D.O. Conca de Barberá
D.O. Conca de Barberá lies in the province of Tarragona, in Cataluña, in an inland district surrounded by mountain ranges. It is known above all for Trepat, its native red variety, used to make rosé, red and sparkling wines.
Among the recommended varieties are Trepat, Ull de Llebre (Tempranillo) and Garnacha Tinta for reds, and Macabeo and Parellada for whites. Varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, among others, are also permitted.
The white wines are usually light and fruity; the rosés, fresh and aromatic; and the young reds, smooth and flavoursome. Oak-aged reds develop more body, aromatic complexity and length.
Viticulture in the area also has a long tradition. The Cistercian monks of the Poblet monastery and the Templars played an important role in the development of vine growing from the Middle Ages onwards. Later, the district was a pioneer of the wine cooperative movement, which gave rise to some of its well-known modernist wineries.