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THE CLARELLA PROJECT

Located in the Besora valley, in the north of the county of Osona, and at the foot of the Pyrenees, stands the distinguished Mas Clarella. This old estate tells us of the daily life of this region, the epic achievements of the people who have lived here and the fruits they have cultivated on its lands. We invite you to discover Clarella: the country house, the bodega, the craft wines and its authentic history.

In 2013, Brad Call and Teresa Jensen, an American couple, purchased this estate with the decisive intention of restoring its buildings, respecting the original authenticity and returning to its lands the old cultivations of olive trees and vines that had grown for centuries. Today, this proposal is beginning to show results and we can admire the completely restored country house, as well as enjoy the wines and oils produced on this fertile land.

The Clarella project is focused on two main initiatives: the production of wine and wine tourism. Today they are producing new wine references, among which feature an oxidative ageing, three reserves, a Riesling, a pinot noir and three young wines.

Additionally, they are developing a wine tourism project that offers guided visits to the estate with wine-tastings, experiences of pairing, accommodation in different houses adapted for visitors and, in the near future, a programme of events that combine culture, gastronomy and wine.

MOUNTAIN WINE

Clarella is in a high mountain area, between 850 and 1.050 metres altitude (Catalan pre-Pyrenees). That’s why our wine-making is mountain-based, which involves specific tasks to guarantee the success of the wine production. These specific conditions depend on the orography, exposure and orientation of our vineyards. For this reason we try to get the maximum hours of sunlight on them, the key factor limiting the cultivation of the wine. Taking into account the climatic conditions we have in Clarella, our work on the vineyard is very important and the success of our harvests depends on the work precisely. Tight pruning in production in the number of buds per hectare, a pruning when green and some elimination of secondary shoots guarantee a foliage surface that optimises our production. From a point of view of health, it is also important to undertake certain tasks, such as deleafing, which enables greater airing of our bunches, stopping the appearance of cryptogamic diseases (fungi). In mountain wine making, generally speaking, the performance tends to be lower, which also translates in wines of greater quality.

THE TEAM

When Brad Call and Teresa Jensen took on the Clarella project, they were crystal-clear that they wanted to do it alongside the people of the region. Therefore, since 2015, this project has developed thanks to all the local professionals who have passed through to contribute with their experience and who have fallen in love with Clarella. At present, the Clarella project has a team of people who work with dedication to create varieties of top-quality mountain wine. This task not only aims to preserve this historic heritage, but also to share it with all Catalonia, as well as everyone who loves wine and history.

MAS CLARELLA

A hundreds-year-old country house that has passed through periods marked by wars, natural disasters, periods of decadence, reforms and restorations. It is a building steeped in a rich and tumultuous history. For more than ten centuries, the Clarella family resided within its walls, from the early 10th century to the late 20th century. Today, this magnificent country house is experiencing one of its most glorious times. After a meticulous restoration that has preserved and honoured its longstanding history, together with the revitalisation of the old vine cultivations that have prospered on their lands for millenniums, Mas Clarella is more alive than ever. It provides work for the region’s inhabitants and invites both locals and visitors to submerge themselves into its intrepid history, its exquisite wines and the untiring dedication of those who make every effort to restore the greatness of this venerable property.