The strength of unity is unmistakable, particularly within the natural winemaking community of Catalonia. A coalition of passionate vintners, these individuals collectively defy the norms set by large-scale producers who dictate grape prices, create one-dimensional wines laden with additives, and deplete the fertile soil with monocultures and pesticides. Among this group, we find Xavi and Andreu Padró, two brothers who, upon taking over their family estate, not only dedicated themselves to selling their grapes to natural winemakers but also decided to craft their own wines under the label LaRural. These are monovarietal wines from indigenous grape varieties that encapsulate the distinctive landscape of Santes Creus in Alt Camp (Tarragona).
As for LaRural Macabeu, it is an orange wine made from Macabeo with a small percentage of other white varieties such as Malvasía de Sitges, Parellada, and Vinyater. The vines, averaging 24 years old, are planted in clay-limestone soils at an elevation of 316 meters above sea level in Santes Creus (Catalonia). The viticulture is regenerative, 100% organic, and certified ecological. Harvesting is done by hand and, once in the cellar, the grapes are destemmed and macerated in stainless steel tanks for 5 days. Fermentation occurs with indigenous yeasts at a controlled temperature of 24°C, followed by aging on lees in the same tanks. The wine is then bottled unfiltered, unfined, and without the addition of sulfites.
Offering fresh wines where the varietal character and fruit are the hallmark of the house, LaRural Macabeu is an orange wine that embodies the courageous resolve to preserve the land and the authenticity of winemaking. The contribution of these two brothers to natural viticulture is not only a statement of identity but also a resonant echo of the landscape that surrounds them.