There is something very special about visiting a vineyard. Besides being very interesting, there is something else that is difficult to put into words. What was exciting about this particular visit was that it was my first Catalan winery where they partly work with domestic grapes but also some of the French classics.
Bouquet d’Alella is located on the slopes above the village of d’Alella with a striking proximity to the Mediterranean. The farm has been there since the 15th century and the winery itself is still located in the associated farm. With the location of the vineyard, you get both mountains and sea, which is reflected in the wines. The focus here is very much on letting the terroir be clearly reflected in the wines and emphasizing the Catalan tradition.
A total of 14 hectares comprise the vineyard’s scope, ecological techniques in the typical terrain of DO Alella, sauló, and distributed on displaced plots located in the municipalities of Alella, Teià, Cabrils and Vilassar de Dalt (included in Alella DO). Half of the vineyards are close to the sea, open to the effects of the sun and the Mediterranean breeze and the rest are located in the highest part of Serrala Litoral Park where the temperature is colder and with more thermal contrast day / night.
The most widely planted grape varieties are the typical Pansa Blanca, Grenache, Grenache Blanc, Monastrell and Syrah.
We had the privilege of being guided around the vines and winery by the slightly eccentric farm owner, whom I OF COURSE missed noting the name of. A fresh, sunny January day on the slopes just outside Barcelona overlooking the Mediterranean was a perfectly okay environment to learn more about wine and of course drink wine.
Bouquet d’Alella Blanc 2020
The grapes are hand-harvested and undergo a strict selection process. Maceration together with the shells for a few hours in a cold environment. The grapes are then gently pressed to facilitate the use of must from the first harvest. Fermentation on steel tanks followed by 3 months of repair on the yeast precipitate.
60% Pansa Blanca and 40% Grenache blanc. Limited production, 6,800 bottles, 13% vol.
Bouquet d’Alella Blanc + 2020
This wine undergoes exactly the same process until fermentation. Fermented in new oak barrels for three weeks (each grape variety separately) followed by 3 months of storage on the lees.
75% Pansa Blanca and 25% Grenache blanc. Limited production, 1,600 bottles, 12.5% vol.
Very fresh and dry wines, high minerality, citrus and green apples. Fun to compare oaked and unoaked varietals of pretty much the same blend.
Monastrell Negre 2017
The grapes are hand-harvested and undergo a strict selection process. The grapes are then cooled down in a cold room for a few hours. The grapes are crushed and go into a long maceration with the skins, the grape must is pumped over to extract the color and tannin from the skins during fermentation. It is then gently pressed and finally malolactic fermentation is performed . Stored for 6 months in oak barrels from France and Central Europe and at least 12 months in bottle
100 % Monastrell. Limited production, 1,600 bottles, 12.5% vol.
Garnatxa Negra 2021
The grapes are hand-harvested and undergo a strict selection process. The grapes are then cooled down in a cold room for a few hours. The grapes are crushed and go into a short maceration (9 hours) together with the skins to extract color, then they are gently pressed and fermented on stainless steel tanks at low temperature (14ºC).
100% Grenache. Production is limited, 533 bottles, 14.5% vol.
Strawberry explosion! Fresh, mineral, strawberry and red berries, one of the better rosés I have tested so far. A favorite along with the white wine stored in a steel tank.
Go there!
Avinguda Sant Josep de Calassanç 8
08328 Alella
Tel: (+34) 93 555 69 97
