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SPAIN<br />
REGION<br />
under vine compared to, say, D.O. Bages. Virtually<br />
1,100 hectares (2.68% of the total) are planted,<br />
with 530 registered winegrowers and a total of 110<br />
wineries. Together, they accounted for 5.85% of<br />
total sales in Catalonia in 2020 (2,320,361 bottles)<br />
and their turnover represented 10.73%. The figure<br />
confirms that the price per litre in this area is<br />
higher than elsewhere.<br />
Both vineyards and wine date back aeons in Priorat.<br />
It is known that the Romans were already farming<br />
vines here to produce wine. But the real beginning<br />
of present-day Priorat with its licorella soils<br />
dates back to the 11th century, when it was under<br />
the protection of the Prior of the Cartoixa de Santa<br />
Maria de Scala Dei. Since then, Priorat has been<br />
synonymous with wine.<br />
At least 6 generations of the family that runs Buil &<br />
Giné have been part of this history. “We are above<br />
all farmers, and heirs to all this tradition and<br />
knowledge that have been passed down from generation<br />
to generation and enriched over the centuries<br />
by the constant arrival of different civilisations<br />
in this corner of the Mediterranean”.<br />
Located in Gratallops, in the heart of Priorat, Bull<br />
& Giné has been making wine since 1996, under<br />
the Priorat D.O.Q. The winery has an international<br />
vocation and a firm commitment to sharing both<br />
the lifestyle and legacy it treasures.<br />
The philosophy of the winery is summed up in a<br />
comment by Joan Giné, one of the family’s ancestors:<br />
“Wine is made in the vineyard. We have to<br />
cultivate it following tradition, respecting nature<br />
and without renouncing knowledge”.<br />
Rocky slate soils, scarce rainfall and extreme<br />
landforms are the defining features of the vineyards<br />
here, making vineyard work a heroic, almost<br />
impossible task. Sometimes the harshness of the<br />
work fails to achieve recognition. These are soils<br />
that, on several occasions, have proved impossible<br />
to farm due to the extreme inclines found in<br />
the area.<br />
The winery’s present-day CEO, Xavier Buil Giné,<br />
represents at least the sixth generation of winegrowers,<br />
although there were probably earlier generations<br />
too. It remains to be seen if this continuity<br />
will last into the future?<br />
XAVIER BUIL GINÉ, THE FOUNDER AND OWNER OF BUIL & GINÉ,<br />
REPRESENTS THE SIXTH GENERATION OF WINEMAKERS<br />
LÉGENDES<br />
SPRING 2022 • GILBERT & GAILLARD - THE FRENCH EXPERTS ON WINE<br />
35
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