Live From Barcelona and Catalan, Spain Wine Regions – Penedes and Priorat

Interviews: Familia Torres, Penedes, and Priorat Winemakers

Barcelona, Spain

The European journey ends this week in Barcelona along with two of its Catalan wine regions, Penedes and Priorat. Penedes is famous for making Cava’s along with other still wines, and is the corporate headquarters of Familia Torres, “The World’s Most Admired Wine Brand” according to Drinks International magazine and the more than 2,000 professional who selected them.  I had the privilege of interviewing for the second time since 2015 Familia Torres’ 5th generation General Manager, Miguel Torres Maczassek, at his Penedes headquarters.

Tricia Conover and Miguel Torres Maczassek, GM Familia Torres

 “Having been chosen ‘World's Most Admired Wine Brand’ for the 6th time in 12 years fills us of course with great pride and satisfaction. Especially after 2 years of Covid and ‘Post Covid,’ this is great news and an enormous recognition for all the extraordinary work, dedication and focus on excellence by our team, distributors and family members.” – Quote from Miguel Torres Maczassek, General Manager and member of Familia Torres's fifth generation, Drinks International magazine, April 2022.

The Catalan Itinerary

·      Basilica, Segrada Familia tour and update

·      Familia Torres headquarters portfolio wine tasting and tour

·      Interview, Miguel Torres Maczassek, GM, Familia Torres

·      Mastinell Wine Tourism and Winery

·      Cellars Scala Dei, Priorat, Spain, tour and tasting, “The Ladder to God” pioneer winery.

·      Perinet Winery tour and tasting

·      Clos Figueras Winery, lunch and tasting, Priorat Spain

Sagrada Familia Basilica, Barcelona, Spain

History of the Basilica, Segrada Familia

According to its Foundation, “The Sagrada Familia is a one-of-a-kind temple, for its origins, foundation, and purpose. Fruit of the work of genius architect Antoni Gaudí, the project was promoted by the people for the people. Five generations now have watched the Temple progress in Barcelona. Today, more than 140 years has passed after the laying of the cornerstone, and construction continues on the Basilica.”

Penedes Wine region, Spain

The Penedes Wine Region

The Penedes wine region lies just southwest of Barcelona and is the home to 150+ wineries with picturesque vineyards and towns like Vilafranca del Penedes. They make “still” wines in Penedes but are probably more famous for the sparkling Cava wines. Penedes is home to the headquarters of famous wine companies like Familia Torres and Freixenet (Henkell & Co).  Wine-grapes authorized for use in Cava include: Macabeo (known in other wine-growing areas as Viura), Xarel-lo, Parellada, Chardonnay, Subirat Parent (Malvasía from La Rioja), red Garnacha, Trepat, Monastrell and Pinot Noir. Other grapes grown in the region include those for still wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo, Merlot, Monastrell, Syrah, Garnacha, and Pinot Noir. Tourism activities in addition to wine tasting include hiking, biking, museums, and the castellers (human castle/pyramid) exhibitions.

Priorat countryside, Spain

The Priorat Wine Region

In the 8th Century Priorat formed part of the area of the Iberian Peninsula under Moorish rule and was called Andalucía. In the 12th century a Christian Crusade led a conquest of the region and gave the Carthusian Order of monks dominion over the land. These monks lived as recluses, but in a community. The Order Spanish Prime Minister with anti-clerical impulses confiscated the property and distributed it to local citizens. With the phylloxera scourge of the European wine vines in the late 19th century, the wine industry in the Priorat almost disappeared entirely. New replanting did not begin in earnest until the 1950’s. In 1979 a French winemaker named René Barbier saw the potential of the older native Garnacha (Grenache) vines and bought land, convincing others to do the same and join the reclamation project. Wines are made with Garnacha, Cariñena (Carignan), Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, and Garnacha Blanca grapes. The area features slate and dark black “llicorella” soils, steep vineyard aspects up to a precipitous 95% slant, and the vines must struggle for their water through this rock, intensifying the berries. Now, the Priorat wine region (over 90+ wineries) is considered one of the finest in Spain with a DOQ rating only shared with Rioja. It’s a dazzling place to visit and drink top-notch wines.

Wine Recommendations – Pre-Tour- from Penedes and Priorat

2016 Torres Mas La Plana, Cabernet Sauvignon, Penedes, Spain, $95,

Decanter, 94 Points

Codorniu Anna Cava Blanc de Blancs, NV, Penedes, Spain, $14

James Suckling, 91 Points

2017 Scala Dei Priorat Prior, Priorat, Spain, $36

James Suckling, 92 Points

2017 Familia Torres Salmos, Priorat, Spain, $40

Robert Parker, 90 Points

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Live from Priorat, Spain: Scala Dei “Ladder to God” and the Finest Wineries

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