July is here! Longer days of sunshine have us wanting to shed our clothes and plunge into the sea. Our minds wander to memories of summers past and the ones we have yet to create. Luckily, we don’t have to travel very far to do that, as our July wines come from beautiful Catalunya, the place we call home.
This month we want to refresh you not just by quenching your thirst but also by introducing you to new and exciting wines that are naked, young and reinvigorating.
We know your inner child wants to come out and play and we have just the thing for that…
BUBBLES.
SPARKLING WINE
La Planta | Mas Gomà
Xarello + Macabeu | 2019
Penedès, Spain
Our first stop is the hometown of bubbles in Spain, El Penedes. The terroir holds the secrets of traditional winemaking methods yet allows the grapes to express themselves in new ways thanks to innovative winemakers.
In the center of Penedes we find such pioneers at Celler Mas Gomà. A family run vineyard for 5 generations, now run by father and son that has recovered autochthonous grapes of the region. The family tradition of winemaking is reflected in the names of some of their wines for example Tiet Jan which pays homage to their Uncle Jan. The mission of their project is to work in a sustainable way to leave future generations with a vineyard that is healthier and soil that is alive with biodiversity and organic material.
La Planta is 60% Macabeu 40% Xarello. This Traditional method, Brut Nature Terbol is unfiltered and pressed directly. 3 months on lees and 24 months of aging add a creaminess which balances the acidity perfectly. You can expect fine bubbles, notes of green apples and a crisp and pleasant finish.
ORANGE WINE
Rustic | Celler Sanromà
Macabeu | 2022
Alt Camp Tarragona, Spain
We find it harder to drink red wine in the summer and thought you might feel the same. After careful selection, this month we have opted for a brisat. Better known to natural wine lovers as orange wine, brisat has been described as white wine with the soul of a red wine.
So for our next pick we head even further south to Tarragona. Don’t let the name, Rustic, fool you. This wine is structured and less funky than you’d expect but still retains its personality.
The fourth generation Celler Sanromà, now run by the passionate Edu Sanromà is in the heart of Alt camp in Tarragona, specifically, Vila-Rodona. The soil and climate allow for very good mono varietals from this region and Rustic follows the line of this vineyard to a T.
This 100% Macabeu which is picked early allows you to experience the grape in its true form while the autochthonous yeasts give it body. You will experience salinity, freshness, citrus notes, white fruit and even a little anis in this easy to drink tropical summer treat.
Cheers to Natural Wine!
