Gratavinum was founded in 2003 by brothers Joan and Josep Cusiné, together with their wives Mª Elena Jiménez and Marta Casas —both experienced at the Penedès winery Parés Baltà— and winemaker Jordi Fernández. The winery's name combines "Gratallops", the village where the estate sits, with "vinum" (Latin for wine), as a tribute to the Romans who introduced viticulture to the area.
The winery is based at Mas d'en Serres, along the old path linking Vilella Baixa and Lloar, between the villages of Gratallops and Poboleda. Its vineyards, planted on llicorella (the region's characteristic slate soil), combine the traditional Carinyena and Garnatxa varieties with Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Farming is organic and unirrigated, forcing the vines' roots to dig deep into the soil in search of water.
The estate produces six wines —2πr, GV5 (Vi de Paratge), Silvestris (its line of natural wines), Coster Carinyena (100% Carinyena), Rocaforts (Vi de Paratge), and the sweet Dolç d'en Piqué— as well as extra virgin olive oil. The winery organizes visits and tastings, ranging from a tasting of three red wines paired with olive oil to a 4x4 tour through the slate landscape.
Imatge: Josep Salvany i Blanch · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Sources: gratavinum.com · gratavinum.com · gratavinum.com