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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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Crtra. Vilalba, 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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1982
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Last updated
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18 April 2005
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Telephone
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+34 977-421-278
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Fax
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+34 977-421-623
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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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6,209.59 ha
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Area in full production
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Altitude of vineyards
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350 - 500 m
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Soil types
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The majority of the soils are formed from terciaros materials such as limestone, clay and in smaller proportions from arenite. They are distinguished by their unique honeycomb flooring (original quaternary fossil dune) and boulders. In general the soils are poor in organic matter
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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 tinta, Garnatxa Peluda, Samsó
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Permitted grapes (w)
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Moscatell d’Alexandria, Chardonnay, Chenin blanc, Pedro Ximénez., Moscatell de gra pétit, Viognier
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Permitted grapes (r)
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Ull de llebre, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet franc, Merlot., Morenillo, Garnacha tintorera
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Experimental grapes (w)
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-
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Experimental grapes (r)
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-
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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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372 - 584 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 2006 (kg)
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37,321,987
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Production 2007 (kg)
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40,149,196
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Production 2008 (kg)
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36,327,505
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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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liquor wines (Ranci, Mistela, y VDN) 15-20%
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Ageing in oak:
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Crianza
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6 months in oak and up to 24 months in bottle or deposit
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Reserva
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12 months in oak and 24 months in bottle
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Gran Reserva
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24 months oak and 36 months botlle.
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Wineries:
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Number of Wineries
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42
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Total exports - 2006
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29,109 hl
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Total exports - 2007
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16,753 hl
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Total exports - 2008
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15,200 hl
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