Ah, Barcelona. The capital of Catalonia and home to some of the world’s finest wines. Whether you’re a connoisseur or just looking for something new and delicious, Catalonia has something special in store for you. Let’s take a deeper look into the world of Catalan wine and why it should be on your drinks list!
The History of Catalan Wine
Catalan wines have been produced in the region since Roman times. However, it wasn’t until much later that these wines began to gain renown beyond its borders. In the 19th century, phylloxera—a pest that destroys vines—ravaged European vineyards, but Catalan vineyards were largely spared due to their location on rocky slopes and plateaus that make it difficult for pests to spread. This gave Catalonia an advantage when it came to producing quality grapes and making superb wines.
Types of Catalan Wine
Catalonia is known for its red wines made with Garnacha, Cariñena, Monastrell, and Tempranillo grape varieties. These wines tend to be dense and full-bodied, with aromas of blackberry, blueberry, cocoa powder, cedar wood, dried cherry, licorice root and tobacco. White wines from this region are made from Macabeo (Viura), Xarel·lo, Chardonnay and Moscatel de Alejandría grapes. These white wines tend to be dry with light acidity and stone fruit flavors such as apricots and peaches.
Regions in Catalonia
The two main wine regions in Catalonia are the Penedès region located south of Barcelona near Tarragona and the Priorat region located south-west of Barcelona in Tarragona province. The Penedès region is known for its sparkling Cava—Spain’s answer to champagne— which is made using Macabeo (Viura) grapes among other varieties such as Xarel·lo or Parellada blended together with Chardonnay or Pinot Noir grapes. The Priorat region is known for its robust red wines produced from old vines planted on steep terraces carved out of slate soil called llicorella soil by local farmers. This unique soil gives Priorat wines their distinctive earthy character that makes them so desirable around the world.
Round Table Wines
Round Table is an entrepreneurial and independent project founded in 2019 in Catalonia, Spain. It is a different wine that proposes an experience, beyond a good product. It is a wine aimed at a public that wants to share and have a good time with wine, with a very unique labels that gives a lot of play.
They vindicate the social role of wine, to have a good time and have good conversations, so it is not necessary to be an expert to enjoy it. Following this philosophy, each bottle contains a random topic of conversation, which is discovered by scratching the label. Weird dreams, hobbies or open couples are some of them. The topics are proposed and voted by the community on Instagram, and change every year.
White wine Catalonia Region
Round Table white is a Spanish wine made mostly from grapes Gewürztraminer, of the wine region Penedès.
It is a young wine without aging, whit clean and aromatic, with white fruit dominance, very floral. Dry in the mouth, with balanced acidity and round. A fresh and perfumed wine.
This wine pairs excellent with pasta, seafood, Asian cuisine, spicy, Peruvian food, salads, appetizers, cheese and foie gras.
Cultivation of gewürztraminer, white grapes, in the highest and coldest area of the Penedès (800 m) to favor its acidity and aromas. Harvested at the optimum ripening point to avoid excess alcohol or residual sugar. Cold maceration to obtain the maximum extraction of aromas. Gentle pressing to obtain the free-run juice and temperature-controlled fermentation.
Red wine Catalonia Region
Round Table Red is a Spanish wine with the perfect blend between Mazuelo and Garnacha, make in the wine region of Montsant, Catalonia, Spain.
It's a young wine without aging. High intensity of red fruits red fruits. Smooth entry, with an easy tannin, structured and elegant. A very sweet wine.
Pairs excellent with pasta, pizza, sausages, vegetables, white and red meats, blue fish, cured cheeses.
Partial carbonic maceration of 50% of the Grenache. This is carried out in two phases. In the first, the grape bunches, whole and without determming, which have been harvested by hand, ferment in tanks at a controlled temperature of 30 degrees and in the absence of oxygen. In a second phase, the fermentation is completed by bleeding from the tanks and crushing of the solid parts. This type of fermentation enhances the fruity aromas of the wine and reduces its tannin content.
No matter what type of drinker you are—red wine lover or white wine enthusiast—Catalonia has something for everyone! From sparkling cava to robust tannic reds grown on ancient llicorella soils, there’s no shortage of delicious Catalan varietals out there waiting to be explored. So grab a glass (or bottle!) today and raise it up high—here's to Catalonia's delicious wines! Salut!
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