It's International Women's Day and we want to celebrate some of the amazing women behind Freixenet.
So, come join us in getting to know Gloria Collell. As our winemaker, Gloria plays an integral part in making sure the wine you all love continues to taste fantastic year on year.
Where were you born? Was it a winegrowing area?
I grew up in Catalan wine country. I was born in Vic in Cataluña , which is situated only 60 kilometers (37 miles) from Barcelona and surrounded by appellations like Penedés and Pla de Bages. I’m in love with the region and its rich lifestyle that is so vibrant and youthful, while at the same time permeated with a sense of history and authenticity. Since I was a baby, I had wine and wine regions around my house.
What do you enjoy so much about making sparkling wine?
I always have the first buds on the vine to look forward to; or the thrill of the harvest coming in with lines of growers meandering towards the winery and the excited chatter of the growers talking about the harvest and their family news. And, of course, there is the time when a new vintage is first opened and I can share it with my friends and family. It’s a fantastic feeling to know that so many people are enjoying a wine that I have helped to create!
What do you think makes the classic Cava blend so special?
I love how the classic trio of Cava grapes has the ability to offer a wide range of Cava styles, from simple to incredibly complex. I feel passionately about the indigenous grape varieties that we grow in Spain
and slightly frustrated that, to date, they have not really had the recognition that they deserve on the international stage.
Freixenet is best known for sparkling wine, so why go into still wine?
Honestly, we wanted to grow and the best path for us was to grow in the still wine area. It was natural to us to make still wine, but we had to decide what style we wanted to make. We did a lot of research before we picked any grapes. When you are such a big brand as Freixenet taking a step like this, you have to make sure you are doing it right. If you’ve got the name Freixenet on it, it had better be good.
Do you think women are becoming more prominent in winemaking?
Well, there were more women than men in my class at university – 14 women to 12 men. In Spain, women are probably in the majority [in the wine industry] but perhaps the top positions are not dominated by women. That’s because of the usual issues – family, children and time pressure. In a winery the work never ends.