Spain > Catalonia > Montsant > Celler el Masroig

Celler el Masroig was founded in 1917 as the Cooperativa of El Masroig. It is an association of grape and olive oil producers with approximately 300 members who are associated owners of the company. In the early years of the Cooperativa, the focus was on producing quantities of wine rather than quality wine. They produced wines with high alcohol content and very deep color that were sold to the domestic market and often used to “improve” other wines. Since the establishment of the Montsant DO in 2001 however, the emphasis has been on quality. Building on its century of heritage, Masroig strives to continually improve methods of production and the quality of the wines, while maintaining and enhancing their traditional identity.

Today, the Cooperativa’s members are proprietors of almost 500 hectares of vineyards. They take their grapes to the Cooperative, where the wine is elaborated for them. The Cooperativa uses two main methods of vinification. Traditional fermentations begin when bunches are destemmed at the winery. Alternatively, bunches may be kept in tanks to permit them to undergo carbonic maceration before pressing and a low-temperature fermentation.

The Wines

Les Sorts Sycar- a blend of 40% Syrah and 60% Carignane, fermented with wild yeasts, vinified and then aged 13 months in a blend of second-pass French and American oak; followed by extensive bottle ageing before release. Deep and jammy, with notes of dried fruits, herbs and cedar. Pair with game or rich winter stews.

Les Sorts Vinyes Velles- a blend of 85% Carignane and 15% Grenache from 60+ year-old vines, naturally fermented in open tank. Placed in new French oak for malolactic fermentation, then aged a further 17 months in oak before bottling and finally 24 months bottle conditioning before release. Deep red with a purple rim, complex in the mouth, showing black pepper, cloves, cacao with Mediterranean herbal notes. A well balanced wine with mature tannins, long and rich on the finish. Very elegant and versatile- pair with osso buco, wild game, slow-braised meats and stews.

The village of El Masroig is located at the southern tip of Montsant. The soils here are largely red clay base with a high percentage of limestone/chalk, lean and nutrient-poor. The red color absorbs the sun’s rays during the day and warms the vineyards overnight, giving great ripeness to the Carignane which can otherwise be a bit lean and green.