Alta Alella 1981 Ismael Manaut

Alta Alella 1981 Ismael Manaut · White rancio wine

“Ismael Manaut. The cosmopolitan vision of local action” – J.M. Pujol-Busquets

Ismael Manaut (Martorelles, 1936-2017) was a prominent industrialist in Vallès Oriental, an important businessman in the DO Alella wine region and a man of great artistic interest and sensibility. Manaut was a crucial figure in the history of Alta Alella and Josep Maria Pujol-Busquets’ first steps as a winemaker. In 1980, Manaut contacted Mr. Jaume Serra (home of great wine professionals such as the brothers Albert, Isidre and Carles Ferran; Quico Lluch; Imperial; etc.), to find an oenologist to start a project together with his friends Juan Peláez Fabra (Marquis of Alella) and Jaume Nadal (owner of Quatre Torres). Serra then recommended him to contact Josep Maria Pujol-Busquets, a promising young oenologist who was doing his military service at the time. The businessman commissioned Josep Maria to create a new winery under the name Alta Alella SA, which eventually became his final graduation project. In 1981, the winery was built in Santa Maria de Martorelles and the first vintage of “Marqués de Alella 1981” was released, a wine made from 100% Pansa Blanca, which had such an outstanding success that Josep Peñín bought the entire production for his exclusive wine club, as well as the prestigious Harrods in London. From that vintage, Josep Maria Pujol-Busquets kept some barrels to make a dry natural rancio wine, which over the years has been kept at Alta Alella SL. As a tribute and in gratitude to Manaut, it has been decided to make it into soleras, and now it is on sale to the public, in a limited edition (until now, it was only available for tasting internally at the winery).