Costador Terroirs Mediterrani - Conca de Barberà, TARRAGONA
Joan Franquet grew up in Priorat, surrounded by vines and olive trees (his family produced primarily Arbequina olives). As an adult, during a long career in food exportation, he always dreamed of returning to his rural roots, in particular that of winemaking. In 2009 Joan took the appropriate steps to pursue this dream, taking on old vines from his wife’s family in Conca de Barberà along with some of his own family’s vines in Priorat, he set up Costador Terroirs Mediterrani.
Costador grow a wide range of indigenous Catalan varieties, some of which are almost extinct; Xarello, Macabeu, Sumoll, Sumoll Blanc, Trepat, Garnatxa Blanca, Carinyena and Moscat as well as Rousanne and Chenin Blanc. Predominantly old vines, between 60 and 110 years old from mountain vineyards, 400-800m above sea level, with the exception of a couple of seaside plots. They constantly experiment with new wines and styles, focussing on traditions such as long maceration times in amphora (some of which are up to 100 years old). The majority of their wines go through at least some time in old French oak or acacia barrels, to round them off. The wines of Costador demonstrate how it is indeed possible to make terroirs expressing wines, with no additives, which are clean, elegant and sophisticated in style. Wines that express their region and grape varieties loudly, whilst still appealing to both classic and open minded tastes.
