Why it matters
The producer
Celler Marfil is based in a modernist building in central Alella, designed by Jeroni Martorell, a disciple of Antoni Gaudí. The winery was founded in 1906 at the heart of D.O. Alella. Grapes from 22 hectares of plots in Alella and Menorca, including five hectares of vineyards on Menorca, are vinified at the Alella winery.
Xavier Garcia, the winery's technical director and owner, is trained as a geologist, agricultural engineer and winemaker. He has led Celler Marfil's work, recovered traditional styles forgotten for decades, and developed new bottlings. The winery's flagship brand, Marfil, was Barcelona's reference white wine during the twentieth century and was exported worldwide.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
Celler Marfil sits 15 kilometres from Barcelona, while its vineyards occupy slopes and terraces on the Maresme coast facing the Mediterranean. Alella's plots have granitic sauló soils under a Mediterranean climate. The wines have freshness, saline notes and ageing potential from those soils.
Wines to know
The range in view
There are around a dozen wines from Alella and Menorca. Whites from Pansa Blanca and White Grenache represent the D.O. Alella style in the house range. The selection also includes historic sweet and fortified wines and sparkling wines within the appellation. Sweet wines are sweet, fortified wines use added spirit to raise alcohol, and sparkling wines contain bubbles.
The named bottlings include Nura Blanc, Ivori La Finka and Nura Negre, all from the 2022 vintage. Nura Blanc and Ivori La Finka are white wines, Nura Negre is red, and Ivori La Finka carries the Alella appellation.