Catalan Wines

Carinyena Blanca: Tasting a grape that’s finding its place in Empordà13-08-2019

Catalunya’s Denomination of Origin Empordà has just announced an institutional plan to “realize the potential” of the grape, Carinyena Blanca (White Carignan.) Going forward this will involve making it a permitted grape as per their... more>

When the village goes dry07-08-2019

On July 25th the village of Gratallops ran out of water. A village of 226 people, 23 wineries, three hotels, multiple holiday rentals, and seven restaurants/cafés had neither water to drink, nor to shower with,... more>

Sicus, when wine is made in the vineyard12-07-2019

Driving forty five minutes covers a lot of ground in the wine world. It affords a 41km view of the entire Côte d’Or in Burgundy. Similarly, it will see you go from the top to... more>

Terra Alta and the finesse of Garnatxa Blanca08-07-2019

For the current issue of World of Fine Wine I was given free rein to write about all that is wonderful when it comes to the Garnatxa Blanca (White Grenache) grape in DO Terra Alta.... more>

Tast del Decenni 2019: The DOQ Priorat 2009 vintage02-07-2019

In 2009, the heaviest shoe of the Global Financial Crisis had finally fallen. All the maneuvering, consolidating, and bailing of companies and governments truly came to a head for and was deeply affecting European countries,... more>

A new take on Parellada: Celler Credo – Volaina 201820-06-2019

For anyone learning the finer details of wine, you typically memorize that there are three core grapes to Cava: Xarel·lo, Macabeu, and Parellada. The first two abound in individual merits, especially my Carignan-cheat-grape, Xarel·lo. But... more>

Velles Vinyes: DOQ Priorat releases the most stringent “old vines” definition in Spain & maybe the world30-05-2019

When I first started getting into wine, if it said “Old Vines” on the label I would usually buy it. Being Californian, Zinfandel had a regular spot in my shopping cart but this grew to... more>

A judgment in Grenache, Perpignan edition22-05-2019

Taking the TGV from Perpignan in the direction of Spain gives you that brief glimpse of what being a protagonist in a billion-dollar superhero franchise must feel like. There’s this rush as you gain more... more>

The release of the “Paratge”. DOQ Priorat’s newest step up the Burgundian pyramid.13-05-2019

Go and stand outside for a second. All that scenery you can see in front of you with your naked eye would be what is called in Catalan a, paratge and this week, the DOQ... more>

DO Pla de Bages gets another bump27-04-2019

DO Pla de Bages in Central Catalunya has just announced the official addition of Celler Sant Miquel d’Oló. Normally, a new cellar added to a DO wouldn’t merit note but given that it takes the... more>