DO Empordà

In El Empordà the vines are barely a few centimetres from the ground to prevent the Tramontana from spoiling them. This has been the case for more than 2,000 years, when the Greeks established the vineyards in these locations.

In El Empordà the vines are barely a few centimetres from the ground to prevent the Tramontana from spoiling them. This has been the case for more than 2,000 years, when the Greeks established the vineyards in these locations.

The wines with this Designation of Origin are affected by the geography of El Empordà, which combines the sea and mountains, acidic soil and a very hot and rainy climate.

Its rosé wines are fruity, moderate and full of flavour. They are made using grapes from the cariñena, garnacha negra and lledoner varieties. The red wines are also fruity and light and made with garnacha or cabernet sauvignon. The white wines are fresh and full of flavour and are made using macabeo, xarello or chardonnay. Moscatel is also made as well as a native sweet wine, the garnacha of El Empordà.

The district holds various fairs during which it is possible to discover the wine in this Designation: the most important of these is the Mostra del Vi de l'Empordà, which has been held since 1984 in Figueres, normally during early September.

On the same dates the Festa de la Verema is held which changes its venue every year. Finally in Sant Martí d'Empúries there is another fair dedicated exclusively to the wines from El Empordà, with tastings and exhibitors. This is held at the end of May.

With regard to wine cellar producers some can be visited such as Mas Oller, in Palau-saverdera, where wines are made using a grape native to El Empordà. The ancient alcohol distillery in Vilajuïga can also be seen. It is a modernist building designed by Cèsar Martinell in 1922.

It is also worth mentioning the Oliveda wine cellars in Capmany, one of the most historical producers where there is a museum with wine-making machinery with more than 5,000 taps from all over the world. Or Vinyes dels Aspres in Cantallops, one of the smallest wine cellars in this Designation of Origin, where wine is still made according to artisan methods.

In Castell de Peralada wines bearing the same name are made. The castle and the wine cellars can be visited, as well as the Museu del Vidre i del Vi, located in the ancient Carme convent in Peralada. It is also possible to enter the Cava del Gran Claustre, where the Carmelite monks made wine 500 years ago. The Cava Gran Claustre de Castell Peralada is still made today.

In Peralada it is also possible to visit ancient buildings and monuments such as the Castell de Biart, with the wine cellars bearing the same name and to see the Plaza de Armas, the ramparts or the defence towers.