Resident, April 2008 (grapes)

Resident, April 2008 GREAT GRAPES Empordà’s reputation for wine keeps growingBy: David Montgomery

The Empordà’s may be Spain’s oldest winemaking region, but it is definitely not the best known. Yet over the past few years, a select number of wines coming from vineyards just inland from Costa Brava have caught the attention of international experts. A major factor in the area’s growing reputation is the decision by some vineyards to make their own wine. This was the case with Celler Mas Estela, a small family-run vineyard outside the village of Selva de Mar, which began to produce wine again in the 1989 after lying derelict for many years. Now Diego and Nuria Soto of Mas Estela are growing organic grapes and producing a range of red and white wines, as well as the area’s famous dessert wine, Garnatxa de L’Emprodà. Wines from Celler Oliver Conti, a vineyard at Capmany in the Alberes mountains, which was set up by two brothers 15 years ago and is already making a name for itself abroad. They now sell 40 percent of their wines in Catalunya with the remainder being exported. However Castell de Perelada is Emporda’s largest and best-known vineyard. David Rovira, Perelada’s export director, said that wines are sold in 37 countries and that sales are growing by 20percent annually. He added that Perelada has boosted its profile through various cultural activities. “We are Emporda’s biggest producer but we also have the set-up with the castle, the summer music festival, and so on, which allows us to connect with consumers” Rovira said.