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DO area on the Mediterranean coast in the Catalonia region in north-eastern Spain. It is divided into three zones ascending from the coast. The warmest zone is Bajo-Penedès (also Baix-Penedès) in the low-lying coastal area with up to 250 metres above sea level. The second zone Mitja-Penedès (also Medio-Penedès) with up to 500 metres above sea level is located west of Barcelona and is the most important for sparkling wines and excellent white wines. The third zone Alta-Penedès (also Alt-Penedès) is the highest area with up to 850 metres above sea level. Before the phylloxera catastrophe that occurred from 1876 onwards, over 80% of the grape varieties planted in Penedès were red, from which mainly bulk wines were produced. From the beginning of the 1960s onwards, the area began its ascent and is considered the cradle of modern Spanish viticulture. Penedès is the home of the Spanish sparkling wine Cava with about two thirds of the total Spanish production. However, the DO designation Penedès only applies to still wines. The picture shows a vineyard with Ull de Llebre = Tempranillo:

Peneès - Rebflächen mit Tempranillo

There is a Mediterranean, humid climate with hot summers and cold winters. The annual rainfall is between 500 and 900 mm. The vineyards cover 27,500 hectares on sandy soils at sea level, alluvial soils in the river valleys and chalky limestone soils in the mountains. More than a hundred mostly autochthonous grape varieties are cultivated, but only 15 of them are permitted for DO wines. Around 60% are white wine varieties, the most important being Macabeo, Xarello, Parellada, Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Chenin Blanc, Moscatel de Alejandría (Muscat d'Alexandrie) and Sauvignon Blanc. The most important red wine varieties are Garnacha Tinta, Cariñena (Mazuelo), Merlot, Monastrell, Ull de Llebre (Tempranillo), Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Well-known producers are Albet i Noya, Canals Nadal, Cavas Hill, Juvé y Camps, Codorníu, Ferret, Freixenet, Heretat Mas Tinell, Jané Ventura, Jean León, Marqués de Monistrol, Mas Comtal, Masía Bach, Recaredo, Torrelavit, Torres, Pere Ventura, Pinord, Puig y Roca, Vallformosa and Winner Wines.

Image: By Mick Stephenson - own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link

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