4 WINTER COMFORT WINES
Identity, Quality, and Warmth
During the winter, the vines manifest as a melancholy absence. Beautiful ghostly apparitions of dormant canes and wood silhouetted against the horizon. Enveloped in silence, they invite our gaze to drift and reflect on matters great and small.
The cold settles in. Home becomes a sanctuary for some, a burrow for others – either way, the sofa is king. It’s comfort food season, the cosy sound of bubbling soups and slow-cooked stews, while a glass of red wine warms the soul.
Wines and Winter
Red wines take on a new dimension when the temperatures drop. Much like shoots or tendrils, their reach extends, expanding the possibilities of what a wine can offer.
These are wines with stories, best shared in front of an open fire. Their varietal identity is an expression of home; their weight on the palate, a long kiss; their aromatic complexity, a mystery that draws us in, then lifts us up. On this sensory journey, they take us to many different appellations of origin.
Two people enjoying a glass of wine by the fireplace
Looking for the Perfect Wine? Take Note:
The wine regions Penedès, Ribera del Duero, Priorat, and Rioja all experience different winters, each one with their own distinctive characteristics that innately imbue their wines with unique expressions.
Clos Ancestral Red (DO Penedès):
Brought back to our lives.
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Clos Ancestral Red is an organic wine made from a blend of Moneu, a recovered long-forgotten variety, and indigenous varieties like Ull de Llebre (Tempranillo) and Garnacha from 30 to 40-year-old vineyards. Each grape is vinified separately to bring out its full varietal potential and expression. The Moneu batch underwent meticulous work in the winery and was partially aged in earthenware vats and amphorae.
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Medium in terms of colour intensity, it displays a beautiful garnet hue with cherry highlights. Fragrant and seductive on the nose, with rich floral and fruit aromas that oscillate between wild roses and raspberries. Supple, light, smooth on the palate, with a pleasant, very sensuous texture that foregoes potency to find its identity in exceptional acidity and an unusual, unmistakable personality. Uniqueness rooted in a sense of place.
Clos Ancestral Red (DO Penedès) is the ideal choice to accompany a winter meal
Celeste Crianza (DO Ribera del Duero)
Since its inception, the Celeste range has consolidated and positioned itself as a hallmark of Familia Torres wines.
- Growing at almost 900 metres above sea level in the Pago del Cielo vineyard, the Tinta Fina vines have adapted to the region’s harsh temperatures, taking on a distinctive personality that makes the variety shine all on its own.
- This is why Celeste Crianza is a varietal solo act, only embellished with a touch of oak. The result is a cherry red wine with great depth of colour and a garnet rim. Very ripe black fruit aromas emerge from an initial impression of roasted, coffee, and dried fruit notes. Sensuousness and carnality expressed as wine.
Celeste Crianza (DO Ribera del Duero), a Familia Torres property
Salmos (DOQ Priorat)
Bajo esta nueva denominación propia del Priorat, Salmos evidencia sus intenciones de acercarnos a la tierra donde arraiga.
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Salmos Vi de Vila 2019 reflects the typicity of a single village – Porrera – and the land immediately around it. The grapes grow at elevations of up to 550 metres.
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Salmos is a blend of Garnacha and Cariñena, which give the wine its full body and structure. This timeless varietal pair is what makes Priorat wines so exceptional and highly regarded around the world. Salmos Vi de Vila succinctly captures the uniqueness of each parcel and each vineyard; the tireless work of skilled hands weathered by experience.
Salmos (DOQ Priorat), a Garnacha and Cariñena blend, a Familia Torres property
Malpastor (DOCa Rioja)
With La Carbonera, Familia Torres created a wine project that shows its commitment to Rioja Alavesa, specifically Labastida, where the focus is on provenance and typicity to craft unique wines that express the landscape of this historic wine region.
- Malpastor is a tribute to early shepherds who took up winegrowing, often abandoning their flock in the process. They were bold pioneers, often referred to as malos pastores or “bad shepherds”.
- The resulting wine is intense and fragrant, brimming with exquisite aromas of fruit and spices intermingled with notes reminiscent of toasted bread. The tannins are juicy and velvety, subtly fine-tuned by oak ageing. Mature on the palate, with good body and acidity; round and full.
