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 In the last ten years, Alicante DO has been winning respect for its new light, fresh wines and interesting varietal reds produced by pioneering bodegas.
The winelands divide between two contrasting areas . The largest one is the arid valley of the Rio Vinalopó, which stretches behind Alicante city (also called Alacant in Valencian dialect). Here the Monastrell grape shares the vineyards with new varieties. The second smaller one, incorporated into the DO in 1987, is La Marina, on the northern coast, where Moscatel grapes flourish in the warm, humid climate.
Alongside the new red wines emerging here, Alicante’s classic dessert wine, Fondillon, has been exported for centuries and is enjoying a renaissance. This traditional wine is made from grapes allowed to over ripen on the vine; it has a high alcohol content and turns from red to amber with ageing.
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Fact file
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CRDO address:
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Orense, 3 – entlo. dcha.
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03003 Alicante
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Alicante
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Spain
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DO established
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21 Febrero 1957
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Last updated
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28 Octubre 2008
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Telephone
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+34-96-598-4478
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Fax
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+34-96-522-9295
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E-mail
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crdo.alicante@crdo-alicante.org
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Website
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www.crdo-alicante.org
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Vineyards:
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Subzones
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Alicante, La Marina
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Area under vine
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13,127 ha
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Area in full production
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-
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Altitude of vineyards
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600 m
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Soil types
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light, some alluvial, limestone bedrock
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Principal grapes (w)
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Moscatel de Alejandría
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Principal grapes (r)
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Monastrell
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Permitted grapes (w)
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Planta Fina, Merseguera, Chardonnay, Verdil, Sauvignon Blanc, Airén, Macabeo, Petit Verdot
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Permitted grapes (r)
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Garnacha Tinta, Garnacha Tintorera, Tempranillo, Bobal, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah
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Experimental grapes (w)
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Riesling
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Experimental grapes (r)
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Tanat
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Organic viticulture
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-
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Climate:
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Max. summer temp.
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30º C
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Min. winter temp.
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8º C
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Average rainfall
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300 mm (Alicante subzone), 500 mm (La Marina subzone) annually
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Average sunshine
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2,500 hours annually
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Production:
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Maximum crop
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Red 7,500 kg/ha, white 9,000 kg/ha
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Yield
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70%
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Equivalent hl/ha
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Red 35 hl/ha, white 49 hl/ha
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Production 2006
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147,243 hl
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Production 2007
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163,179 hl
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Production 2008
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166,191 hl
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Wine alcohol content:
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White
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min 10% abv
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Pink
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min 11% abv
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Red
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min 12% abv
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Other
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Fondillón - min 16% abv; Licor Moscatel - min 15% abv
Sparkling- min. 10% vol.
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Ageing in oak:
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Crianza
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6 months oak, 12 months bottle
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Reserva
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12 months oak, 12 months bottle
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Gran Reserva
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24 months oak, 36 months bottle
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Fondillón
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min 8 years in oak
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Wineries:
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Number of wineries
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53
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Total exports - 2006
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33,154 hl
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Total exports - 2007
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29,366 hl
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Total exports - 2008
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31,922 hl
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