Found in the Mediterranean northeast of Spain, Catalonia an interesting mix of nature, history, culture, gastronomy, and lots more. House to twelve official red wine regions or “Denominaciones de Origen” (D.O.s), it is also a wine-producing region to be considered.
The Catalan red wine regions of Priorat and Montsant are popular for their powerful, sophisticated reds.getty From dynamic Cavas, to high-end gleaming Corpinnats, and effective
, yet advanced reds from the likes of Priorat and Montsant, here are 11 excellent gift ideas from Catalonia for your preferred white wine fan. Llopart Panoramic.Image courtesy Llopart One of the creators of Corpinnat– a brand-new classification that has
separated a group of the most prominent makers of organic Catalan gleaming
wine from the more comprehensive Cava label– Llopart makes some of the finest bubbly there is. Its Llopart Panoramic recently won a gold medal and was recognized as the Best in Class Corpinnat at the Champagne and Champagne World Championships in London. Structured and full in the mouth, Llopart Panoramic is velvety with great bubbles and the perfect balance of sweetness and level of acidity. Grans Muralles by Torres.Image courtesy Familia Torres Made in among Catalonia’s lesser known wine areas, Conca de Barberà, Torres’acclaimed Grans Muralles is made from a mix of autochthonous grapes, consisting of 2 ancestral ranges– Garró and Querol.
Of the more than 50 ancestral grape varieties that Torres
has actually recovered throughout the years, it is currently concentrated on the six with the best capacity to make excellent red wine that are also well adapted to climate modification. A superb red wine with a Mediterranean natural character, Grans Muralles has actually won numerous awards, from high Parker indicate gold medals from Decanter. Vinya del Noguer Xarel · lo.Image courtesy Raventós i Blanc This natural Xarel · lo by one of Catalonia’s leading natural white wine pioneers, Pepe Raventós, is the result of a deeply personal project that started in the wine maker’s garage. The fruit comes from a little 1.48-hectare plot planted in 1970 that is naturally and biodynamically farmed.
The outcome is a wine with
fresh, intense fruity tastes, with
no additives and no included sulfites, fermented in a French oak barrel and aged for 6 months on the lees.Ferrer Bobet Priorat Selecció Especial 2018. Image courtesy Ferrer Bobet For fans of red wine, Priorat is the location to be– in Catalonia, and maybe even in Spain (although individuals from Rioja may disagree!). The “Selecció Especial”2018 vintage of Ferrer Bobet’s outstanding Vinyes Velles, made from pure Cariñena grapes, has been rated 96 by White wine Advocate, who explained it as a “long-distance runner”with”notes of wild berries and flowers, graphite and smoke and spices after aging in 225-liter Frenchbarriques for 18 months “. Finca Dofí.Image courtesy Alvaro Palacios A Spanish
sommelier when told me that,”Alvaro Palacios is a genius, “and, having actually attempted his white wine, I can just concur. The 2015 Decanter Man of the Year is credited with putting the Spanish regions of Priorat and Bierzo on the map worldwide, so what better introduction to his radiance than the very first wine he introduced in Priorat, Clos Dofí(later relabelled Finca Dofí). Classy and alluring, with smooth tannins, and hints of blood orange and grapefruit on the nose, it is whatever a Priorat
white wine ought to be
— and more.Venus”la Universal “. Image courtesy
Mas Martinet Catalans will tell you that, when you take a look at Priorat and surrounding Montsant on a map, they are like a fried egg. Priorat is the rich yellow yolk that is surrounded by the less special Montsant egg white. While the 2 regions produce comparable grapes, Montsant red wines tend to be lighter and much easier to consume, compared to their more powerful cousins. Mas Martinet winery provides the very best of both worlds, making red wines like Clos Martinet in Priorat and Venus in Montsant. The previous is full-bodied and fruity, while the latter is stylish and rounded, with notes of minerals and Mediterranean herbs.Alta AlellaMirgin Opus. © Ivan Raga Photographer The family-run and naturally farmed Alta Alella winery belongs to the tiny Alella red wine region, located simply over a mile from the Mediterranean coastline and less than 10 miles from central Barcelona. The distinct setting offers the red wines from here a distinctive saline and mineral character, and this Mirgin Opus Cava is no exception. Aged for a minimum of 36 months, this is a classy, sophisticated sparkling wine with a pale yellow color and light bubbles, combined with aromas of apple and ripe stone fruit. Cartoixa Scala Dei.Image courtesy Scala Dei Set on the site of the 12th-century Scala Dei Carthusian Abbey, today’s Cellers de Scala Dei winery was re-founded in 1974, although its bottles are still aged in a 17th-century cellar constructedby the monks. Scala Dei translates as
God’s ladder and you may well seem like you are ascending to paradise when you taste this robust, supple, well-rounded Priorat, with extreme fragrances of ripe black fruits, plum and violet, along with spices like vanilla and pepper.Vespres Josep Grau.Image courtesy Josep Grau Viticultor Ranked 92 points by James Suckling, Josep Grau’s Vespres is another superb red with a huge personality from the Montsant area. Organic and biodynamic, Vespres is extremely delicious and Mediterranean in its character, with scents of red fruit and touches of berries and
balsamic vinegar.
Include a smooth texture and fresh acidity
, the outcome is a stylish and seductive red wine. Josep Grau is presently expanding its existence in the U.S. but, in the meantime, Vespres is offered now.Cérvoles Negre by Tomàs Cusiné.Image courtesy Grup Tomàs Cusiné In 1997, Tomàs Cusiné developed Cérvoles Celler in the remote Costers del Segre wine area, looking for to reclaim Catalonia’s ancestral mountain viticulture practice. Today, the fruits of his labors can be tasted in Cérvoles Negre, a powerful, classy red wine made from grapes grown
at an elevation of between 2,300 and 2,600 feet.The elevation of the vineyards and the temperature
contrasts effect the grape skin thickness, encouraging the concentration of anthocyanins and tannins, while improving level of acidity and freshness.Juvé & Camps Reserva de la Família.Image courtesy Juvé & Camps For many Catalans, the name Juvé & Camps is associated with top quality gleaming Cava, and this Reserva de la Família is no exception. The world’s bestselling Gran Reserva Cava Brut Nature and Juvé & Camps’flagship, it is the embodiment of the family’s commitment to quality. Made from licensed organic Xarel · lo, Macabeu, and
Parellada grapes, hand-picked and arranged from the estate vineyards, this is an appealing and intense Cava, with small, abundant bubbles,
and notes of ripe white fruits followed by tips of fennel, toast and citrus.