As is so often the case in the history of wine, the story of Celler de l'Encastell is also a love story. The two wine enthusiasts Carmen Figuerol Jucosa and Raimon Castellvi fell in love with vineyards near Porrera in Priorat and realised their dream of owning their own winery in 1999. Barren soils and the climate in Priorat present vivid challenges, but those who face up to them are able to elicit brilliant wines from these extreme conditions. And this is exactly what the wine-loving couple set out to do. Today, the entire family works at the winery with and for the wine. The house that houses the winery dates back to the Middle Ages and has been lovingly renovated. A real eye-catcher is the wine cellar, which is carved out of stone and shows the unique soil formation of the Priorat made of granite and quartz rock. Around 2.5 hectares of the vineyards are planted with 60 to 90 year old vines, a real treasure, because although they only produce low yields, they make an outstanding wine. Many parcels are located on terraces that are difficult to work. In addition to the indigenous red wine varieties Carinena and Garnacha, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah are also cultivated, which determine the respective cuvées. To this day, the winery has retained the charm of a small family business. And even though the wines have won many awards in the meantime, they are still characterised by an outstanding price/enjoyment ratio. They are therefore not only interesting for discerning wine lovers, they also offer an excellent introduction to the wines of Priorat.
