D.O. Penedès

DO area on the Mediterranean coast in the region Catalonia in the northeast of Spain, It is divided into three zones ascending from the coast. The warmest zone is Bajo-Penedès (also Baix-Penedès) in the low-lying coastal area with up to 250 meters above sea level. The second zone Mitja-Penedès (also Medio-Penedès), up to 500 meters above sea level, is west of Barcelona and is the most important for sparkling wines and excellent white wines. The third zone Alta-Penedès (also Alt-Penedès) is the highest area with up to 850 meters above sea level. Before that occurring from 1876 Phylloxera disaster more than 80% red grape varieties were planted in Penedès, of which mainly mass wines were produced. The rise then began in the early 1960s and the area is considered the cradle of modern Spanish winegrowing. Penedès is the home of the Spanish sparkling wine Cava with around two thirds of total Spanish production. However, the DO designation Penedès only applies to still wines. The picture shows a vineyard with Ull de Llebre Tempranillo :

It is Mediterranean climate with relatively hot summers and mild winters. The vineyards cover around 27,500 hectares of vineyards on poorly fertile, well-drained soils with good Water storage capacity, There will be well over a hundred for the most part autochthonous Grape varieties cultivated, but only around a fifth of these are permitted for DO wines. The main types of white wine are Macabeo. Xarello. Parellada. Chardonnay. Riesling. Gewurztraminer. Chenin Blanc, Moscatel de Alejandria ( Muscat d'Alexandrie ) and Sauvignon Blanc, The main red wine varieties are Garnacha Tinta, Cariñena ( mazuelo ) Merlot. Monastrell, Ull de Llebre ( Tempranillo ) Pinot Noir. Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, Well-known producers are Albet i Noya, Canals Nadal, Cavas Hill, Juvé y Camps, Codorníu Ferret Freixenet. Heretat Mas Tinell. Jané Ventura. Jean Leon, Marqués de Monistrol, Mas Comtal, Masía Bach, Torrelavit, Torres Pere Ventura Pinord, Puig y Roca, Vallformosa and Winner wines,

Image: By Mick Stephenson - own work, CC BY-SA 3.0 , link