Whenever I visit a winery, the excitement and adrenaline make my heart pound and my nerves jump. It’s as if I’ve entered a sacred place. The core of the winery and the hard work behind every single bottle of wine resting in the cellar is palpable. Such an experience means EVERYTHING!

During a recent trip to Barcelona, I had scheduled a visit to Marco Abella Winery in Porrera. After an hour ride full of scenic beauty, my trek culminated with breathtaking views of some of the most gorgeous vineyards that I’ve ever laid eyes on. It was no surprise to find that the wines were just as stunning as the views.

The Marco family has been growing grapes in the village of Porrera since the 15th century. Now in the hands of husband and wife team, David Marco and Olivia Bayes, Marco Abella Winery has become synonymous with excellence. In 2005, David and Olivia both decided to leave their corporate jobs to focus on the Winery. They planted an additional 30 hectares of vines and brought back to life 5 hectares of old vines. Their priority was and still is to be authentic to the region while respecting the environment. The grapes - mostly Garnacha and Carignan - are all organically or biodynamically grown and sourced from estate vineyards which are owned and operated by the winery. The area is characterized by its unique terroir of llicorella (black slate and quartz) which gives the wine its mineral and fresh attributes.

David Marco and Olivia Bayes, owners of Marco Abella Winery.

I was very fortunate to have David and Olivia personally present nearly their entire portfolio to me during my visit to their tasting room. The following is a partial list of my favorite wines tasted (all available in the U.S.):

Marco Abella Loidana 2016 Priorat: 55%Garnacha, 35% Carignan & 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Loidana is a perfect example of Priorat’s intensity and complexity. The wine shows notes of spices and red fruit with a silky and fresh palate. Aged in French oak for 12 months, Loidana pairs exceptionally well with slow cooked braised ribs.

Marco Abella Mas Mallola 2008: 63% Garnacha, 20% Carignan, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Merlot. The grapes are biodynamically estate grown. Mas Mallola represents the essence of Porrera with its high acidity and balanced character and is Marco Abella’s flagship wine. Aged for 20 months in French oak, this delightful red shows a round palate with notes of raspberry, cherry and hints of spice and incense, perfect with spicy food and wild game.

Marco Abella Clos Abella 2009: 50% Carignan, 39% Garnacha and 11% Cabernet Sauvignon. There is a freshness to this wine that is attributable to the high altitude of the vineyards. Aged 24 months in French oak and 2 years in the bottle before release, this elegant wine delivers a full nose and palate of black cherry, dark berries, flowers, sweet spices, chocolate and hints of nuts. It pairs exceptionally well with aged cheeses and cured meats.

Experiencing Priorat and walking through the steep vineyards really puts everything in perspective. It is an insanely beautiful region with so many mouthwatering wines. I hope to be back soon.

Salut!

Anna

Reservation is required at: info@marcoabella.com

Address: Carretera Porrera a Cornudella del Montsant, Km. 0,7

43739 PORRERA (Spain)

A visit in Porrera, Priorat (Catalonia, Spain)