Grower Website Josep Grau Region: Spain - Cataluña

In 2003, Josep Grau returned to the land where he was born to embark on a new journey.

His wines are not influenced by trends, opinion leaders’ tastes or fads. Instead, the Grau wines are deeply imbued with the essence of place: Grau is convinced that outstanding wines can be made with very little, avoiding artifice and respecting the natural language of the vineyard. His goal is to make wines that showcase deep authenticity, he makes the wines he likes.

Grau currently oversees 64 acres (26 ha) of vineyards in D.O.Q. Priorat – D.O. Montsant. The vineyards are at varying elevations with llicorella (slate), chalky clay and pebbly decomposed granite.  Vineyards in Capçanes formed the basis of the early wines and remain a part of Josep Grau bottlings. In 2016 Josep purchased a 17th century house in Gratallops and it became the winery and cellar. 15 acres (6 hectares) of vineyards, divided into four plots, became part of the new, expanded Josep Grau Viticultor. With this heritage, they embarked on a new project to make fine, delicate wines, a style that is the now the house’s trademark.

Viticulture follows organic principles (certified in Spain) and is herbicide and pesticide free. Garnacha Blanca, Garnacha Tinta, Samsó, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah are grown.

Each of the vineyards at Josep Grau has a unique characteristic and shows individual expressions of the terroir.  The vineyards are farmed with the utmost respect for the plant, following only organic practices to maintain the unique biodiversity and purity of the region. The vineyards are farmed using organic principles and biodynamic techniques, carried out with the utmost respect for the land.

The Priorat is one of the most special places in the world. Not only because of its magical and mysterious landscape, and the quality of its wines, but also because it is the place the Carthusian monks chose to settle in the twelfth century. The first vineyards in the Priorat were purchased by Grau in the village of Capçanes, in DO Montsant in 2003. It is the diversity of soils and single terroir sites in Montsant and the potential to make different wines that first drew Grau to the region. Vineyards were acquired from winegrowers who no longer wanted to farm their vines, typically old Garnacha and Cariñena plots. Today, Grau maintains close ties with growers who continue to farm the land and share Josep Grau’s philosophy.

Priorat is the crown jewel with Grau’s sights being set on capturing the finest expression of each plot. With the desire to make world-class wines, Grau set out in 2016 by purchasing a 17th century house in Gratallops with 6 hectares (14.8 acres) of vineyards divided into four plots. The aim is to produce fine, delicate wines, a style that is the trademark of Josep Grau.

The commitment is to make genuine wines, stripped of any additives and firmly rooted in the vineyard. This is the defining characteristic: wines made with respect for nature, wines that are sincere, with a deep sense identity that are capable of conveying a true sense of place.

With minimal to no intervention in the winery, the grapes are treated exactly the same way as they are in the vineyard. The ultimate goal is to preserve the legacy of the land, of these singular vineyards, each one with its own personality, forged over time and hard work for generations to come.