Catalunya Wine Region

The Catalunya Wine Region

The Wine Region of Catalunya (DO) was established in 1999 to cover some minor wine regions that were not included in any other Designation of Origin.

Location and climate

The wine region Catalunya (Denomination of Origin/Denominació d'Origen Catalunya), include traditional wine growing areas of Catalunya between the Mediterranean Sea and the Pyrenees that are were not part of another denomination of Origin. Catalunya (DO) consists of approximately 60,000 hectares of vine spread over more than 300 municipalities in Catalunya. In part of DO Catalunya there has been produced wine for more than 200 years

The climate is Mediterranean: many hours of sunshine, dry winters and hot summers.

Grape varieties

In Catalunya (DO) there are a wide variety of international and native grapes. 35 grape varieties are recognized in D.O. Catalunya for wine making.

White grapes varieties: Albarinho, Chardonnay, Chenin, white Garnatxa, Gewurztraminer, Macabeo, Malvasía, Malvasía de Sitges, Moscatel (of Alexandria and Frontignan), Parellada, Pedro Ximénez, Picapoll blanc, Riesling, Sauvignon blanc, Sumoll blanc, Xarel.lo, Viognier and Vinyater.

Reds grapes varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet franc, Grenache black, hairy Grenache (garnacha peluda), Garnacha red or gray, Grenache tintorera, Merlot, Monastrell, Petit verdot, Black Picapoll, Pinot Noir, Samsó (Carignan), Sumoll, Syrah, Trepat and Ull de llebre (Tempranillo).

Grapes used

The folllowing grapes are the grapes permitted by the local authorities

White wines: The white wines usually come from the local Catalan varieties Macabeo, Parellada and Xarel.lo and generally have a pale, yellow color. They are fresh wines with fruity aromas and are light in taste and easy to drink. There are also wines made of Chardonnay with a more expressive fruity taste.

Rosé wines: the rosé wines have a pinkish color, fresh and fruity aromas with hints of red fruits and the taste is light and accurate.

Red Wines: the reds of Catalunya are made of native grapes, especially of Ull de llebre (Tempranillo) and Garnatxa (Grenache). They have color of cherry, a fruity aroma and notes of wild fruits. The taste is fruity and light, but pleasant to drink. Those made of foreign varieties (mainly Cabernet Sauvignon) have more structure.

Important wineries in Catalunya

Bodegas Puiggrós. Featured wines: Sentits Negres (White Grenache), Sentits Blancs (100% Grenache), Signes (80% Sumoll, 20% Grenache)
Bodegas Torres. Featured wines: Viña Sol (Parellada), Nerola (Xarel.lo, White Grenache), Decasta, Sangre de Toro (Grenache, Mazuelo), Nerola Syrah Monastrell (Syrah, Monastrell).
Ca N'Estruc. Featured wines: L'Equilibrista (Xarel.lo), Idoia Blanc (Xarel.lo, Chardonnay, Macabeo), Ca N'Estruc Blanc (Xarel.lo, Macabeo, Chardonnay, Moscatel), Ca N’Estruc, L’Equilibrista Garnatxa, L’Equilibrista .
Cellers Triada. Featured wines: Cuvée Santamaría Merlot (100% Merlot), Almogàver (100% Cabernet Sauvignon), 150 Barricas, Esguard de Montmell .
Clos d'Agon. Featured wines: Clos D'Agon (40% Roussanne, 37% Viognier, 23% Marssanne), Clos d’Agon (34% Cabernet franc, 32% Syrah, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 11% Petit Verdot), Clos Valmaña (40% Merlot, 30% Cabernet franc, 24% Syrah, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Petit Verdot), Clos Valmaña.
Fermí Bohigas. Featured wines: Mas Macià Xarel.lo, Udina de Fermí Bohigas, Mas Macià Cabernet Sauvignon, Fermí de Fermí Bohigas .
Grau Vell. Featured wines: Alcor (Monastrell, Grenache, Cabernet sauvignon), Alcor.
Maset de Lleó. Featured wines: Maset de Lleó Syrah .
Portal del Montsant. Featured wines: Santes (50% Macabeo, 50% Xarel.lo), Santes .
Vins del Massis. Featured wines: Macizo (Xarel.lo, White Grenache, Malvasía, Chardonnay), Macizo .