REBECA OLLÉ
Winemaker,
Finca Mas Perdut
After being introduced to Rebeca and Josep, we immediately fell in love with the vineyard and this passion project at Finca Mas Perdut. From the aged vines, to the Olive and Carrob trees, the Mediterranean setting set the scene for the beautiful wines that were to follow. We had the opportunity to sit down with Rebeca and hear her story of how she got into Wine and how her philosophy is translated into the wines.
Interview with Rebeca
Can you share a memorable moment that solidified your passion for winemaking?
My passion for the world of wine and gastronomy goes back a long time. My father had a restaurant and he taught me the world of wine by giving me to try different wines that he had in the restaurant.
From that moment on I began to realize that hospitality was not my thing but that I wanted to know how to make wine since I saw that it was a world that was very undervalued by people and there is a lot of effort behind each bottle. As I grew older, my curiosity about wine also grew until I decided to study viticulture and enology where I met Josep Mª, a classmate, and after my studies I was able to do an internship in some renowned wineries where I got my first experience in the world of oenology.
If someone were to taste one of your wines, what key aspects of your winemaking philosophy would they find in the glass?
You could notice the authenticity of the variety, rusticity and a lot of personality, since we make minimal intervention wines where we do not add anything, we let them express themselves and the person who tries them can discover the authentic flavour of the varieties born here, without anything masking them.
How do your wines reflect your personal connection to the vineyards, and is there a specific wine that embodies this connection for you?
The most important connection is respect for the land and respect for the wines in the cellar. By this I mean that if you work with love and respect, the results are reflected in the wine bottles and in the details that we find in them. There is no wine in particular since for me all the wines that pass through our hands have this direct connection with ourselves.
"Every time I see Women- Winemakers leading interesting wine projects,
I am eager to see and taste the result!"
"Xarel-lo Vermell has a smoky aroma which you will not find in any other varietal"
Could you introduce us to an indigenous grape variety that you work with and explain what makes it distinct and interesting?
For me, all the native grapes we have are fantastic and unique. They allow us to make very sensitive wines but at the same time with a lot of personality and we like that a lot. One of my favourites is Xarel-lo Vermell, for me, is one of the varieties that best adapts to drought and is very resistant to diseases. It is a grape that, when touched by the sun, changes to a very peculiar pink colour.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your career as a woman winemaker, and have you faced any unique challenges in the wine industry?
There are always challenges and each vintage is a new opportunity to create and possibly encounter difficulties, but what makes it rewarding in this world is that despite hard work and perseverance, it is making wines that people like.
How do you envision the future role of women in the industry?
There are more and more women who are encouraged to make wine and work in the vineyards and that is very positive since taboos are being broken that this is only a man's job and we are proving that this is not true.
Can you share any upcoming projects or exciting developments in your winemaking career that we can look forward to?
The most recent is the new addition of La Pell, a very interesting, aromatic and fresh natural wine made with Muscat and Parellada. Once you open a bottle you can't help but not finish it!