Cataluńa (Catalunya)

DO named after the village of the same name in the province of Tarragona in Catalonia in Spain, located between the DO’s Penedčs and Tarragona. The area has become known mainly for the high quality of grapes produced here for use in the production of sparkling cava, which are delivered to Penedčs for processing. It was the famous wine producer Miguel Torres (see there) who recognised the special suitability of grapes from this region for cava production. The vineyard area totals around 6.000 hectares on mainly limestone-rich soils, the vineyards are arranged in a Conca, or crater-shaped valley (see there) at an altitude of around 500 metres above sea level. Two thirds of the area is planted with the white varieties Macabeo (largest share), Parellada and some Chardonnay. Among the red varieties, the most important ones are Trepat, Garnacha (Grenache) and Ull de Llebre (Tempranillo), with smaller amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot also planted. A special technique used in this region allows the production of two wines in each vintage. In the most sunny vineyard sites, ripe grapes are picked a month earlier than the main vintage, and fruity white and red wines are produced within a period of only three weeks (the reds do not undergo malo-lactic fermentation). These Jovenes are ready to drink, and are marketed no later than the next spring. The grapes picked during the main vintage are then used for better-quality wines with a greater maturation potential.