La Costa Brava, the rocky, rugged coastline that runs along Spain’s north-eastern shore, is far better known for its lovely seaside resorts and wave-lapped beaches than for its wines. Yet, just inland stretch the rolling vineyards of the DO Empordà-Costa Brava. One of Spain’s smaller Denominations of Origin, it has just under 3,000 hectares under vine. It has earned a reputation in recent years for planting a wide range of local and international varieties. It is a unique and beautiful region in Spain to enjoy a food and wine gourmet tour.
Wine has been made here since the 5th century BC, when Phoenicians first colonized the coast. The DO has never been one of Spain’s best-known, but the exciting wines being made here aim to change that in recent years. Traditionally, the focus was on small, family-owned cellars specialized in sweet wines or easy-to-drink rosé wines made with local grapes like Cariñena. These days, it’s the young red wines garnering fame for their expressiveness and surprising quality.
Terroir
The variety of soils here — limestone, sandy, volcanic and clayey — means that many grape varieties can thrive; a full dozen different varieties are officially permitted in the D.O. Macabeo, Garnacha Blanca, Garnacha, and Cariñena still make up the bulk of the plantings, but increasingly it’s also common to find Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, or Syrah; some growers are experimenting with even more varieties. Soils are mostly well-drained and are more fertile than in many Spanish regions. In many ways, the D.O. has more in common with the two adjacent French appellations of Banyuls and Côtes de Roussillon than other Spanish regions.
The combination of seascape and rural countryside makes Empordà-Costa Brava one of the country’s loveliest wine regions. The vines are planted at low altitudes (200 meters maximum) and are constantly caressed by the gentle breezes of the Mediterranean. Occasionally, they’re submitted to the harsher whims of the Tramuntana, a cold northern wind that sweeps down from the Pyrenees and prevents the region from getting too hot. As a result, nearly all the vines are staked for protection.
Empordà-Costa Brava’s main town is Figueres, a commercial hub known as the home of the Salvador Dalí Museum, an old theatre that was converted into a temple of surrealism by the artist himself. Perelada, home to Castillo Perelada, the area’s best-known winery, is another wine hotspot. Its centerpiece is a romantic 16th-century castle complex where there is also a restaurant, spa, hotel, and casino. There is no end to the delightful villages and resorts near the coast, like Cadaquès, Peretallada, Pals, and Tamarit.
Recommended Producers
Notable wineries include Vinícola del Nordest, Castillo de Capmany, Masia Serra, Oliveda, Oliver Conti, Pere Guardiola, and Vinyes dels Aspres. There is ample opportunity to sample their wines in the wonderful restaurants in the area.
