Agustí Torelló Mata
by
Kathy and Terry Sullivan
Summary: Agusti Torelló Mata is a modern bodega that has several attractions for the wine tourist. While on the tour of the facility, a learning tunnel will showcase the four seasons of vineyard growing and winemaking. A contemporary tasting room facilitates cava tasting.
Agusti Torelló Mata is located in Sant Sadurní d’Anoia. Upon arriving at the winery, visitors can view a large fountain created with cava bottles; water flows from the bottles at the apex. Wine enthusiasts may be interested in looking at the winemaking and vineyard equipment from the past. They are displayed outside, along the sides of one of the buildings. One interesting item was a rugged looking machine for washing bottles. Also to be seen is a large stone base for must collection.
History
Agusti Torelló Mata founded the winery in 1993 after working in the cava industry since he was 13 years old. When he retired, he decided to form his own company. Agusti also is responsible for creating the first wine analysis in the area in 1953.
Winery
A visit to Agusti Torelló Mata begins in the winery where a press and stainless steel tanks await the fall harvest. Stop by a colorful map that shows the Penedés region and the different soils encountered. Wine enthusiasts then move to the cellars where visitors learn that the only cavas produced by Agusti Torelló Mata are reservas and gran reservas. Furthermore, only indigenous yeasts are used in the production of cava.
Although Agusti Torelló Mata has a vineyard located on their property close to the winery, they also have vineyards in other parts of the Penedès region. Altogether the winery has 30 hectares (74 acres) of vineyards. In producing cavas, Agusti Torelló Mata uses Xarel.lo, Macabeo, Parellada and Trepat varietal grapes exclusively, and they only craft their own blends. The winery produces 500,000 bottles of cavas. The grape varieties Xarel.lo and Macabeo are also used to produce still wines. At the time of our late May visit, vineyard workers were removing the leaves around the buckshot berries so that more sunlight would touch the grapes.
Visitors who tour the winery have an opportunity to view a colorful, multi-screen video displayed on a huge hallway wall. The video is displayed in four sections and highlights grape growing and cava making through the seasons. Opposite the screens are metal sculptures of a grapevine, depicted as it is seen throughout the four seasons. After the video, continuing down the hall past aging cava bottles, there is a unique modern artwork that portrays vineyard workers during harvest time.
Visitors can view cava bottles resting on their sides. The winery has several automatic gyropalettes for riddling the cavas they produce. One of the most unusual aspects of Agusti Torelló Mata are the unique bottles that are used for their best cava, Kripta. The first Kripta was produced in 1979. The bottles are the traditional green but the shape of the bottle is somewhat oval, like a skinny, long amphora. Think of an egg; it would be difficult to set an egg on its end. This is true for the Kripta bottle. The winery has created a special holder for these bottles. The Kripta label is an artist’s drawing of the sea, a person, olives and grapes created by Rafael Bartolozzi.
Tasting Room
Wine enthusiasts will enjoy the elegant and delightful tasting room. Counters in the tasting room are backlit with a subdued white light that highlights the color of cavas and wines. The counters and tables, some with seating, make the tasting experience seem all the more enticing. In addition to purchasing wine and cava, the tasting room offers balsamic vinegar and wine-related books. At the back of the tasting room three large, clear cylinders show the type of soils ideal for the three indigenous white cava grapes.
Notice the bottle labels. The label is placed exactly on an embossed section of the bottle glass. These unique bottles with the relief area for a label are only made by one bottle manufacturer in Italy.
Cavas
The 2009 Brut Gran Reserva was a blend of 44% Macabeo, 24% Xarel.lo and 32% Parellada.The bottle was disgorged in January 2015 after aging for 60 months. The yellow colored cava showed multiple beads of bubbles rising to the surface forming a mousse. There were floral notes, pear and citrus on the aroma and taste with a hint of freshly baked bread on the finish. The cava had a pleasant mouthfeel.
The 2007 Kripta Brut Nature was an old-vine blend of 45% Macabeo, 20% Xarel.lo and 35% Parellada. The cava was disgorged in April of 2015 after seven years aging. The aroma and taste of the cava was suggestive of pear, freshly baked bread with citrus and apple on the finish. It had a smooth exciting mouthfeel.
The 2010 Gran Reserva Barrica was a light yellow color with beads of bubbles forming a mousse on the surface. The aroma had green apple and citrus, while the taste offered apple, freshly baked bread and mineral.There was also apple, freshly baked bread yielding to mineral on the finish.
We also tasted a 2012 Rosat Trepat that was made of 100% Trepat grapes. The orange colored cava offered blossoms and strawberries on the aroma. The taste also had strawberries and orange blossoms. The finish was fruity yielding to mineral on the aftertaste.
Wine Tourism
There are different tours offered by Agusti Torelló Mata including guided tours of the cellar and underground caves and cava tastings. Check the Agusti Torelló Mata website for details. Appointments are necessary.
Agustí Torelló Mata
La Serra s/n
08770 Sant Sadurní d’Anoia
(Barcelona), Spain
Article written June 2015
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