Spain · Priorat

Celler Piñol

Family winery in Batea making organic Terra Alta wines from Garnacha, Cariñena, Garnacha Blanca and Morenillo.

The producer

Celler Piñol is a family winery in Batea, Terra Alta, with four generations of vine cultivation behind it. Its wines use regional grapes including Cariñena, Garnacha Tinta, Garnacha Blanca and Morenillo. The vineyards lie between 400 and 500 metres under a Mediterranean climate that slows ripening, and dry farming concentrates aromas. Organic cultivation avoids pesticides and herbicides, while the winery combines technology with tradition and describes its range as minimal intervention and vegan friendly.

Known for

Organic Terra Alta native grapes

Notable facts

The story

Josefina Recovers Morenillo

After Teresina died, Josefina Arrufí kept the family project going. She did so by recovering local grape varieties, including Morenillo, a variety that was nearly forgotten in the area. In 1995, the family bottled its first wine, L'Avi Arrufí, a white based on Garnacha Blanca and named for Grandfather Arrufí. The family had been cultivating vines in Batea for four generations. The first bottle was made from Garnacha Blanca, while Morenillo entered the recovered set of local varieties used by Celler Piñol.

From the atlas

Celler Piñol

A family winery in Batea, Terra Alta, working with organically grown regional grapes and a minimal intervention range.

At A Glance

FieldDetail
AppellationTerra Alta Designation of Origin
VillageBatea
Main grapesCariñena, Garnacha Tinta, Garnacha Blanca and Morenillo
Notable bottleL'Avi Arrufí White
Defining featureOrganic cultivation, minimal intervention and a vegan friendly range

The Producer

Celler Piñol is a family winery in Batea, within Terra Alta, producing wines from organically grown regional grapes. Its native varieties include Cariñena, Garnacha Tinta, Garnacha Blanca and Morenillo. The winery combines technology and tradition in its production.

Four generations of the Piñol family have cultivated vines in Batea. Organic cultivation has continued for more than two decades without pesticides or herbicides. The cellar follows a minimal intervention approach, and the entire range is vegan friendly.

Place

The vineyards lie between 400 and 500 metres under a Mediterranean climate that slows ripening. A slower ripening season gives fruit more time to develop, while generally helping acidity remain present as flavour builds. Terra Alta is the Designation of Origin carried by the wines, with Batea as the winery's home base.

Wines

The range separates its bottles through grape composition and cellar treatment. Raig de Raïm Red 2022 is a red blend of 75% Garnacha, 15% Cariñena and 10% Syrah, made without élevage, the post fermentation maturation stage. Its red fruit, toasted oak, jam and balsamic herbs place it alongside the red wines of the range.

Portal White 2025 is a dry, unoaked white made from 90% Garnacha, 5% Sauvignon Blanc and 5% Viognier. L'Avi Arrufí White 2024 is made entirely from White Grenache and fermented and aged in new French oak for seven months with bâtonnage, the stirring of lees during ageing. Raig de Raïm Red has a storage window of three years, Portal White four to five years, and L'Avi Arrufí White fifteen years.

Final Word

Josefina Arrufí kept the family project going after Teresina's death and recovered local varieties including Morenillo. In 1995, the family bottled its first wine, L'Avi Arrufí, a white based on Garnacha Blanca.

Sources

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