Evidence of vine cultivation in Salou dates back to protohistory times and the Roman period. During the Middle Ages and until the end of the seventeenth century, however, the area was sparsely populated and only limited agricultural use was made of the land. This changed during the final quarter of the seventeenth century, when policies were introduced to reclaim land through the drainage of ponds, the clearing of irrigation channels and, above all, the cultivation of new farmland. Vine cultivation became the dominant agricultural activity, eventually occupying almost 80% of the cultivable land.

The choice of vines was no coincidence. They are a resilient crop, capable of producing profitable yields even in poor soils.

This process represents an essential chapter in Salou’s historic cultural landscape and in the development of an agricultural model that would shape the area’s productive land throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The expansion of viticulture was closely linked to overseas demand for wines and spirits, particularly during the eighteenth century. The proximity of the Port of Salou encouraged a highly specialised agricultural economy, much of it geared towards export and integrated into the commercial networks of Camp de Tarragona. This helped stimulate activity at the Port of Salou, which became one of the major ports in Catalonia.

Common grape vine (Vitis vinifera) was traditionally cultivated in Salou, principally through the varieties “Pàmpol Girat Negre” and “Escanyagós Blanc”, which are now considered extinct. Following extensive research, surviving vines have been identified and are now being used to recover these varieties, which are perfectly adapted to the sandy soils and dune landscapes of the area.

From the 1990s onwards, increasing agricultural specialisation and mechanisation brought significant changes to vine cultivation. The traditional bush-vine system gradually gave way to trellis-trained vineyards, and many tasks that had previously been carried out by hand became mechanised.

At Pla de Maset, vines have been planted using the bush-vine system, reviving historic cultivation methods, and all vineyard work is carried out manually, including pre-pruning, shoot trimming, shoot thinning and harvesting. Compared with trellis-trained systems, bush vines offer a number of advantages, including improved air circulation around the plant, reduced susceptibility to disease and higher-quality grapes, resulting in better must and wine.