Celler Mas de les Pereres, in Poboleda, is the personal project of Belgian winemaker Dirk Hoet, originally from Turnhout, who after six years exploring wine regions in Italy, France and Spain chose to settle in Priorat and, in 1999, bought the farmhouse (mas) that gives the winery its name.
A meticulous, almost obsessive perfectionist, Hoet personally oversees every stage of production, from planting the vines to bottling. His approach to viticulture has been strongly shaped by Italian oenologist Fiammetta Inga (from Umbria) and by oenologist Jean Natoli, who heads the winemaking. On the region's characteristic llicorella (slate) soils, the estate grows local varieties such as Grenache, White Grenache, Carignan and Muscat alongside international ones like Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Syrah.
The wines are sold under the Nunci label -Nunci Blanc, Nunci Abocat, Nunci Negre, Nuncito and Costero among others- in a style aiming for elegance and terroir expression with a Mediterranean character. It is a small-scale, almost artisanal ('garage') winery, with direct sales at the mas in Poboleda.
Imatge: DAnRov · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Sources: turismepriorat.org · enterwine.com · doqpriorat.org