Oriol Artigas Lloritu

The lloritu is a colourful fish with pink, yellowish, orange and bluish colours that lives mainly around the Balearic Islands, in Almeria and in the Maresme (Barcelona). Rare and highly sought after for its extraordinary texture and the whiteness of the flesh, it can command exorbitant prices in fish shops. But the most curious fact about this native Maresme fish, which looks tropical because of its colours, is that although it is born female, after three years it undergoes a sexual inversion and becomes a male. It is in honour of the lloritu that Oriol Artigas, a chemist and winemaker from Maresme, makes a very special red wine that, like this fish, is unique in its kind.

Made from Jacquère, a little-known variety, but described by experts as fascinating and unique, Oriol Artigas Lloritu comes from an old vineyard located about 50 metres from the Mediterranean. The vines are planted in soil composed of white and pink granitic sands and they are organically cultivated. When the grapes reach optimum ripeness, they are harvested manually and taken straight to the winery. There, the grapes are destemmed and trodden by foot. The wine is then macerated on its skins overnight and undergoes spontaneous fermentation with natural yeasts in stainless steel tanks where it remains on its lees for 7 months.

The result is Oriol Artigas Lloritu, a fragrant, juicy and fresh wine from the D.O. Alella that goes as well with Mediterranean dishes as it does with itself. And needless to say, the fish that is the protagonist of this whole story is a perfect match.