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This rural denomination of origin in southern Catalonia is comprised of both new wineries and long-established and experienced cooperatives that cultivate both native and imported grape varieties. There is considerable investment in new technology. The DO consists of a total of 12 municipalities located in the west of the province of Tarragona.
As the name of the growing area indicates, it is situated in rolling hill country of great beauty, captured by Picasso in paintings during summers that he spent here.
Due largely to its geographical isolation, this area primarily produced wine for its own local market until recently, and it continues to preserve a variety of traditional winemaking methods. At the same time, small private wineries and larger cooperatives are now also producing very good Mediterranean red wines.
Some of the cooperatives in this DO were built in the 1920s and are famed for their Modernist design by César Martinell , a student of Antonio Gaudi. Pinell de Brai and Gandesa are considered outstanding examples.
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Fact file
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CRDO address:
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Avinguda Catalunya, 31
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43780 Gandesa
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Tarragona
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Spain
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DO established
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28MAY82
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Last updated
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18APR05
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Telephone
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+34-977-421-278
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Fax
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+34-977-421-278
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E-mail
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info@doterraalta.com
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Website
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www.doterraalta.com
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Vineyards:
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Subzones
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-
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Area under vine
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8,200.00 ha
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Area in full production
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8,015.17 ha
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Altitude of vineyards
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350 - 500 m
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Soil types
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Soil rich in clay and calcium. Poor contains in organic mater.
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Principal grapes (w)
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Garnatxa blanca, Macabeu, Parellada.
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Principal grapes (r)
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Garnatxa negra, Garnatxa Peluda, Carinyena,
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Permitted grapes (w)
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Moscatell d’Alexandria, Chardonnay, Chenin blanc, Pedro Ximénez.
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Permitted grapes (r)
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Ull de llebre, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet franc, Merlot.
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Experimental grapes (w)
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Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier.
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Experimental grapes (r)
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Morenillo, Marselan, Petit Verdot
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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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35º C
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Min. winter temp.
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-5 º C
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Average rainfall
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400 mm annually
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Average sunshine
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2,700 hours annually
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Production:
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Maximum crop
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8,000 kg/ha REDS
10,000 kg/ha WHITES
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Yield
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70% REDS
66% WHITES
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Equivalent hl/ha
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56/66
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Production 2001
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208,984.83 hl
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Production 2002
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185,823.86 hl
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Production 2003
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202,670.34 hl
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Production 2004
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276,366.26 hl
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Production 2005
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-
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Wine alcohol content:
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White
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12 - 15 % abv
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Pink
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12 - 15 % abv
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Red
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12 - 15 % abv
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Other
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Desert wines: 15 a 20%
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Ageing in oak:
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Crianza
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6 months in oak casks.
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Reserva
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36 months (24 for white): 12 months oak (6 for white), rest in botlle.
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Gran Reserva
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24 months oak. 36 months botlle.
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Wineries:
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Number of Wineries
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46
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Total exports - 2001
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24,533.38 hl
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Total exports - 2002
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26,765.41 hl
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Total exports - 2003
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20,049.72 hl
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Total exports - 2004
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27,975.96 hl
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Total exports - 2005
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-
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