Perelada, Finca La Garriga, DO Empordà, 2020

Producer Profile

Perelada are one of the most prestigious and highly regarded wine and Cava producers in Catalunya – a family-owned estate built upon a winemaking tradition that stretches back to the Middle Ages.

The foundation of the estate is DO Empordà, which through their hard work and skill Perelada helped to create in the 1960s. The vineyards are rooted on diverse soils from slate to sand, fluvial sediment to gravel, that all run down between the mighty Pyrenees and the sparkling blue of the Mediterranean. This setting has spurred on a quest for quality that has gone beyond winemaking to embrace all things cultural, celebrating the region’s art and history in all aspects of life – easy to believe in a region that was home to the godfather of surrealism, Salvador Dali. In due course the family purchased an additional bodega, DO Cava, in Penedes’ capital, Vilafranca del Penedès, allowing them to increase production and become a serious player among Spain’s most prominent Cava producers. This range sits at a price v. quality ratio that is hard to argue with, offering incredible value for money. Every summer Castillo Perelada also hosts one of the most prestigious music festivals in Europe, and ‘Stars Cava’ is a tribute to the artists who have performed there under the stars of the Empordà sky. Perelada are committed to sustainable agriculture, both in their family-owned vineyards in Empordà and in their vineyards in Vilafranca, Penedès.

Viticulture

The Finca La Garriga estate is home to Perelada’s oldest vines: Samsó vines more than 50 years old. 41 hectares of flat silt and clay land, with sand and gravel and neutral pH. This is a wine capable of expressing the full potential of the territory.

Winemaking

A traditional red wine fermentation at a controlled temperature of 25 degrees celcius. Aged in fine American oak barrels, then rested in bottle for over 2 years before release.

Tasting Note

An intense cherry colour with violet nuances. The aroma is reminiscent of red and black berries, with a hint of vanilla and spice. The palate is very fresh, with tannins plentiful but very round. It is a wine that clearly expresses its varietal personality and that of the place where it comes from.

Food Matching

Big hearty meat dishes, particularly lamb. Mature Cheeses.