It’s a been a busy year of visiting restaurants, vineyards and more during 2018, and the one thing that struck me about Catalan wines this year is that winemakers are becoming more innovative and more interesting with their wine labels. Before it was pretty much year, logo, details, and occasionally a pretty graphic. Now, it’s becoming more interesting and more innovative as the shelves fill up due to interest in wine from consumers!
Here are six I came across in my travels that really spoke to me for different reasons, and six that stood out for me.
Cellers Scala Dei Cartoixa
Okay this isn’t really fair. I’m biased towards anything Scala Dei does. I mean, just read the entire website. I love what the team does at the winery from top to bottom, and it’s one of my favourite places to visit. I love the Cartoixa label because it just screams classic elegance. The font selections, classic red and black with white with matching bottle details, plus the historic Scala Dei monastery emblem.
Coca i Fito Jaspi Negre
I drink this wine frequently, if you pay attention to the CatalunyaWine Instagram account. This is abstract art at its finest, and I really feel like this should be on my wall in a painting, prefereably in my office. A red haired woman becoming enraptured with wine is what this label invokes for me, and brings the emotion of wine enjoyment to the fore. Their range of Jaspi wines, from DO Montsant, all have striking and brilliant labels like this.
Regalim DO Montsant
So far I haven’t been able to find much information about this winery, other than they have an Instagram account. It’s a great table wine from DO Montsant, but the label really struck me for its simplicity, and colour. I mean, how many times do you dribble wine on the bottle? Well, those of us who are snobby sommeliers, or wannabe masters of wine do it quite frequently. I love how the bleed goes from light to dark at the bottom, as if its in action on the bottle.
The Dandy Boar
This one I had at a dinner hosted by the team from Mas Perinet. The best part about the dinner, besides the company was the wine. This one just grabbed me, as Kevin McGlynn decided to have some fun with the label for a special wine from special grapes in Priorat to make this punchy and fab wine. It takes its cue from those fab English taverns, or Irish pubs, depending on which way you swing. How do you get your hands on it? It’s tough call because it’s a “who you know” thing. You can email me, and if I like you, I’ll forward you details. ha!
Mas Collet Seleccio
I love the artistry behind this label, depicting a classic grape harvest scene in gentle brown and taupe tones. Full marks for Celler Capçanes for this GORGEOUS label. I can hear classic Lluis Llach lilting in the background (only because you can’t listen to Bocelli while drinking Catalan wine. Okay, maybe I do, but don’t tell any die hard Catalans. They might come over and “Sardana” me to death) as I gently swish and swash this lovely red. My fave place to enjoy this one is definitely Zona d’Ombra.
Finca Fontanals
This was my favourite white from my visit to Verema on Monday, and my first time encountering this wine. In fact the label and the wine were the inspiration behind this piece, because it caused me to say, “wow that’s a freaking cool label and it reminds me of Breakfast at Tiffany’s and that classic 50s chic style. How many other cool labels have I run into during my travels?” And there you go. This is one of the most interesting and unique white grenaches I’ve had and it had a really cool smokey flavour to it. But the label, makes me want to sing that song by Deep Blue Something.
HONOURABLE MENTION
Everything by Loxarel. Josep is not only a wizard winemaker, but he’s pretty damn creative when it comes to labels. Our fave of his? This one.
Whose ass is it? You’ll just have to visit them and ask about the story “behind” it.
Want another?
Love them.