Bodega Clandestina 'El Soci' Macabeo Catalonia 2023

We love Ferran Lacruz! We feel so incredibly lucky; how kind he was to come to Beacon and taste us on this gorgeous macabeo. He farms about 8 hectares of vines in Catalonia, in the heart of Penedès, with his first vintage taking place in 2018. A true pioneer, he left behind a life of studying tourism to pursue his winemaking dream with a friend. Working outside of any appellation and choosing instead to operate with an eye towards minimal intervention and a  commitment to organic viticulture, he hand harvests all his grapes and, in his quest for purity, leaves the wines unfined and unfiltered. For the ‘El Soci,’ Ferran wanted to create a wine of access: the wine you pour amongst friends that anchors you to the present moment. Easy, breezy, beautiful, the grapes hail from different vineyards and are harvested throughout August to achieve optimum ripeness. Directly pressed into stainless-steel, the fermentation is completely spontaneous with natural yeasts. After completing malolactic fermentation, the wine rests in tank for 5 months and is bottled the following spring with minimal SO2. The warmth of Ferran’s smile translates to this sunny sipper - salted pear, yuzu, and ocean air are as refreshing as a yellow Gatorade after scoring the winning touchdown. Organically grown, low-intervention/natural wine, vegan.