BODEGA MIQUEL JANE winery, 50 kilometers from Barcelona
50 kilometers from Barcelona is the BODEGA MIQUEL JANE winery. After 56 minutes, the train will stop at Vilafranca del Penedes station. And the winery itself is a 10-minute drive from the station. That is, the whole trip from Barcelona to BODEGA MIQUEL JANE will take a little more than an hour.
Today the head of the company is Ms. Bernadette Miquel
Brief history of the Winery J. Miquel Jané
"The link, at the end of the s. XIX, of two cousins, Antonio Jane Formosa and Josefa Pascual Formosa, gives rise to the driving force of the Bodega J. Miquel Jané, which today reaches the fourth generation embodied in the brothers Bernadette and Josep Miquel. After this first union, wine and family have always gone together, thus renewing the vocation that this bond be undefined.
It was the marriage founder who bought the first properties. The main ones located in the Alt Penedès: Font-Rubí, El Vendrell, Vilafranca del Penedès, Sant Cugat Sesgarrigues and Avinyonet del Penedès. The family wine, in bulk production, found a first broad horizon in the then colonial Cuba. This was facilitated by the fact that another branch of the family owned the frigates that crossed the ocean. The painting of the frigate "Remedios Pascual Formosa", which is exhibited at the Maritime Museum in Barcelona, gives a faithful testimony.
The dynamism of the family reaches both men and women, as shown by Antonia Jané Pascual, the youngest of the three daughters of the founders, who enlarged the planting area by buying Cal Costas and Baltana Vella. She is also the one who collects various awards in recognition of the quality achieved in the elaboration of her wine.
The civil war temporarily truncates the activity, the family will suffer a long exile. Returned to his house, he is now a son of Antonia Jané, Josep Miquel Jane, who heads the reconstruction of production, which, in the first place, is still destined for bulk. The ambitions, as it could not be otherwise, are much deeper, and so, in 2002, launches the first bottled wines that make up the current personality of the winery.
Again a woman Bernadette Miquel Vacarisas, now leads the activity, keeping alive the inherited family north towards excellence, as demonstrated by the achievement of a wine like the Sauvignon Blanc. In its action is also well present the mood of wines from the winery to sail again by seas and oceans".
(information from the company website)
Yellow Road questions are answered by Bernadette Miquel, owner of company
1 - Why is your vineyard called “Miquel Jané”?
Miquel Jane, are the surnames of my father ( Jose Miquel Jane) . We decided to named our wine with surnames that for us means origins and soul, so brand is “Miquel Jane”.
2 - Please tell us a little about yourself. And why exactly did you now head the company?
I belong to the four generation of the family. I was working together with my father for 10 years until he died on 2011. Now I’m in charge of the company. I’m economist and oenologue. I’m 43 year old, married, 3 kids.
3 - You've a large team ...Tell us about your team
Nowadays we are 10 people working at the company ( oenologists, administration, restaurant, oenoturism ) and 3 more externs workers ( comercial team for export and nacional markets to sell wine and oenoturism). We produce wine Miquel Jane buy also wine for other viticultors without winery to produce wine by their own brand. This helps us to grow and have more knowledge about producing different stiles of wines while we help our community and territory.
4 - How to get to your vineyards (from Barcelona)? Can you suggest a route to visit your winery? Is there public transport there? We are 50km far from Barcelona city centre but we still in Barcelona province. You can get there by train ( stop at Vilafranca del Penedes station). We are 10 minuts far from the station. A person from the winery can pick up at the station or you can pick a taxi to arrive.
5 - Parellada, BLANC BALTANA, SAUVIGNON BLANC, CABERNET SAUVIGNON ROSÉ, SYRAH, BALTANA NEGRE, BALTANA SELECCIÓ and CLÀSSIC PENEDÈS (sparkling)... Which of these wines is your favorite (and why)?
And what, in your opinion, is the most interesting (unusual)? My favourite is cabernet sauvignon rose, I love rose wines because for me they have the best from white and reds, its’ color is very delicate and it’s live is short but if you drnk at the optimum time is perfect!.Sauvignon blanc is the wine we are more proud because belongs to a vinery with very low production ( 400kh/ha) that give to the wine a impressive and powefull flavours difficult to find in similar and give us a lot of satisfaction with the reaction of the clients.Classic penedes Sauvignon blanc is an unusual sparkling wine. It’s very difficult to find skarkling wines made by this variety and makes it really interesting. The buuble are very integrated, it’s ecological, reserve (15 month in botte).
6 - What is your favorite wine (red or white)? And why?
My favorite red is our Miquel Jane 100% shyrah ecological: easy drinking potent but soft at the same time. Velvety, floral… For white I like floral buy dry wines: The typical style penedes white wine is made.
7 - Do you have your own Wine Tasting Club in Barcelona? What part of Barcelona is it located in?
We usually have a room tasting in our office in Barcelona city but we realise that it was not a complete experience. Having the winery close to Barcelona the experience must to be in the winery to keep the essence of a wine tasting, uncompleted if you don’t’ see the wineyards and the winery. Viticulture and winemaking explanations really matters to understand wine tasting at the end. So what we really do is id any client needs to do a wine tasting in Barcelona we bring them to wine shops and wine bars with a nice environment when she can talk with an sommelier.
8 - List, if possible, a set (gift box) of three or four of your own wines (red and white), which, in your opinion, that can decorate the "poster" of your farm.
A box of 3 bolltes: 1 white sauvignon blanc + 1 classic penedes Parellada + 1 red batana seleccion
9 - You can offer the most beautiful view (favourite point) of the vineyards or the surrounding landscape. May I ask you to take one or two photos of your favourite places?
2 favourites: (1) the aeric photo of the winery and surroundings taken several years ago with a aerostatic globe and (2) view in the top of the hill where all our old vines are plant at 500 meters of altitude
10 - What is your choice for "Yellow Road"? (own white wine)
sauvignon blanc + classic penedes Parellada.
11 - What white wine producer (from Spain or another country) would you recommend for Yellow Road?
Miquel Jane
12 - You have an extensive and wonderful wine tourism program. And you would not want to have your own cultural program. Of course you do not overshadow the cultural events of Barcelona, but you can try.
Please let me know how we can help you
Sergey Evtuhov, author of the project "Yellow Road".
P.S.
Here are a few examples from the extensive winery program
(information from the company website)
COURSE OF TASTING-WINE AND WALK ON HORSE
Enjoy an unforgettable trip withquine clubSant Paugetting to know the countryside of region of Penedésand participating to a complete wine of winery J. Miquel Janétasting course of 4 internationally awarded wines along with a delicious aperitif of local productsof an original way by astriding on a horse,that respects the environment.This is an ideal activity to enjoy the nature and the landscape.
The equine club Sant Pau, with more than 25 years of experience in the riding, puts to your disposition both pure races and horses docile and easy to mount, to be able to enjoy the excursion. Ideal for all the ages.
WINE TASTING COURSE IN BARCELONA
Join us at our Wine Tasting Club in Barcelona. Learn the secrets of making fine wine and discover the art of wine tasting. Enjoy an enviable reputation as one of the leading wine producers in the Penedès wine region of Catalonia. With our Sommelier you will taste our five wines and learn the art of wine tasting and discover the aromas, colours and textures of our white, red and rose wines. In a relaxed and casual atmosphere this is a fun and enjoyable wine tasting event in Barcelona. A great way to learn about our wines.
HISTORICAL TOUR IN SITGES + VISIT TO WINERY
Enjoy a walk through the history of one of the most beautiful towns on the Mediterranean coast. Accompanied by a guide, you will travel in time from the origins of Sitges right up to the 21st century. You'll discover its streets and its most emblematic buildings as well as the history of its most influencial artists. At the end of the itinerary, you'll be driven to the winery where the enologist will provide information about the vineyard. A four wine tasting and lunch will conclude the activity
