Joan d'Anguera, Celler
Summary
Celler Joan d'Anguera is a family-owned boutique winery in Montsant's Darmós village, where brothers Josep and Joan craft Garnatxa and Carinyena-based wines from 15-25 hectares of old-vine vineyards planted in clay and limestone soils. The brothers have transformed their family's legacy through certified biodynamic farming, minimal-intervention winemaking techniques, and a renewed focus on indigenous varieties that authentically express Montsant's terroir.
Heritage & Leadership
Celler Joan d'Anguera stands as a family-owned winery in the Montsant region of Catalunya, Spain. Founded in the 1940s by Joan d'Anguera, the estate has maintained its family heritage through generations. Today, brothers Josep and Joan d'Anguera guide the winery, having taken over operations from their father.The transition to the current generation's leadership marked a significant shift in the winery's approach. Under the brothers' direction, Celler Joan d'Anguera has evolved its winemaking philosophy, moving toward methods that emphasize the expression of Montsant's distinctive terroir through less interventionist techniques.The winery's home base surrounds the village of Darmós in Montsant, where the family has cultivated deep connections to the land across multiple generations. This continuity of family stewardship has allowed for consistent development of their viticultural practices while maintaining their connection to the region's winemaking traditions.
Vineyards & Wines
Celler Joan d'Anguera's vineyards span approximately 15-25 hectares in the Montsant region surrounding Darmós. The estate's vineyards benefit from predominantly clay and limestone soils, geological features that contribute to the distinctive character of their wines. Many of their vineyard parcels contain old vines, with some exceeding 60 years of age, providing concentration and complexity to the resulting wines. The winery focuses primarily on indigenous varieties, with Garnatxa (Grenache) and Carinyena (Carignan) forming the backbone of their production. This represents a deliberate shift from earlier years when international varieties played a more prominent role in their portfolio. The Mediterranean climate with continental influences provides ideal growing conditions for these traditional varieties.Their flagship wines include "Altaroses," produced from Garnatxa, and "Finca L'Argatà," which features primarily Garnatxa. All their wines carry the Montsant Denominación de Origen (DO) designation, reflecting their commitment to representing this distinctive Catalan wine region.
Philosophy & Practice
Celler Joan d'Anguera has embraced biodynamic farming practices throughout their vineyards, demonstrating their commitment to environmental stewardship and wine quality. This approach reflects their broader philosophy of allowing the natural characteristics of their terroir to express themselves with minimal intervention.In the cellar, the winery typically employs native yeasts for fermentation rather than commercial strains, allowing for spontaneous fermentation that captures the microbiological fingerprint of their estate. Their aging program utilizes a combination of vessels, including older French oak barrels and concrete tanks, moving away from new oak that was more prominent in their earlier winemaking style.This evolution in production methods has resulted in wines that showcase freshness and site-specific character. Their technical approach includes reduced extraction during fermentation and minimal sulfur use, further emphasizing their commitment to expressing the pure character of their fruit and terroir. The winery's biodynamic practices are formalized through certification, underscoring their dedication to this holistic agricultural system.