DO Costers del Segre – On the shores of tomorrow

LOCATION AND HISTORY

Costers del Segre means 'the banks of the river Segre', a tributary of the river Ebro, and refers to a vine planting area in the province of Lleida, in the southern interior of Catalonia. The four subzones that compose it, recognized in 1988, when the Desigination of Origin was formed, are the towns of Artesa, Valls de Ruicorb, Garrigues and Raimat. A decade later two more areas were added: Pallars Jussà, to the North, and Segrià, which extends to the West.

SOILS

The vineyards form an arch on the foothills of the mountains to the east of Lleida, where they merge with the region Conca de Barberà. There are also small population centres to the Northa and South of the city. Despite the geographical dispersion, the soils share the sandy layers on limestone, with low organic content. Altitudes vary from 250 to 700 meters.

CLIMATE

The Segre area has a solid continental climate, favourable to the interior of Catalonia, and influenced by the proximity of the mountains. There are wide temperature changes between night and day, with an average of 14-15°C, which often drops below zero in winter. Precipitations, however, is much lower than in the North (about 450 mm per year).

TYPE OF GRAPE

The range of grape varieties planted here, both native and imported, includes 14 main types and 4 experimental ones. White wine is made from Macabeo, Parellada, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc; red wine from Garnacha Roja, Ull de Llebre (Tempranillo), Trepat, Cabernet Sauvignon, Monastrell, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Syrah. The grapes for Cava also occupy many vineyards in the East of the area. Currently there are wines with great personality, some unusual in Spain, given its style to mix local grapes with French varieties. The old vines are independent, while the new ones are trained with wire.