📍 Empordà
The north-east, between the Pyrenees and the sea.
Empordà is a wine area in north-eastern Catalonia, in the province of Girona, between the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean, on the Costa Brava. A strong northern wind called the tramuntana blows here, drying the vineyards and protecting them from disease.
The main grapes are the red Cariñena (locally called Samsó) and Garnacha, and among whites Garnacha Blanca and Muscat. Cariñena from old vineyards gives rich reds. Rosés are made too, and the sweet fortified Garnatxa d'Empordà and wines from dried grapes are a local speciality.
Soils are granite, slate and clay. The denomination of origin (DO) has existed since the 1970s. The area is familiar to travellers from the resorts of the Costa Brava.
Empordà is part of Catalonia; Priorat and Penedès lie to the south, but Empordà is smaller, closer to France, and its climate is maritime. Empordà whites go very well with the fish and seafood of the Costa Brava, and the reds with Catalan cooking. The name Empordà on a label shows that the grapes grew in this very area, which makes it easy to look for similar wines.
How it connects to Wine
📍 Empordà ← main grape of ← 🍇 Grenache Blanc → kind of → 🍇 Grape varieties → kind of → 🍷 Wine
Links
- Part of
- 📍 Catalonia
- Grapes
- 🍇 Carignan
- Main grapes
- 🍇 Carignan, 🍇 Grenache Blanc
- Wines
- 🍷 Red wine, 🍷 White wine, 🍷 Rosé
- Related to
- 🍷 Still wine, 🍷 Sweet wine
Frequently asked questions
Where is Empordà?
In the province of Girona, north-eastern Catalonia.
Which wind affects the vineyards?
The northern tramuntana wind.
Which grapes are main?
Cariñena, Garnacha and Garnacha Blanca.
What to read next
- 🍇 Carignan — A red grape from France, known in Spain as Cariñena and Mazuelo; in Sardinia, the basis of Carignano del Sulcis.
- 🍷 Red wine — Wine from dark grapes that ferments with the skins and takes its colour from them.
- 🍷 Still wine — Wine without noticeable bubbles: EU category 1, at least 8.5–9 % actual alcohol and no more than 15 % total; red, white, rosé or orange.
- 🍇 Grenache Blanc — White wine grape from Spain; 25 synonyms in VIVC.
- 🍷 White wine — Wine made from grape juice without the skins; it can come from pale and even dark berries.
Similar
📍 Montsant · 📍 Terra Alta · 📍 Priorat · 📍 Costers del Segre · 📍 Penedès · 📜 Tarragona
⚠️ Wine contains alcohol: adults only, drink in moderation. Wine usually contains sulphites; egg white or milk proteins are sometimes used for fining — important for allergies and for vegans.
Sources
- MAPA: Denominaciones de origen
- eAmbrosia – EU geographical indications register
- eAmbrosia – EU geographical indications register