Josep Pla already said it, “Perelada is the best Spanish estate.” In this way, the writer of The Gray Notebook, who knew the area well, synthesized the particular personality of an exceptional wine tourism destination, which is not only a flagship of the D.O. Ampurdán, but also allows you to enjoy nature, the landscape and the historical heritage, as well as a truly unique cultural, artistic, gastronomic, sports and leisure offer.
All this has been forged over time, in fact, this 2023 Perelada celebrates its 100 years of history. A year earlier, the dream of three generations of the Suqué Mateu family was finally fulfilled, with the inauguration of a new Perelada Winery designed by RCR Arquitectes, a studio that won the prestigious Pritzker Prize in 2017.
The space fuses avant-garde oenology with a close link with the landscape, sustainability, integration into the territory and top-level wine tourism. But there is more. In these facilities, artisanal work in the care and selection of the grapes is combined with the latest technological advances.
Gravity production takes advantage of the 10 meter difference in level to reduce mechanical intervention to a minimum. At the same time, Intranox's innovative Oresteo system facilitates pumping over without pumps or hoses, managing the CO₂ generated during wine fermentation.
Throughout the entire process, special attention is paid to the level of temperature and humidity, from the conservation, in the most ideal conditions, in the cold room of the hand-picked grapes to the rigorous control in the winemaking and aging phases. and refining of the wines. All this, to ensure that the particularities of each wine remain unchanged and that its personality is enhanced.
The attention to differentiation is reflected in the separation of the grapes in the 188 warehouses of the winery, and in spaces such as El Templo, dedicated to creativity for wines with greater identity, such as the iconic Finca Garbet or Gran Claustro, the reserves special and the so-called Ex Ex (Exceptional Experiences). This area reserved for the winery's research programs has concrete fermentation tanks, oak foudres and 300-liter barrels for special aging.
The winery is integrated into the framework of La Granja, a historic building designed in 1941 by the illustrious Catalan architect Adolf Florensa. The architectural design is in full harmony with the natural environment. The winery, half buried, offers a discreet appearance, without artifice or façade, as the maximum expression of respect for the landscape.
At the same time, the commitment to the environment was recognized in 2021, by becoming the first European winery to obtain LEED® Gold, the largest global certification in sustainable building, granted by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
Among the sustainability pillars of the project, we find the use of geothermal energy, the efficient consumption of water and electricity, the choice of sustainable materials and processes, thermal insulation and the predominance of natural lighting. The building has 538 piles, 331 of which are used as heat exchangers with the ground to reduce heating, cooling and hot water consumption, saving around 37% of energy.
The 700 m³ rainwater accumulation tank and the drainage network that facilitates water infiltration into the subsoil favor the natural water cycle and reduce the saturation of the sewage system and treatment plants. The building uses very low consumption lighting and promotes the entry and use of natural light. Thermal insulation contributes to reducing energy expenditure. Likewise, 100% of electrical consumption corresponds to certified renewable energy.
Perelada is much more than the place where wines of extraordinary quality are made. It is also a destination that allows you to discover and enjoy the Castell Perelada and the Convento del Carme, with its 14th century Gothic church and cloister, where capitals and sculptures from the monastery of Sant Pere de Roda and religious paintings are exhibited.
It also houses collections of great value, such as a library with 100,000 volumes with incunabula or more than 1,000 editions of Don Quixote; 2,500 pieces of glass ranging from Pharaonic Egypt to the 19th century; and 1,500 pieces of ceramics. It also includes the Wine Museum or the exhibition of Hispano Switzerland, an automobile company founded by Damià Mateu.
Another of the attractions of this enclave is the Hotel Perelada, which offers an oasis of calm and tranquility and is the ideal starting point to enjoy the area. Likewise, chef Javi Martínez and maître d' Toni Gerez, in the Castell Perelada restaurant; chef Paco Pérez, with Shiro in the castle gardens; the L'Olivera restaurant in the hotel and the Celler 1923, in the winery, will offer a gastronomic offer that celebrates Empordanese and international cuisine, and which has accumulated one Michelin star and two Repsol soles.
The Empordà summer is synonymous with the best music thanks to the Castell Perelada Festival, which since 1987 has brought together the most relevant international figures in lyric and dance. Artists such as Jonas Kaufmann, Sondra Radvanoski, Josep Carreras and Montserrat Caballé have performed on its stage (who proposed to Carmen Mateu and Arturo Suqué, owners of the castle and patrons, the creation of a summer festival with a stable programme). In addition, the premiere of the festival's new auditorium is scheduled for 2024.
And from one classic to another: the Golf Club Perelada. Being surrounded by mountains, sea and wind makes it one of the most pleasant courses and allows players of all levels to enjoy it. On this tour you cannot miss visits to the Perelada Wine Spa - the ideal choice for health care and well-being, thanks to its treatments derived from grapes - and the Perelada Casino, icon of an incomparable leisure offer.
All of these proposals – together with an environment where we find places such as the Cap de Creus Natural Park or the Teatre-Museu Dalí in Figueres – make Perelada an unrivaled destination for those who value proposals capable of combining nature, leisure and culture.
