In the heart of Priorat, there are two architectural and wine-growing gems that symbolize the strength of a territory: the Catedral del Vi de Cornudella de Montsant and the Catedral del Vi de Falset , two modernist cooperative wineries with more than a century of history. Each of these wineries, moreover, is located in the shadow of a medieval castle that has marked the history of its town: the Castell de Siurana and the Castell de Falset .

This landscape of vineyards, heritage and tradition has inspired us to create a unique twinning between two wines that symbolize everything we share: the passion for wine, respect for the land and roots in the territory. Thus was born the joint project of Castell de Siurana and Castell de Falset , two emblematic references within the DO Montsant that dialogue with each other with character, elegance and their own identity.

Two wines, two souls, the same land

Despite their stylistic and production differences, Castell de Siurana and Castell de Falset share the same cooperative spirit, the fruit of the work of farmers committed to the vineyard and quality. This twinning is intended to be a tribute to the years of collective effort that have made it possible for the Priorat wine region to be a benchmark in the production of wines with character and authenticity.

Siurana Castle: elegance and freshness from Cornudella

Castell de Siurana is one of the new additions to the Celler Cooperatiu de Cornudella , made with a careful selection of Grenache and Carignan from old costers vineyards , located at high altitude. The aging in French oak barrels provides subtle nuances that respect the fruit and accentuate its complexity.

In the glass, it presents an intense red color with ruby reflections . On the nose we find aromas of ripe black fruit, balsamic notes, toasted notes and fine spices . On the palate it stands out for its freshness, balanced structure and a long and silky finish . It is a wine that expresses the best of the Montsant mountain landscape, and is ideal for pairing with dishes of beef or lamb, roasted poultry, pasta with mushrooms or stews with a red wine base .

Falset Castle: maturity and structure from Falset and Marçà

Castell de Falset , for its part, is one of the flagship wines of the Falset Marçà Cooperative . It is made with a blend of Grenache Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah , vinified separately using specific techniques and with careful aging in different types of barrels.

On a sensory level, Castell de Falset offers an intense ruby color , with aromas of ripe fruit, sweet spices and a slightly toasted background . In the mouth it is a soft wine, with polished tannins and a mature structure that invites you to continue drinking . It is ideal to accompany dishes from traditional Catalan cuisine , such as roasts, stews or spoon dishes , and also with cured cheeses or grilled meats.

A toast to shared history

With this twinning, the Cellers Cooperatius de Cornudella and Falset Marçà reaffirm their commitment as benchmarks of the cooperative movement in the Priorat , and as promoters of a sustainable, rooted and collaborative viticulture model. The Castell de Siurana and Castell de Falset wines are, at the same time, a bridge between the past and the future, between tradition and innovation, and between two communities that have known how to unite to give a voice to the territory through wine.

A lot that celebrates the vineyard, cooperation and heritage

With the desire to share this twinning with all lovers of good wine, we have created a special batch that includes a bottle of each wine —Castell de Siurana and Castell de Falset— and two wine glasses screen-printed with the logos of the two wineries .

This pack is a perfect way to discover two ways of understanding the DO Montsant , two expressions of the wine-making Priorat , and the same passion: making wines with soul.

Discover the twinned lot in our online store or come pick it up at the winery . Taste, compare, enjoy… and toast with us to many more years of friendship, vineyards and good wine in the heart of Montsant.

Priorat cooperatives promote VINCLOOP, an agricultural intercooperation network to transform the territory

The agricultural cooperatives of Priorat have joined forces to create VINCLOOP, an intercooperation network that was created with the desire to respond to the social, economic and environmental challenges facing the region. The project has the support of the program “Singular projects for the promotion of the social and solidarity economy, creation of cooperatives and intercooperation projects – Singulars Program”, promoted by the Department of Business and Employment of the Generalitat of Catalonia, through the General Directorate of Social and Solidarity Economy, and Cooperativism.

What is VINCLOOP?

VINCLOOP is much more than a joint project: it is a strategic alliance between ten agricultural cooperatives from Priorat that want to promote a new way of working, collaborative, horizontal and rooted in the territory. This network shares knowledge, experiences and resources to address common challenges such as the lack of generational succession, difficulties in accessing services, the loss of value of local products or the environmental crisis.

The cooperatives driving the project are:

• Falset-Marçà Agricultural and Credit Section (Afalma)
• Priorat Winery and Credit Section
• Agricultural and Credit Section of Cabacés
• Cornudella Cooperative Winery
• Agricultural and Credit Section of La Bisbal de Falset
• Agricultural and Regional Credit Section of Priorat
• Ulldemolins Sant Jaume Agricultural
• El Molar Cooperative Winery
• Bellmunt del Priorat Agricultural Cooperative
• Torroja Agricultural – Center of Priorat

A project for the territory and the people

VINCLOOP starts from a clear principle: the driving force of the region are the people who live and work there. With a democratic and participatory structure, the project aims to put the collective tools of cooperativism at the service of small farmers, of young people who want to take root in the countryside and of the local community that is committed to a rooted, fair and sustainable economy.

The project aims to promote specialized technical services for agricultural operations, promote support programs for new farmers, develop tourism promotion actions linked to the rural world, launch affordable housing initiatives and create local energy communities. All this with a regenerative perspective, which seeks to strengthen the social fabric and preserve the landscape, knowledge and rural life of the Priorat.

The support of the Singulars Program

Thanks to the funding received through the Singulars Program, the cooperatives have been able to activate three key work areas to make VINCLOOP a reality:

1. Definition of the governance system of the intercooperation project:
   The construction of a democratic, participatory and operational governance model has begun, which guarantees the sustainability and continuity of the VINCLOOP network in the medium and long term.
2. Promotion of cooperative logistics and a network of agro-shops:
   The cooperatives have begun to coordinate their agro-shops and study a joint logistics route that connects towns, cooperatives and points of sale in Priorat. The objective is to facilitate access to zero-kilometer products, promote food sovereignty and strengthen the local economy.
3. Systemic collection of agricultural data for generational succession:
   A common system for collecting and analyzing data from members’ farms is being developed. This tool will allow informed decisions to be made, identify opportunities for alternative crops and offer better support to young people who want to start farming.

Looking to the future

With VINCLOOP, the cooperatives of Priorat do not just want to resist: they want to transform. They want to forge alliances, strengthen the community and build real alternatives to address the abandonment of the countryside, the climate crisis and the loss of local sovereignty.

Agricultural cooperativism is thus claimed as a tool for the country and the territory. And the Priorat, true to its identity, demonstrates once again that collaboration is the most solid path forward.

Deposit:

Last November, as part of the Temps de Priorat Enoturisme festival, two episodes of the popular podcast “Els Més Frescos” were recorded at the Celler Cooperatiu de Cornudella. This event was one of the highlights of the festival and featured the participation of the winery’s president in both episodes.

Temps de Priorat Enoturisme is an annual festival that celebrates the wine culture of the Priorat region, one of the most prestigious wine regions in Catalonia. This festival attracts wine lovers, sommeliers, oenologists and tourists from all over who come to enjoy wine tastings, visits to wineries, and cultural activities related to the world of wine. The festival stands out for its ability to combine the historical and natural heritage of Priorat with unique wine tourism experiences.

“Els Més Frescos” is a podcast dedicated to exploring the stories, people and innovations behind the world of wine. Through interviews with experts, winemakers and other players in the sector, the podcast offers a unique and entertaining vision of the wine scene. The recording of the two episodes at the Celler Cooperatiu de Cornudella was an opportunity to highlight the particularities of Priorat and share them with its audience.

Francesc Adzerias, president of the winery, was one of the guests in both episodes, offering his perspective and sharing interesting anecdotes about the winery and its evolution over the years.

The recording of these two episodes of the podcast “Els Més Frescos” was not only a success during the festival, but also had a significant impact on the promotion of Priorat as a wine tourism destination. The episodes have been listened to by thousands of people, helping to highlight the cultural and wine-making richness of the region. In addition, the collaboration with the Celler Cooperatiu de Cornudella has strengthened the ties between the local wine sector and the global community of wine enthusiasts.

Photos by Gorka Martínez for Priorat Enoturisme.

Sunday, September 1, from 12:30 p.m. TheWineTruck will present EL VERMUT DE LA COOPERATIVA: new bottle, new label, but the old essence of our vermouth!

The duo Sweet Dreams will enliven the event, offering a good repertoire of songs and covers.

From day 1 you will be able to buy it in the store and very soon you will also find it in the online store.

On 05/07/2024 the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fishing and Food has granted us a grant intended for the promotion, development and commercialization of local products.