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Catalunya: Wines with sunshine in their hearts

A 300% increase in production in less than 25 years - this is exactly what the DO Catalunya has achieved with its wines. What is the secret of the success of this protected designation of origin in Catalonia, Spain? And why are Catalunya wines so diverse? We have the answers to all these questions for you here - in a compact overview.

The winemaking tradition in the DO Catalunya is much older than the protected designation of origin itself. However, the first vineyards for Catalunya wines were planted by the Phoenicians and Greeks in the 4th century BC. When DOs (Denominación de Origen = Protected Designation of Origin) were gradually introduced in the rest of Spain, Catalonia was also given numerous DOs - although there was no generic protected designation of origin. As a result, Catalan wine-growing regions such as Anoia or Baix Llobregat were left empty-handed.

In addition, many wineries in Catalonia produce wines within and outside of certain DOs. With the introduction of the DO Catalunya, these wines now also carry a seal of quality. Some of the production rules in the DO Catalunya are not quite as strict as in other protected designations of origin. This can be seen, for example, in the wide range of grape varieties, with 19 white and 19 red grapes. There is no other DO in Catalonia with so much choice! It is therefore difficult to classify the wine styles precisely. We'll try anyway, but first let's take a look at the geography and climate of the Catalunya wines.

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Catalunya: geography and climate

Theoretically, the DO Catalunya covers the whole of Catalonia - as the name suggests. In practice, however, the DO looks like a patchwork quilt, as large parts of Catalonia are not under vines or do not belong to the DO. In the north-west of Catalonia, for example, not a single hectare belongs to the DO, while the classified vineyards are concentrated in the south-west and extend far inland along the Mediterranean coast. The soils and climate are correspondingly diverse. From the Mediterranean coastal climate to the continental climate or high mountain climate, everything is there.

The soils are no less heterogeneous. Llicorella, as in Priorat, is very rare here. However, sand, limestone, clay and granite are much more common. There are also different altitudes and vineyard orientations. All these conditions give rise to a variety of different Catalunya wine styles.

Catalunya-Wine: Good to know

 

Total area

Communities

Winegrowers and wineries

Annual production and main market

Important export markets and important export third countries

42.985 Hectare

426

Winemaker: 8.166, Wineries: 185

Annual production: ⌀ 60,3 Mio bottles, Main market: European Union 

important export markets: Great Britain, Germany, Netherlands, important export third countries: USA, Japan, Canada and Mexico

Catalunya: Wine styles

In general, the DO Catalunya produces the whole range of red and white wines as well as rosés and sparkling wines, with the emphasis on fruity white wines, which shine with a very charming character and can be real crowdpleasers. Due to the large number of wineries, the DO also introduced the term Catalunya Vinyeró to support self-marketing wineries. Catalunya wines with this term added to the label ensure that all grapes come from just one winemaker. In addition, all production steps take place in the respective winery.

In addition, there are wines with different degrees of maturity, which are divided into Joven, Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva. Please refer to our Spain text for the minimum maturation periods for these. The Reserva and Gran Reserva wines from the DO Catalunya in particular are very complex and have a lot of depth. They have a pronounced barrel note, are very well structured and benefit from additional ageing.

Catalunya-wines in detail

 

Important grape varieties

Wine colors

Climate

Climatic influences

Soils

Garnacha, Macabeo, Xarel·lo


 

 White and sparkling wine (53.77%), red wine (38.32%), rosé wine (7.91%)

Mediterranean to continental

Mediterranean, Pyrenees, Montsant Mountains

Sand, limestone, clay, granite, slate

 

Catalunya: Wine as an economic factor

In 2000, 22 million bottles of Catalunya wines were sold - in 2023, the figure was 60.3 million bottles. This rapid growth in less than 25 years shows how productive the wine-growing region is. And how successful. Many wineries have quickly recognized the advantage of the generic protected designation of origin, as they have more freedom in winemaking, which in turn leads to many different styles that can cater to a wide range of market tastes.

A good 50% of all wines sold in Catalonia now come from the DO Catalunya. This illustrates the importance of the DO on the national and international wine market. The European Union is the main export market. At the forefront: Germany and the Netherlands. However, even Great Britain is the main buyer of Catalunya wines in Europe. Outside Europe, it is mainly the United States, Japan, Canada and Mexico that import the wines.

Your selling points for Catalunya-wines

  • Wines in every price segment, so that many different customers can be targeted with them
  • Many well-known brand names make selling easy
  • You can also offer real insider tips
  • Large selection of organic wines
  • Ideal entry-level wines for customers interested in Spain
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