5 WINES TO USHER IN AUTUMN

5 appellations of origin — 5 incredible stories

After a hot summer that beat all existing average temperature records, the cool embrace of autumn has never sounded more appealing. To celebrate the season, we’d like to recommend five wonderfully unique wines from five different appellations of origin.

Enjoying a glass of red wine during an outdoor lunch in autumn 

Clos Ancestral White (DO Penedès): for adventurous palates and sustainably curious minds. 

• The process of making this wine springs from an endeavour best described as ampelographic archaeology, an effort to restore a long-forgotten heritage. These recovered varieties, including Forcada, have shown great oenological potential, as well as a natural resistance to the effects of climate change. 
• Clos Ancestral is clean, radiant, pale yellow in colour. Delicate and seductive, the nose reveals a symphony of fruit aromas. Fresh, lively, and succulent on the palate with fine extract. Another indigenous variety, Xarel·lo, contributes a distinctive herbaceous nuance that makes the wine an unmistakable Penedès.
• In terms of food, the wine brings out the flavours of dishes with simple ingredients and little seasoning, such as raw or fried shellfish, oysters and prawns in their shell, and grilled fish. Memories of the final shimmers of summer light.

Clos Ancestral White, a Familia Torres property, made from the varieties Forcada and Xarel·lo in the DO Penedès 

Salmos Vi de Vila (DOCa Priorat): for lovers of modern classics.

• Salmos emphasizes its geographical provenance through its designation as a Vi de Vila or village wine, a tribute to the enclave where it is born and bred: Porrera.  The Vi de Vila designation describes a wine made from grapes grown in vineyards located in the appellation of origin DOQ Priorat and included in the same production area or vila. In the case of Salmos, this vila is Porrera.
• Salmos is a blend of Garnacha, which brings a sensuous quality to the wine, and Cariñena, which adds body and structure. In terms of appearance, it displays a beautiful, opaque ruby red colour. The nose offers remarkable intensity and expressive fruit (ripe black fruit, cassis, blackberry jam, and mineral and spicy nuances). Delicate yet flavourful on the palate, with round velvety tannins. A firm-bodied wine full of personality, well structured, with an elegant lingering finish. 
• Make a pact with your inner hedonist and pair Salmos with a beef steak; otherwise, try it with a creamy veggie rice.

Salmos, a Familia Torres property, is a red wine made from Garnacha and Cariñena 

Purgatori (DO Costers del Segre): for those seeking surprising wines from small appellations of origin.

• Although it hasn’t been around long, Purgatori has garnered a host of accolades since its creation. In 1770, monks from the abbey of Montserrat settled on the estate and began working the land to provide food for the diocese and satiate their thirst. 
• Purgatori plunges the eye into vast cherry red depths. Intense floral and fruit (violets, cassis) notes emerge on the nose, enveloped in a halo of Mediterranean scrubland reminiscent of thyme. Captivating wood-imparted nuances of smoke and spices (cacao) contribute elegant complexity and bearing. The palate is intense, mouthfilling. 
• Purgatori, a Garnacha and Cariñena blend, pairs perfectly with cannelloni. 

Purgatori, a Familia Torres property, is a red Garnacha and Cariñena
blend from DO Costers del Segre

Pazo das Bruxas (DO Rías Baixas): for romantics who feel at home on the Atlantic.

• Pazo das Bruxas captures the mists of the forest and the brine of the sea. The witches referenced in the name and on the label embody the mythology and folklore of Galicia. With spells and ritual dances, they communed with the gods of nature, asking for their blessing to harvest the finest fruit. 
• Pazo das Bruxas is a tribute and celebration of ancestral tradition, revealed in its bright yellow colour and golden edge. Its intense nose leads us into a world of white flowers, citrus, and fresh stone fruit, culminating in a pleasant palate with firm acidity that persists on the long, flavourful finish.
• The timeless pairing of Albariño and oysters and/or mussels with minimal culinary intervention evokes a Celtic heritage, revealing a spiritual past where the soil and sky were inextricably linked by ancestral cultural practices.

Pazo das Bruxas, a Familia Torres property, is a white wine made from the Albariño variety in DO Rías Baixas

Malpastor (DOCa Rioja): for trailblazers eager to try something new.

• One of the newest members of the Familia Torres family is a Tempranillo from La Rioja. Typicity meets modernity in this elegant wine that brings varietal fruit aromas into perfect harmony with subtle oak nuances. Malpastor recalls the first shepherds to take up winegrowing. These pioneers with an adventurous spirit often abandoned their flocks in favour of their new pursuit, earning them the nickname “malos pastores” or “bad shepherds”.
• The wine is intensely fragrant: aromas of fruit and spices, along with delicious notes reminiscent of toasted bread. Juicy, velvety tannins rounded by subtle barrel ageing – yet the oak influence remains in the background, leaving the spotlight to the varietal expression. Mature and full-bodied on the palate, round, with good acidity. 
• Peerless in its versatility, Malpastor is a good choice for classic dishes, including tapas. 

Malpastor, a Familia Torres property, is a red Tempranillo wine from the DOCa Rioja 

As the vineyards shed their green in favour of ochre hues, they change the colour of the landscape, imbuing it with that peculiar nostalgia that takes hold in autumn. It’s time to switch our seasonal wardrobe and, while we’re at it, come up with new ways of nourishing our soul and palate. Add these five wines to your list and make autumn your favourite season with delight and moderation.