Author: Gisela

Alta Alella gives wine bottles a second life

Written by Gisela on 2023/06/30. Posted in Sustainability.

2023.06.29

Reusing bottles is not a new thing at our winery. Perhaps you were not aware of it, but all the natural wines of the Celler de les Aus have been released on the market in reused cava bottles since their beginnings. Until now this was not always communicated, but it has recently been included on the labels of the wines and cavas so that our customers can enjoy the wine twice as much, knowing that they are making a conscious choice to support sustainability.

From now on, at Alta Alella and Celler de les Aus we are taking another step forward in our commitment to the environment and sustainability, and we introduce a new system to recuperate and reuse our bottles. This process not only reduces waste but also support a circular economy by giving wine bottles a new life.

How does it work?

Through this initiative, our Wine Tourism Centre will collect all the bottles that visitors consume at our winery and afterwards they will undergo a rigorous process of cleaning and sterilization, which will be carried out by POTS, a company from Barcelona. Once they are as good as new -better than new, as they will now be more sustainable-, the bottles will be returned to the winery so that we can bottle new wines and they can be enjoyed again by our visitors.

In 2022, we received 10,000 visitors to our winery. In addition, we will also recuperate bottles that our distributor in the province of Girona supplies to the HORECA channel, a collaboration that increases the amount of bottle that will be reused. With this, we aim to make a significant difference to reducing waste, cutting down on the need to produce new glass and decreasing our carbon footprint.

Growing a more sustainable future

As a family-run winery, we are very aware that we must contribute to a more sustainable future, so that new generations can enjoy the land as much as we do. That’s why we will continue to explore new ways to reduce our environmental impact and inspire others to do the same.

GX Rosé 2022: Gold medal at Grenaches du Monde

Written by Gisela on 2023/06/29. Posted in Awards.

2023.06.27

The prestigious international competition for wines made with the Grenache variety has awarded the Gold Medal to Alta Alella GX Rosé 2022.

This edition of the competition (the 11th) was held for the first time outside Europe, specifically in New York, and more than 800 Grenache wines were tasted by the jury, made up of 80 professionals from the sector including distributors, sommeliers, importers, as well as journalists and influential people from the world of wine.

Alta Alella GX Rosé is a rosé wine made with the Garnatxa Negra and Garnatxa Peluda varieties, with a remarkable intensity of fresh strawberry aromas, citrus notes and rose petals. It is fresh, well balanced and with a distinguished minerality and salinity. A perfect match to enjoy on hot summer days.

Buy it now

Aus Pét-Nat, “bubbles of happiness”

Written by Gisela on 2023/06/28. Posted in Media.

Aus Pét-Nat, “bubbles of happiness”

2023.06.22

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Aus Rosé Pét-Nat: “A pink journey you will never want to end”

Written by Gisela on 2023/06/28. Posted in Media.

Aus Rosé Pét-Nat: “A pink journey you will never want to end”

2023.06.18

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Our bubbles, rated by Wine & Spirits

Written by Gisela on 2023/06/20. Posted in Awards.

2022.03.14

Organic cava

Alta Alella LAIETÀ Gran Reserva: 92

“Pale sesame seed and miso flavors meet in this clean, savory sparkler. Completely dry, it presents xarel-lo under the light influence of chardonnay and pinot noir. An austere Cava to pour with cracked crab.” – Wine & Spirits Magazine

Alta Alella MIRGIN Rosé Reserva: 90

“Rustic austerity takes this monastrell rosé toward tannins in its red fruit flavors that last. Dried cherries and Ruby Red grapefruit hold to the sense of austerity. For cured duck sausages.” – Wine & Spirits Magazine

Alta Alella Mirgin EXEO Paraje Calificado Vallcirera: 90

“Rich and not overtly sweet, this blend of xarel-lo and chardonnay has a peach melba flavor to its toasty fruit, clean and fresh. Tinged in pink.” – Wine & Spirits Magazine

Natural cava (no added sufites)

AUS Bruant: 91

“There’s sweetness to this xarel-lo’s underripe strawberry flavors and caramelized baked-apple notes. The texture is creamy, even as the acidity provides lasting freshness. For caviar-topped fried oysters.” – Wine & Spirits Magazine

Alta Alella participates in the Sensoreg project

Written by Gisela on 2023/05/22. Posted in Sustainability.

2023.05.22

Sensoreg’s integration of sensors and remote monitoring allows efficient irrigation management in vineyards through continuous control of the soil, the plant and the weather conditions

The main goal of the project is to optimize water management in vineyard cultivation through the digitalization and optimization of all the production processes, following criteria of efficiency and water saving, defined in a decision-making protocol/strategy that ensures annual production and improves the quality and oenological potential of the grape harvest.

In order to achieve this main objective, more specific objectives are defined in the wineries that present the project:

Segmentation of the vineyard plots to optimize water management according to the microclimatological, edaphic and agronomic characteristics of the different parcels.
Optimization of water management in the vineyard, with the application of technology that gives a clear support in the decision of the following points:
- Soil management for maximum use of the soil’s water reserves.
- Timing, dosage and overall irrigation strategy.
Correlating plant development, soil humidity sensor data, plant hydric stress data, and remote sensing images with the conditions of the farms where they are installed. This will help determine useful algorithms to automate the processes.
Introduction and validation of “Saturas” technology, which allows the monitoring of plant water status.

Project financed through Operation 16.01.01 Cooperation for innovation of the Rural Development Programme of Catalonia 2014-2022

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Alta Alella consolidates its commitment to the territory and invests in new vineyards

Written by Gisela on 2023/05/08. Posted in Sustainability, Winery.

2023.04.28

The winery announces a 52% increase in overall turnover, rising from 3.3 million euros in 2018 to 5 million euros in 2022
45% of sales come from international markets such as Canada, the United States, Germany and Finland

Alta Alella, an organic family winery since its origin, continues its commitment to the territory and announces an investment of 2.5 million euros in the development of its winemaking activity, destined mainly to the acquisition of new hectares of land in Alella-Tiana, as well as technical facilities and tools to preserve the vineyard. “What excites me most is that my parents started with just one hectare in 1991 and in 2024, we will reach 70 hectares. We could have chosen another business model based on volume, but our path was and is to focus on the land, the vines, and to lead and control the entire winemaking process,” says Mireia Pujol-Busquets, co-owner and second generation of the winery.

This investment comes after years of growth and consolidation of the brand. The Pujol-Busquets family has announced a 52% increase in turnover in just five years. Specifically, its global turnover has risen from 3.3 million euros in 2018 to 5 million last year. From these, national sales represent 55% (with Catalonia, Balearic Islands, Basque Country, Valencian Community, Andalusia and Madrid mainly), and exports 45% (with Canada -Quebec-, United States, Germany and Finland as the largest international markets).

The Value of the Territory

Alta Alella is the culmination of a family project that was born more than thirty years ago by Josep Maria Pujol-Busquets and Cristina Guillén. After making wines all over the world, in 1991 they acquired the modernist Can Genís estate where Alta Alella is located, just 14 km from the city of Barcelona and less than 2 km from the Mediterranean, in the privileged agricultural area of the Serralada de Marina Natural Park. “It is a miracle to be able to develop this project so close to Barcelona. All our family’s efforts are dedicated to it”, says its founder, Josep Maria.

The investment in new vineyard plantations represents a very positive impact for the ecosystem in the peri-urban area of Barcelona and contributes to the organization of the territory, providing landscape value, as well as acting as a firebreak. The winery works with small parcels, which respect the orography of the territory as much as possible, maintaining the areas of forest between the vineyards. This enhances biodiversity, prevents the appearance of plagues and soil erosion, and has a positive impact on the quality of the wine, as “we plant the varieties that are best suited to each plot of land so that they express their full potential and uniqueness, taking into account the distance and height above sea level, and the orientation with respect to the sun”, explains Mireia.

Imagen de la finca con vistas al mar donde se aprecia la bodega, el viñedo y la casa modernista Can Genís

Taking care of the vineyard in 2023: digitalization and environmental responsibility

Loyal to its values, “dedicated to transparency and committed to nature“, the family’s priority has always been the responsibility towards the territory (born organic) and the production of high quality wines and cavas that express their origin to the fullest. Following the premise of sustainability, part of the investment has also been destined to renewable energies and the digitalization of the vineyard. Alta Alella has been working for 8 years now with digital tools that increase traceability in the field, provide greater efficiency and optimization of the work in the vineyard, and minimize the environmental impact.

“A winery is a long-term project, and to ensure that future generations can enjoy the benefits of the land, we have to take care of it today”, says Mireia. Already in 1999, Alta Alella began its participation in the experimental vineyard project with Resistant and Autochthonous Varieties Adapted to Climate Change (VRIAACC in Catalan). Reducing the carbon footprint is a priority task for the winery, which for the last three years has also been a member of the “Voluntary Agreements Programme” promoted by the Government of Catalonia, following the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

AUS Rosé Pét-Nat, amongst the favorites Jordi Luque

Written by Gisela on 2023/04/19. Posted in Media.

2023.04.16

The ancestral wine from Celler de les Aus is one of the wines highlighted in his article for Beber Magazine, the digital media specialized in beverages.

On April 15 and 16 was held in Barcelona a new edition of the independent fair of natural wines Vella Terra, in which Mireia Pujol-Busquets joined with Celler de les Aus. Jordi Luque, a communicator with a focus on gastronomy, attended the event and published his favorite wines, from amongst those he tasted, in Beber Magazine.

The selection includes the ancestral AUS Rosé Pét-Nat 2022, which he defines as “Delicious, fruity and crisp”. “We are, from our point of view, in front of the best producer of ancestral wines, understood as the cleanest and without defects, in Spain,” says about Mireia.

Committed to nature

The Celler de les Aus project began in 2006, with the production of the first sulfite-free cava. Led by Mireia Pujol-Busquets, this winery is Alta Alella’s most visible commitment to sustainability.

The family continues its pursuit of offering natural wines and cavas made without added sulfites. A dynamic winery full of experience, with a burning desire to improve and a deep appreciation for exceptional work.

Mireia Pujol-Busquets: “The near future is to have plants that require no treatment at all”

Written by Gisela on 2023/04/14. Posted in Media.

2023.04.11

Betevé (Barcelona TV) interviews Mireia Pujol-Busquets, co-owner and second generation of Alta Alella.

Alta Alella, an organic family-run winery since its origin, is located just 10 km away from Barcelona and set in a privileged area: the Serralada de Marina Natural Park. Taking advantage of this proximity to the city, Betevé, Barcelona television, visited the Can Genís estate to know the project firsthand.

In the report, journalist Íngrid Colomer interviews Mireia Pujol-Busquets, co-owner and second generation of the winery. Alta Alella’s commitment to the territory and sustainability are the main focus of the conversation. “We are organic since the beginning and 18 years ago we started making wines and cavas without sulfites, natural wines with minimal intervention. We always talk about transparent wines. We want them to transmit the vintage, wines without makeup, that reflect the varieties, the soil, the sea, and the people behind them”, explains Mireia. And she adds: “In terms of viticulture, since we are very aware of organic farming and climate change, we have been working for 12 years on a project to develop varieties that are resistant and adapted to climate change (VRIAACC). […] The near future is to have plants that require no treatment at all. We must think about future generations and the legacy we will leave them”.

What makes Alta Alella wines unique, which is the main variety of the area and with what food we can pair them are other topics that are discussed throughout the interview. And also the Wine Tourism, a field in which the winery has also been a pioneer: “Ten years ago we decided to open the doors of the winery to the public and we invested in creating a wine tourism center. This has allowed us to be in contact with people and build loyalty in a very different way. […] Now we can provide a full experience. They walk in, they smell, they see, they ask questions… This is what remains in the end”, Mireia points out.

Watch the full interview (min. 1:47:00)

Alta Alella receives the Best Cultural Experience Award by Premis Vinari

Written by Gisela on 2023/04/05. Posted in Awards.

2022.03.14 – Foto: Jordi Play (vadevi)

The activity ‘Microtheatre amongst vineyards’ has received the award for the Best Wine Tourism experience in the areas of Culture, Social and Sports.

Alta Alella has been awarded at the Wine Tourism Vinari Awards with the activity ‘Microtheatre amongst vineyards’, which the winery organizes together with the entity Microsensacions teatrals, as the Best Wine Tourism Experience in the areas of Culture, Social and Sports. A distinction ex aequo with ‘Camins del Cava’, an activity organized by AECAVA.

The Vinari Wine Tourism Awards, now in their second edition, aim to promote and boost quality wine tourism in Catalonia as a local activity and to encourage its practice. At the awards ceremony, held on 31 March in Sant Sadurní d’Anoia, Mireia Pujol-Busquets expressed her gratitude for the award to the entire organization and her wine tourism team, and also took the opportunity to highlight the avant-garde philosophy of the winery and the family: “We have been pioneers in terms of product and viticulture, we have been practising organic farming for 30 years, since the beginning, and we have been making sulphite-free wines for 18 years, and with wine tourism we have also wanted to be innovative. We decided 10 years ago that we wanted to share the culture of wine in a very personalized way. With wine tourism we have the opportunity to create customer loyalty through the experience and this is unbeatable”, she pointed out.

Alta Alella is located in the heart of the Serralada de Marina Natural Park, a privileged area just 10 km from Barcelona and 2 km from the sea. The winery’s Wine Tourism Centre is open almost every day of the year, and organizes weekly activities, from visits, tastings and wine pairings, to less common experiences in a winery, such as yoga sessions, theatre, book presentations, children’s workshops, etc. “One of the nice things about wine tourism is that you can create synergies with other sectors: music, art, gastronomy, theatre… With whom we share values and can communicate the culture of wine in a more personalized and original way”, explains Mireia.

Microtheatre among vineyards

This award-winning wine tourism experience is a circuit of small-format plays staged in alternative spaces. During the activity, different areas of the estate (cellar, cellar, vineyard…) are transformed into theatrical scenarios, where the audience enjoys 3 plays from different companies coordinated by the entity Microsensacions teatrals. Each play includes a tasting of a wine or cava from the winery, guided by a member of the sommelier team.

This is a cultural proposal that focuses on the sensations of the participants, both out of their everyday space, rather than the more careful aesthetics normally required for a regular show, playing at being part of what is happening and will not be repeated.

The activity was programmed on several occasions during 2022, this season has already been experienced in the month of February and we hope to be able to offer it again very soon! For the meantime, we welcome you to check out our agenda of activities.

Author: Gisela