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Discovering Anna Espelt from Espelt Viticultors
Anna Espelt does not appear particularly interested in shattering glass ceilings. What captivates her is working diligently, preserving the landscape, and crafting wines that narrate the story of a region. Perhaps for this reason, when she discusses her journey in a traditionally male-dominated industry, she does so without solemnity. "The more I present myself as I truly am, the more I am acknowledged," she says.
She encapsulates her understanding of leadership with a phrase that also serves as a mission statement: "The only way to occupy space is by occupying it.” This is not a rehearsed speech. It is a way of being in the world. Opportunities, like spaces, must be seized.
Her visitor centre is a true reflection of who she is. Magazines, bottles, colourful stones, and small travel mementos fill the shelves. These objects tell stories and accompany the many hours she spends there. More than a winery, it seems an extension of her worldview; curious, observant, and deeply connected to the land.
From Biology to Wine
Although she is now one of the most recognised voices in Empordà (Catalonia), her path to wine was not an obvious choice. Before oenology came biology, a vocation inspired by her grandfather and the simple yet profound desire to contribute to a better world and leave a positive mark.
Over time, almost without realising it, her interest in understanding nature led her to the vineyard. It was then she discovered that biology and oenology had much more in common than it seemed. Both involve observing, understanding nature's balances, and making decisions with a long-term perspective. This scientific outlook has ultimately defined the philosophy of Espelt Viticultors.
For Anna, sustainability is not merely about producing organic wine. It means caring for the environment in which she works and considering not only people but also the other living beings that share the landscape.
The Landscape as an Ally
If there is one idea that summarises Anna Espelt's approach, it is that a vineyard can do much more than produce grapes. It can also protect the land.
For over twenty years, she has advocated a landscape management model based on the agroforestry mosaic, a strategy that combines vineyards, forests, pastures, and open spaces to increase biodiversity while reducing the risk of major fires. It is not just about planting vines but designing a more resilient landscape where each element serves an ecological function.
The holm oak groves preserve some of the richest ecosystems in the Mediterranean; the pastures remain open thanks to livestock, which naturally removes combustible vegetation; the crops act as discontinuity areas that hinder fire spread; and the Mediterranean scrubland areas provide refuge for numerous wildlife species.
For years, some viewed this way of working with scepticism. Until the definitive test came. On 22 February 2022, a fire affected the Cap de Creus area, and that landscape, designed with ecological principles, proved effective. The mosaic helped slow the advance of the flames and confirmed that managing the land is also a way to prevent fires.
Today, as the climate emergency forces us to rethink how we coexist with fire, Anna argues that the solution is not solely about extinguishing fires but about building territories capable of withstanding them. Here, viticulture, far from being merely an agricultural activity, can become a tool for prevention and landscape conservation.
Thinking Long-Term in the Vineyard
Long-term thinking is integral to her approach. She revives bush vine cultivation because it requires less water in an increasingly drought-prone context, advocates for regenerative viticulture that restores life to the soil, and revives ancient varieties better adapted to the Mediterranean climate.
Among them, the white cariñena stands out, a variety perfectly suited to the region and, in her view, representing a part of the future of Mediterranean wines. Because climate change necessitates rethinking everything, but not abandoning identity. The challenge is to produce Mediterranean wines that express their origin more than ever.
If Empordà had to be summarised in one word, Anna has no doubt; salinity. This marine character appears repeatedly in her wines and also in one of the projects she is most passionate about: Pardells, a wine born from an exceptional vineyard, meticulously mapped, where up to twelve different varieties coexist. A true natural laboratory that demonstrates the richness of the land and the importance of preserving its diversity.
Wine as a Connection
At Espelt Viticultors, everything begins in the vineyard. The team is small but deeply committed, and since 2002, they have also embraced wine tourism, bringing visitors to the place where wine truly originates. That is, among the vines and facing the landscape.
For Anna, wine has never been just a beverage. It is a tool for connection. Sharing a bottle means creating conversation, strengthening bonds, and celebrating the best moments. Perhaps this is the essence of her work. Caring for the landscape to produce better wines, but also to build a more vibrant territory. Because when the landscape is cared for, people are cared for too. And then, wine ceases to be just wine and becomes a way of understanding the world.
