D.O. Alicante

Wine tourism in D.O. Alicante

The D.O. Alicante covers almost a hundred municipalities in the province of Alicante, as well as the viticultural estates and wineries in the province of Murcia and areas bordering Alicante, belonging to the municipalities of Abanilla, Jumilla and Yecla, as well as, exceptionally and for environmental reasons, the vineyards found within the Natural Park of the Lagunas de La Mata and Torrevieja.

The land and the climate

The combination of very special soils, temperate climates and relative humidity levels makes the Alicante landscape highly conducive to the development of the vineyard.

In fact, historical circumstances attest to the good development of many hectares and the great richness of varieties across all the districts, though with notable prominence for the market garden lands of the city of Alicante.

Zones

The soils of the Alicante Protected Designation of Origin are sandy-loam and sandy, and therefore have a granulometry and texture especially suited to growing the vine. They are soils with high porosity and permeability, which facilitate drainage and prevent water retention. In this way the proliferation of phytopathogenic fungi is avoided.

Microclimates

The province of Alicante is under the influence of the Mediterranean climate, characterised by being fairly constant throughout the year, which favours the development of the vine. The summers stand out for their warm temperatures, dry months and many hours of sunshine that give us grapes of excellent quality. These climatic conditions draw tourists from all over Spain and abroad to enjoy the Mediterranean coast.

Young white wines are made -dry and sweet-, young rosés and red wines -young, crianza, reserva, gran reserva and generic-. A chapter of its own is deserved by its Fondillón, a type of Alicante wine unique in the world, recognised by the European Union and with special protection within the Alicante Designation of Origin. In addition, rosé and red liqueur wines, Moscatel liqueur wines, double-paste red wines, Alicante rancio wines, Alicante noble wines, aged wines, sparkling wines and aromatic sparkling wines are produced.

Authorised varieties

White varieties: Chardonnay, Macabeo, Merseguera, Moscatel de Alejandría, Airén, Verdil, Sauvignon Blanc, Planta Fina de Pedralba and Subirat Parent.

Red varieties: Garnacha Tinta, Garnacha Tintorera, Monastrell, Tempranillo, Bobal, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah and Petit Verdot.