Celler 9+
Tarragona, Catalonia
Winemaker Moisès Virgili i Rovira is based in Tarragona just a few kilometers from the Mediterranean coast, makes beautiful wines from traditional regional grapes like Cartoixa, Sumoi and Macabeu. Born and raised in the village of Nou di Gaia, where his cellar is located, his ancestral connection to this land has led to a passionate cultivation of indigenous grapes and winemaking steeped Catalan traditions.
With over 21 ha in small parcels dotted around Nou di Gaia at about 100m of elevation, his vines are certified organic and cultivated using regenerative practices. The predominantly sandy loam soils here are quite disease-resistant and less fertile resulting in resilient, hard-working vines. The hot, dry climate is tempered by La Marinada - the cool, sea breeze that flows off the nearby Mediterranean sea, and the slight elevation of the vines which keeps things cooler in evening, allowing even grape ripening.
In the cellar, he ferments his wines spontaneously, without added sulphites, fining, or filtration. Moises is a large advocate of lees aging, which he believes acts as a stabiliser to avoid flaws, but also to add texture and complexity to his wines. His sparkling wines remain under natural cork for their bottle ageing, in keeping with the traditional cava methods of the region. While the majority of wines are aged in stainless steel, a few cuvées see élevage in amphora and the unique solera-style vermut which is aged in barrels dating back to 1917.
Moisès’s sparkling wines are delicately balanced with beautiful complexity, his macerated whites are refreshingly saline and vibrant, and his reds offer luscious fruit with a soft, round tannin. We are extremely pleased to offer his wines to the entire UK!
