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Catalunya

Base map data ©2017 Google, Inst. Geogr. Nacional

Categories: Vermouth, Rancio Sec/Vi Ranci, Garnatxa d’Empordà

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 bottle

    Timbal Vermut de Reus Extra Dry

    SpainCatalunyaVermut 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 Extra Dry label
    Timbal Vermut de Reus Sweet Red bottle

    Timbal Vermut de Reus Sweet Red

    SpainCatalunyaVermut 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

    Timbal Vermut de Reus Sweet Red label
    Rancio Sec/Vi Ranci
    Espodol Vi Ranci Sec NV bottle

    Espodol Vi Ranci Sec NV

    SpainCatalunya 14.0% ABV

    14.0% ABV • Fully Oxidized, Oxidative

    While the tradition of Vi Ranci and Rancio sec has survived in both Catalunya nord and sud along the French-Spanish 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 co-fermented under the rafters in epoxy-lined concrete tank. The wine destined to be bottled as Vi Ranci Sec then enters a languorous three-tier solera that was inaugurated in 1950, where a portion of the slowly oxidizing wine is transferred from tank to large foudres and finally to 300-600L barrels. These movements typically occur only once every 3-4 years, with small quantities from the solera bottled just once per year. Full details

    Espodol Vi Ranci Sec NV label
    Garnatxa d’Empordà
    Espodol Solera Garnatxa d’Empordà NV bottle

    Espodol Solera Garnatxa d’Empordà NV

    SpainCatalunyaEmpordà DO 15.5% ABV

    15.5% ABV • Fortified, Oxidative

    Celler Espolla’s Solera Garnatxa d’Empordà is regarded as one of the finest and most prominent of its tradition in Catalunya. Late harvest Garnatxa blanca and rosat grapes are picked by hand and co-fermented with native yeasts in epoxy-lined concrete tank. The fermentation is arrested via mutage, and the wine begins a lengthy, oxidative odyssey through a four-tier solera that was inaugurated in 1950; small quantities are bottled a maximum of once per year. Dark amber, seamless and layered, it shows dried apricot and cherry, roasted hazelnut and sweet/smoky baking spices. Served at cellar temperature, it can be enjoyed with a wide variety of cheeses and desserts. Once opened, it will keep well for 8-12 weeks. Full details

    Espodol Solera Garnatxa d’Empordà NV label