A recognition of Carles Alonso and his wine project
Recently, the newspaper El País has published an outstanding report on a small winery located in Espolla, in Alt Empordà, known as Carriel dels Vilars. This report is not only anecdotal, but also a recognition and tribute to Carles Alonso, one of the pioneers of natural wines in Spain and an innovator in the production of ancestral sparkling wines. This natural wine trend is gaining popularity in the big cities, with dozens of natural wine bars in Madrid and Barcelona.
The potential of wine cellars and trullos in Alt Empordà
In Alt Empordà, specifically in the Albera area, there is a large concentration of wine cellars and trullos. This area is a real gastronomic ecosystem, with approximately 1,600 hectares of vines and a similar amount of olive trees. Despite this, the promotion of wine tourism in this area is mainly focused on the sea, luxury ships and wine, as if we were an advertisement for Estrella Damm but with wine instead of beer. The enormous appeal of the landscape and the winemaking tradition of this inland area is not given enough value.
The tourist potential of Alt Empordà
Alt Empordà has a unique tourist potential, which often goes unnoticed. This region concentrates almost 50% of the megalithism and the Romanesque in Catalonia, despite occupying only 3% of the Catalan territory. In addition, Empordà olive oil and the area’s wines are highly valued by American tourists, who consider them to be high quality and authentic products. However, the potential of oil tourism in the Alt Empordà has not yet been fully exploited, even though it is a winning bet in the long term.
Appreciate what we have
It is important to put aside the tourist stereotypes and value what we really have in the Alt Empordà. This region is the only one in the demarcation with designation of origin for wine and oil, both based in Figueres. We must bet strongly on this authenticity and recognize that we are already recognized and appreciated by many (https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viquip%C3%A8dia:Parafrasejat_similar). There is no need to follow what others do, but we must trust our own potential and work to make the most of it (https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viquip%C3%A8dia:Paraphrased_similar).
