Casa Gourmet has launched its June wine selection, showcasing three red wines that explore the Mediterranean character of vineyards across Catalonia and Spain. The collection, which includes an organic red from Penedès, aims to provide a varied and accessible experience of the region's winemaking, according to the company.
The selection, valued at €80, is available for €49, representing a saving of €31 or a 39% discount. It features Casa de la Ermita Crianza 2022 from DO Jumilla, Terrer d’Aubert 2020 from DO Tarragona, and Negre Finca Renardes 2022 from DO Penedès.
Jumilla's High-Altitude Monastrell
The journey starts in Jumilla with Casa de la Ermita Crianza 2022. This red wine primarily uses Monastrell grapes, blended with Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. The winery is located at 700 metres above sea level in the Protected Regional Park of El Carche. This high-altitude setting helps define the wine's profile.
Casa de la Ermita, founded by the García family in 1999, was a key player in modernising the DO Jumilla region. It also helped establish Monastrell as a significant Spanish grape variety. The winery was the first in Jumilla to gain legal recognition for its organic farming practices. The Crianza 2022 displays an intense cherry red colour. It offers a sweet entry, good freshness, full body, black fruit notes, and abundant tannins. This wine pairs well with roasted peppers and aubergines, rabbit paella, and grilled meats.
Tarragona's Coastal Mineral Character
The second stop is Vila-seca, Tarragona, home to Terrer d’Aubert 2020. Vinyes del Terrer produces this wine just two kilometres from the Mediterranean Sea. It comes from seven hectares of Garnacha and Cabernet Sauvignon vines planted on 'lumachella' soils. This limestone, rich in marine fossils, gives the wine a distinct mineral and saline character. This Mediterranean red is known for its elegance, complexity, and persistence.
Its flavour profile includes red and black fruit, a mineral background, saline notes, fine tannins, and good acidity. This wine is closely tied to its landscape; the soil and proximity to the sea largely define its identity. Vinyes del Terrer is a family project by the Morell Caminal family, committed to natural viticulture that respects the ecosystem and is certified by the CCPAE. It complements roasted meats, Mediterranean stews, mountain rices, and cured cheeses.
Penedès Organic and Vegan Offering
The selection concludes with Finca Renardes 2022, an organic and vegan red wine from Parató Vinícola in Penedès. It is made primarily from old-vine Tempranillo, with Cabernet Sauvignon and a touch of Cariñena. The wine ages for about three months in American and French oak barrels. It is a versatile wine, structured yet smooth. The nose reveals ripe fruit, blackberry, strawberry, picota cherry, lactic notes, toast, sweet spices, liquorice, and a mineral background. On the palate, it offers a powerful entry and moderate acidity.
Parató Vinícola, established in 1975 in Alt Penedès, uses only grapes from its own vineyards. Its viticulture is 100% organic, and the winery is advancing sustainability measures linked to the Biosphere project. The wine received the Gran Or Medal at Girovi’24, along with other awards in previous competitions.
Discovering the Mediterranean, Glass by Glass
Casa Gourmet's June selection offers a straightforward way to compare three approaches to Mediterranean red wine: Jumilla's depth, Tarragona's mineral quality, and Penedès' friendly fruit. The collection includes two bottles of each wine and is available through Casa Gourmet and its app. This provides an opportunity to explore Mediterranean wines from family wineries and projects with strong territorial identities, all while enjoying excellent value for money.
