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The reasons behind Perelada being a cultural destination

12 June 2026 By Jessica Mason

Perelada’s wines are a true reflection of the Empordà region’s terroir and its Mediterranean identity. db finds out more.

Perelada’s wines are a true reflection of the Empordà region’s terroir and its Mediterranean identity. db finds out more.

Perelada is much more than a winery. It is the story of the Suqué Mateu family’s love for the Empordà, a journey that began more than 100 years ago in 1923, when the family laid the foundations for a winery devoted to crafting great Mediterranean wines that express the strength of this land, shaped by the Tramuntana wind and located between the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean Sea.

Describing the winery’s tie-up with the area, Perelada Winery head winemaker Delfí Sanahuja says: “Our connection with the Empordà is deeply rooted in the history, culture and landscapes of the region. The Empordà has an ancestral winemaking tradition that dates back to the 6th century BC, when the Greeks introduced the first vines to the area through the colony of Empúries.

Wine culture

“Over the centuries, Romans expanded viticulture, while monasteries such as Sant Pere de Rodes and Sant Quirze de Colera preserved and promoted wine culture throughout the Middle Ages.”

Sanahuja adds: “The region’s landscape is still defined by vineyards planted across terraces, hillsides and plains, often alongside olive groves. Wine is an essential part of the Empordà’s identity, and Perelada has played a key role in preserving and elevating this heritage since the early 20th century, especially after the devastation caused by phylloxera.”

Today, Perelada cultivates 127 hectares of organic vineyards spread across five estates within the Empordà DO. Each estate contributes unique contrasts of soil, climate and altitude, allowing the company to produce wines of remarkable complexity and nuance. Plus, Perelada is also a cultural destination where history, architecture, gastronomy, hospitality and wine converge. With this in mind, Sanahuja points out that “our project is built around
sustainability, respect for the landscape and a commitment to preserving this heritage for future generations”.

Terroir expression

Perelada’s wines are a direct expression of the Empordà terroir and its Mediterranean identity. As Sanahuja attests: “We cultivate five vineyards in northern Empordà, where the Tramuntana wind blows strongest and where the soils are extraordinarily diverse, including slate, sand, gravel, clay and fluvial sediments.”

Sanahuja explains: “Each estate has its own personality, and our winemaking philosophy is focused on preserving and highlighting the unique characteristics of every vineyard. We work parcel by parcel and vinify each separately, so that every wine reflects the synthesis between soil, climate and grape variety.”

Sustainability

At Perelada, sustainability, innovation and respect for the territory are not separate pillars, but the foundation of the winery’s overall philosophy and long-term vision.

“Sustainability is further reinforced through a low-intervention philosophy in the cellar. Perelada works mainly with indigenous yeasts, reduces sulphites significantly below legal limits, and prioritises fruit expression over excessive oak influence to preserve freshness, balance and Mediterranean character in the wines,” says Sanahuja.