Celler Cooperatiu Gandesa

Terra Alta, Catalonia

One hundred years of wine, with many stories of farmers overcoming hardships for a better life then and for the next generation, Celler Cooperatiu Gandesa was founded by over 400 partners. Most of them were cultivating grapes, olives and almonds in the region of Terra Alta. The facilities were originally built in 1920 and are commonly referred to as the “cathedral of wine” due to their grand architectural modernist design by Cèsar Martinell i Brunet. The winery is still active today, with 295 current members who work and live on their land. Farmed area totals around 1000ha within the Terra Alta DO, where summers can be long, hot, and dry and winter very cold. Vine age ranges from young to old (up to 70+ years), growing on are diverse soils but generally is an area where limestone and clay dominate. Wines produced are generally fresh and bright, meant to be opened in its youth with single varietal or blends using Garnatxa Blanca & Negra (Grenache Blanc & Noir), Macabeu, Cariñena, and others. Well-known brands are the Gandesola and Somdinou wines. One will always find approachable, value-driven wines with fresh fruit & good mineral expression from this century-old producer.