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Priorat D.O.Ca., Spain
Celler Joan Simo
This is perhaps the smallest winery in Spain. It was founded by Gerard Batllevell in 1999. In the first vintage, 1999, he used grapes harvested from small parcels near the towns of Bellmunt, Porrera, and Gratallops where he was able to find old vines of Garnacha and Cariñena. The bodega, located in Porrera, is a 200-year-old building, passed down from his mother’s family. Gerard hopes to continue his work to search out the best Garnacha and Cariñena old vines that produce less than 500 grapes per vine and produce extraordinary wine from them. At the same time he is planting new vines on his own farm, La Garranxa, in Porrera. This estate was totally abandoned during the phylloxera epidemic many decades ago. They are planting 50% Garnacha, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 25% Syrah varieties. The soil is Llicorella slate. The climate is mediterranean, with very little rainfall.
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