Noguerals is a family winery founded in 1999 by Ramon Alzamora Juncosa, an experienced grower, and his son Ramon Alzamora Sas, in the municipality of Cornudella de Montsant. Its name comes from the family plot called «Noguerals», former walnut-tree land where garnatxa and macabeu vines have been grown for three generations, and where the area's first cabernet sauvignon vines were also planted. In 2008 the family took a step forward by joining DOQ Priorat, converting an old barn at the Mas de l'Abella estate, in la Morera de Montsant, into their new winery, built right next to the vineyards.
At Mas de l'Abella (12 hectares, 4.5 under vine) they grow garnatxa, carinyena, cabernet sauvignon and syrah, with garnatxa planted on llicorella (slate) soil and the rest on clay-limestone, at an altitude of 400-450 metres. This estate yields the DOQ Priorat wines: Abellars, Tití, Alba - aged in clay amphorae and glass demijohns - and La Font Garnatxa. Under DO Montsant, the winery produces Titina and Corbatera from grapes grown on the Noguerals plot itself, at nearly 700 metres.
The winery describes itself as one of Priorat's smallest third-generation cellars, built around traditional wine tourism: visits take place only on weekends, by reservation, and are guided by the winemakers themselves, who lead guests through the vineyards and cellar followed by a tasting of the house wines.
Imatge: Pau Cugat · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Sources: doqpriorat.org · cellernoguerals.com · cellernoguerals.com