From the atlas
Celler Mariol S L
Celler Mariol in Batea, Terra Alta, makes single variety wines and vermouths from a dry Mediterranean landscape.
At A Glance
| Field | Detail |
| Region | Terra Alta, southern Catalonia |
| Village | Batea |
| Grape focus | Terra Alta Garnacha, Cariñena, Syrah, Cabernet, Merlot and Verdejo |
| Signature wine | Samsó Crianza |
| Defining feature | Single variety wines alongside vermouths |
The Producer
Josep Maria is Celler Mariol's winemaker and manager, with Artur as his right hand. Founded in 1945, the third generation family winery works from Batea in Terra Alta, southern Catalonia. Its range is built around Terra Alta single variety wines and vermouths.
The family works with both local and experimental grape material. Terra Alta Garnacha sits beside Syrah, Cabernet, Merlot and Verdejo, while Samsó Crianza puts Cariñena into a single variety red wine. Vermut Negre takes the range in a different direction, using selected white grapes and herbs from Terra Alta.
Place
Batea sits in Terra Alta, a wine region in southern Catalonia. Samsó Crianza carries the DO Terra Alta appellation, placing its Cariñena within the region's wine designation.
The same local setting also shapes Vermut Negre. Its herbs come from Terra Alta, so the vermouth keeps a direct link to the place even when the base grapes are white and the finished drink is darkened through production.
Soil And Site
The vineyards grow in a dry Mediterranean climate on mostly calcareous soils. Calcareous ground drains readily, while the dry conditions and moving air limit prolonged dampness around the vines.
Two prevailing winds cross the area. The northern cierzo is dry, while the southeastern garbí brings moist air. Sustainable agriculture is tied to care and protection of the landscape, connecting vineyard work with the condition of the surrounding ground and air.
Story
Josep Maria Bes and Josefina Aguiló began the family trade by selling homemade wine in regional markets. The business now has Josep Maria as winemaker and manager, with Artur as his right hand, and its bottles divide between single variety Terra Alta wines and vermouths.
That family path also widened the range beyond one traditional form of wine. The present portfolio includes a Cariñena red, Terra Alta Garnacha wines, experimental Verdejo, and a vermouth made from selected white grapes and herbs.
Vineyards And Cellar
The vineyard holding covers 50 hectares. Plantings include Syrah, Cabernet and Merlot, Terra Alta Garnacha and experimental Verdejo. Casa Mariol Garnatxa Blanca and Casa Mariol Garnatxa Negra have organic certification, while the producer's products have carried vegan certification since 2019.
Samsó Crianza is made traditionally and subsequently aged in oak casks. Oak ageing allows slow oxygen contact, which can soften the texture of a red wine as it develops.
Wines
Celler Mariol presents two distinct wine directions. Samsó Crianza is a single variety red made from Cariñena, while Vermut Negre is a sweet, dark vermouth made from selected white grapes and macerated herbs from Terra Alta.
The red wine keeps the grape at the centre of the bottle. The vermouth builds its profile through herbs and spices, giving the range a second form of expression alongside the still wines.
In The Glass
Samsó Crianza has a clean picota cherry colour with mahogany hues. Its bouquet leads with violets, followed by prune, toast and cocoa. The palate enters fresh, becomes creamy, and finishes with a light exotic note. The oak is well integrated.
Vermut Negre moves into thyme and vanilla, with orange peel, cinnamon, liquorice and clove. Its palate has refreshing, balanced acidity with a rounded, complex feel. The finish is lightly bitter, with caramel notes, while raisin, nuts and dried apricot add sweetness and spice.
A Bottle To Understand It
Choose Samsó Crianza 2021. It is a 100% Cariñena from Celler Mariol's Terra Alta range, with one grape and one vintage carrying the bottle. The wine gives the producer's red side a clear place beside Vermut Negre and the broader selection of Terra Alta varieties.
Anecdote
In 1971, Josep Vaquer and Emília Llop took over the winery. Their generation pioneered the growing and bottling of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon in the region. The work moved the family business beyond its earlier trade in homemade wine sold through regional markets. Later plantings included Merlot, while the winery returned to Terra Alta Garnacha and experimented with Verdejo. Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon became both vineyard crops and bottled wines in the family business.
Final Word
Celler Mariol joins family winemaking in Batea with Terra Alta grape varieties, a Cariñena wine, and a vermouth made from selected white grapes and local herbs.
Sources
- https://www.casamariol.com/en/about-us/
- https://www.systembolaget.se/produkt/vin/casa-mariol-7604901/
- https://www.casamariol.com/en/productes/crianca-en/samso-crianza/
- https://www.casamariol.com/productes/vermut/vermut-negre-1l-casa-mariol/
- https://www.casamariol.com/en/