Penedes DO

Question 1

What is the growing environment of Penedes DO

Answer 1

• Diverse land area stretching from Mediterranean coast to the mountains, various wines styles including Cava
• Warm Mediterranean climate, but broadly divided into 3 zones with different topography and climatic influence.
• Climate Diversity allows an assortment of grape varieties
• 2500 ha

Question 2

What are the major grape varieties of Penedes DO

Answer 2

• 80% white grapes
• Xarel-lo, Macabeao and Parellada most planted; both for cava or white wine blends
• Large Chardonnay plantings
• Smaller plantings of Muscats, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewurztraminer and Riesling
• Merlot most planted black grape variety
• Other black grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo, Pinot Noir, Syrah

Question 3

What are the 3 climatic zones of Penedes DO

Answer 3

• Penedes Martim
• Penedes Central
• Penedes Superior

Question 4

Describe the Penedes Martim climatic zone

Answer 4

• Between sea and the coastal range of the hills
• Low altitude and close to sea; warm climate without temperature extremes
• Full-bodied, late ripening red wines of Monastrell.
• Xarel-lo, Macabeo, Parellada is grown here for inexpensive still wine

Question 5

Describe the Penedes Central climatic zone

Answer 5

• on flat plains known as the Pre-Coastal Depression between coastal range and inland mountains
• Vineyards at moderatly high altitudes compared to Penedes Martim (up to 500m)
• Some cooling influence from altitude
• Large Xarel-lo, Macabeo and Parellada
• Some Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo & Chardonnay

Question 6

Describe the Penedes Superior climatic zone

Answer 6

• 500-800m above sea level between inland mountains (Montserrat and Montmell)
• Altitude gives a cooling influence, but creates frost problem
• Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Small Amounts of Riesling and Gewurztraminer are grown here
• Some Pinot Noir

Question 7

Describe the general climate & viticulture of the Penedes DO

Answer 7

• 500mm annual rainfall, driest in summer
• Irrigation can be used if vines are suffering but Consejo Regulardor must authorise
• Loamy soils with calcareous components; can store enough water through ripening period
• Many trellised vineyards but many plots of bush vines

Question 8

What are the winemaking practices in the Penedes DO

Answer 8

• One of the first places in Spain to modernise wine production (led by Miguel Torres)
• Temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel created clean, fruity wines,
• Both aromatic whites and fruity, early-drinking reds.
• More expensive red wines and some chardonnay often oak matured, usually French
• Good to very good
• Inexpensive to mid-priced, a number of premium wines

Question 9

Describe the Laws of Penedes DO

Answer 9

• More precise zoning of vineyards; 10 sub-zones mapped based on geographical and cultural parameters
• Able to label their wines with a subzone providing specifications are met; 100% must come from subzone and been grown organically

Question 10

What is the commercal success of the Penedes DO

Answer 10

• 25% exported, largest markets Canada, Sweden and the USA
• Catalunya sales make up 65% of domestic market
• Barcelona provides consumers and tourism to region