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Vine heritage
Win three wines made from ancestral varieties recovered by Familia Torres
Forcada, gonfaus y pirene
Four decades of tracking vineyards
Since the mid-1980s, Familia Torres has been exploring the Catalan vineyards in search of pre-phylloxera grape varieties that could offer solutions to the challenges facing 21st century viticulture –particularly in the face of global warming and evolving consumer trends. Over these years, some 60 new varieties have been identified, six of which have been released either as part of a blend or as single-varietal wines.
A long and complex process
Once a new variety is discovered and verified through DNA analysis, virus-free plant material must be obtained. The plant is then replicated in vitro, moved to a greenhouse and finally tested out in the field. Grapes suited to be made into wine are evaluated for their characteristics and the quality of the resulting wine. If deemed promising, an authorisation process starts to include the variety in Spain's register of commercial grapevine varieties. The whole process can take between eight and 10 years, or even longer.
Three great discoveries
A lucky SWL reader will have the chance to taste the wines made from three of the first varieties recovered by Familia Torres, all of high quality. These include Forcada, a white grape with distinctive citrus acidity that has been authorised in DO Penedès; the red Gonfaus from the family property in DO Costers del Segre, where it achieves a good combination of concentration and energy; and Pirene, grown in Tremp (Lleida), near the Pyrenees –a delicate grape with wild berry notes, reminiscent of Burgundy’s Pinot Noir.
Win three wines made from ancestral varieties recovered by Familia Torres
This promotion ends 30st November 2024.
