Alella

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• The subsoil is granitic with marine deposits that, at the surface, break down into fine grains, providing good permeability to the terroir.
• The permeability of the terroir forces the vine to drive its roots deeper in search of water and nutrients, creating a mild stress that, when well managed, helps regulate yield per vine.
• There is a maritime-facing slope and an inland-facing slope, and wines produced on the inland slope show more pronounced acidity than those from the maritime slope.
• The climate is Mediterranean along the coastal strip and more continental towards the interior, with a mean temperature of 15 °C and annual rainfall of 600 mm. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)
• The coastal mountain range arrests the wind coming in from the sea and condenses the moisture. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)

• The liqueur wines of this appellation are produced through oxidative ageing, exposed to sun and night air (sereno), a practice that accentuates mineral and marine notes during their maturation.
• The quality sparkling wines are produced from grape varieties native to the area alongside the more classic varieties, and their minerality is compared to that of sparkling wines from the PDO Cava made from the same grapes.

• The quality white sparkling wines show a bitter, citrus-edged finish reminiscent of green almonds, with minerality as a trait common to both production methods.

Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the specification (pliego de condiciones).

All appellations in Spain

Sources

• Specification (EUR-Lex, single document)
• eAmbrosia register (EU) — File number PDO-ES-A1423
• Official trade body site — INCAVI — D.O. Alella