arizona’s Wine Region!

August 31, 2020 by evebushman

When you think about your favorite wine regions, Arizona might not be the first state to come to mind! However, Arizona boasts a thriving wine industry dating back to the Spanish missionaries of the 16th century and features three prominent wine regions: Sonoita, Willcox, and Verde Valley. Not only have these regions produced award-winning wines receiving international acclaim, but some of their wines have also even been served in the White House.

●      Sonoita, Willcox, and the Verde Valley have soil and climate conditions similar to those in parts of the South of France, Spain, and Southeastern Australia. Oenophiles can delight their senses with grape varieties native to Spain, Italy and the Rhone River Valley in France.

●      Arizona is often associated with arid temperatures and cactus-spotted deserts; however, weather conditions are temperate, and the high elevations lend to near-perfect conditions for growing grapes. In the Willcox Region, vineyards are located high above the desert terrain and heat, surrounded by area mountain ranges. Here, 74% of Arizona’s wine grapes are harvested. In the Verde Valley Region, the ideal combination of elevation, volcanic soil, and diurnal swings (hot days and cooler nights) lend to more flavorful, full-bodied wines. The Sonoita region is Arizona’s first American Viticultural Area (AVA). This region boasts many similarities to the Italian “Super Tuscan” region, with unique climate and soil characteristics, and its distinctive ability to retain natural water.

●      Wine grapes are considered a low-impact, specialty crop, which is defined as low acreage and high-density agriculture. Here, grapes are drought-tolerant and are predominantly grown using drip irrigation. For comparison, an acre of mature vines can use around 1.5 acre-feet of water per acre each year. Corn and alfalfa both use more than 4 acre-feet of water per acre each year, even up to as much as 6 acre-feet per year. As a result, wine grape crops offer an “added value” with economic benefits and sustainability techniques which save water and nutrients, thus minimizing the impact on natural resources. Some areas also use managing techniques such as mowing native grasses, which can help control weeds and tree/brush.

●      Arizona’s native grapevine, Vitis arizonica, can be spotted growing in and around many wineries in Arizona. Vitis arizonica is one of approximately 60 grape species that are being studied extensively to improve wine grapes. Recent research has shown Arizona grapes are more resistant to Pierce’s disease than cultivated forms. UC Davis California, for instance, has created new grape varieties bred by Vitis arizonica that carry a single dominant gene for resistance to Pierce’s disease, (a disease caused by a bacterium spread by a group of insects called sharpshooters). Scientists hope that hybrids between Arizona and wine grapes will reduce the incidence of the disease.

●      With road-tripping on the rise, Harvest Hosts offers an impressive and timely network of wineries, breweries, distilleries, farms, and attractions that invite RVers to stay in stunning campsites! Harvest Hosts offer a different way for RVers to meet other travelers, stay overnight in gorgeous settings, and create long-lasting memories. For a small annual membership price, members can stay overnight at any Harvest Hosts site, all of which are pet and family friendly. Please note that members are kindly invited to support their hosts by purchasing one of their local products with each stay.

In addition, local wineries have been holding virtual tastings and have recently released new varietals, more award-winning wine, including the 2018 Viognier from the SouthWest Wine Center (SWC) at Yavapai College. The SWC was established to fulfill the education and workforce development needs of a thriving Arizona wine industry and offers the only program of its kind. The academic program provides hands-on Viticulture experience in the vineyard and cellar, an experience that cannot be duplicated solely in a classroom setting!

RARECAT PROFESSIONAL A NEW OPTION

August 24, 2015 by evebushman

Vintner Sharon Kazan Harris offers programs using wine as a business tool

St. Helena, Napa Valley, summer 2015 — Vintner Sharon Kazan Harris, who launched RARECAT Wines in 2009, is launching RARECAT Professional, a new consulting business which designs programs for businesses based on using wine as a business tool. Kazan Harris chooses wines specifically for each group and then provides background as she and the group taste the wines. “Wine is a powerful business tool for any business that depends on people,” she explains. “Wine brings people to the table, helps ease conversation and keeps people at the table longer. RARECAT Professional offers programs to attract and retain customers, delight employees and executives, and provide beautiful wines for corporate events,” she continues. “Our programs are highly memorable, fun and educational, Kazan Harris says. RARECAT Professional demystifies wine connoisseurship as an employee benefit and employee skills building format. More details: http://www.rarecatprofessional.com/

RARECAT Wines was founded in 2009 by Sharon Kazan Harris, a former publishing/technology executive who has spent more than 30 years living for part of the year in St. Emilion (Bordeaux) as she pursued her career in California. Today she seeks out unusual wines both in Napa Valley and in Bordeaux, and in fact is the only American woman vintner making wine in Bordeaux. Sharon is one of very few Americans to have received the DUAD degree. The Diplome Universitaire d’Aptitude a la Degustation des Vins is offered through the Université de Bordeaux’s Oenology department; it’s an intensive technical oenology degree program.

In marketing her wines, Kazan Harris conducts “trunk shows,” where a room of people are entertained and educated as they taste wines with her guidance. In March, April and May of this year Kazan Harris presented her wines to 350 people in trunk shows in southern and northern California. The winery’s current releases are 2014 Rosé ($24), R. Cat Syrah ($38), 2010 RARECAT Old Toll Road Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($100), 2011 RARECAT Chardonnay Russian River Charles Heintz ($65) and coming this fall, the RARECAT St. Emilion ($48). The winery’s Audrey Club offers numerous privileges, special events and wines: more at http://www.rarecatwines.com/Wines/Club/Audrey-Club .

The winery’s name is Harris’ homage to a “rarecat,” an elusive one-of-a-kind creature who touches others in a quiet way. Her wines express this philosophy with wines which are complex and balanced. The design motif comes from a Carthaginian coin from 320 – 300 B.C. One side of the coin shows a picture of Tanit, Goddess of Carthage, wearing an oriental tiara, while the other side reveals a majestic lion in front of a palm tree. Tanit is possibly one of the first “RARECATS,” a woman of such beauty and charm that she launched a new nation,” Harris explains.

Located in St. Helena, RARECAT is not open to the public. Appointments can be made by contacting Harris at 707-968-5031 or sharon@rarecatwines.com or by visiting https://www.facebook.com/RarecatWines or http://www.rarecatwines.com/. Kazan’s RARECAT office is based in an unusual setting, a rehab’d warehouse in a stylish courtyard ringed with mulberry trees and a firepit. The warehouse, with its enormous high ceiling and roll-up garage-style industrial chic wall-door, contains an intriguing mix of family antiques (fifteenth century Spanish throne), rare early California-era paintings, other antiques and a 30’-long wooden farmhouse table. One façade of the warehouse features a graffiti art installation, painted on the spot during a “happening” event in the fall of 2014 by local artist Alex Dunn, part of the What Is Beauty series (photos and more at http://www.rarecatwines.com/Story/What-is-Beauty-Art-Series ). It is in this unusual and eclectic setting with an urban modern chic vibe where Sharon shares her passion and wine knowledge.