Sangenís i Vaqué winery is located in Porrera, in the heart of Priorat, with roots going back more than seven generations of farmers and winemakers within the same family. The land, belonging to the maternal side of the family (the Monlleó family), had been under vine since before 1700. In 1978 Pere Sangenís and Conxita Vaqué began planting vines on these plots, and the following year resumed winemaking in the old cellar of Josep Simó, Conxita's grandfather, who had already produced and sold wine since 1886. Today daughters Maria and Núria Sangenís share winemaking responsibilities with their father.
All the vineyards lie within the boundaries of Porrera, on terraces and steep slopes over llicorella, the slate soil typical of Priorat, in an area with very low rainfall (around 450mm a year) that limits yields and favors concentration. The winery describes its approach as producing "wines that maximize the expression of terroir," combining traditional methods with more contemporary techniques.
The winery produces a range of nine wines across reds, whites and a sweet wine: reds include Clos Monlleó, Coranya, Vall Por, Dara, Lo Coster · Carinyena and Garbinada; whites include Lo Coster Blanc and Lo Bancal de Granatxa; and Simfonia en Dolç is a sweet wine. Visits to the cellar can be arranged, including an explanation of the Priorat area and the winemaking process.
Imatge: Lluís Marià Vidal i Carreras · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Sources: sangenisivaque.com · sangenisivaque.com · turismepriorat.org