ALELLA         Alella is a town near Barcelona which gives its name to a small DO wine zone making, mainly, white wines. The chief grape variety is the Pansa Blanca (local name is Xarel-lo) which is now grown along with some Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay. CONCA DE BARBERA     Conca de Barbera is a small wine zone in Catalonia. At around 1600 ft above sea level, this DO experiences cold winters and hot summers. Most of the grapes are used to produce Cava. COSTERS DEL SEGRE     The Costers del Segre lies inland close to the town of Lerida.     Production is dominated by just one company which has extensive plantings of Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. EMPORDA-COSTA BRAVA(AMPURDAN)     Emporda-Costa Brava is a DO wine region in the northeast corner of Catalonia, separated from the French Roussillon region only by the French border.        The Grenache and Carinena grapes account for the majority of vines, the output of which is mostly turned into bulk rose wines for the local market. MONTSANT     Montsant produces mainly red wines from local grape varieties. PENEDES     Penedes is the most important of the Cataluan appellations, lying to the southwest of Barcelona. It is the principal center of sparkling wine (Cava) production. Within the region there are a large selection of grape varieties planted, most especially the local Parellada, Xarel-lo and Macabeo grapes. Red wine production is dominated by Spain's two most planted red grape varieties: Garnacha and Monstrell. PLA DE BAGES     Pla des Bages is a DO wine region northwest of Barcelona. Grape varieties are similar to those of Penedes with international varieties such as Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon beginning to take a foothold. PRIORATO     Priorat, one of Spain's most inspiring red wines, is made in an isolated DO zone in Catalonia inland from Tarragona. The region is dominated by co-operatives but an increasing number of estates are making fine red wines. French vine varieties have been planted and wines must reach a minimum alcohol strength of 13.5% to qualify for the DO. TARRAGONA     Tarragona was traditionally known for producing strong, sweet, red wines sold in flagons. Today the region's inexpensive red and white wines are more readily available. TERRA ALTA     Terra Alta, Spanish for 'high land', is the highest of the DO wine zones in Spanish Catalonia. The Garnacha Blanca grape is widely planted here.

Go to Regions in Spain TOP