Empordà (DO)
Encyclopedia
Empordà is a Spanish
Denominación de Origen
(DO) (Denominació d'Origen in Catalan
), formerly known as Empordà-Costa Brava, for wines produced in the northeastern corner of Catalonia
, Spain
.
It extends from the town of Figueres
northwards to the French border
and the French
wine-making regions
of Banyuls
and Côtes du Roussillon
.
The DO is crossed by the rivers Muga
, Llobregat
and Manol which flow eastwards to the Mediterranean Sea
.
monks later also contributed. The first written documentation dates from 1130 and was a treatise on wine written by Father Pere de Novas in the Monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes
.
As in Penedès
, this area used to produce strong sweet wines which were very popular until the 1930s.
The region acquired its DO status in 1972.
subzone with 35 municipalities, and the southern Baix Empordà
subzone with 13 municipalites.
, which can sometimes attain speeds of 120 km/h.
The average annual temperature is 16 °C (max 29 °C, min 1.5 °C) and there is abundant rainfall over the course of the year, between 600 and 700 mm/yr, falling mainly in winter.
and Garnacha Blanca, which together represent 82% of all vines planted. Their preponderance is diminishing over the years as producers opt for new experimental varieties such as Xarel·lo
and Muscat
.
The vines are tied down on stakes to protect them from the Tramontana wind.
Several traditional wines are also produced: Garnatxa, a type of sweet red wine made from grapes that have been sun-dried on mats before pressing (like the French vins de paille). It has deep red-orange colour and it is left to age for 10 years. Another traditional wine is a white wine made from Garnacha grapes with a small part of white grapes. These traditional wines are generally made either with Garnacha
or Cariñena grapes, the proportions varying greatly depending on the producer, from 80-20 to 20-80.
, Merlot
, and Tempranillo
.
Authorised white varieties include Macabeo and Garnacha Blanca, with the recent addition of Muscat
, Gewürztraminer
, Chardonnay
and Xarel·lo
Spanish wine
Spanish wines are wines produced in the southwestern European country of Spain. Located on the Iberian Peninsula, Spain has over 2.9 million acres planted—making it the most widely planted wine producing nation but it is the third largest producer of wine in the world, the largest...
Denominación de Origen
Denominación de Origen
Denominación de Origen is part of a regulatory classification system primarily for Spanish wines but also for other foodstuffs like honey, meats and condiments. In wines it parallels the hierarchical system of France and Italy although Rioja and Sherry preceded the full system...
(DO) (Denominació d'Origen in Catalan
Catalan language
Catalan is a Romance language, the national and only official language of Andorra and a co-official language in the Spanish autonomous communities of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Valencian Community, where it is known as Valencian , as well as in the city of Alghero, on the Italian island...
), formerly known as Empordà-Costa Brava, for wines produced in the northeastern corner of Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
It extends from the town of Figueres
Figueres
Figueres is the capital of the comarca of Alt Empordà, in the province of Girona, Catalonia, Spain.The town is the birthplace of artist Salvador Dalí, and houses the Teatre-Museu Gala Salvador Dalí, a large museum designed by Dalí himself which attracts many visitors...
northwards to the French border
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and the French
French wine
French wine is produced in several regions throughout France, in quantities between 50 and 60 million hectolitres per year, or 7–8 billion bottles. France has the world's second-largest total vineyard area, behind Spain, and is in the position of being the world's largest wine producer...
wine-making regions
Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée
Appellation d’origine contrôlée , which translates as "controlled designation of origin", is the French certification granted to certain French geographical indications for wines, cheeses, butters, and other agricultural products, all under the auspices of the government bureau Institut National...
of Banyuls
Banyuls AOC
Banyuls is a French appellation d'origine contrôlée for a fortified apéritif or dessert wine made from old vines cultivated in terraces on the slopes of the Catalan Pyrenees in the Roussillon county of France, bordering, to the south, the Empordà wine region in Catalonia in Spain.The AOC...
and Côtes du Roussillon
Côtes du Roussillon AOC
Côtes du Roussillon is an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée for wines made in the Roussillon wine region of France. It is the least selective AOC in the Roussillon region. In 2002, 21,048,500 litres of Côtes du Roussillon were produced, 68% red, 28% rosé and 4% white. Grenache is the dominant variety...
.
The DO is crossed by the rivers Muga
Muga
The Muga is a river in Catalonia which rises in the Alberes mountains of the eastern Pyrenees and enters the sea at the Gulf of Roses.The river is 58 km long with its source below the summit of Montnegre...
, Llobregat
Llobregat
The Llobregat is the second longest river in Catalonia, Spain. It originates in Castellar de n'Hug at an altitude of 1,259 meters in the Serra del Cadí, and ends in the Mediterranean Sea, in the municipality of El Prat de Llobregat, near Barcelona...
and Manol which flow eastwards to the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
.
History
Archaeologists have suggested that vines were first introduced to this region by the Phoenicians in the 5th century BC. The ancient Romans and the BenedictineBenedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
monks later also contributed. The first written documentation dates from 1130 and was a treatise on wine written by Father Pere de Novas in the Monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes
Sant Pere de Rodes
Sant Pere de Rodes is a former Benedictine monastery in the comarca of Alt Empordà, in the North East of Catalonia, Spain.-Location:It is in the municipal area of El Port de la Selva in the province of Girona, Spain. It has been constructed in the side of the Verdera mountain below the ruins of...
.
As in Penedès
Penedès
Penedès is a natural and historical region of the autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain. It is located in the south of the Principality of Catalonia between the pre-coastal mountain range and the Mediterranean sea...
, this area used to produce strong sweet wines which were very popular until the 1930s.
The region acquired its DO status in 1972.
Geography
The DO is divided into two subzones: the northern Alt EmpordàAlt Empordà
Alt Empordà is a comarca in Catalonia, Spain, one of two into which Empordà was divided by the comarcal division of Catalonia in 1936.- Municipalities :Populations are as of 2001.*Agullana - pop. 668*Albanyà - pop. 99*L'Armentera - pop. 742...
subzone with 35 municipalities, and the southern Baix Empordà
Baix Empordà
Baix Empordà is a comarca in Catalonia, Spain, one of the two into which Empordà was divided in the comarcal division of 1936. It is popularly known as L'Empordanet .- Geography :...
subzone with 13 municipalites.
Soils
The soils are generally dark, with a certain lime content, loose, good drainage and poor in organic matter. There is some granite content near the coast.Climate
The climate is Mediterranean, with influences from the moisture bearing winds from the south and cold winds from the north, especially the TramontanaTramontana
Tramontana or Tramontane can refer to:*Tramontane, a northern wind *the Pole Star*Tramontane, a science fiction novel by Emil Petaja...
, which can sometimes attain speeds of 120 km/h.
The average annual temperature is 16 °C (max 29 °C, min 1.5 °C) and there is abundant rainfall over the course of the year, between 600 and 700 mm/yr, falling mainly in winter.
Viticultura
The Empordà DO is known mainly for its rosé wines, the main grape varieties being MacabeoMacabeo
Viura, also called Macabeo or Macabeu is a white variety of wine grape.It is widely grown in the Rioja region of northeastern Spain, the Cava producing areas south of Barcelona, and the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France...
and Garnacha Blanca, which together represent 82% of all vines planted. Their preponderance is diminishing over the years as producers opt for new experimental varieties such as Xarel·lo
Xarel·lo
Xarel·lo is a white grape variety of Spanish origin specially grown in Catalonia. With Macabeu and Parellada, is one of the three traditional varieties used to make the sparkling wine Cava...
and Muscat
Muscat (grape and wine)
The Muscat variety of grapes of the species Vitis vinifera is widely grown for wine, raisins and table grapes. Their color ranges from white to near black. Muscat almost always has a pronounced sweet floral aroma. Muscat grapes are grown around the world...
.
The vines are tied down on stakes to protect them from the Tramontana wind.
Wines
Red and white wine is produced, though rosé is the main type of wine produced in the DO.Several traditional wines are also produced: Garnatxa, a type of sweet red wine made from grapes that have been sun-dried on mats before pressing (like the French vins de paille). It has deep red-orange colour and it is left to age for 10 years. Another traditional wine is a white wine made from Garnacha grapes with a small part of white grapes. These traditional wines are generally made either with Garnacha
Garnacha
Garnacha is a Spanish name that may refer to:*Grenache, a red wine grape*Garnacha Blanca, a white wine grape*Garnacha Tintorera, a synonym of Alicante Bouschet...
or Cariñena grapes, the proportions varying greatly depending on the producer, from 80-20 to 20-80.
Grape Varieties
Authorised red varieties include Garnacha and Cariñena, with the recent addition of Syrah, Cabernet SauvignonCabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world's most widely recognized red wine grape varieties. It is grown in nearly every major wine producing country among a diverse spectrum of climates from Canada's Okanagan Valley to Lebanon's Beqaa Valley...
, Merlot
Merlot
Merlot is a darkly blue-coloured wine grape, that is used as both a blending grape and for varietal wines. The name Merlot is thought to derive from the Old French word for young blackbird, merlot, a diminutive of merle, the blackbird , probably from the color of the grape. Merlot-based wines...
, and Tempranillo
Tempranillo
Tempranillo is a variety of black grape widely grown to make full-bodied red wines in its native Spain. It is the main grape used in Rioja, and is often referred to as Spain's "noble grape". Its name is the diminutive of the Spanish temprano , a reference to the fact that it ripens several weeks...
.
Authorised white varieties include Macabeo and Garnacha Blanca, with the recent addition of Muscat
Muscat (grape and wine)
The Muscat variety of grapes of the species Vitis vinifera is widely grown for wine, raisins and table grapes. Their color ranges from white to near black. Muscat almost always has a pronounced sweet floral aroma. Muscat grapes are grown around the world...
, Gewürztraminer
Gewürztraminer
Gewürztraminer is an aromatic wine grape variety that performs best in cooler climates. It is sometimes referred to colloquially as Gewürz, and in French it is written '...
, Chardonnay
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is a green-skinned grape variety used to make white wine. It is originated from the Burgundy wine region of eastern France but is now grown wherever wine is produced, from England to New Zealand...
and Xarel·lo
Xarel·lo
Xarel·lo is a white grape variety of Spanish origin specially grown in Catalonia. With Macabeu and Parellada, is one of the three traditional varieties used to make the sparkling wine Cava...
External links
- http://www.winesfromspain.com
- http://www.doemporda.com