Designation of Origin

DO Bierzo The Region of Bierzo is located to the northwest of the province of Leon, in the Community of Castile and Leon. It occupies an area of 2,954.28 kilometers, which is 18% of the provincial area. It borders the provinces of Ourense, Lugo and Asturias, and is a communication axis between Galicia, León and Asturias. First of all, the vineyard in the Bierzo is characterized by an atomization of the plots, a smallholding property and sloping land, from 450 to 800 meters. Second, the soil of the Bierzo vineyard sits on Miocene materials covered by a Quaternary layer. The texture is frankly, moderately acidic, its pH is close to 5.5, with no carbonates, typical of humid climates. Sloping soils are made up of a mixture of coarse elements, quartzites and slates. Finally, the Bierzo has a very special microclimate, very suitable for crops in the area. The natural barrier of the Serra dels Ancares calms the impetus of the Atlantic storms and generates a continental climate, with the influence of the Ocean, suitable for the cultivation of the vineyard. The annual rainfall is 721 millimeters and the average temperature is 12.3 ºC, with minimum temperatures of 3.6 ºC in the cold months and maximum temperatures of 23.6 ºC in the warmer months. The average annual sunshine is between 2,100 and 2,200 hours of sunshine. Grape varieties In the Bierzo different varieties of grapes are produced, all adapted to the characteristics of the soils and the climate. The elaboration of the wines protected by the Designation of Origin will have to realize exclusively with the following varieties: Mencía, Grenache tintorera, Godello, Doña blanca and Palomino.

DO CAVA It is a decentralized institution of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment. It is made up of winemakers, producers and representatives of the autonomous communities of the "Cava Region" and the Ministry. Its antecedents go back to 1959when the rules of trade for sparkling and aerated wines were established, where the term CAVA first appears. Subsequently, the Order of the Ministry of Agriculture of 23 April 1969 regulates sparkling and aerated wines and, in this way, sparkling wines made by the “classic system of fermentation in bottle and aging in cava are recognized as their own designation. ”And they can“ characterize their products with the name CAVA ”. This definition served as the basis for designating the product name. It was in 1972 when the Ministerial Order of 27 July was promulgated and the Regulatory Council of Sparkling Wines was set up with a function comparable to that of the designations of origin. With this provision it is subject to its own regulations, in terms of elaboration, production and marketing. Spain’s accession to the EU led to the equating of wines with DO to top category wines (quality wines psr). Prior to the Accession Treaty, Cava was the only specific Spanish designation that had its own structure, identical to that of designations of origin; the difference lay in the delimitation of the area and, for this reason, at the beginning of 1986 the “Cava Region” was established, which delimited the production area. Thus, Cava is protected from the EU and recognized as a quality sparkling wine produced in a given region (veqprd). Vineyards The vine varieties authorized to produce grapes for the elaboration of base wine and Cava are the following: White varieties: Macabeo, Xarel.lo, Parellada, Malvasía and Chardonnay. Red varieties: Red Grenache, Monastrell, Pinot Noir and Trepat.

IGP CÁDIZ The wines of Cádiz are currently covered by the IGP Cádiz (protected geographical indication) which includes 15 municipalities of Cádiz. It has an area of 1,500 hectares of vineyards and 16 wineries. The wines of the Land of Cádiz were born to differentiate still wines from the generous wines of Jérez. After a certain decline in the wines of Jerez wineries from Cádiz opted for the production of white wine and red wine as in other denominations evidencing its uniqueness and its contribution to the wine diversity of our house. Territory, Climate and Lands of Cadiz wines First of all, the terrain in Cádiz is practically flat in its entirety with slight slopes. Second, they enjoy a warm climate and little rainfall. Its soils are mainly calcareous which facilitates moisture retention which is important in a dry area. Varieties of grapes allowed The red grapes allowed for the elaboration of red wine are: Tintilla de Rota, Tempranillo, Syrah, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Graciá, Merlot, Mollar Cano and Monastrell. Authorized white grapes: Chardonnay, Garrido Fine, Verdejo, Montúa, Macabeo, Moscatel, Palomino, Pedro Ximénez, Riesling, Perruno, Sauvignon Blanc. Buy Cadiz wines Finding Cadiz wines is a bit of a complicated task outside of Andalusia and is that the productions are small. In addition, the wines of the Land of Cádiz are still great unknowns so in few wine shops you can find such unique and innovative wines. Consequently, at monvins.cat we have opted to bring you a representation that we think is very interesting.

Vi de la terra Illes Balears History It seems that the Romans introduced the cultivation of the vineyard and the elaboration of wines in the Balearic Islands. Despite the Muslim conquest of the islands and Koranic prohibitions, this crop was maintained. From the conquest of the island by James I in 1229 and during the medieval period, this crop would continue to work. The maximum extension of the vineyard arrives in 1890 with 30,000 hectares of vines. However, phylloxera destroys everything, and this extension of cultivation will never be achieved again. Regulation All bottles with the geographical indication "Wine of the land Balearic Islands "must go first with an official control number assigned by the Institute of Agri-Food Quality (IQUA) of the Government of the Balearic Islands, which corresponds to the control and certification of the" Wine of the land Balearic Islands ". Wine characteristics Red wines predominate like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Callet. They are wines with a lot of color and layer. The aromatic phase is characterized by the presence of red fruits. They are full-bodied wines, powerful, rich in tannins and suitable for aging. The monovarietal white wines of chardonnay and muscatel are of recognized fame. Chardonnay wines are characterized by their aromatic flow, with notes of tropical fruits, pineapple and banana, and in the mouth they are fresh, wide and full-bodied, with a long and persistent finish. Also worth mentioning are the "muscats", which are characterized by the floral aroma, with notes of jasmine and violet, and in the mouth are balanced and fresh. Varieties Red: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Monestrell, Tempranillo, Fogoneu, Callet, Manto Negre, Pinot Noir. White: Chardonnay, Moscatel d'Alexandria, Moscatel de gra menut, Moll, Parellada, Macabeo, Malvasia, Riesling, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc.

DO Penedès Land and climate The land of the DO Penedès is wide and open and extends along a large strip of territory between sea and mountains, halfway between Barcelona and Tarragona. Within this natural setting, our wines come from the best selected vineyards in the area. Zones In the middle of the Catalan pre-coastal depression, between the pre-coastal mountain range and the small plains of the Mediterranean coast, the vineyards of our wine region mature. Microclimates The Penedès Designation of Origin has a great diversity of microclimates, as a consequence of the proximity of the coast and the altitude. The climate is typically Mediterranean, it is mild and warm. The Penedès Marítim area is more temperate due to the influence and proximity of the sea. The Penedès Superior enjoys more frequent rainfall and more contrast between maximum and minimum temperatures. The Central Penedès is the compendium of both microclimates. Singularity The uniqueness of its wines results from its uniqueness. A thousand flavors, aromas, bodies and structures ... are the result of climatic and landscape differences and the richness and variety of the soils that make it up, tinged with the green of the mountains and plains or the blue of the Mediterranean waters. White varieties The DO Penedès, widely recognized for its quality in white wines, combines a range of wines made with traditional varieties (xarel·lo, macabeu and parellada) with others that over the years have been introduced and successfully acclimatized (chardonnay , riesling, sauvignon blanc ...). And with xarel·lo wines as the DO's standard, Penedès wines are full of aroma, flavor and quality. A pleasure for the senses. Red varieties The red varieties we find are: Red Grenache, Monastrell, Pinot Noir, Carignan, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo.

DO Pla de Bages History The beginnings The first indications of vineyards and wine in the Pla de Bages are found in Roman villas. A piece of Ibero-Roman pottery from the 2nd-1st centuries BC was found in the town of Boades (Castellgalí). where there is an inscription with the word VINUM. After the fall of the Roman Empire, we do not find the first vineyards cultivated until the year 940. Bageswas the most inland region of Catalonia where the vineyard was cultivated and the wine was made well. Thus, Bages was the supplier of wine from the so-called mountain lands, in exchange for wheat and other agricultural products. The expansion of the vineyard in the century XIV it was so large that protectionist privileges began to be granted. For example, in 1330 Alfonso IV the Benign granted Santpedor the privilege of forbidding outsiders from entering wine or vintage. In fact, this was the moment of maximum splendor of the city of Manresa, with a great growth of the city and the construction of its main works. To understand the present In the middle of the century XVI the first stone tubs appear inside the farmhouse, which will be built en masse from the century XVII. Thus were born the characteristic tiled glazed ceramic vats of the Pla de Bages, with the wooden honeycomb as a lid to crush the grapes on top. This system will be used until well into the century XX. The abandonment of the vineyard in Bages was progressive between 1925 and 1989. The period from 1925-1950 was when most of them were torn down due to tensions between landlords and sharecroppers, the Civil War, high cereal prices and improved truck and rail transport. Between 1975 and 1982 the vineyard continued to decline to 500 hectares in 1989, which represented almost the disappearance of the vineyard. Climate and soils Within a mid-mountain continental Mediterranean climate, Bages has the ideal conditions for wine cultivation: an exceptional microclimate, low rainfall and a strong thermal oscillation, as well as a clayey and calcareous soil. Its wines are impregnated with balsamic notes of lavender, thyme and rosemary. These aromatic plants that populate the forests of pines, oaks and holm oaks surround the vineyards. Traditional varieties in Pla de Bages White varieties Picapoll White: Late variety, oval grain and thick skin, which protects it in its long maturation. It gives wines of medium acidity that makes them very kind and enhances their feeling of volume. Aromatically it reveals citrus notes, such as grapefruit, lavender and in cooler years the floral notes (white flower like jasmine). Red varieties Mandó: Mandó is an almost forgotten variety of red grape that is recovering satisfactorily. The wines made with this variety are surprising for their quality and personality. Therefore, a great effort is being made for its reintroduction by rescuing the few strains that have survived its abandonment. It gives truncated conical droplets of medium size considerably compact. Its grains are small and spherical reaching maturity with a purple hue. Sumoll: The most preserved native red variety in the area. Medium cycle, large grapes and high average production. It gives reds of little color but a lot of freshness and tannic structure, with a style of continental wines (that is to say, more similar to Pinots Noirs and Nebiolos than to Bordeaux varieties). Tannins that are difficult to ripen, which is why it has always been considered a good variety for obtaining rosés. Picapoll red.

DO Ribeiro The Ribeiro Designation of Origin is located in Galicia, on the northwestern edge of the province of Orense. Between the confluences of the valleys formed by the rivers Miño, Avia and Arnoia. A region 45 km far from the Atlantic Ocean, in a very particular area and of excellent aptitude for the cultivation of the vineyard. CLIMATE Climate is the key factor that determines the agronomy, varieties and style of wines. The DO Ribeiro is located in a transitional area of Galicia, of a Mediterranean character softened by the Atlantic influence due to the short distance from the ocean. In fact, this distance should mean a greater Atlantic character of the environment. However, the orography of mountain ranges that limits the denomination by the west and north, exerts an important protective effect. Consequently, a viticulture is generated where the alcoholic maturation is developed parallel to the phenolic maturation, conserving a balanced freshness propitiated by the natural acidity and with a dominion of the tartaric one on the malic one. The slightly continental character, due to the dominant air currents, causes a significant thermal difference between day and night. This favors the slow maturation respecting the aromatic component and natural freshness. There are three valleys created by its three main rivers: Miño, Avia and Arnoia. A natural environment formed by slopes, terraces and terraces, excellent for the production of quality wines based on viticulture. All this, favored by a very peculiar microclimate, ventilated and with good exposure for the maturation of the autochthonous varieties of the zone. The maritime influence that penetrates the Miño river basin, creates bands of climatic ecotonia on the slopes. In conclusion, we find a greater Atlantic character as it rises to the level, so that it limits the crop to approximately 450 meters in height for the varieties cultivated to the denomination of Origin.

Ribera del Duero Climatological characteristics The specific climatic conditions that characterize the cultivation of the vineyard in the Ribera del Duero, have a great influence throughout the vegetative cycle of the vineyards. They play a key role in plant development and grape ripening. The quality of the wines obtained depends to a large extent on these special conditions. The climate of the Ribera del Duero is therefore characterized by moderate-low rainfall (400-600 mm as average rainfall per year). Its summers are dry and the winters long and harsh. With marked thermal oscillations throughout the seasons. These specifications frame it within a Mediterranean climate, but with a marked continental character. Thus the intense cold delays the sprouting of the vine. The abrupt changes of temperature between the summer day and night, cause a perfect balance of the fruit during his ripening. Finally, in autumn, a magnificent quality grape is harvested. Geological characteristics The Ribera del Duero is located on the great northern plateau of the Iberian Peninsula, formed by a large ancient plinth razed and, in part, covered by tertiary sediments. The largest volume of these sediments is made up of lenticular layers of silty or clayey sands, and the alternation of layers, both calcareous and marl, and even calcareous concretions, stands out. The riparian basin has horizontal levels, gently undulating, limited by differential erosion, and converted today to the state of peneplano. The relief of the area oscillates between the interfluvial hills, with elevations of 911 meters, while in the valleys, with a topographic height between 750 and 850 meters.

Denominació d'Origen Terra Alta The production and elaboration area of the DO Terra Alta (DOTA) is located in the south of Catalonia, between the river Ebro and the border with Aragonese lands and includes the 12 municipalities of the region of Terra Alta. Its landscape retains all the characteristic features of an inland terroir close to the Mediterranean Sea: pre-coastal calcareous mountain ranges (Ports d'Horta, Serres de Pàndols and Cavalls), small rivers (the Algars and the Canaletes), mountains of conglomerate rock, oak and white pine forests and above all, agricultural soils dyed of the typical Mediterranean crops: almond, vine and olive. Within this framework, it is necessary to add three clearly differentiated landscape units of agricultural interest: La Plana, l’Altiplà and Les Valls. CHARACTERISTICS: Cultivated soils generally have medium textures. They have as a common denominator their richness in limestone and are poor in organic matter. The DOTA soil catalog classifies up to 17 profiles, among which the Honeycomb stands out. Another feature that claims the inland Mediterranean character is the climate. Abundant sunshine and little rainfall. Two particularities stand out: a singular balance between the two dominant winds, the Cerç (NO) and the garbinades (marinades of the South component) and a cold winter that denotes a certain continentality. THE VINEYARDS The vineyard is present throughout the landscape units of La Plana, Altiplà and Les Valls and is especially concentrated in the central third of the production area, between 350 and 550 meters above sea level. The terrace is the most common unit of cultivation and is a consequence of the interaction of the crop with the varied orography of the land, arranging it on different slopes and orientations, often between dry stone walls -the margins- or ridges with vegetation. , both helping to prevent cropland losses from erosion. The most traditional terrace locations are the plains and the slopes, differentiated by slopes less than or greater than 10%, respectively. The rest of the vineyards are located on terraced terraces, terraces, and valley bottoms, practically without a slope and therefore with greater water use. The predominance of traditional grape varieties is the other distinguishing feature of the DO Terra Alta. White Grenache, Red Grenache and Fluffy Grenache are the predominant grape varieties. Together with the Macabeo, the Parellada and the Samsó they sum three quarters of the cultivated surface. As a result of these interactions with the terroir and the viticultural culture, the practice of viticulture in the Terra Alta is friendly to the environment. The harvest is characterized by an optimal phytosanitary status, a ripe grape and a great oenological value for the elaboration of the wines.

DO Tierra de León The first documentary news about the history of the DO Tierra de León dates back to the early tenth century. They serve as an indicator to establish the two economic sources on which the territories under its influence were based, the mills for cereal processing. and the vineyards. To the being the geographic scope of the mention DO Leon quite ample, and to include the zone of influence of two shores; Esla and Cea, is located under the broad context of the Mediterranean climate domain in its cold variant. Although the influence of the Atlantic and the North should soften its temperatures and make abundant precipitations, the high altitude of the plateau where it is and the edge of the mountainous relief of the Cantabrian mountain range, modify the climatic characteristics, giving rise to a strong continentality. Climate First, a rigorous and extensive winter period during which persistent fogs and frosts occur. An irregular spring period, alternating mild temperatures with the dreaded spring frosts. An irregular summer period, alternating hot and arid periods with other cold ones that give the calculation a mild character, always placing the average temperature of the warmer months above 20º C. A mild and generally rainy autumn that favors a good end of maturation. Second, extreme temperatures between day and night. Conditioning and favorable factor for the accumulation of grape polyphenols and the enhancement of aromas. Also worth mentioning is the average annual rainfall, which is around 500 mm., Distributed during the summer and autumn periods. And finally, high brightness in the area, with an average of 2,700 hours of sunshine per year, which favors a uniform ripening of the grapes.