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SPAIN
REGION
THE SUN SETS OVER THE VINEYARDS AT BUIL & GINÉ
T
he Pyrenees to the North act as a barrier against air currents descending from
northern Europe. The breezes rising off the Mediterranean Sea to the East bring
dampness, whilst continental air travels from the centre of the country in the West,
and warmer, southerly air arrives from North Africa. Added to this is the region’s
varied orography, from the Pyrenees through to the Serralada Prelitoral which
divides the region into two parts from North to South. The Serralada Litoral, which
is only a few kilometres from the sea, and the complex geography of the province
of Tarragona, together with other unique features, produce multiple vineyard sites.
All of this factors in to produce one of the most interesting wine regions in Spain.
The Autonomous Community of Catalonia, together with Castile y León, is one of the
Spanish regions with the largest number of Designations of Origin within its boundaries.
The largest concentration of these appellations is in the ‘southern hemisphere’
of Catalonia (D.O. Conca de Barberá, D.O. Montsant, D.O. Penedés, D.O.Q.Priorat,
D.O. Tarragona and D.O. Terra Alta), whilst the balance is slightly more spread out
across the rest of the region: D.O. Empordà in the Girona area, D.O. Alella and D.O.
Bages in the province of Barcelona, and D.O. Costers del Segre in the province of
Lérida. In addition, there are two Designations of Origin that cover different and
diverse areas. On one side is D.O. Catalunya, which, as its name suggests, includes
all wines produced in the region that do not come under any of the aforementioned
Designations of Origin. On the other side is D.O. Cava which, although it originates
in the Penedés region (and should not be confused with D.O. Penedés), extends its
reach beyond Catalonia and is not exclusive to the area.
SPRING 2022 • GILBERT & GAILLARD - THE FRENCH EXPERTS ON WINE
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