D.O. Terra Alta

The DO area (Spanish highlands), named after its high altitude, is located in the northeast of Spain, in the southeast of the region of Catalonia in the province of Tarragona and borders the DO area of Tarragona to the west. Viticulture was already practised here in the early Middle Ages, as evidenced by documents with wine-legal concerns dating from 1296 and 1319. The Mediterranean-continental climate is characterised by long and hot summers with sufficient rainfall and abundant sunshine, as well as very cold winters for the higher areas, especially in the east. The vineyards are exposed to a north wind and the warm and humid south wind known as the "Garbi"

The vineyards cover 9,200 hectares at 350 to 500 metres above sea level. They are planted with the white wine varieties Garnacha Blanca, Macabeu(Macabeo), Moscatel Romano(Muscat d'Alexandrie), Parellada, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Pedro Ximénez and Chardonnay, and the red wine varieties Garnacha Tinta, Garnacha Peluda, Samsó(Cinsaut), Cariñena(Mazuelo), Tempranillo, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Petit Verdot, Marselan and Caladoc. They also produce wines for cava, as well as the traditional generosos, which are aged as mistela and rancio.