The Denomination of Origin of Empordà might not be as well known as the likes of Ribera del Duero or Rioja but in it, you will find one of the most respected wineries in the world, Celler Perelada. Located approximately an hour and forty-five minutes drive north of Barcelona, Perelada is the result of the dreams of three generations of the Suqué Mateu family. The story of Celler Perelada dates back to 1923 when the Mateu family purchased Castillo Perelada and took on the challenge of revitalizing the winemaking tradition of one of the oldest wine-producing regions in the Iberian Peninsula, the region of Empordà. The beginnings of the wine-making story of the Suqué Mateu family started in the cellars beneath the Convent del Carme, which is part of the Perelada Castle complex, and now continues at the first LEED Gold Certified Winery in Europe, Celler Perelada which was inaugurated in 2022.

Today, Celler Perelada is more committed than ever to their mission of crafting world-class wines that reflect the diversity of the soils that can be found in the region of Empordà. To achieve this, they source fruit from their own five vineyards that spread throughout the region. All five of the “fincas” are farmed using sustainable practices and will be 100% organic by 2025. Perelada’s commitment to the environment doesn’t stop at the winery and vineyards, as it extends to other nature-friendly initiatives like the Stork Conservation project they launched in 1995 in collaboration with the Natural Park of Aiguamolls de Empordà. The initiative has been a great success with 30 pairs of storks taking residence in the gardens of Castillo Perelada raising over 50 newborns each year.

The diversity of terroirs found throughout the five fincas of Perelada allows them the opportunity to craft wines from multiple varietals. In charge of making this possible is Technical Director and Head Oenologist, Delfí Sanahuja, who has been with the winery for over 30 harvests. During our visit, we were amazed to see how Delfí and his team are successfully bringing out the best of so many different grapes. From Garnatxa Blanca, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay on the white side, to Garnatxa Negra, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon on the red side, Perelada is making blends and single varietal wines that awake your curiosity and delight your senses. It would take too long to highlight all of the wines that we tasted during our visit but there is one that we must make a note of and that is the 2019 Aires de Garbet. Made of Garnatxa Negra from Finca Garbet, a hillside vineyard on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, this wine transformed the way we think about this varietal. Freshness, elegance and balance highlighted every sip we took which inspired us to include it as one of our finalists for the Wine Destinations Wine of the Year recognition. 

 

If you decide to visit Costa Brava we suggest that you give yourself a couple of days to take in the Perelada experience. Besides enjoying a winery tour, we highly recommend lunch at their winery restaurant, Celler 1923, which serves dishes inspired by the year in which the winery was founded. A visit to the Perelada Castle and the Convent del Carme which are adjacent to the winery are must stops. As for lodging, a stay at the five-star Hotel Perelada is the way to go. Here you can enjoy a wine-inspired spa treatment or go for a round of golf. If you are a foodie, dinner at their Michelin Star restaurant Castell Perelada is something you are going to want to experience. If you are looking for a more casual dinner environment that is also accompanied by an amazing dining experience dinner at L’Olivera Restaurant at Hotel Perelada is a for sure win.

Taking in a hundred years of tradition while enjoying terroir-driven wines that reflect the diversity of the region was an absolute treat but it was the warm welcome that the Perelada team extended to us and the family culture fostered by the Suqué Mateu family why we did not want our visit to end. Perelada, where great people, storied history, breathtaking landscapes and an array of unique wines await you.