DO Terra Alta
There are vineyards in all the landscape features of la Plana, l’Altiplano and les Valls, and they are particularly prevalent in the middle third of the production area at between 350 and 550 metres above sea level.
Terraces are the most common crop unit and are the outcome of the interaction of the crop with the varied terrain. They are laid out on various inclines and facing different ways, often between dry stone walls – the edges – or on slopes with plant cover, both of which help to avoid soil erosion.
The predominance of traditional grape varieties is another distinctive feature of winegrowing in the TADO, and this is most evident in the garnatxes. Garnatxa blanca, Garnatxa negra and Garnatxa peluda are the predominant grape varieties. Together with Macabeu, Parellada and Samsó they make up three quarters of the cultivated area. In general, the other classified grape varieties in the TADO are mid-season and late-ripening grapes due to the terroir’s features. This means the production area’s winegrowing can be carried out on non-traditional sites.
These interactions with the terroir and its winemaking culture mean the TADO’s winegrowing is environmentally friendly in the bulk of its harvests. Furthermore, the grape harvest features ideal plant health conditions, ripe grapes and exceptional winemaking value for the production of protected wines.
Landscape & Terroir
The production and processing area of DO Terra Alta (DOTA) is in the southern part of Catalonia between the River Ebro and the border with Aragon. It takes in the 12 towns in the county of la Terra Alta. Its landscape retains all the characteristic features of an inland terroir close to the Mediterranean: pre-coastal limestone ranges (Ports d’Horta, Pàndols and Cavalls), small rivers (the Algars and the Canaletes), mountains of conglomerate rock, holm oak and white pine forests, and most of all agricultural soils painted with typical Mediterranean crops: almond trees, vines and olives. Three clearly separate landscape features of agricultural interest can be added to this structure: la Plana, l’Altiplà and les Valls.
Crop soils generally have medium textures. Their common denominator is their richness in limestone, and they are low in organic matter. The TADO’s catalogue of soils classifies up to 17 profiles, including el Panal.
Climate
Another trait of its inland Mediterranean identity is its climate, with lots of sunshine and little rainfall.
Two special features stand out: a distinctive balance between the two dominant winds, the Cerç (north-westerly) and the Garbinades (strong southerly winds off the sea), and cold winters which give it a continental touch.