The Bodega Gandesa Cooperative has over 400 members and a modernist unique building - one of the ‘Wine Cathedrals’ of Catalonia – the Gandesa Cooperative Winery built in 1920 by Cèsar Martinell a pupil of Gaudi. Terra Alta gained DO status in 1985. It is 1,000 hectares of South Catalonia along the uplands of the River Ebro, with altitude reaching 950 metres.
The part Mediterranean part continental climate with an annual average rainfall of 350 mm, and with a local dry wind from the Ebro river valley which moderates temperature of the vines, helps prevent fungal diseases, and maintains diurnal variation. The soil in the area is clay and coastal limestone. Locally the variety is black grape Garnacha (Grenache), but the vast majority is Garnacha Blanca wine made with 70% of grapes from the Terre Alta zone. Most of the old vines over 50 years old are Garnacha Blanca and Cariñena, and over 35 years old are Macabeo. Somdinou wine is made with grapes from 30 to 40 years old vines. All the production is carried out in the Gandesa Cooperative Winery facility, where the wines are elaborated, finished, bottled and commercialized. Bodega Gandesa Cooperative Avinguda de Catalunya, 28, 43780 Gandesa, Tarragona, Spain |