Catalan wine

Last updated February 19, 2024

Catalan wines are those that are produced in the wine regions of Catalonia. Occasionally, the appellation is applied to some French wine made in the Catalan region of Roussillon and neighboring areas, also known as Northern Catalonia or the Pays catalans. The city of Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia and despite not being in a wine region (although a portion of the Penedès is in the greater comarca of Barcelona), it is the focal point of the Catalan wine industry: a primary consumer market, its port provides export functions and a source of financial resources and investment. The Penedès is the largest wine-making region in Catalonia.

The area has a long winemaking tradition and was the birthplace of the sparkling wine Cava, invented in the early 1870s in Sant Sadurní d'Anoia by Josep Raventós of Codorniu Winery. At the turn of the 20th century, the Catalan wine industry was at the forefront of Spain's emergence as a world leader in quality wine production, being the first Spanish wine region to adopt the use of stainless steel fermentation tanks. The area is also an important cork production region, with output aimed primarily at the region's Cava houses.^[1] Today Catalonia is the second-largest producer of wine in Spain, producing over 5.5 million hectolitres.^[2]

History

Archaeological evidence suggests that the Phoenicians introduced winemaking to the region several hundred years before the Romans arrived there. Recovered pieces of amphora indicate that the Phoenicians traded ancient Catalan wines with the Egyptians. The Romans had a major influence in the development of Catalan wine-growing, particularly around Tarragona, the Roman capital of occupied Spain. With the fall of the Roman Empire in the 4th century and subsequent Moorish rule, Catalan wine production was severely curtailed. It was several hundred years before wine production began again in earnest.

In the 14th century, the Franciscan writer Francesc Eiximenis described Catalan wines as strong, dense, highly alcoholic wines which, although high quality, sometimes needed to be diluted with water.^[3] A turning point for the Catalan wine industry occurred in the 19th century with the outbreak of the phylloxera epidemic that ravaged the French vineyards to the north. Along with wines from the Rioja region, Catalan wines became a welcome import for French consumers suffering a severe shortage of domestic produce.

In 1872, the sparkling wine Cava was invented in the Penedès region and eventually became an internationally recognized wine style. When phylloxera hit the region towards the end of the 19th century, Catalonia's vineyards comprised over 80% red wine grapes. The growing Cava industry encouraged planting of more white wine grapes, in place of the diseased red rootstock, where they now make up nearly 70% of the region's vineyards.^[4]

During the 20th century, the Catalan wine industry became one of the leaders of the innovation behind the Spanish wine revolution, embracing modern winemaking techniques and increasing the plantings of international grape varieties. The region received international attention in 1979 when a bottle of Torres 1970 Gran Coronas Black Label (a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo and Monastrell) was secretly entered into the "classified Bordeaux wine" category of the Gault Millau Wine Olympics and ended up winning that category.^[5]

Climate and geography

The Catalan wine region is located along the Mediterranean coast in northeastern Spain and is strongly influenced by its Mediterranean climate. Along the coast temperatures are warm with moderate rainfall but conditions become progressively more arid further inland.^[1] The majority of Catalan denominaciones lie to the south of the distinctive peaks of the Montserrat Massif, while smaller plantations lie to the north of Barcelona and south of the French border at the Pyrenees. The region is marked by warm climates along the coast and cooler temperatures through the foothills up to plateaus of more than 2,000 ft (610 m) above sea level. The area has a diversity of soil types, mostly calcareous sediments mixed with alluvium and clay. Some of the most acclaimed vineyards in the region are found on some of the scattered limestone deposits in the area.^[5]

Grapes and wine

The wines of the Catalan wine region include sparkling Cava, dry white wines and powerful reds, known as "black" wine or vi negre in Catalan, due to the colour of the grape. The grapes of the region include the Cava and white wine grapes of Macabeo, Parellada and Xarel·lo and the red wine grapes of Garnacha, Monastrell and Tempranillo called Ull de Llebre in Catalan.^[1] The production of sparkling white wine is the largest contributor to the Catalan wine industry, followed by production of still red wines and then still whites. While the majority of the region's wines are the Cava blends, many varietal wines are also produced.

Cava

A Spanish sparkling wine was first made as early as 1851,^[4] although the roots of the Cava wine industry can be traced back to Josep Raventos' travels through Europe in the 1860s, where he was promoting the still wines of his Codorníu winery. His visits to the Champagne region sparked an interest in the potential of a Spanish version, using the same sparkling wine production methods.

The local Macabeu, Parellada and Xarel·lo have since become established as the most popular grapes for producing cava. Early versions were called Catalan champán or xampany after Champagne but this practice ended when the EU awarded Champagne Protected Geographical Status. Catalan main sparkling wine producers agreed and adopted the name Cava after the Catalan word for cellar, where the wines were traditionally stored.^[5]

According to Spanish wine laws, Cava can be produced in six wine regions (such as Aranda de Duero, Navarra and Rioja) but 95% of Spanish Cava production takes place in the Penedès region. In order for the wines to be called 'Cava', they must be made in the traditional méthode champenoise. Wines made via the low-cost Charmat process may only be called 'Spanish sparkling wine'. A rosé style of Cava is also produced in small quantities by adding still red wines from Cabernet Sauvignon, Garnacha or Monastrell to the wine. The first Cava to use the Chardonnay grape was produced in 1981.^[5] Catalan Cava producers pioneered a significant technological development in sparkling wine production with the invention of the gyropallet, a large mechanized device that replaced hand riddling, in which the lees are consolidated in the neck of the bottle prior to disgorgement and corking.^[6]

Wine regions

The Catalan wine region includes 10 DOPs (Denominación de Origen Protegida in Spanish, Denominació d'Origen Protegida in Catalan) of which one, the Priorat, is a Denominació d'Origen Qualificada (DOQ) region. The Catalunya DOP is an umbrella appellation that covers the entire region for wines that do not fall under any other DOP designation.^[1]

Alella

The Alella DOP is located near the city of Barcelona and was awarded DOP status in 1956. The area is known mainly for its white wine production which can range from oak aged sweet wine to cool fermented dry wines. The principal grape of the area is the Pansa blanca, a local name for the Xarel·lo grape. There are some plantings of the international varieties Chardonnay and Chenin blanc, used in both still wine and Cava production.^[1]

Conca de Barberà

The Conca de Barberà DOP is located between the Costers del Segre, Penedès and Tarragona DOPs with vineyards at elevations of around 1,600 ft (490 m) above sea level. The climate of the region is marked by hot summer days, cool nights chilled by the nearby ocean breeze, and cold winters. The limestone based soils are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Pinot noir, which are used to make still wines as well as contribute to some Cava production. Rosé wines are produced from the local Trepat grape.^[1]

Costers del Segre

The Costers del Segre DOP is located near the city of Lleida along the Segre River. The landscape here is very arid with less than 15 inches (381.00 mm) of rainfall a year. There are extreme temperature variations throughout the year, with freezing cold winters and summertime highs in excess of 95 °F (35 °C). The river Ebre provides the irrigation vital to the viticulture of the area, which includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Macabeo, Merlot, Parellada, Pinot noir and Tempranillo plantations.^[1]

Empordà

The Empordà DOP is located in the far north-east of Catalonia, among the foothills of the Pyrenees which border the French province of Roussillon. The area has a similar Mediterranean climate to other Catalan wine regions, but is more heavily influenced by the strong northern winds of the Tramuntana that moderate the risk of frost and vine diseases.^[7]

The wind alone was not enough to prevent the outbreak of the phylloxera epidemic in the mid 19th century, which nearly destroyed the entire Empordà wine industry despite many individuals watching and analyzing the progress of the disease as it made its way south from France.^[7] Many vineyards were only replanted as recently as the latter half of the 20th century and even early 21st.

The principal grapes of the region are Grenache and Carignan. These two core grapes along with general varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah are used for red wines and the large quantity of rosé wines. The Grenache is also used to make a very notable dessert wine. White production has increased a great deal in recent years as well.^[7]

The Empordà wine route consists of 32 wineries and passes by the main vineyards in the region. It resembles the local traditions of combining food and landscape, wine and adventure, heritage and oenology. Numerous unique experiences, such as staged excursions to wineries and vineyards, tastings by the sea, or the opportunity to see firsthand the harvest and traditional winemaking processes, also include the wine tourism package. Not to mention the oenological centers and museums, which are full of creative ways to approach wine culture.^[8]

Montsant

The Montsant DOP was formed in 2001 in the area around Falset, Tarragona to distinguish itself from the wines of the greater Tarragona DO. This upland area is noted for its old Garnacha and Cariñena vines along steeply sloping vineyards.^[1]

Penedès

The Penedès DOP is the largest and most productive wine region of Catalonia and is considered the birthplace of Cava. The region has a long winemaking history and its proximity to Barcelona has had a strong export market. In the 19th century it was one of the first Spanish wine regions to implement a large-scale commercial wine production particularly for export to post-phylloxera France. In the 1960s and 1970s, the Penedès region led in the Spanish wine industry's technological revolution; it was the first wine region to adopt the use of temperature-controlled stainless steel fermentation tanks. The region also began to increase its varieties and improve its vine stock with clonal vine selections of grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Merlot, Pinot noir, Riesling and Sauvignon blanc.^[1]

The region is divided into three zones – the lowland Baix Penedès, the Penedès central which lies between coastal and inland mountain ranges, and the upland Alt Penedès. The warmer Baix Penedès, centered on the town of El Vendrell and extending to the Costa Daurada coastline, has long been known for its fortified wines made from Malvasia and Moscatell d'Alexandria (Muscat of Alexandria), but has a growing reputation for non-fortified reds made from Carinyena, Garnatxa and Monastrell.

The Central Penedès is located in a broad valley about 1,600 ft (490 m) above sea level and centered on the regional capital of Vilafranca del Penedès, the largest winery there being Bodegas Torres. The nearby town of Sant Sadurní d'Anoia provides another focal point for the area, being the acknowledged center of Spanish Cava production. Traditionally made from the area's Macabeo, Parellada and Xarel·lo grapes, the increased use of Chardonnay and Pinot noir in Cava blends has seen a corresponding expansion in areas of the region dedicated to those grapes. The Central Penedès has also been increasing its red wine production based on Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo called Ull de Llebre in Catalan.

The Penedès Superior is located in the foothills of the mountains enclosing the Central Depression and is the coolest part of the region, used almost exclusively for white wine production.^[1]

Pla de Bages

The Pla de Bages DOP is located northwest of Barcelona, growing many of the same varieties as the nearby Penedès region but with more emphasis on international varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.^[1]

Map of Catalonia Catalunya+Comarques+Catala.jpg — Map of Catalonia

Priorat

The Priorat DOQ has been producing wine since the 12th century when Carthusian monks planted a vineyard and established the priory of Scala Dei from which the region took its name.^[9] The area is known for its Carinyena and Garnatxa based wines made from old, low yield vines that average 0.3 tons an acre (5 hl/ha). The area has a very hot Mediterranean climate that allows the grape to ripen fully and produce wines with very high alcohol levels of up to 18% and wines must have at least 13% to qualify for certification in the region.^[9] The local Llicorella soil is of particularly poor quality, composed of quartz and slate, which also helps to limit yields. Vineyards are situated on steep terraces, largely unsuitable for mechanical harvesting.

Priorat still has marked monastic influences, with many top estates prefixing their vineyards with Clos in recognition of the region's early winemaking history, similar to the naming of many of Burgundy's grand crus.^[9] Despite the annual rainfall of the area being less than 16 inches (406 mm), irrigation is not widely used due to the cool, damp nature of the Llicorella soil. Grapevine roots are able to tunnel through faults in the slate to find underground water reserves up to 30m.^[9]

The region is one of only two Spanish Denominaciones de Origen Calificadas (DOC, or DOQ in Catalan), in recognition of outstanding consistency of quality, the other being the well-known Rioja.^[9]

Tarragona

The Tarragona DOP is the Catalan wine region around the coastal city of Tarragona and has been a vital winemaking center of Catalan wines since the Roman times. For most of its history the region was known for its sweet fortified red wines made in a style similar to Port. In the 1960s, prior to earning DOP status in 1976, the area began to shift its focus to dry white wines and the production of red sacramental wine used by the Christian Church for Communion.^[1]

Terra Alta

The Terra Alta DOP is Catalunya's southernmost wine region and one of the most mountainous – terra alta literally translates as "highlands". It is located to the south of the Priorat DO and shares a similar winemaking history. Today the area is known for its Garnacha blanca wines and its growing red wine production.^[1]

External links

Related Research Articles

Grenache or Garnacha is one of the most widely planted red wine grape varieties in the world. It ripens late, so it needs hot, dry conditions such as those found in Spain, where the grape is believed to have originated. It is also grown in the Italian island of Sardinia, the south of France, Australia, and California's Monterey AVA, Paso Robles, Santa Barbara County and San Joaquin Valley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spanish wine</span> Wine making in Spain

Spanish wine includes red, white, and sparkling wines produced throughout the country. Located on the Iberian Peninsula, Spain has over 1.2 million hectares planted in wine grapes, making it the most widely planted wine-producing nation, but the second largest producer of wine in the world, behind Italy and ahead of France and the United States. This is due, in part, to the very low yields and wide spacing of the old vines planted on the dry soils found in some of the Spanish wine regions. The country is ninth in worldwide consumption with Spaniards drinking, on average, 21.6 litres per person a year. The country has an abundance of native grape varieties, with over 400 varieties planted throughout Spain, though 88 percent of the country's wine production is from only 20 grapes — including the reds Tempranillo, Bobal, Garnacha, and Monastrell; the whites Albariño, Airén, Verdejo, Palomino, and Macabeo; and the three Cava grapes Parellada, Xarel·lo, and Macabeo.

Cariñena is a Spanish Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP) for wines located in Cariñena in the province of Zaragoza. It is among the oldest protected growing areas in Europe, the DO having been created in 1932 alongside other Spanish wine regions. Cariñena vineyards are located near the centre of Aragón, about 50 km southwest of Zaragoza, on the Campo de Cariñena plateau. The lower vineyards lie at an altitude of 400 m, rising to 800 m as they approach the Sierra de la Virgen mountains. To the west they border on the Calatayud (DO).

Empordà is a Spanish Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP) for wines produced in the northeastern corner of Catalonia, Spain in the province of Girona.

Alella is a Spanish Denominación de Origen (DO) for wines produced in Maresme county in the province of Barcelona in the Spanish autonomous communities of Catalonia, located on the Mediterranean coast, 15 km to the north of the city of Barcelona.

Catalunya is a Spanish Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP) for Catalan wine which was formally recognised in 2001. It was created with the specific purpose of providing commercial support to over 200 wineries (bodegas) that produced quality wine but which were not included in other specific DOP's in Catalonia. It does not have a specific geographical location but is formed by over 40 km² of individual vineyards which are dispersed all over Catalonia, and allows mixing of grapes from other DOPs.

Conca de Barberà is a Spanish Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP) for wines located in central Catalonia in the northern portion of the Tarragona Province. Situated within the river valleys of the Francolí and Anguera, it has historically been known for its white wines, but has been gaining more attention for its reds, especially those from the native Trepat grape. Today, the Conca de Barberà DOP mainly produces red wines, along with whites, and minor amounts of rosés and sparkling wines.

Costers del Segre is a Spanish Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP) for wines located in the province of Lleida and is divided into several separate sub-zones. The four original subzones created in 1988 are Artesa, to the northeast of Lleida, Valls de Riucorb to the east, Garrigues and Raïmat. In 1998 two other subzones were added: Pallars Jussà, next to the town of Tremp, 90 km north of Lleida and Segrià to the west and surrounded by the Raimat subzone.

Priorat is a Denominació d'Origen Qualificada (DOQ) for Catalan wines produced in the Priorat county, in the province of Tarragona, in the southwest of Catalonia.

Tarragona is a Spanish Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP) for Catalan wines, located in the province of Tarragona and covers two distinct areas: the Camp de Tarragona and the Ribera d'Ebre comarca (district).

Alicante is a Spanish Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP) for wines located in the province of Alicante.

Utiel Requena is a Spanish Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP) for wines located in the province of Valencia. It takes its name from the two neighbouring towns of Utiel and Requena. It is renowned for the predominant use of the Bobal grape variety.

Ribera del Guadiana is a Spanish Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP) for wines located in the region of Extremadura (Spain). It extends over two provinces, Cáceres in the north and Badajoz in the south. It takes its name from the River Guadiana, which flows through the region from east to west.

Yecla is a Spanish Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP) for wines located around the town of Yecla in the northernmost corner of the region of Murcia (Spain) and is surrounded by other DOPs: Jumilla to the south and west, Almansa to the north and Alicante to the east. The area is notable for its extensive use of the red Monastrell grape variety, and it is traditionally known as the home of Monastrell in Spain. Monastrell is the fourth most planted red grape variety in Spain. The international market makes up 92% of the DOP's wine sales, making it the Spanish wine DOP with the highest proportion of international exports.

Binissalem is a Spanish Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP) for wines located around the town of Binissalem in the centre of the island of Majorca,.

Penedès is a Spanish Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP) for wines in Catalonia, (Spain). Penedès DOP includes all of the Penedès region and municipalities of four other counties: Anoia, Alt Camp, Baix Llobregat and Tarragonès. The area is framed by the coastal hills of the Garraf Massif and the higher inland mountains which skirt the Central Depression.

Cava is a sparkling wine of denominación de origen (DO) status from Spain. It may be white (blanco) or rosé (rosado). The Macabeo, Parellada and Xarel·lo are the most popular and traditional grape varieties for producing cava. Chardonnay and Malvasia are also permitted. Authorized red grapes are Garnacha tinta, Monastrell, Trepat, and Pinot Noir. Only wines produced in the traditional method may be labelled "cava"; those produced by other processes may only be called "sparkling wines". About 95% of all cava is produced in the Penedès area in Catalonia, Spain, with the village of Sant Sadurní d'Anoia being home to many of the largest Catalan production houses. The two major producers are Codorníu and Freixenet. Cava is also produced in other villages in the provinces of Girona, Lleida, Tarragona, and Barcelona in Catalonia, Zaragoza in Aragon, Badajoz in Extremadura, La Rioja, Araba/Álava in the Basque Country, Navarra and València in the Valencian Community.

Montsant is a Spanish Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP) for wine located in the province of Tarragona and covers 12 municipalities. It was previously known as the Falset subzone of Tarragona (DO), and was created as a separate DO in the early 2000s. Regional approval came in 2001, and from 2002 wines were sold as Montsant rather than Tarragona. Montsant takes its name from the Montsant Mountains in the area.

3 Riberas is a Spanish geographical indication for Vino de la Tierra wines located in the autonomous region of Navarre. Vino de la Tierra is one step below the mainstream Denominación de Origen indication on the Spanish wine quality ladder, and mirrors the Vins de pays of French wine. It acquired its Vino de la Tierra status in 2018.

Corpinnat is a Spanish wine designation for sparkling wines aged a minimum of 18 months made of manually-harvested organic or biodynamic grapes in Penedès. Permitted grape varieties include Macabeu, Xarel·lo, Parellada, Subirat Parent, Grenache, Monastrell, Sumoll, Rosé Xarel·lo for indigenous Spanish varieties, and small amounts of Chardonnay, Malvasia de Sitges, Pinot Noir and Trepat for foreign varieties. The appellation covers an area of 997 km². Corpinnat means "heart of Penedès". Corpinnat was established in 2017 by six founding growers of the Cava DO intending to create a higher-quality Spanish sparkling wine.

References

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 J. Robinson (2006), The Oxford Companion to Wine Third Edition, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-860990-6
↑ "Introducció". Institut Català de la Vinya i el Vi. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
↑ H. Johnson (1989), Vintage: The Story of Wine, Simon and Schuster, ISBN 0-671-68702-6
1 2 T. Stevenson (2005), The Sotheby's Wine Encyclopedia, Dorling Kindersley, ISBN 0-7566-1324-8
1 2 3 4 K. MacNeil (2001), The Wine Bible, Workman Publishing, ISBN 1-56305-434-5
↑ H. Johnson & J. Robinson (2005), The World Atlas of Wine, Mitchell Beazley Publishing, ISBN 1-84000-332-4
1 2 3 Miquel Hudin & Elia Varela Serra (2012), Vinologue Empordà, Vinologue, p. 360, ISBN 978-0-983-77184-5
↑ "Your 2022 Guide to Empordà Wine Route". 2022-05-12. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
1 2 3 4 5 Miquel Hudin & Elia Varela Serra (2013), Vinologue Priorat, Vinologue, p. 432, ISBN 978-0-983-77185-2

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[Oxford-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 J. Robinson (2006), The Oxford Companion to Wine Third Edition, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-860990-6

[2] "Introducció". Institut Català de la Vinya i el Vi. Retrieved 14 March 2020.

[Johnson-3] H. Johnson (1989), Vintage: The Story of Wine, Simon and Schuster, ISBN 0-671-68702-6

[Sotheby-4] 1 2 T. Stevenson (2005), The Sotheby's Wine Encyclopedia, Dorling Kindersley, ISBN 0-7566-1324-8

[MacNeil-5] 1 2 3 4 K. MacNeil (2001), The Wine Bible, Workman Publishing, ISBN 1-56305-434-5

[JohnsonAtlas-6] H. Johnson & J. Robinson (2005), The World Atlas of Wine, Mitchell Beazley Publishing, ISBN 1-84000-332-4

[VinologueEmporda-7] 1 2 3 Miquel Hudin & Elia Varela Serra (2012), Vinologue Empordà, Vinologue, p. 360, ISBN 978-0-983-77184-5

[8] "Your 2022 Guide to Empordà Wine Route". 2022-05-12. Retrieved 2022-06-28.

[VinologuePriorat-9] 1 2 3 4 5 Miquel Hudin & Elia Varela Serra (2013), Vinologue Priorat, Vinologue, p. 432, ISBN 978-0-983-77185-2

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