DO Pla de Bages – all eyes on France

LOCATION AND HISTORY

The Designation of Origin Pla de Bages carries the name of the region where it is found and includes vineyards from 18 different towns. The cultivations are mainly found in the valleys of the river Llobregat and its tributaries. The most important bases are in the cities of Manresa, 70km northwest of Barcelona, and Artes, east of the capital.

SOILS

There are two different types of soil in this region. On the one hand, there are alluvial soils of clay and sand in the central plain called Pla de Bages, which is around 200m. The soils with the highest content of carbonates and loam and limestone outcrops are located in the north, in Alt Bages, a peripheral plateau of about 500m.

CLIMATE

The climate of the area is Mediterranean but with strong continental influences because of its internal position. As a result, there is less humidity, the summers are hot and the winters are colder than in areas near the coast. There are also wide variations in temperature between night and day. The average rainfall is between 500-600mm.

TYPE OF GRAPE

The Bages grapes are a local mix of red and white, like the Garnacha mixed with the Ull de Llebre, or Tempranillo and Picapoll. However, new types have been introduced in recent times such as the Macabeo, Parellada, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. They are also carrying out the first tests with Syrah and a large part of the region is already dedicated to the production of Cava. The modern plantations are trained with wire and the planting density varies between 2,000 and 4,500 vines per hectare.