Montsant DO

Montsant is a wine region in Catalonia. It lies about 30 km west of Tarragona on the slopes of the mountain Montsant. Together with the Priory is Catalonia's oldest weinbaubetreibende region. In the Middle Ages it was one of the most important wine regions of Spain.

Most of the acreage is located in the comarca of Priorat, a small proportion in the comarca of Ribera d' Ebre.

The following municipalities are located in the D.O. Montsant: la Bisbal de Falset, Cabacés, Capçanes, Cornudella de Montsant, La Figuera, Els Guiamets, Marçà, Margalef, El Masroig, Pradell de la Teixeta, La Torre de Fontaubella and Ulldemolins, as well as parts of the districts of Falset, Garcia, El molar, Mora la Nova and Tivissa.

The acreage totaling approximately 2,058 hectares ( as of 2003) located on the mineral-rich soils at an altitude of 200 to 700 meters. The climate is a balance between the temperate Mediterranean climate and the cooler mountain climate. The rainfall is somewhat higher than the surrounding regions.

The appellation was created in 2001. Previously it was this growing area as "sub- zone Falset " the DO Tarragona. The reason for this was the great success of the quality wines from the Priorat and the marked differences in character to the wines from Falset. The initiators were the cooperatives from Capçanes, Falset - Marçà and El Masroig.

There are mainly produced red wines from the Carignan and Grenache. It will be removed from Grenache and Mistela various dessert wines such as Vi Ranci, Vin Doux Naturel. In Capçanes is one of the few European wine producers, kosher wines according to Jewish dietary laws created.

About 70 % of wine production is exported, mainly to Germany, England, USA, France, Switzerland and the Netherlands.

See also the article Viticulture in Spain.

Varieties

Open to the white varieties Chardonnay, Garnacha Blanca, Macabeo, Moscatel, Pansal, Parellada and Torbato. For the red varieties, this applies to Cabernet Sauvignon, Carinena Mazuela, Garnacha, Garnacha Peluda, Merlot, Monastrell, Picapoll, Syrah and Tempranillo