Terra Alta
Viticulture in these lands dates back to the Roman era and has managed to endure over the centuries.
At the beginning of the 20th century, most of the agricultural cooperatives responsible for wine production were founded. The designation of origin and its regulating council were established in 1982, based in the town of Gandesa.
During the first half of the 20th century, the renowned writer Joan Perucho and, for his part, the famous Pablo Picasso, a lover of these lands and their wines, recognized that the wines of Terra Alta had a special soul, and thus communicated this to all those with whom they shared a glass.
Situation
It is located in the southernmost part of Catalonia, between the Ebro river and the border with Aragon, covering the 12 municipalities of the Terra Alta region. As for the number of wineries, the DO had, in 2020, 61 (a figure that is constantly growing) and 1,247 grape growers working an area of 6,048 hectares.
Soil and climate
The landscape retains all the distinctive features of an inland region near the Mediterranean Sea: limestone pre-coastal mountain ranges (Puertos de Horta, Sierras de Pàndols and Cavalls), small rivers (Algars and Canaletes), mountains of conglomerate rock, forests of oaks and white pines, and, above all, agricultural soils interspersed with typical Mediterranean crops: almond trees, vineyards and olive trees.
The vineyard is present in all the landscape units of La Plana, the Altiplano and the Valleys, concentrating especially in the central third of the production area, between 350 and 450 metres above sea level. The topography of the land is varied, with vineyards cultivated in valleys, plains and terraces that surpass differences in elevation. The practice of sustainable viticulture with its own identity allows for, in most vintages, a harvest with optimal phytosanitary status and ripe grapes of great enological value for the production of high-standard wines.
Grapes
Wines are distinguished, regarding whites, by their freshness and balance. Most of these wines are based on white garnacha. They are the emblem of the denomination, presenting themselves as robust but very harmonious whites that captivate from their early years, also demonstrating a notable potential for aging. A single-varietal white garnacha wine aged in oak barrels guarantees an unforgettable experience, due to its creaminess and freshness, as well as its spicy and balsamic notes.
Rosés are typically fruity, while reds are known for their robust character and intense ruby colour. The latter have had a family character for years, but from the 1990s onwards, their commercial production began, primarily using garnacha tinta and cariñena grapes. They are distinguished by their Mediterranean personality and the prominence of fruity aromas.
