Crowned as the top sommelier on many occasions including the title of best sommelier awarded in England in 1996, Franck Massard decided to embark on a new adventure that led him to Spain in 2004. The mystical and beautiful lands of the Priorat region fascinate him. His project began with the acquisition of a plot in El Molar, a village south of Barcelona, Catalonia. This was the birth of Franck Massard's vineyard!
Located 30 minutes from Tarragona and 18 kilometres from the sea, Franck Massard's vineyard enjoys an exceptional terroir, in the heart of a natural amphitheatre that is between 300 and 550 meters above sea level. In this zone, one of the coolest in Priorat, Franck Massard’s vineyard benefits from a unique microclimate where the cold wind of the interior meet the Cierzo and Garbí winds coming from the Mediterranean coast to moderate the temperatures. Combined with the important thermal ranges of the zone, the grapes reach an optimal ripeness, and this gives the berries full flavour with a great aromatic freshness and lovely acidity.
Out of respect for the terroir and grapes, there is minimal intervention in the winery. The extraction is done gently, and ageing takes places in 500 litre barrels with light toasting so that the wines of Franck Massard represent the quintessential expression of Priorat in all of their splendour. Always in search of innovation, Franck Massard has recently decided to introduce the use of amphorae in his winemaking.
The full meaning of authentic and genuine can be found in these fresh and lively wines that have structured tannins and an elegant mouthfeel. Franck Massard exploits his talent of "winemaker" with a rare virtuosity allowing him to reveal the expression of each varietal as a way to further energize the identity of Priorat.
