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D.O. Terra Alta

Introduction | History | Geography | Climate | Viticulture | Viniculture | Wines | Wineries  

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.

 

Fact file

CRDO address:

Crtra. Vilalba, 31

43780 Gandesa

Tarragona

Spain

DO established

1982

Last updated

18 April 2005

Telephone

+34 977-421-278

Fax

+34 977-421-623

E-mail

info@doterraalta.com

Website

www.doterraalta.com

Vineyards:

Subzones

-

Area under vine

6,209.59 ha

Area in full production

 

Altitude of vineyards

350 - 500 m

Soil types

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

Principal grapes (w)

Garnatxa blanca, Macabeu, Parellada.

Principal grapes (r)

Garnatxa tinta, Garnatxa Peluda, Samsó

Permitted grapes (w)

Moscatell d’Alexandria, Chardonnay, Chenin blanc, Pedro Ximénez., Moscatell de gra pétit, Viognier

Permitted grapes (r)

Ull de llebre, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet franc, Merlot., Morenillo, Garnacha tintorera

Experimental grapes (w)

-

Experimental grapes (r)

-

Organic viticulture

-

Climate:

Max. summer temp.

35º C

Min. winter temp.

-5 º C

Average rainfall

372 - 584 mm annually

Average sunshine

2,700 hours annually

Production:

Maximum crop

8,000 kg/ha REDS

10,000 kg/ha WHITES

Yield

70% REDS

66% WHITES

Equivalent hl/ha

56/66

Production 2006 (kg)

37,321,987

Production 2007 (kg)

40,149,196

Production 2008 (kg)

36,327,505

Wine alcohol content:

White

12 - 15 % abv

Pink

12 - 15 % abv

Red

12 - 15 % abv

Other

liquor wines (Ranci, Mistela, y VDN) 15-20%

Ageing in oak:

Crianza

6 months in oak and up to 24 months in bottle or deposit

Reserva

12 months in oak and 24 months in bottle

Gran Reserva

24 months oak and 36 months botlle.

Wineries:

Number of Wineries

42

Total exports - 2006

29,109 hl

Total exports - 2007

16,753 hl

Total exports - 2008

15,200 hl

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