Catalonia

Overview

The autonomous region of northeast of Spain, Catalonia is stretching from the county of Montsia in the south, to the border with France in the north, and is flanked by the Mediterranean Sea in east. The capital city of the region is Barcelona. The climate is strongly Mediterranean with warm coastal influences, and the areas further inland tend to be more arid.

Catalonia has 11 wine Denominacion de Origen (DO) plus the large eponymous regional DO. Penedes is the most important, and particularly well known for the production of sparkling cava, which has played an important role in the success of the region’s wine industry. Other DOs on the coast and in the hinterland behind Penedes include Conca del Barbera, Costers del Segre, Montsant, Tarragona; and north of Barcelona we find Emporda, Alella, Campo de Borja, Pla de Bages and Terra Alta.

Key Sub Regions

Most famous and of most importance from a fine wine point of view is the red wine DOCQ of Priorat, which is located southwest of Barcelona and slightly inland. Here dramatically steep slate terraces produce low yielding Garnacha and Carinena in the scorching sunshine:

• Priorat