Familia Torres
Pirene, DO Catalunya
Since the 1980's, Familia Torres has been recovering ancestral varieties to restore Catalonia's viticultural heritage and combat climate change. Launched by Miguel A. Torres in the early 1980s, the aim is to discover varieties that survived the phylloxera plague that devastated European vineyards in the late 19th century. Today, the fifth generation of the Torres family are firm proponents of this project, with the ambition of making unique, exciting wines based on forgotten varieties. They are little winemaking gems that also stand out for their resistance to drought and high temperatures, making them particularly interesting in light of a warming climate. Of the more than 50 varieties recovered so far, six have proved extremely promising. The winery has found that some of these varieties, like Pirene from Penedès, not only have great potential for winemaking but are also highly resistant to high temperatures and drought. Pirene is a fresh, elegant red variety that is grown to make this single variety wine in very limited production.
Vintage Factsheets
Pirene was first discovered by the Torres family in 2006 and following studies and analysis, they planted an experimental vineyard to Pirene from 2014-2019. The Pirene vineyard, called Sant Miquel de Tremp vineyard, is located in the foothills of the Catalan Pyrenees at the highest altitudes for vineyards in the province of Lleida (950 m). With calcareous soils that are well-draining and highly permeable, this area is characterized by its pronounced continental climate, with marked temperature variation, conditions that make it possible to maintain freshness and balance in the wine.
- Region
- Catalunya
- Appellation
- DO Catalunya
- Varietal Composition
- Pirene
- Aging
- 80% of the wine is aged in second-fill barrels and stainless steel for 4 months. The other 20% is aged in second-fill French oak foudres.
- Alcohol
- 14.5%
A deeply pigmented red variety with high tannin levels, lots of red fruit, and a spicy, mineral nuance. The elegant palate reveals surprising texture and finesse, full of flavorful yet fresh fruit.
Wine Enthusiast
96 Points
2019
“This wine has a nose of brambly berries, pomegranate and flint with a light hint of wildflowers. It is quite soft at first sip and then builds in texture as midweight tannins take brief hold of the palate. It offers a sensuous, almost syrupy quality in the mouth, with flavors of blackberry, maraschino cherry, violet candy, smoke and thyme that linger into a savory finish.”
— Mike DeSimone, 2023
