Celler Piñol
A proud bearer of the Terra Alta tradition.
Though its modern foundation dates from 1995, bodega Celler Piñol had by that time been successfully
operating for five decades as a producer of bulk wine under the name Vinos Piñol. A rather profitable
business, it had its headquarters in Batea, a village with a long winemaking tradition in the Terra Alta
region of Tarragona, south Catalonia. In 1995, Josefina Piñol, a strong-willed woman with a clear vision
of the future, convinced her father, Joan Piñol Ferrús, then manager of the company, that the family
should abandon bulk wine production and focus on quality over quantity. Despite her father's strong
reservations, Josefina Piñol got her way and was able to release the first 2,000 bottles of Celler Piñol
wines that same year.
Currently run by Juanjo Galcerà Piñol, Josefina's son and the fourth generation of the family, bodega
Celler Piñol has around 70 hectares of vineyards near Batea, in the heart of the DO Terra Alta, a buys
around 30% of the grapes from trusted local grape growers. Composed mainly of very poor soils with a
high clay-limestone content, the vineyards are tended following the principles of organic farming.
Advised by oenologist Toni Coca, who worked as consultant for the project in its early stages, the winery
focused its activity on growing mostly traditional varieties, most notably White Grenache, the signature
grape of the Terra Alta region, as well as Grenache, Carignan and the indigenous Morenillo a rare and
aromatically expressive red variety. Made from old vines, the single vineyard red wine Finca Morenillo
is one of the few varietal Morenillo wines available on the market. The international varieties are used for
the entry-level blends.
Made under the technical supervision of the young and talented oenologist Cristina Borrull, the wines of
Bodega Celler Piñol are quintessentially Mediterranean expressions which, at their best, are reminiscent
of the wines from regions like Gigondas or Lirac in southern France – though with an earthier twist. – The
wines are typically vinified and aged in stainless steel tanks and French and American oak barrels, and
less frequently in materials such as concrete diposits. Just to mention two noteworthy examples, L’Avi
Arrufí Blanc is one of the best White Grenache wines from the region, and the red wine Mather
Teresina is a blend of local varieties aged for a substantial period of time in oak barrels that has
consistently shown an impressive aging potential.
Bodega Celler Piñol makes around 400,000 bottles per year.
- Year of foundation: 1995
- Address: C/. Algars, 7
- City: Batea
- Province: Tarragona
- Zip code: 43786
- Country: Spain
- Phone number: +34 977 430 505
- Celler Piñol
- Guided visits? Yes
- Wine tourism services? Yes
