D.O. Conca de Barberà

DO area in the Spanish province of Tarragona in the region of Catalonia, which lies between the two DO areas of Penedès and Tarragona. It became famous mainly because of the high quality of the grapes, which are produced here for the sparkling wine Cava and delivered to Penedès for production. The special suitability of the grapes from this area for sparkling wine was recognised by the famous oenologist Miguel Torres (*1941). The vineyards cover about 6,000 hectares of vineyards on predominantly calcareous soil. They are situated at an altitude of about 500 metres above sea level in a crater-shaped valley, known here as the Conca

Two thirds are planted with the white wine varieties Macabeo (largest share), Parellada and some Chardonnay. Among the red wine varieties, Trepat, Garnacha Tinta, Ull de Llebre(Tempranillo) and Sumoll dominate, as well as smaller quantities of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. A speciality or rather a special and sophisticated technique is the production of two wines per vintage. In the sunny areas, ripe grapes are harvested one month before the main harvest and within three weeks, fruity white and red wines (red without malolactic fermentation) are made from them. These Jovenes are ready to drink and are sold in spring at the latest. The grapes from the main harvest are then used for higher quality wines suitable for storage.