THE WINERY

Altavins: Identity, honesty and Mediterraneanness

Altavins Viticultors is a small winery that is part of the D.O. Terra Alta, a wine-growing region located in the South West of Catalonia and which enjoys a two-millenary tradition of producing wines. The Iberians were already making their own wine before the arrival of the Romans; as has been demonstrated in different sites in the area where threshing floors, seeds and other remains have appeared.

The winery was founded in 2001, with Joan Arrufí at the helm of this project. Year after year, we have grown to create a name for ourselves in the world wine market. Going from 4,000 bottles in the first vintage, to currently producing around 350,000 bottles in more than 30 countries. Although Altavins Viticultors is a relatively young project, the family heritage and winemaking tradition have been soaked in the wisdom of each generation. Leaving us with values ​​and philosophy that mark our path.

Identity

Our work philosophy is characterized by identity, honesty and Mediterraneanness. We take care to observe at all times the virtues of the grape and enhance them with minimal intervention and respect for the environment. What we seek is to achieve excellence in our wines and we work to extract the typicality of this area, focusing on the traditional varieties of Terra Alta; such as White Grenache, Red Grenache or Carignan. Also, it is necessary to mention the effort to recover varieties such as Peluda Grenache.

Grapes

The land, the vineyard and the climate

The D.O. Terra Alta boasts a spectacular and typical interior Mediterranean landscape. The cultivated soil has varied textures, good drainage, is rich in limestone rocks, and low in organic matter.

It is a land of vineyards, between 350 and 550 m above sea level, in which La Plana, l’Altiplà and les Valls stand out. Characterized by a dry Mediterranean climate, with little rainfall – between 350 and 450 mm/year –, it has abundant sunshine and two dominant winds, the Cerç, which comes from the interior, and the Garbí or sea wind.

Sustainable viticulture

With Mediterranean essence

Our winemaking vocation gives rise to a peculiar viticulture, respectful of the environment and which allows the production of a grape with its own identity. The D.O. Terra Alta is a privileged area for obtaining healthy, ripe grapes with character.

The dry water regime makes possible the very low incidence of fungal diseases and allows the development of a more sustainable viticulture, and the Cerç – which continues to blow during the month of September – allows the natural ripening of grapes on the vine. However, the large temperature changes from day to night during grape ripening help us extract the maximum aromas and flavors from our varieties.