Miguel Torres Maczassek, President, Familia Torres
If you’ve been reading my wine musings for a fair amount of time, it’s no secret that I love Spain and I have great affection and respect for family-owned wineries with a long history. So, it was an absolute joy and honor to chat on Instagram Live with Miguel Torres Maczassek, fifth-generation vintner and president of Familia Torres. In 2020, Familia Torres Winery celebrated their 150th anniversary, but their winemaking roots in Spain can be traced back to 1557!
Familia Torres produces quality wine from 9 DOs across Spain, and in Chile too, but our tasting focused on wines from Catalunya, where the family has deep roots. During our chat, we discussed the rich history of Familia Torres, their commitment to sustainability, high-altitude heroic viticulture, regenerative farming, and the important role monks played in winemaking in Catalunya. We tasted:
Varietat Recuperada “Forcada” 2019 ($74) – The Torres family placed ads in newspapers asking for help in locating pre-Phylloxera ancestral varieties. 60 varieties have been identified, including this Forcada from the northwest of Penedés. A very aromatic white wine, it has great body, texture, and acidity and flavors of chamomile, citrus, and a bit of honey and white peach. A real treat and treasure!
Purgatori 2017, Costers del Segre ($48) is a blend of Cariñena, Garnacha, and Syrah from a more inland area. It has concentration, but there’s a wonderful freshness that prevents it from being jammy.
Salmos 2017, Priorat ($42), is also a blend of Cariñena, Garnacha and Syrah. I love the Mediterranean character of this wine; you can really smell and taste the influence of mountain herbs and the sunny climate. The wine is bold but not overbearing with rich and juicy red and black berry flavors.
Watch the video for Miguel’s wonderful tasting notes and background info on the wines. Cheers!
