Celler Porta de l'Albera, Empordà, Spain

CELLAR PORTA DE L'ALBERA

In 2002 Carlos Alcàcer and Conxita Vilarmau decided to start a new project. Passionate about developing a new high quality winery in the DO Empordà, Celler Porta de l'Albera was born. A project to translate their passion, wines with their personality and only the highest quality. At the start, 4 hectares were replanted with the best clones of Merlot, Syrah and Grenache Noir. An architectural wine cellar was developed that is beautifully integrated into the town of Vilmaniscle. Consisting of a cellar for the winery, bottling plant, maturation and vinification area but also a laboratory and office space. For the fermentation plants, the most modern techniques are used, temperature controlled, stainless steel fermentation tanks and the use of pneumatic press. They work with several lines: Nereus (red wines with wood maturation) and Suneus (young white and red wines).

THE HISTORY: EMPORDA

Designation of Origin (DO) Empordà is a landscape of contrasts, located in the far northeast of Catalonia. With the Pyrenees to the north, the Mediterranean Sea, they form natural borders with breathtaking views. Empordà is a landscape of great natural beauty, with several protected natural areas and an impressive coastline of beaches and coves. It also has a great cultural and historical heritage: menhirs, megaliths, Gothic architecture, Romanesque art, charming little villages, the surrealist art of Salvador Dali and the fine gastronomy with traditional Empordà dishes and nouvelle cuisine.

Wine culture reached the Iberian Peninsula by sea when the Greeks introduced viticulture via the Empordà in 600 AD. Since then and up to the present day, grape cultivation has experienced various ups and downs, although the presence of grape cultivation has not disappeared!

THE FOUR ELEMENTS

Three estates spread over 5 (ha), located less than 200 m from each other, within the Albera massif. All vineyards are located near the Mediterranean Sea with soils rich in slate and grapes that have fully adapted to the four elements.

Terra

The soils of the vineyards consist mainly of slate. This forces the vines to develop deep roots to survive in the fight for water. Water is scarce and the porosity of the soil creates water stress for the vines. This gives the wine a positive characteristic in elegance and mineral notes.

Sun

Sunny Mediterranean climate, little rainfall and many sunny days have a very positive effect on the ripening process in the vineyards!

Air

The strong dry wind called 'Tramuntana' cools the vineyards in the afternoon, fruit aromas are preserved in the grapes with a balanced ripening as a result. The 'Tramuntana' also inhibits the development of micro-organisms in the vineyards, this allows them to grow healthy grapes in a natural and biological way.

Water

Close to the Mediterranean Sea, the large pool of water has a thermoregulatory effect. Extreme temperatures are avoided and the lack of rainfall ensures optimal development of grapes due to water stress.