D.O. Pla De Bages

Wine tourism in D.O. Pla de Bages

The Pla de Bages is a privileged area, located among mythical mountain formations such as Montserrat, close to Barcelona. The vat houses (tinas) and vineyard huts (barracas) are one of the peculiarities of the Bages, dry-stone constructions linked to wine-making in the fields during the era of maximum splendour.

A unique area for unique wines

The region of Bages, in the heart of Catalonia, near the mountains of Montserrat, is an area of great wine-making tradition. As early as the 10th century, the monks of the monastery of Sant Benet de Bages produced wine. After the phylloxera plague that affected most Catalan vineyards at the end of the 19th century, this industry gained fresh momentum with the creation of the Celler Cooperatiu d'Artés, at the beginning of the 20th century.

The Pla de Bages Designation of Origin was born in 1995 and brings together twelve wineries of the region. These wineries are located mainly in the towns of Manresa, Artés, Sant Fruitós de Bages, Fonollosa, Salelles and Maians.

The land and the climate

The region of Bages, in the heart of Catalonia, near the mountains of Montserrat, is an area of great wine-making tradition.

Zones

Within a mid-mountain continental Mediterranean climate, the Bages has the ideal conditions for growing the vine: an exceptional microclimate, low rainfall and a strong thermal variation, as well as a clayey and calcareous soil. Its wines are imbued with balsamic notes of lavender, thyme and rosemary. These aromatic plants populate the pine, oak and holm oak forests that surround the vineyards. These peculiarities make the Bages an optimal area for producing wines of great identity.

Microclimates

The Bages has a mid-mountain Mediterranean microclimate, quite harsh in winter, with scarce rainfall. The undulating and not very rich soils result in low-yielding vines, but with a grape of great quality.

In this designation of origin a native grape variety is grown, the picapoll. It is a grape with a small berry, very tender skin and characteristic spots or pecks. Its ripening is late, and the wine made from it is fruity, of a bright and light yellow colour.

A late variety, with an oval berry and thick skin, which protects it during its long ripening. It gives wines of medium acidity that makes them very pleasant and enhances their sense of volume. Aromatically it reveals citrus notes, such as grapefruit, the aromatic herb lavender and, in the cooler years, floral notes (white flowers such as jasmine).

Varieties of Bages wines

In addition to picapoll, the wines mainly use the varieties tempranillo, cabernet sauvignon, macabeu and chardonnay. The red and rosé wines are fruity and aromatic, and the whites, light and exquisite.

Experiences to enjoy in D.O. Pla de Bages

Discover this wine-growing region located in the region of Bages.