At A Glance
- Field
- Detail
- Region
- Terra Alta, southwestern Catalonia
- Village
- Batea
- Vineyard area
- 14 hectares
- Wine
- Almodí Negre
- Defining practice
- Manual harvest with boxes
- Philosophy
- Honesty and a Mediterranean approach
The Producer
Altavins harvests by hand into boxes and carefully controls the vineyard. This handling can limit crushing before fermentation, while vineyard control supports fruit quality. Altavins produced its first wines in 2000 and inaugurated its own winery in 2003. Its philosophy combines honesty with a Mediterranean approach.
Place
Batea is the village where Altavins is based, within Terra Alta in southwestern Catalonia. The vineyards sit between 350 and 550 metres above sea level. La Plana, l'Altiplà and les Valls are notable areas within that range.
The soil has a high mineral content. Considerable changes between night and day during ripening maximise the aromas and flavours of the varieties.
Wines
The red Terra Alta wines include Almodí Especial Garnatxa Peluda, Tempus Altavins Viticultors and Almodi Altavins Viticultors. Almodí Especial Garnatxa Peluda is the 2024 wine. Tempus Altavins Viticultors is the 2020 wine. Almodi Altavins Viticultors is the 2022 wine.
Oak aging gives wine gradual contact with wood and oxygen and can soften texture. Almodí Negre undergoes oak aging. Its palate is powerful, with red fruit and licorice, a smooth texture, strong tannins, good balance, good persistence and a long finish.