The Les Vinyes del Convent winery stands in a privileged setting and has spectacular views of the town of Horta de Sant Joan and Els Ports.
This project was born in 2017 by Elies Gil, who founded the winery to pay tribute to his entire family, historically dedicated to the world of wine. And it is that Elies’ great-grandfather, Ramón Gil, was the first generation linked to the world of wine.
Les Vinyes del Convent aims to achieve the highest quality. The vineyards grow in unique places, with a marked imprint of the territory and a decided commitment to Garnacha, the emblematic variety of the region, Terra Alta. The winery has been equipped with the latest technology so that everything adds up when it comes to obtaining the best wines.
Proximity is another key factor of the project. The wines, which are the result of local viticulture, are also designed to be consumed in the immediate area. From the interior to the sea, and with the Ebro river and the Natural Park of Los Puertos well present.
Horta de Sant Joan, due to its location further south in the region, has its own specificities. While the climate of the northern half of Terra Alta is Mediterranean with a continental trend, the southern area receives more influence from the maritime air. In addition to this softening influence, the effects derived from altitude give way to cooler and more humid environments, as opposed to the drier climate of the northern zone.
For this reason, the viticulture of Horta de Sant Joan is a more complex type of viticulture that gives the grape its own particularities.
Recovering singular grapes
The Les Vinyes del Convent wine project is linked to two wine archeology operations. On the one hand, there is the recovery of the Garnacha Alta, a sub-variety of the Black Garnacha with a very different vegetal behavior. It is characterized by having a more separated grain, thus allowing more air to pass through, and it is a little blacker. On the other hand, a type of Muscat grape with a small red grain has also been recovered, which was also practically extinct.
In the vineyards that surround the winery, up to 5 different types of Garnacha are planted with the intention of spreading the culture of wine among visitors to the winery. The recovered Garnacha Alta shares the limelight here with the Garnacha tinta, the Garnacha peluda, the Garnacha tintorera and the emblematic white Garnacha from Terra Alta.
The Customs, 100% Grenache
A good example of that tradition, territory and know-how. And of its identity, authenticity and recovery is the white wine Els Costums. A monovarietal 100% Garnacha ideal to enjoy with the best company.
This is a lemon yellow wine with golden reflections. Els Costums Blanco has a high aromatic intensity, and it transports you to the landscape with its aromas of white flowers -almond trees- and notes reminiscent of unripe white fruit.
On the palate it has good acidity and a refreshing and calm palate with a touch of character. Ideal to accompany seafood and seafood rice dishes.
As a curiosity, the name of the wine comes from a historical event that occurred in the year 1296, when the friar Berenguer de Cardona, master of the Order of the Temple of Catalonia and Aragon, granted the town of Orta, present-day Horta, ‘Las Costumbres’, in Catalan “Els Costums”, a set of rules that recognized the uniqueness of this town and its inhabitants.
Now you can enjoy this Els Costums de Les Vinyes del Convent thanks to the Special Christmas White Selection, which includes two bottles of the aforementioned wine, which is accompanied in this pack by two bottles of Plana d’en Fonoll Chardonnay from St Josep Vins and another two from Nª Sra. del Portal Blanco de Celler Piñol.
You can buy this pack through www.gourmetlavanguardia.com or by calling 935 500 105.
