The Priorat, just southwest of Barcelona, is one of the smaller wine regions of Spain, but it has such character, energy and intensity that it is famous for Spain’s most valued and highest quality wines. It’s the only region next to Rioja to meet the highest quality standards to earn a DOQ nomination.
The landscape is rugged with untamed beauty and appeal. Uncontrolled rock formations covered by volcanic soil with slate, ash and mica, referred to by locals as llicorella. Combined with the blazing hot sun, cool sea breezes and humidity and early morning fog from the mountains, Priorat enjoys unique conditions to grow vines and grapes with character and unparalleled depth of flavour.
History
The winery, founded by Luis Bravo, is located right in the heart of the Priorat, with views towards Torroja del Priorat. The 36 hectares are all located around the cellar and offer spectacular views towards the village and Mont Sant mountains. The oldest vines are up to 80 years old and have withstood the changing climatic conditions very well. Typically these grapes are used for the Roca D’Abellar and L’Escaleta wines. Since the winery is still expanding every year, new grapes like Syrah, Cabernet are planted next to the indigenous vines to create more options for new wines. Currently the wines are all minimal interventions wines, meaning that nature does its work. The next step would be organic wines.
Working with nature and using pure and innovative techniques they bring out the best of both indigenous grapes (Garnacha and Cariñena) and international varieties (Syrah, Cabernet, Sauvignon and Merlot) resulting in modern wines that are extremely exciting, refined, and elegant but expressive with lively acidity and packed with that characteristic Priorat flavor and depth.
Pep Aguilar
“Work with the soils. Get to know them, experiment with the compounds of the land: clay, rocks, slates, granites, the contrasts… It’s not the barrel that creates the soul, it’s the soil that gives character.”
That’s how their wine maker Pep Aguilar creates his uniquely tasting wines. He balances power and elegance, resulting in wines that are as interesting and surprising in taste as they are easy and subtle.
Pep started more than 20 years ago in Torroja. After years of traveling as a wine consultant, working with wineries all over Spain under the most diverse conditions, he developed unique skills and experiences with all the different elements and soils. Priorat is the most interesting to him: the strong appellation, the terroir, its brutal energy, the contrasts.
Pep is dedicated to make a new and modern Priorat wine. One with traditional quality but with freshness, good acidity, elegance, finesse, and tension. It is an endless experiment. But that’s what keeps him excited. Together with Andreu and his team they keep exploring and growing the vineyards to excite and surprise with interesting, new wines.