Loxarel
Vilobi del Penedès, Catalunya
- Size / Total Production: 40 ha / 25,000cs between 24+ labels
- Climate: Dry, Mediterranean
- Soils: Limestone, clay
- Grapes: Xarel·lo, Parellada, Macabeu, Garnacha Blanca, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Tempranillo, Xarel·lo Vermell, Garnacha Tinto
- Viticulture: Certified Organic, Biodynamic (TerraDinámica)
Founded in the 1930s as Masia Can Mayol, this exciting estate was reclaimed by 5th generation winegrower Josep Mitjan. At just 16, Josep was the first of his family to produce wine from the fruit of their estate and break the tradition of bulk production when made his first 1,000 bottles of sparkling wine in 1985. In 1987, he gave his new vision of the property the name “Loxarel,” an anagram of “xarel·lo,” the emblematic grape of their house.
Loxarel is a medium-sized organic/biodynamic winery run by Josep and his wife Teresa. The estate is comprised of two vineyards, the first located about 45 minutes west of the Barcelona airport and some 250 meters above sea level in Vilobi del Penedès in the Penedes region. The Vilobi farm is 20ha, roughly half of which is claimed by the favored xarel·lo vines. The second portion comes from Teresa’s family and is located in El Plà de Manlleu at a staggering 700m elevation, the highest in Penedes. This 20ha vineyard is home to most of the family’s red-grape vines.
At Loxarel, natural cycles govern all operations. In 2002, Loxarel went organic and began converting to biodynamic viticulture in 2005. Josep is passionate about searching for the correct relationship between man and the earth, regulating and limiting production, introducing green pruning with herds, using natural biodynamic fertilizers, and lunar cycle viticulture and viticulture. In 2012, Josep introduced the amphorae to a privileged location in the winery after discovering the ancient vessels in Italy. He pioneered its use in Catalonia, reviving a 3,000-year tradition, and created a new line of wines that are fermented and aged in these terracotta vessels that allow the wine to breathe while maintaining its freshness.
Loxarel’s biodynamic agriculture guarantees respect for the environment, the diversity of the surroundings and includes a spiritual dimension in the relation between man and earth and earth and the universe; it involves a harmony with the universal forces to conserve fertility and the nutritive qualities of the grape grown on the estate in order to guarantee the best wines.
Wines Currently Imported (additional wines – please inquire):
“Amaltea” Brut Nature Reserva, Classic Penedes Sparkling Wine
- Varieties: Xarel·lo, Macabeu, & Parellada
- Vinification: Traditional method
- Aging: Disgorged after a minimum of 15 months on lees
- Sourced from the Vilobi property at 250m elevation. According to Greek mythology, Amaltea is the nymph represented as the goat that nursed Zeus. The goat, the horn, and the constellations are the basis of biodynamic agriculture.
“999” de Loxarel Brut Nature Rosat, Classic Penedes Sparkling Wine
- Varieties: Pinot Noir and Red Xarel·lo (Vermell)
- Vinification: Maceration of the whole grape for 14 hours, then press and placed in stainless steel tanks for 3 months.
- Aging: disgorged after minimum 15 months on lees
- Sourced from the “999” block of the Plà de Manlleu vineyard at 700m elevation
“Amaltea” Blanco, D.O. Penedes White Wine
- Varieties: Garnatxa Blanca, Xarel·lo
- Vinification: fermented in stainless steel
- Aging: Bottled fresh in the spring following harvest
“Amaltea” Negre, D.O. Penedes Red Wine
- Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot & Ull de llebre (Tempranillo)
- Vinification: Fermentation and Maceration for 15 days, Each variety separately
- Aging: 10 months in Hungarian barrels, blending occurs before bottling
“Ops” de Loxarel, D.O. Catalunya Red Wine
- Varieties: 100% Garnatxa Negra
- Vinification: Fermentation and Maceration for 22 days in underground vats
- Aging: 3 months in 720-liter clay amphora
- “Ops is a Roman goddess of plenty, of harvest, and of wealth. Her name refers to the bounty of the earth and the riches of a plentiful harvest. The word is also related to opus, which means ‘work,’ particularly in the sense of working the earth, plowing, and sowing. This activity was deemed sacred. Adding additional imagery, Taurus is also related to fertility. Egyptian farmers discovered that when Taurus was in the night sky, the Nile was at low tide and the land could be worked with the oxen. In biodynamic terms, this means that the influence of Taurus favors the growth of the roots.”
“Xarel·lo Fermentat en Amphora,” D.O. Penedes White Wine
- Varieties: 100% Xarello
- Vinification: fermented in 720-liter clay amphorae with 5 days skin-contact
- Aging: aged in amphoras for 5 months
