Get to Know Alicante, Spain’s Hidden Gem
Imagine a wine region with a history dating back 3,000 years. A territory comprised solely of small family wineries that innovate the traditions of the generations that came before. An area that few know was the first Designation of Origin in the world. Alicante, in the southeast of Spain, is all of this, and so much more.
A Place of Historical Significance
Located between Valencia and Murcia, Alicante resides on the Costa Blanca (White Coast) of the Mediterranean Sea. Nearby mountains provide air currents through the vineyards and extended hours of sunshine create ideal growing conditions for grapes. Poor calcareous soils mean vines struggle to find nutrients, and their hard work is rewarded with fruit with great complexity and concentration.
Archeological finds uncovered winemaking equipment and remains of seeds believed to be centuries old, and further documents show the wines of the region had a presence in numerous European courts since the 15th century.
What made these wines so valued were their strict quality regulations. In 1510, an organization was created within the Alicante city government to regulate and protect winemaking traditions and exports. This consortium, overseen by King Fernando I of Aragon, is considered to be the first Designation of Origin, and a model for the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) system we know today. Alicante is renowned for its commitment to quality, and for influencing winemaking all over
This Article was originally published on Wine Enthusiast
