Max. Summer temp. : 25 ºC
Min. Winter temp.: 5 ºC
Average rainfall: 390-580 mm annually
Average sunshine: 2,700 hours annually
Gandesa (Catalonia)
Terra Alta DO
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. 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. There is considerable investment in new technology.
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.
Regulatory Council
Consejo Regulador DO Terra Alta
Crtra. Vilalba, 31
43780 Gandesa
Tarragona
Tel.: +34 977 421 278
info@doterraalta.com
www.doterraalta.com
Sources:
- Spanish Ministry of Agriculture
Small private wineries and larger cooperatives are now also producing very good Mediterranean red wines.
- DO Terra Alta
- DO Terra Alta Log
Vineyards
Area under vine
5,820 ha.
Altitude of vineyards
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)
Garnacha blanca, Macabeo and Parellada.
Principal grapes (r)
Garnacha tinta, Garnacha Peluda and Samsó.
Production:
Maximum crop
10,000 kg/ha Red 12,000 kg/ha White
Yield
70 % Red, 66 % White
Production 2014
84,739 hl
Production 2015
50,318 hl