Josep Bartolomé grew grapes for family consumption and to sell the wine in bulk, and it was precisely his perseverance during the difficult 1960s and 70s -when many Priorat vineyards were abandoned- that preserved this heritage of old vines. In 1997 his son-in-law, Antonio Rodríguez, began bottling under the name "Primitiu de Bellmunt", made entirely from local grape varieties. Since 2020, Antonio Rodríguez has run the vineyard and winemaking jointly with Joan Nicolàs.
The estate's old vines, located in the plots of Els Molins and El Grinyó, are over a hundred years old and grow on slate (llicorella) terraces planted around 1900. The flagship wine, Primitiu de Bellmunt, is made in equal parts from Grenache and Carignan and ages for twelve months in new French oak barrels. The winery also produces Clos Bartolomé, in red and white versions.
The winery, located on Carrer Major in Bellmunt del Priorat, offers wine tours by appointment and direct sales to visitors.
Imatge: Josep Salvany i Blanch · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Sources: cellerbartolome.com · turismepriorat.org