Celler Espelt
One of Empordà’s most important family wineries.
Though the winegrowing tradition of the Espelt family goes back eight generations, the modern history of
Celler Espelt began in the 1970s, when Lluís Espelt planted the first vines in the village of Vilajuïga, near
the current headquarters of the company. After a transition period managed by Damià Espelt, his daughter, oenologist Anna Espelt, took charge of the company at the beginning of the XXIth century. Nowadays, a quarter of a century later, Celler Espelt has become one of Empordà's best-known and most successful wine producers, which currently sells half of its production on the international market.
With a surface area of 200 hectares, the vineyards of bodega Celler Espelt are located on the
northernmost tip of DO Empordà, between the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean Sea. The climate of the
area is characterized by three factors: scarce rainfall, a high amount of sunshine hours and the constant
presence of the tramuntana wind from the north, which acts as a natural sanitizing agent and dessicates the grapes, thus increasing its concentration. The soils are composed of slate, granite and sauló (granitic
sand). The vineyards are located in three main areas: Mas Espelt, the family estate, the village of Rabós
and the Mas Marés estate, situated in the Cap de Creus Natural Park. The winery follows the guidelines of organic farming.
Though it also cultivates international varieties for the entry-level range, the Celler Espelt winery has
been focused since its inception on growing mainly the local varieties of the Empordà region, such as
Grenache (locally known as Lledoner), Carignan, Monastrell, Muscat, White Grenache and Macabeo.
Beyond that, it is worth mentioning that winemaker Anna Espelt, a staunch defender of the region's rich
viticultural heritage, has taken an active part in the process of recovering some long-forgotten local
grapes, like Grey Grenache (Lledoner Roig), White Carignan and Picapoll Blanc. The vines are 25 to 130
years of age.
The wine portfolio of bodega Celler Espelt is comprised of three collections: Plaers, wines for everyday
consumption, Identitat, wines with a well-defined local character, and Singulars, expressions of outstanding vineyards planted with very old vines. Winemaking combines traditional methods with full-
cluster vinifications and the use of innovative materials like concrete eggs. The eye-catching labels are designed by the famed visual artist Javier Mariscal.
The yearly production of bodega Celler Espelt is around 500,000 bottles.
- Year of foundation: 1999
- Address: Mas Espelt
- City: Vilajuïga
- Province: Girona
- Zip code: 17493
- Country: Spain
- Phone number: +34 972 531 727
- Celler Espelt
- Guided visits? Yes
- Wine tourism services? No
Designation of origin:
Red wine varieties:
Grenache, Carignan, Monastrell.
White wine varieties:
Muscat, White Grenache, Macabeo, Grey Grenache, White Carignan, Picapoll Blanc.
