Venus ‘Sindicat La Figuera Vi Sec’ Garnatxa 2023 begins with an entire village.
La Figuera sits high above Montsant in Catalunya, at approximately 575 metres above sea level. The village is surrounded by old Garnatxa vineyards and looks across the neighbouring hills of Priorat.
It is a cooler, windier part of the region, producing a very different expression of Garnatxa from the dense, powerful Mediterranean reds often associated with this part of Spain.
Here, the wines are lighter, more fragrant and carried by freshness rather than weight.
Montsant almost completely surrounds Priorat, but its vineyards cover a far wider range of soils, elevations and growing conditions.
La Figuera is one of the highest villages in the appellation. Garnatxa has traditionally been the main variety here, planted as bush vines across clay and limestone-rich soils.
The altitude helps the grapes retain acidity while developing ripe flavours. In the glass, this often translates to bright red fruit, flowers, herbs and a finer tannin structure.
The village itself is tiny. Its wine story, however, stretches back nearly a century.
La Figuera sits at 575 metres above sea level, making it one of the highest villages in Montsant.
The village cooperative, Agrícola Aubacs i Solans, was founded in 1932 by 30 local growers.
La Figuera prospered until the 1950s, when a damaging storm was followed by severe frost the following year. Crops were destroyed, vineyards were abandoned and many residents left the village.
The cooperative survived, but gradually became smaller. Today, its remaining growers continue to farm the Garnatxa vineyards around La Figuera.
The modern chapter began when René Barbier Jr encountered fruit from the village while working with his father. The quality and distinctive character of the Garnatxa caught his attention, and he began visiting the cooperative and tasting its wines.
René and his partner, Sara Pérez of Mas Martinet, later began working more closely with the growers through Venus La Universal. Their aim was not to reinvent the cooperative’s wine, but to help return it to bottle and give the vineyards of La Figuera the attention they deserved.
The first attempted vintage in 2014 was lost to cold weather and rain. The 2015 vintage became the first successful release of the revived project.
The growers remain responsible for the vineyards, while Venus La Universal is increasingly involved in the technical and administrative side of the project.
The wine is made entirely from Garnatxa grown across the cooperative’s vineyards. The bush vines range from approximately 30 to 80 years old and sit at around 575 metres above sea level.
The grapes are fermented with indigenous yeasts in the cooperative’s traditional underground concrete tanks. The wine remains in concrete for eight months before bottling, with no oak ageing.
It is a simple approach that keeps the Garnatxa firmly in view.
The 2023 is fragrant and juicy, with wild strawberry, red cherry, Mediterranean herbs and floral notes. The palate is fresh and energetic, with fine tannins and a lightly chalky finish.
There is plenty of flavour, but no unnecessary heaviness. Serve it slightly cool and put it on the table with grilled vegetables, tomato-based dishes, mushrooms, lentils or a generous plate of cheese.
Vi sec simply means “dry wine” in Catalan. The name may be straightforward, but the story behind it is anything but.
La Figuera: Sindicat Montsant
Venus ‘Sindicat La Figuera Vi Sec’ Garnatxa 2023 begins with an entire village.
La Figuera sits high above Montsant in Catalunya, at approximately 575 metres above sea level. The village is surrounded by old Garnatxa vineyards and looks across the neighbouring hills of Priorat.
It is a cooler, windier part of the region, producing a very different expression of Garnatxa from the dense, powerful Mediterranean reds often associated with this part of Spain.
Here, the wines are lighter, more fragrant and carried by freshness rather than weight.
Wine Folly.
Montsant almost completely surrounds Priorat, but its vineyards cover a far wider range of soils, elevations and growing conditions.
La Figuera is one of the highest villages in the appellation. Garnatxa has traditionally been the main variety here, planted as bush vines across clay and limestone-rich soils.
The altitude helps the grapes retain acidity while developing ripe flavours. In the glass, this often translates to bright red fruit, flowers, herbs and a finer tannin structure.
The village itself is tiny. Its wine story, however, stretches back nearly a century.
La Figuera sits at 575 metres above sea level, making it one of the highest villages in Montsant.
The village cooperative, Agrícola Aubacs i Solans, was founded in 1932 by 30 local growers.
La Figuera prospered until the 1950s, when a damaging storm was followed by severe frost the following year. Crops were destroyed, vineyards were abandoned and many residents left the village.
The cooperative survived, but gradually became smaller. Today, its remaining growers continue to farm the Garnatxa vineyards around La Figuera.
The modern chapter began when René Barbier Jr encountered fruit from the village while working with his father. The quality and distinctive character of the Garnatxa caught his attention, and he began visiting the cooperative and tasting its wines.
René and his partner, Sara Pérez of Mas Martinet, later began working more closely with the growers through Venus La Universal. Their aim was not to reinvent the cooperative’s wine, but to help return it to bottle and give the vineyards of La Figuera the attention they deserved.
The first attempted vintage in 2014 was lost to cold weather and rain. The 2015 vintage became the first successful release of the revived project.
The growers remain responsible for the vineyards, while Venus La Universal is increasingly involved in the technical and administrative side of the project.
This is still, importantly, a cooperative wine.
THE WINE:
R290.00Add to basket
Venus ‘Sindicat La Figuera Vi Sec’ Garnatxa 2023
The wine is made entirely from Garnatxa grown across the cooperative’s vineyards. The bush vines range from approximately 30 to 80 years old and sit at around 575 metres above sea level.
The grapes are fermented with indigenous yeasts in the cooperative’s traditional underground concrete tanks. The wine remains in concrete for eight months before bottling, with no oak ageing.
It is a simple approach that keeps the Garnatxa firmly in view.
The 2023 is fragrant and juicy, with wild strawberry, red cherry, Mediterranean herbs and floral notes. The palate is fresh and energetic, with fine tannins and a lightly chalky finish.
There is plenty of flavour, but no unnecessary heaviness. Serve it slightly cool and put it on the table with grilled vegetables, tomato-based dishes, mushrooms, lentils or a generous plate of cheese.
Vi sec simply means “dry wine” in Catalan. The name may be straightforward, but the story behind it is anything but.