Meritxell Palleja
MERITXELL PALLEJA || Meritxell Palleja has deep roots in the Priorat, following in the footsteps of her winemaker father Lluis Palleja. She gained experience working in the cellars of Domaine Leflaive in Burgundy and Pine Ridge Winery in Napa Valley and 18 years working with Alvaro Palacios before venturing out on her own. Over the years, she has acquired vineyards in the town of Gratallops where she farms her five plots biodynamically.
PRIORAT || Viticulture has an ancient history in the Priorat. Winemaking in the region dated to the 12th century when monks founded the Carthusian Monastery of Scala Dei in 1194. The prior of Scala Dei ruled as a feudal lord over seven villages in the area, which gave rise to the name Priorat. The soil’s basis (called llicorella in Catalán) is reddish and black slate with small particles of mica, reflecting the sunlight and conserving heat.
