The legacy of a prehistoric sea

The emergence of the Pyrenees, more than 36 million years ago, caused the sea that once covered what is now Central Catalonia to disappear. This phenomenon left spectacular rock formations due to the gradual precipitation of calcareous and saline sediments. These natural resources, of great geological value, unmistakably shape the regional landscape, which has been recognised as a UNESCO Global Geopark.

The Montserrat Mountains, the Sant Llorenç del Munt i l’Obac natural park, the Toll Caves or the Cardona salt diapir are the Geopark’s most emblematic features.

On the El Molí estate, at the foot of the Collbaix, in Manresa, the soil is predominantly made of clays, earth that was gradually eroded from the mountain and deposited on the terraces. The most salient feature of this type of soil is its high water retention capacity. This allows the moisture to remain on the surface for long periods of time, an exceptional situation that benefits vines and olive trees in times of drought.

In contrast, the Casanova de Monistrolet vineyards, in Rajadell, are planted on alluvial soils, sand, silt and gravel. Because the soil cannot retain moisture, the century-old vines on this estate have to have very deep roots to find water, resulting in such distinctive wines as the Singular Blanc, as intense as the grape vines’ roots are deep.