 The
Tarragona region has just lost the area that produced some of it's most exciting
wines to the new Montsant denomination. You will still see labels for some time
saying Tarragona-Subzona Falset, but it makes sense for this climatically very
different region to have separated. What's left of the Tarragona D.O. is now
a much more homogenous area covering the plain inland of the city of Tarragona.
Production here is dominated by cooperatives (some very good, some not), with
few exciting small cellars to speak of. Much of the production is sold to the
major cava houses, and the area is similar to the southern Penedès.
| Vineyard area: |
10.450 Hectares |
| Authorised Production: |
10.000kg per hectare for white varieties
8.500kg per hectare for red varieties |
| Soil types: |
Mostly limestone or alluvial soils near the rivers. |
| Authorised varieties: |
Whites: Garnatxa blanca, Macabeu, Pedro Ximénez
Reds: Garnatxa, Ull de Llebre, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carinyena. |
| Annual sunshine: |
2600 hours |
| Annual rainfall: |
475mm in the "Camp de Tarragona"
650mm in the Falset area |
| Average temperature: |
16 ºC |
| Wine types: |
70% whites, 27% reds, 3% rosés |
| Notes: |
The "Camp de Tarragona" has more in common with Penedès.
In general this area is dominated by "Cooperative cellars" and much of the
production is sold "a granel" or unbottled. Traditionally much was exported
to France and Germany to fortify their wines.
Mention apart should be given to "Vi Ranci" A sweet fortified wine (at least
14% achohol vol) much appreciated in the area. |
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