Costers del Segre

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Accessory grape varieties

Terroir

• The characteristic soils of the zone are calcareous, low in organic matter, and are covered with sand and/or are clayey.
• The climate is continental, with a wide thermal range both seasonally and diurnally, conditioned by the distance from the Mediterranean Sea and the Pyrenees.
• Rainfall is low, leading the vines to a degree of water stress.
• During ripening, minimum night-time temperatures of 15 °C are common, and towards the end of the process the minimums drop to between 2 and 10 °C across the entire Costers del Segre appellation.
• Altitudes across the Costers del Segre appellation range from 250 to 700 metres, alternating between mountain zones and plains depending on the sub-denomination. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)

• The production of sparkling wine by the traditional method was already present in some wineries in the zone from the early twentieth century.
• There is a tradition of producing liqueur wines from late-harvested and/or partially raisined grapes, made possible by the high daytime temperatures and the scarcity of autumn rainfall, which allow the harvest to be delayed.

• The lightly sparkling wine (vino de aguja) displays high acidity and aromatic intensity, linked to the wide diurnal temperature swing during grape ripening, which can occasionally exceed 25 °C.

• Dry winds and low humidity inhibit the proliferation of fungal diseases and allow gradual ripening through to the optimum harvest point.
• The high daytime temperatures combined with the scarcity of autumn rainfall allow the harvest to be delayed and yields grapes very rich in sugars, giving rise to late-harvest liqueur wines.

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

Subzonas

• Artesa de Segre DO (PDO)
• Les Garrigues DO (PDO)
• Pallars DO (PDO)
• Segrià DO (PDO)
• Urgell DO (PDO)

All appellations in Spain

Sources

• Specification (EUR-Lex, single document)
• National pliego de condiciones (PDF) — +1 varieties added
• eAmbrosia register (EU) — File number PDO-ES-A1523
• Official trade body site — DO Costers del Segre