Heretat Mont Rubi, Alt Penedes, Spain
L'Avella, which gives its name to the village where the estate is located, is characterised by the interaction of the vineyards within the distinctive habitat which surrounds them; many over 50 years of age. HMR is located in the small town of Font-Rubi, on the western side of the Penedes wine region. It is a family run winery founded in 1984. They own and control over 30 hectares of vineyards at altitudes within 500 and 800 meters above sea level.
HMR have been investing in the recovery of the almost extinct native grape Sumoll. There are only around 300 hectares of planted Sumoll remaining today. This variety requires delicate treatment in the vineyard and winery given its thin skin, which has been referred to as the "Pinot Noir of the Mediterranean".
The harvest is manual, selective and completed in 44.lb cases during the coolest hours of the day, in order to maintain the grape as intact as possible until it reaches the winery. They also use bio-dynamic methods, following the different lunar phases both in the vineyard and the winery.