Catalan Wines

Grenache Day 2015: Wines in review

by  |  21-09-2015

In case you weren't aware, Grenache Day was on the 18th as it's the third Friday of every September. It's a way to promote the profile of the Grenache grape by the Grenache Association as... more »

The vertical of the Vall Llachs

by  |  15-09-2015

On Saturday, August 29th, Albert Costa, the co-owner and winemaker of Vall Llach in Porrera along with famous folk singer and co-owner Lluís Llach, Priorat held a press tasting that featured a vertical of every... more »

Recaredo’s Turó d’en Mota

by  |  07-09-2015

It seems that despite visiting Recaredo several times, I keep forgetting to write about their top-end wine and property called, Turó d'en Mota. For anyone who visits Recaredo (and out of all the Cava makers... more »
Albert Costa observing a vine in the are of Meknès, Morocco

Young Priorat winemaker heads to Morocco

by  |  02-09-2015

“Farid, what’s this stick across my seat for?” “Oh that… it’s for the snakes. Unfortunately here in Morocco, they’re all poisonous but since we’re already at 42C this morning, I don’t think there’ll be any... more »

Spotlight on Xarel·lo

by  |  31-08-2015

While Xarel·lo (pronounced sha-rel-lu in Catalan) is a white grape widely planted in Catalonia, it is often easily dismissed as merely one part of the principal three grapes in the typical Cava blend. There are... more »

The new take on Castell of Cooperativa Falset Marçà

by  |  26-08-2015

Sometime back I received this set of samples from the Cooperative of Falset Marçà in Priorat who fall under the auspices of DO Montsant. For those unfamiliar with the cooperatives of the county of Priorat,... more »

In The Glass: Aixalà Alcait – Coster de l’Alzina 2011

by  |  11-08-2015

There seems to be a codified response to winemakers choosing a name for their wine. They go simple and call it "negre" "rouge" or "red". They go brash and name it "cardinal zin" or "bitch".... more »

Penedès, so fresh and so cold

by  |  04-08-2015

I'm not going out on a limb to say that we've had more than our share of hot weather this summer. I suppose it's making up for the relatively mild summer last year. Given this,... more »

A taste of Lledoner Roig

by  |  28-07-2015

As is the case with many old European wine grapes, Grenache Gris has a number of synonyms but one of the names you very rarely hear is "Lledoner Roig". By no means is this due... more »

An introduction to Montsant via Acústic

by  |  16-07-2015

Much as I previously wrote in An introduction to Empordà wines, it's important to know those wines of a region which allow you a good gateway in to the region at large. Sure, finding less... more »