Spanish winery MAS BLANCH I JOVÉ, is situated in Lleida ..
"Our forefathers were passionate farmers. The land was their life. They knew every inch of it, and they respected it and worked it with love. They are the inspiration for this family project. This ancestral journey led us to create a small family cellar in 2006 called Mas Blanch i Jové in La Pobla de Cérvoles (Lleida), where we produce wines that inspire in the DO Costers del Segre, a region of Les Garrigues.
We harvest our 17ha of vineyards by hand, in small crates of 20Kg, when the grape is at its optimum ripening point. All the plantations are in the 700m-high La Pobla de Cérvoles, in the Costers del Segre DO, an area of Les Garrigues. We obtain about 3,500Kg/ha of high-quality grapes, which allows us to produce high altitude ecological wines with character and elegance.
The main range of wines are called Saó, a word that speaks of the land and means “maturity, perfection and the optimum degree of moisture.” And we look for this genuineness in each of our bottles, our wine expressing the best of the place that saw its birth.
We also have a range of new discoveries: bold and special wines, made with spontaneous fermentation, that have a captivating rusticity.
Very fresh and alive"
(information from the company website)
Yellow Road Questions answered by Sara Jové, MAS BLANCH I JOVÉ
1 - Why is your vineyard called "Mas Blanch i Jové"?
The winery is called Mas Blanch i Jové because Mas Blanch is the name of the highest vineyard we have and also is my mother's second last name and Jové is my father's first last name.
2 - Please tell us a little about yourself
My name is Sara Jové. I'm a wine producer. And I think we have a responsabilty with this planet that's why we only produce organic products and we are fully powered by solar energy. My grandparents were farmers who taught us to love nature. I enclose a picture with my parents & brother at the winery.
3 - I really liked your idea: Picnic on the Vineyard ... And what does it really look like?
I don't have any picture of it yet but I enclose a picture of people having a typical breakfast at the winery with bread, tomatoes, typical pork sausages & cheeses.
4 - You have olive oil. Let's start with it ...
How many olive trees do you have? What does a bottle, a label look like?
We have 5700 olive trees. We are partners with a olive mill in the area: Molí del Set (www.molidelset.com). I enclose a couple of pictures.
5 - How to get to your vineyards (from Tarragona, Barcelona)? Can you suggest a route to visit your winery? Is there public transport there?
We are situated in a little village (La Pobla de Cérvoles) in Lleida. There is not good public transportation to arrive to the winery but It's easy to arrive by car from Lleida (45'), Tarragona (1h) or Barcelona (1h30'). In the region there are plenty of activities to do (history, nature, gastronomy). You only have to pick!
6 - What is your favorite wine (red or white)? And why?
I really love Saó Expressiu. It's our most personal red wine. Basically made from Grenache (65%), Cabernet Sauvingon (25%) & Tempranillo (10%) from old vineyards situated in the mountains (all our vineyards are more than 700m above the sea level). It's elegant with a velvety tannin.
7 - Please tell us about your project "The Artists’ Vineyard"
The Artists’ Vineyard is an idea by Guinovart.
Which became a reality thanks to a family who dares to dream and place a bet on Les Garrigues as a picturesque and privileged setting for a unique project: an open-air museum.
The Artists’ Vineyard merges art and wine in an exhibition hall open to the public. Here you can find sculptures and large-scale installations conceived by artists such as Carles Santos, Guinovart, Joan Brossa, Susana Solano, Evru (Zush) and Frederic Amat. The Mas Blanch i Jové winery is the culminating point of an artistic journey, offering a unique experience for all visitors.
Since its inauguration in 2009, many creators have crossed paths at The Artists’ Vineyard, an outdoor art gallery. It is a perfect setting for poetry recitals, outdoor paintings, magic, clowns, opera, music of all kinds, dance, giant puppets, soap bubbles, theatre… It is our way of connecting wine and art and to leave a subtle footprint on the soil, one that tells of artistic heritage and the transformational capacity of art.
GUINOVART, Catalan painter of international recognition, was an art and wine lover. Guinovart knew how to enjoy the small pleasures in life. He was a person of special sensitivity, connected with nature, with the earth. Whatever the theme was that inspired him at a particular moment, he always captured its essence and knew how to express it powerfully. We fell in love – with his work and his simplicity – it was impossible not to. And he fell in love with our enthusiasm and our Saó. And we were honoured with his help in designing the winery and creating the impressive mural tribute to the world of wine “In Vino Veritas”, presiding over our tasting room. The mural, 10.5 meters long, was his last great work.
8 - List, if possible, a set (gift box) of three or four of your own wines (red and white), which, in your opinion, that can decorate the "poster" of your farm
Ok, I enclose some pictures of the sets.
9 - You can offer the most beautiful view (favorite point) of the vineyards or the surrounding landscape. May I ask you to take one or two photos of your favorite places?
I enclose some pictures of the Artists' Vineyard & surrondings.
10 - What is your choice for "Yellow Road"?
I've chosen a picture of Troballa Blanca. A wine 100% white grenache, maceration pre-fermentation with the peels, spontaneous fermentation, aging in concrete eggs. It's very unique, intense & interesting wines.
11 - What white wine producer (from Spain or another country) would you recommend for Yellow Road?
I'ld recommend the winery Xavier Clua, they make excellent white grenaches in Terra Alta. I also love the white wine Les Brugueres from La Conreria d'Scala Dei in Priorat. And the wines of Marco Abella, also in Priorat.
12 - You have already completed the wonderful project The Artists ’Vineyard, an idea by the painter Josep Guinovart. Do you have plans to continue this project? Are you open to new offers?
The Artist' Project is still alive but I don't know how it will evolve the next years. We're very open to new offers & ideas,
Sergey Evtuhov, author of the project "Yellow Road".
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