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Carretera Falset, Gratallops km 6, Falset, Tarragona 43730
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Mas Martinet and the Resurgence of Priorat: A Revolution that Changed History
Priorat is a land marked by its telluric nature, a region of steep slopes and slate soils that has always challenged those who work it. After the devastating impact of the phylloxera plague at the end of the 19th century, the region was almost desolate. Vineyards uprooted, families migrating to the cities and a landscape that seemed resigned to end up forgotten. For decades, Priorat viticulture was limited to bulk wine, without a clear identity and without the prestige that this land deserved.
However, in the 1980s, a group of five visionaries arrived to change everything. René Barbier, Álvaro Palacios, Josep Lluís Pérez, Carles Pastrana and Daphne Glorian shared a dream: they wanted to bring the Priorat region back to its former glory, prove that this region could produce world-class wines and break with the limitations of that time.
A Life Project and a Shared Revolution
Josep Lluís Pérez, founder of Mas Martinet, arrived in Priorat in 1981 with his family and with a clear mission: to explore the potential of this unique land. Together with his wife, Montse Ovejero, he began to study the terroir in depth, identifying the exceptional characteristics of the slate soils, the dry and Mediterranean climate, and the native grape varieties such as Garnatxa and Carinyena. At that same time, René Barbier led Clos Mogador, and Álvaro Palacios, recently arrived from La Rioja, enthusiastically joined the project of Clos Dofí. Besides that, Carles Pastrana developed Clos de l’Obac, and Daphne Glorian promoted Clos Erasmus.
Together, they created the “Clos Project”, which supported old vines and innovative practices that combined respect for tradition and modern winemaking techniques. Their revolutionary approach not only focused on the quality of the wine, but also on highlighting the nature of the region of Priorat: intense, mineral wines deeply linked to their origin.
The Legacy of a Generation
The efforts of these five pioneers laid the foundations for the resurgence of the region of Priorat. In 2000, Sara Pérez, Josep Luís’s daughter, took control of Mas Martinet, continuing with this transformative vision. Sara brought her agroecological approach and her unique sensitivity towards the vineyard as a whole ecosystem. Under her leadership, Mas Martinet not only preserves the legacy of the pioneers, but also expands it with sustainable practices and the recovery of ancestral varieties and techniques.
The region of Priorat, which in the 80s was practically unknown, is today one of the only two Qualified Designations of Origin (DOQ) in Spain, along with Rioja. The wines of the region are acclaimed around the world for their quality and authenticity, and the vision of those five dreamers lives on in every bottle made here.
The region of Priorat: A Land that Teaches
The region of Priorat is a place that, as Sara describes, forces you to bow down before its greatness. It is a hard and generous land at the same time, where the slate acts as a mother that rewards those who connect with it with humility and dedication. Working these lands is much more than an agricultural activity; it is an exercise of reflection and connection with nature.
The wines of Mas Martinet – such as Clos Martinet, Martinet Bru, Els Escurçons, Camí Pesseroles, Pesseroles Brisat, Vi Verge and the ancestral Martinet Ranci Dolç – are a faithful reflection of this relationship. Made with minimal intervention and techniques that respect the terroir, each wine tells a story of balance between innovation and tradition.
A Unique Path
Although Sara Pérez proudly continues her family’s legacy, she has also forged her own path, integrating agroecology and her unique vision into every decision she makes. In her opinion, wine is not just a product, it is an overview of a landscape, a way of living, and a deep connection with the environment.
Mas Martinet continues to evolve, and it carries with it the spirit of struggle and passion that Josep Lluís started, but always with an open look to the future and continuous learning. Here, in the heart of the region of Priorat, wine is not only drunk, but also lived.
