The Loxarel winery has restored a 2.9-hectare vineyard on an old farmland parcel in the Pla de Manlleu area, which had been abandoned for years and overtaken by forest and vegetation.
The Loxarel winery has restored a 2.9-hectare vineyard on an old farmland parcel in the Pla de Manlleu area, which had been abandoned for years and overtaken by forest and vegetation. A year ago, the winery obtained permission from the Generalitat to reclaim the land, clear it, and convert it back into a vineyard. A total of 10,440 Garnacha vines have been planted using the goblet training system. In three to four years, once the vines reach maturity, they will be used to produce OPS, one of Loxarel’s most emblematic red wines.
The restoration of this vineyard has involved the complete reconstruction of the old dry-stone wall that borders the entire path for 310 meters. Over time, and with the encroachment of the forest and vegetation, the wall had disappeared. It has been rebuilt manually, stone by stone, following traditional methods. The restoration work took one year and three months, using only stones from the vineyard itself and the surrounding area.
The new vineyard has been named La Vinya de l’Àvia Paquita, in honor of the grandmother of Teresa Nin, co-owner of Loxarel and heir to this estate. Àvia Paquita acquired the vineyards of Coma del Coll de Selma through a unique agreement with the previous owner: she paid the agreed price using wood harvested from the very forests of the estate.
Commitment to respectful pruning
Both in these high-altitude vineyards and across all its estates, Loxarel has implemented the respectful pruning system to extend the lifespan of the vines. This pruning method, which mainly involves avoiding excessive cutting of the plant’s branches, helps maintain the natural sap flow, prevents the spread of wood diseases, and protects the vines from pests and fungi. It improves the overall health of the vineyard, is more sustainable, and significantly extends the lifespan of the vines.
This past Tuesday, March 14, we visited the new vineyards with journalists and wine communicators, showing them how we practice respectful pruning. They learned firsthand from both the winery’s owner and oenologist, Josep Mitjans, as well as the two farmers who tend to the vineyards, Jaume and Juanma. Afterward, we explored the Templar village of Selma, and finally, we concluded with a visit to the stunning new eco-resort Les Torres de Selma, which is set to open to the public in April. The tour was led by its owner, Luc. To top it all off, Teresa and Inés prepared a delicious paella, perfectly paired with a selection of our wines and sparkling wines.
Read the article on the digital platform Vadevi
https://vadevi.elmon.cat/territori/loxarel-recupera-tres-ha-vinyes-alcada-pla-manlleu-89836/
