In May this year the wine world was expecting to break the industrious silence of Pacs del Penedès with a noisy party, celebrating 150 years since the founding of Familia Torres. Yet when I think of Torres, the idea of noise is unusual. I’ve been driven by Miguel Torres Maczasseck (46) in an eerily silent electric car. I’ve encountered Miguel A Torres (79), on a practically noiseless push-bike. (This was at a conference in Italy; while I was still on my first cup of breakfast coffee, with typical energy he’d been taking a cycling tour of the city.) Stand in a vineyard in Penedès and you may be able to hear the grass grow, now that the Family is trialling electric tractors.
It’s not just their commitment to environmentally friendly machinery that makes Familia Torres seem quiet. The very distinctive thing about this business, which in many ways is Spanish wine, is that it has risen to the top and stayed there, without shouting. There are measured press releases and interviews. Since lockdown there have been webinars and Miguel Jr has joined Instagram, revealing just a little of his personal life. The wines win all the right awards and trophies, but they lay off the trumpets.
At this point I should explain how I’ll distinguish between the two Miguels. It’s customary for English speakers at least to refer to Miguel Sr, the company’s president, respectfully as Mr Torres. For his son, Miguel Jr, the current CEO, I’ll use the Catalan version, Miquel, the name he answers to on Instagram.
Through generations
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der November 2020-Ausgabe von Decanter.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der November 2020-Ausgabe von Decanter.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Wine lover's guide to ALSACE
Pretty postcard villages, delicious food, fascinating history and, of course, excellent wines - this beautiful northeastern corner of France has everything a wine lover could ask for
José Pizarro does Christmas Spanish style
In a Decanter exclusive, the celebrated chef offers up an alternative menu for the seasonal celebration
Perfect whiskies for wine lovers at Christmas
What better gift could there be for a wine and whisky lover than a whisky matured in barrels previously used for wine? Our selection of 12 great bottles shows just why it can be a match made in heaven
WHITE CHATEAU
Hitherto a bit-part player, the white wines of this celebrated southern Rhône region are well placed to find themselves increasingly in the spotlight, as a result of the changing climate conditions. Our Rhône expert recommends 20 of his favourite examples to seek out
Chablis 2023
Variable weather made it challenging at times, but a late hot spell came to the rescue, resulting in plenty of good wines for drinking and for keeping. Having tasted almost 400 Chablis 2023 wines, our expert selects 30 of his favourites, along with five from top producers in neighbouring crus
Looking BACK, looking AHEAD
As 2024 draws to a close, we asked eight of our regular contributors to nominate their most memorable wine experiences of the year and to reveal what they're anticipating most in their plans for 2025
25 TOP SYRAH/SHIRAZ REDS
Two names, a multitude of personalities. For almost two centuries, Syrah has been woven into the fabric of the southern hemisphere's wine world. Today, it makes some of the most exciting and terroir-expressive wines to be found south of equator, with a growing shift towards single-site bottlings
A Resource for the World? - Argentina is unique in the genetic diversity preserved in much of its vine material. With climate change and disease posing increasing threats worldwide, Catena Zapata winery is asking what lessons can be learned to protect vineyards within and beyond the nation's borders
Argentina is unique in the genetic diversity preserved in much of its vine material. With climate change and disease posing increasing threats worldwide, Catena Zapata winery is asking what lessons can be learned to protect vineyards within and beyond the nation’s borders
Great Cabernets of South America
Other varieties may hog the limelight across South America, but the world’s most popular grape for red wines has played a critical role in the continent's wine heritage. We trace Cabernet Sauvignon’s story here, and recommend 16 benchmark wines to try
PROVENCE by train and bike
With rail links to Paris, Nice, Marseilles and beyond, a vast network of cycle paths and quiet roads, and a plethora of historic wine estates, Provence is an ideal destination for an eco-friendly, car-free and carefree) holiday
