In the past, Alicante wines were already internationally well-known under their own brand name which evoked ‘hot’ wines, with a high alcohol content, intense colour, and very full-bodied. These co-existed with ‘noble’ wines, mature wines that sat on the tables of the very best royal houses in Europe due to their nobility and personality. The Fondillón de Alicante tradition is still preserved from that period today, a product jealously protected by DO Alicante.

These days, production is based on a terroir that, together with the effects from the sea and the sun, generates a ripe grape capable of transforming into the most suggestive wines: Young wines, fresh and fruity made from native varieties that offer harmony, originality, genuineness and authenticity, and modern style crianzas, a blend of traditional native and foreign varieties that denote diversity, innovation, imagination and quality.

These wines come from a geographically privileged region, located between the plateau and the Mediterranean, extending through 50 municipalities in the Alicante province, bringing together 14,300 registered hectares, in two distinct regions: inland, around the capital and the upper and middle basin of the River Vinalopó, and the Marina Alta region, to the north near the sea.

The role played by the Mediterranean climate in the development of DO Alicante vines is crucial. Factors such as the high average temperatures (between 13º and 18º, reaching summer maximums of 30º to 40º), scarce rainfall (between 300 and 500 mm/year), the high number of sunlight hours (2,500 hours per year), and a negligible altitude above sea-level determine the singularity of these wines. The Mediterranean climate of the inland region is influenced by a continental climate due to its proximity to the plateau, while the Marina Alta region is characterised by a maritime microclimate benefiting from the sea breeze.

The soils possess a high level of limestone, null or almost null amount of clay, very little organic material, and an exceptional mineral content. These pedological factors give rise to the successful growth of the vines and the making of quality wines.

As to the endorsed varieties, time as well as the experience of vine-growers and winemakers has given rise to a natural selection of the varieties that have shown the best qualities in adapting to the climate and soils of Alicante. The result of this process, which could be considered ‘historic’, is the co-existence in perfect harmony of Chardonnay, Macabeo, Merseguera, Moscatel de Alejandría, Sauvignon Blanc, Planta Fina and Verdil, in whites, and Garnacha Tinta, Garnacha Tintorera, Monastrell, Tempranillo, Bobal, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Syrah in reds, with Monastrell affording personality to the region and occupying 66 percent of the vineyard.