Mas Martinet

Founded in 1981 in the steep hills of the celebrated Priorat region lies Mas Martinet, a family project that blossomed into Spanish wine royalty. With the help of five innovative winemakers - Rene Barbier, Alvaro Palacios, Josep Luis Perez, and Pastrana and Daphne Glorian - Mas Martinet rewrote the history of Priorat, embracing the spirit of struggle and passion. Always keeping an eye on innovation and the future of wine, the estate continues to learn, grow, and evolve into the future. 

Mas Martinet: Spanish Winemaking Talent Takes Over Priorat

Prior to the birth of Mas Martinet, Priorat greatly struggled as a region, unable to produce fruit of any value to Spanish winemakers. Set on the hilly terrain of the majestic Sierra de Montsant mountain range in Catalonia, Priorat was once a golden region for Spanish winemaking, but was hit hard by the bloody Spanish Civil War in the 1930s. Consequently, many residents fled the area, leaving no one to care for the rocky, rugged hills. The land suffered, and the estates in the region grew dilapidated, as many gave up on the land's potential.

However, in 1981, a group of young upstarts took their talents to the Catalonian hills and founded Mas Martinet. With the teamwork of Rene Barbier (Clos Mogador), Alvaro Palacios (L'Ermita), Josep Luis Perez, and Pastrana and Daphne Glorian (Clos de l'Obac and Clos i Terrasses), the five winemakers brought Priorat back to its glory days, producing one of Spain's best wines. The team operated by using old vines and innovative practices, intent on creating the intense, mineral wines deeply linked to the region's history. Soon enough, Priorat became one of only two DOCa, joining the prestigious Rioja as the country's winemaking powerhouse. 

Mas Martinet Priorat Terroir

The estate owns a 25-hectare vineyard on the steep hill of the Sierra de Montsant mountains and is situated on the region's famous "Llicorella," a reddish-black slate with small particles of mica quartz. This tough soil works perfectly when treated with organic and biodynamic methods, as well as permaculture and regenerative agriculture. In doing so, the Mas Martinet team ensures that the large variety of vines remain healthy and producing high-quality fruit.

On the vineyard, grenache, syrah, carignan, cabernet, and merlot are all grown, one of the world's most diverse vineyard sites. From these grapes, six labels are produced each vintage, with about 60,000 bottles released to the public. The labels are as follows:

Clos Martinet

The estate's flagship label, Mas Martinet Clos Martinet, is also the definitive wine of Priorat, first produced in the 1980s and a beautiful mix of grenache, syrah, and carignan. Each blend is fermented in cement tanks, then aged in French oak barrels, foudres, and clay jugs, creating a deep and warm wine that is tasty and elegant. 

Mas Martinet Bru

Mas Martinet's Martinet Bru has been described as "the gateway to Priorat," offering drinkers a more friendly, fresher wine compared to Clos Martinet. The fruit comes from outside vineyards that receive a humid and marine breeze, cooling the vines during the hottest summer afternoon. As a result, the wines contain impeccable structure and tons of minerality, thanks to the eccentric mixture of grenache, syrah, carignan, and merlot.   

Les Escurcons

Les Escurcons by Mas Martinet is an homage to Priorat wines before the infamous phylloxera outbreak of the late 19th century. This 100% grenache is produced from the highest vineyard in the region, and, when mixed with the fermentation in clay jugs and demijohn aging process, the final bottles are pure, light, and fragile. Ironically, the elegant character differs from Priorat's modern-day signature of powerful, full-bodied wines. 

Cami Pesseroles

Made from 80-year-old carignan vines and 30-year-old grenache vines, Mas Martinet's Cami Pesseroles is fermented in open chestnut barrels, giving the final blend pure minerality and rusticity, acting as a tribute to Priorat wines of the 1950s. 

Pesseroles Brisat

As Mas Martinet's only white wine offering, Pesseroles Brisat is an artisanal wine of powerful structure and incredible aging capacity. The vines were planted in 2002 on the only white grape plot of the vineyard. The clay subsoil and crumbling slate create a wine of great structure and form.

Martinet Ranci Dulce

Mas Martinet's Martinet Ranci Dulce is the only sweet wine produced at the estate, comprised of 100% grenache and aged in 100+ year-old barrels. Per head winemaker, Sara Perez, Ranci Dulce is "made to receive, to thank, to share." The final bottles are delicate, sweet, and perfect for large celebrations.

Buy a Bottle of Mas Martinet Today

By far the leading producer of Priorat, Mas Martines wines are a coveted jewel in Spanish wine. Pristine, powerful, and elegant, each bottle offers wine enthusiasts a look into one of the world's most unique terroirs. Browse our collection of Mas Martinet wines and grab a bottle for your collection today.