Empordalia

About

Ownership: A cooperative of local growers
Winemaker: Bernard Marty
Vineyards: 170ha across the various members of the coop
Vineyard management: Sustainable, with some growers certified organic
Soils: Varied, including alluvial, slate, and granite
Grapes grown: Grenache Noir, Carignan, Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris, Macabeo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Muscat of Alexandria
Annual production: 500,000 bottles

Quick facts:

• Empordàlia was created in 2015 by the merging of local cooperatives dating back to 1947 and 1961.
• Many of the growers are the fourth or fifth generation of their family to work the land.

Empordàlia was formed in 2015 by the merging of three cooperatives in an effort to improve wine quality and increase the financial viability of its network of small landowners. Starting in the 1930s, local farmers still recovering from the ravages of phylloxera decided to form and join cooperatives, allowing them to pool resources and survive economically in a fraught era. Co-op members worked together to produce quality wines that reflected the Empordà character. Today, many of the same families have been working the land for generations, conserving the flavors and defining features of the terroir. Together, this group of farmers contribute their grapes to Empordàlia, whose aim is to produce representative wines of the Empordà region.

This distinctive region is bordered by the Verdera foothills, the Bay of Roses, and the Mediterranean to the east; marshes to the south; and the cliffs of Garrotxa to the west. Surrounded by national parks, the Empordàlia growers are committed to respect for the environment and sustainability. The climate is Mediterranean, with lots of sunshine, occasional rainfall, and the influence of the strong Tramontane wine. The poor slate and granite soils are ideal for producing quality wines. In order to showcase the importance of local varieties, all of the wines include Garnacha (Blanc, Noir, or Gris) and/or Carignan.