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EMPORDÀ
The DO Empordà (Costa Brava) wine region is situated in the province of Girona and covers an area of 2,000 hectares. 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.
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.
The climate is Mediterranean, with influences from the moisture bearing winds from the south and cold winds from the north, especially the Tramontana, 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.
The Empordà DO is known mainly for its rosé wines, the main grape varieties being Macabeo 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.
Vine varieties
Red: Cariñena, Granacha Tinta, Ull de Liebre (Tempranillo), CabernetSavignon and Merlot.
White: Garnacha Blanca, Macabeo, Moscatel, Xarel.lo and Chardonnay. |