Montsant DO

Montsant DO in Catalonia

Montsant is a Spanish Denominación de Origen (DO) (Denominació d'Origen in Catalan) for wine located in the province of Tarragona (Catalonia, Spain) and covers 12 municipalities. It was previously known as the Falset subzone of Tarragona (DO), and was created as a separate DO in the early 2000s. Regional approval came in 2001, and from 2002 wines were sold as Montsant rather than Tarragona.^{[1][2] [3]} Montsant takes its name from the Montsant mountains in the area. There are currently about 2,050 hectares (5,100 acres) of Montsant vineyards, with an increasing trend.^[1]

Geography

Montsant DO almost completely surrounds the more famous Priorat (DOQ). The vineyards extend along the mountainsides among olives groves, forests and rocky outcrops.

Soils

The soils are lime bearing over a granite and slate subsoil. The vineyards are at a height of about 360 m above sea level, though the altitude tends to increase towards the Serra de Montalt in the southwest and towards the Serra de Montsant in the northwest.

Climate

The climate is Mediterranean with continental influences. Summers are dry and annual rainfall is about 650 mm, falling mainly in autumn. There is only an occasional risk of hailstones or frost.

Grape varieties

The authorised white varieties are: Chardonnay, Garnacha Blanca, Macabeo, Moscatel, Pansal and Parellada. The authorised red varieties are: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cariñena, Garnacha, Garnacha Peluda, Merlot, Monastrell, Picapoll Nera, Syrah and Tempranillo.

Wine styles

The main style of Montsant is powerful red wines, which can be similar to the wines of Priorat when they are made from old vine Garnacha and Cariñena.^[2] Production also includes white wines, rosé wines, sweet red wines and rancio style wines made using a Solera system.^[4]

See also

• Catalan wine

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Wines from Spain: DO Montsant, accessed February 28, 2009
2. ^ ^{a b} Jancis Robinson, ed (2006). "Montsant". Oxford Companion to Wine (Third Edition ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 453. ISBN 0-19-860990-6. 
3. ^ https://www.gencat.net/diari/4414/05165062.htm DO Regulations, published in DOGC no. 4414 dated 28-6-2005. In Catalan
4. ^ DO Montsant: Wines

External links

• http://www.winesfromspain.com
• http://www.domontsant.com

Coordinates: 41°8′49″N 0°49′17″E / 41.14694°N 0.82139°E / 41.14694; 0.82139