Wine regions & varieties


Catalonia is a vibrant and diverse region in the Mediterranean with a long history of winemaking.

From the coastal plains of Empordà to the steep hills of Priorat, Catalonia’s wine regions boast a rich diversity of terroir that bring a unique character to each wine.

Here is a list of the 10 distinct wine appellations (Denominacions d’Origen) in Catalonia, along with the indigenous grape varieties that make them unique:


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© INCAVI

 

1. D.O. Alella

Wine has been elaborated in the D.O. Alella region since the Romans set foot in this corner of the Iberian Peninsula over 2000 years ago, making it one of the oldest wine producing regions in the world.

Wines & terroir

Alella's terroir is defined by its granitic soil, the iconic Sauló; the proximity to the sea, and the temperate Mediterranean climate. The wines elaborated in this region are crisp and refreshing, famous for their intense minerality and great acidity.

Grape varieties

  • White: Pansa Blanca, Garnatxa Blanca, Moscatell.
  • Red: Garnatxa Negra, Monastrell, Sumoll.


2. D.O. Penedès

With a history stretching back 2.700 years, D.O. Penedès is the region with the longest winemaking tradition in Catalonia. Penedès is also the birthplace of the sparkling wine Cava, accounting for 95% of the total production in Spain, along with the local variants Corpinnat and Clàssic Penedès.

Wines & terroir

The privileged Mediterranean climate and the rich clay soils of Penedès offer a highly diversified terroir across the region, producing highly aromatic white wines and delicate sparklings.

Grape varieties

  • White: Xarel·lo, Macabeu, Parellada, Malvasia de Sitges.
  • Red: Ull de Llebre, Garnatxa Negra, Sumoll, Carinyena.


3. D.O. Montsant

Taking its name from the iconic Montsant mountain range in southern Catalonia, the wine production in this historical Denominació d’Origen has been a constant throughout the centuries.

Wines & terroir

The complexity of D.O. Montsant’s geology offers a distinct terroir dominated by granitic slate-soils (Llicorella), allowing for the elaboration of full-bodied reds and elegant whites with good acidity and subtle aromas.

Grape varieties

  • White: Macabeu, Garnatxa Blanca, Garnatxa Roja.
  • Red: Garnatxa Negra, Carinyena, Ull de Llebre.


4. D.O.Q. Priorat

With a classification system that resembles the Burgundian Cru, the wines elaborated in the Qualified Origin Denomination of Priorat boast a unique character and personality that can’t be found anywhere else in Catalonia.

Wines & terroir

The poor slate-soils and extreme topography of D.O.Q. Priorat produces wines of exceptional quality and flavour profile, defining Priorat’s terroir as one of the most revered in the winemaking world. The local Garnatxa and Carinyena varieties thrive in this region, delivering full-bodied and complex reds with silky and rounded aromas.

Grape varieties

  • White: Macabeu, Garnatxa Blanca, Pedro Ximénez.
  • Red: Garnatxa Negra, Carinyena, Garnatxa Peluda.


5. D.O. Terra Alta

Spanning around 6.000 hectares, D.O. Terra Alta is one of the 7 historical wine appellations in Catalonia, and its southernmost winemaking area. The region is home to the native Garnatxa Blanca variety, growing over 30% of its world production.

Wines & terroir

A poor limestone soil in high altitudes make Terra Alta an ideal environment for wine growing, which favors the expression of medium and late ripening varieties. The region produces elegant whites with fresh aromas and complex acidity, as well as medium and full-bodied reds of an exceptional quality.

Grape varieties

  • White: Garnatxa Blanca, Macabeu.
  • Red: Garnatxa Negra, Samsó, Garnatxa Peluda.


6. D.O. Costers del Segre

Spanning over 4,000 hectares, The D.O. Costers del Segre wine appellation is a kaleidoscope of 7 territories that spread across the Segre river basin, in western Catalonia.

Wines & terroir

Privileged calcareous soils and a continental climate with Mediterranean influence are the key factors that define the unique terroir of Costers del Segre wine region.

Grape varieties

  • White: Garnatxa Blanca, Macabeu, Xarel·lo, Malvasia.
  • Red: Samsó, Ull de Llebre, Garnatxa Negra.


7. D.O. Empordà

A historic appellation named after the iberian Greek settlement of Empórion, the D.O. Empordà wine region produces fresh wines with an exciting Mediterranean character, thanks to the high concentration of sugars and aromas in the grapes grown near the sea.

Wines & terroir

Located in northeastern Catalonia, Empordà’s terroir is based on a mixture of clay and granitic soils that are poor in organic matter. The grapes grow either on coastal plains and mountain slopes frequently swept by the iconic Tramuntana wind, which favours their ripening process and aromatic qualities.

Grape varieties

  • White: Carinyena Blanca, Garnatxa Blanca, Garnatxa Roja.
  • Red: Samsó, Garnatxa Negra, Monastrell.


8. D.O. Pla de Bages

Located in the heart of Catalonia, the D.O. Pla de Bages wine region has gained a unique identity over the last decades thanks to the recovery of historical grape varieties in the area, such as the native Picapoll or the Mandó.

Wines & terroir

Pla de Bages' geology stands out for its loamy soils, poor in organic matter and suitable for the production of high quality wines. Full-bodied reds with balsamic notes along powerful whites define the region’s production, with the Picapoll standing out as the iconic grape of the appellation.

Grape varieties

  • White: Picapoll, Macabeu.
  • Red: Garnatxa Negra, Sumoll, Mandó.

9. D.O. Tarragona

The millenary presence of viticulture in the D.O. Tarragona is defined by the influence of the Mediterranean climate and its Roman cultural legacy, rooted in the region for over 2.000 years.

Wines & terroir

The gentle topography of the region’s terroir allows for the production of soft and fresh wines, typical of the Mediterranean. The whites are mostly elaborated with the native Macabeu variety, the region’s most emblematic grape.

Grape varieties

  • White: Macabeu, Xarel·lo, Malvasia de Sitges, Subirat Parent.
  • Red: Sumoll, Carinyena, Ull de Llebre.


10. D.O. Conca de Barberà

A privileged land for the cultivation of the vine, D.O. Conca de Barberà stands out for the growing of its historical red variety, the Trepat. This traditional grape boasts spicy notes and delicate fruity aromas, giving to the region a most authentic, singular identity.

Wines & terroir

A mixture of calcareous conglomerates define the orography of Conca de Barberà’s terroir. The region stands out for the elaboration of wines with the Trepat variety, native to the region, producing delicate reds with a light alcohol content.

Grape varieties

  • White: Trepat, Ull de Llebre.
  • Red: Macabeu, Parellada.