portfolio ➜ origin ➜ Spain
Catalunya
Categories: Rancio Sec/Vi Ranci, Garnatxa d’Empordà, Vermouth
Catalunya is an autonomous region in Spain with distinct linguistic, cultural and culinary traditions that make up its proud Catalan identity: industrious and forward-thinking, yet deeply, almost stubbornly traditional. It extends north along the Mediterranean Sea in the mountainous northeast of the country, from Valencia to the foothills of the Pyrénees and its border with France. ('Greater Catalunya’ extends across that border into the French region of Roussillon, which also identifies as Catalan.) Its capital is Barcelona.
Catalunya's fresh and preserved seafood, meats and cheeses have inspired some of the world’s most celebrated chefs. The Catalan wine community embraces both innovation and tradition: Cava and Vermut de Reus emerged during the first Spanish winemaking revolution in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, while Priorat was at the vanguard of a second revolution in the late 20th century. Today, Catalunya is again at the forefront — this time propelling Spain’s ‘natural winemaking’ community — while embracing its heritage: in celebration of Vermut and ‘Vermut hour’; in its taste for rancio flavors, whether in its preserved seafood, meats and cheeses, or in its wine. Catalunya maintains one of the oldest continuous winemaking traditions in the world with its dry and sweet oxidative wines (Vi Ranci; Solera Garnatxa d’Emporda).
Vermouth
Timbal Vermut de Reus Extra Dry
Spain ➜ Catalunya ➜ Vermut de Reus 17.0% ABV
17.0% ABV
This vermouth has a distinctly Catalan character, and embodies many of the savory flavors found in the famed olives of the region. Truly dry—with no added sugar—it is made with herbs sourced from the Pyrenees mountains and citrus of the Mediterranean. Its wine base of Airén (La Mancha) and Macabeo (Penedes) adds a nice minerality. Enjoy neat, with a splash of tonic, or in a 1:1 Martini. The town of Reus (near Tarragona in Catalonia) is the historic epicenter for vermouth production in Spain, where for over a century the producer Miró has set the benchmark for its wormwood-forward style. Full details
Timbal Vermut de Reus Sweet Red
Spain ➜ Catalunya ➜ Vermut de Reus 15.0% ABV
15.0% ABV
This well rounded and wormwood-forward sweet red vermouth has earned great admiration. Its easy style is ideal for the Catalan tradition of the ‘vermouth hour’, enjoying a glass on the rocks with olives. Timbal Sweet Red also marries beautifully with rye or bourbon, revealing notes of baking spices. The town of Reus (near to Tarragona in Catalonia) is the historic epicenter for vermouth production in Spain, where for over a century the producer Miró has set the benchmark for its wormwood-forward style. Full details
Rancio Sec/Vi Ranci
Espodol Vi Ranci Sec NV
14.0% ABV • Fully Oxidized, Oxidative
While the tradition of Vi Ranci and Rancio sec has survived on both sides of the French-Spanish Catalan border, the large majority of those now produced in Spain are fortified. Espodol Vi Ranci Sec is the rare unfortified expression: Old-vine Garnatxa blanca and Garnatxa rosat, hand-harvested and fermented under the rafters in epoxy-lined concrete tanks. After two years, a portion of the slowly oxidizing wine is transferred to large wooden foudres (where it remains for 3-4 years), and then into a six-tier solera of demi-muids that was originated in 1950. Full details
Garnatxa d’Empordà
Espodol Solera Garnatxa d’Empordà NV
Spain ➜ Catalunya ➜ Empordà DO 15.5% ABV
15.5% ABV • Fortified, Oxidative
The Celler Espolla’s Solera Garnatxa is considered amongst the finest and most prominent of its tradition in Catalunya. Ripe, passerillé Garnatxa blanca and rosat grapes are harvested by hand and fermented with native yeasts in concrete tank. The fermentation is arrested via mutage, and the wine begins a lengthy, oxidative odyssey through a six-tier solera that was inaugerated in 1931. Dark amber, seamless and layered, it shows dried apricot and cherry, roasted hazelnut and sweet/smoky baking spices. Enjoy with a wide variety of cheeses and desserts. Once opened, it will keep well for 6-8 weeks. Full details
