Discover Familia Torres's Most Acclaimed Reds
By Laura Conde, wine writer
Our taste for red wines evolves over time, keeping up with our ways of eating, socializing, and living life. For years, potent reds with a strong influence of oak dominated the market and palates, but now many consumers are embracing more supple, fresh, and easy-drinking styles. This does not mean that great timeless reds have lost their place – quite the contrary, they remain irreplaceable when it comes to special moments or when we seek depth, complexity, and nuances.
Red wines are also a wonderful conduit for their landscape of origin. They provide us with insights into the soil, climate, and personality of each individual region. The winemakers’ signature also makes its presence felt, especially in the choices they make in terms of barrel ageing. These are increasingly aimed at the subtle integration of oak, allowing the fruit and the wine’s identity to shine.
Tasting a red wine
At Familia Torres, the diversity of provenance and style translates into a wide range of red wines united by the same goal: to express the character of every zone with rigour, sensitivity, and an open mind when it comes to evolution. Join us in discovering some of Familia Torres’s signature red wines:
Mas La Plana is one of Familia Torres’s most iconic reds. Made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Mas La Plana broke the mould from its very first vintage, proving that this variety could excel in a Mediterranean climate. Deep, structured, and elegant, the wine has great cellaring potential and gains complexity as it matures in the bottle. A contemporary classic that has secured its place among the great Spanish reds.
Mas La Plana, DO Penedès, enjoyed during a meal
With Clos Ancestral Tinto, Familia Torres looks towards the future by recovering the past. Originating from organic Penedès vineyards, the wine is made from Tempranillo, Garnacha, and Moneu – a recovered ancestral variety that has been planted at the Castell de Bleda vineyard, in the heart of the region, and is highly resistant to drought and high temperatures. Full of fresh fruit and good acidity, the wine is accessible and pleasant, making it very food friendly.
Clos Ancestral Tinto, DO Penedès, served as an aperitif
The DO Costers del Segre appellation is home to Purgatori, a wine born from an extreme environment with very hot summers and strong temperature contrasts between day and night. These conditions result in concentrated grapes and a red wine of immense aromatic intensity, enveloping the palate in ripe fruit and spices. Made from Garnacha and Cariñena, Purgatori is a persistent, personality-driven wine that is both delicate and elegant, aged for 9 to 12 months in oak.
Purgatori de la DO Costers del Segre, the perfect match for a leisurely meal
Celeste Crianza hails from Ribera del Duero and represents Familia Torres’s take on this appellation, defined by high elevations and climatic contrasts. In fact, the vineyards lie at the highest elevations in the area, where the vines almost touch the sky, nourishing the imagery that has developed around one of the region’s most internationally known wines. An opulent, luscious Tempranillo, the wine blends black fruit, toasted notes, and a well-structured yet accessible midpalate. The wine pairs exceedingly well with food, an excellent companion for meat, stews, and intensely flavourful dishes
Celeste Crianza is the perfect choice for an informal meal with friends
Salmos originates in Priorat, one of the world’s most prestigious wine regions. The wine is a blend of Garnacha and Cariñena grown on llicorella slopes, the region’s characteristic slate rock. The resulting wine is deep, minerally, distinctively expressive of the landscape, and pays tribute to the monks of the Carthusian monastery of Escaladei, who arrived in Priorat in 1194 and introduced winegrowing to the area. Warm and velvety, the wine is notable for its delicate tannins and an elegance that gains finesse over time.
Salmos, DOQ Priorat, pairs perfectly with paella
To close our vinous journey, we travel to La Rioja to discover Malpastor, a Tempranillo varietal that pays homage to the so-called “bad shepherds” who abandoned their flocks to dedicate themselves to producing the region’s first grapes and wines. Malpastor is a friendly, straightforward red with an emphasis on fruit, perfect for just about any occasion. The wine goes beyond food and doesn’t require a meal to shine: it is equally well suited to an aperitif, a chat with friends or a moment of peace and quiet.
