Founded in 1999, Clos Galena is the dream come true of pharmacist and agronomist Manuel Pérez to become a wine producer. After exploring various Catalan wine regions, he fell in love with the rugged landscape of Priorat and acquired his first vineyards in the village of El Molar, in the lower, southernmost tip of the DOQ.
The winery was named after the main mineral extracted from the nearby mines in El Molar, which have been exploited since ancient times. Producer, oenologist and consultant Toni Coca has been involved in the project since the first fermentation in 2001.
The death of the founder in 2013 was an unexpected blow. His wife Merche Dalmau, a pharmacist with no connection to the world of wine, rejected several offers to sell. Instead, she decided to overcome the difficulties and continue her husband's legacy. Unexpected help came in the form of major events which raised the brand’s profile, such as the red wine Formiga de Vellut 2014 being served at the Nobel Prize banquet.
At present, Clos Galena owns 30 hectares of vineyards in Priorat. The base is an estate surrounded by woods in the village of El Molar, where the main varieties are Garnacha, Cariñena, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah, as well as the whites Garnacha Blanca and Viognier. Yields do not exceed one kilo per vine. The soil is slate, known locally as llicorella. A distinctive feature of Clos Galena is its commitment to organic farming since the first vineyards were purchased in 1994. The wines are a blend of local and international varieties.
The company has other projects in Terra Alta (50,000 bottles) and Montsant (15,000 bottles), in both cases advised by Coca. Production in Priorat can reach 115,000 bottles a year, except inyears of drought.
The winery's portfolio in Priorat begins with the red wine Formiga de Vellut (€18), a blend of mainly Garnacha, plus 20% Cariñena and the same amount of Syrah. Galena (€25) has a slightly higher proportion of international varieties, up to 50%, with Merlot replacing Syrah -the wine is aged for 12 months in oak barrels. This is an international, easy to understand version of Priorat, made from a selection of five plots on llicorella and on a combination of llicorella and limestone. The top red wine, Clos Galena (49 €), offers more depth and soil character without sacrificing the presence of international grape varieties.
The only white wine is Formiga de Seda (€18), an unctuous blend of 70% Garnacha Blanca and 30% Viognier, aged in oak barrels for five to six months.
Clos Galena is involved in charity works, particularly with the Spanish Association Against Cancer. Merche Dalmau has also fought for the visibility of women and encourages them to start their own winemaking projects. On a day-to-day basis, she advocates for mixed teams -she believes this creates opportunities for mutual enrichment.
The winery is open to the public but visits must be arranged in advance.