Giró del Gorner – Interview With Marta Giró i Via

One of the biggest regions in the world of sparkling wine, Cava stands as its own style of bubbly, from the historic country of Spain, with so many brilliant producers utilising tradition and innovating for the future, there’s a lot to explore, so Glass of Bubbly is on a mission to highlight this wonderful region and some of the incredible minds producing Cava today.

In this exclusive feature on Glass of Bubbly, we speak with Marta Giró i Via, one of the family members of Giró del Gorner, let’s discover a little about her life, her journey into the industry and one of her most memorable Cava memories.

It’s Great To Speak With You, Marta, Can You Tell Us A Little About Yourself & How Your Incredible Journey Into The Wine Industry Began?

“I grow up in the family estate with the whole family. In my family, from the moment you are born, you are already immersed in the world of wine. Sometimes the pacifier gets wet with wine.

I have a degree in economics and advertising and PPRR, and I am in charge of sales and wine tourism. After my university degree, I moved to another country, and after working for about 10 years for other companies I came back home.

I never disconnected from the wine world because I spent all the summers and holidays in the countryside.”

Do You Remember Your First Experience With Sparkling Wine? When It Was And What Kind Of Label It Was?

“It was for my first communion. My father made a Cava for the family celebration, 40 years ago, and we still have some bottles.

For my family, drinking Cava means much more than celebration, it is a lifestyle. The whole family participates, in some way, they are involved in the process, and for us having a glass of Cava is sharing.

Share some time with family and/or friends, around the table and enjoy long talks.”

How Rewarding And Challenging Is Managing Your Own Winery?

“We are one of fifteen Cava wineries that work as an integral producer, which means we made all the processes. We don’t buy wine. All the wine that we use for making our Cava, comes from grapes from our estate.

Our vineyards are certified organic, and there are crops that, due to the climate, are not easy to work with. Drought is also one of the difficulties we encounter. We are seeing that native varieties adapt better to climate change.

But our challenges are not only found in the vineyards, but also in the marketing of Cava. We focus a lot on the product, on trying to offer the best long-aged Cava, and we don’t always know how to reach the market.

We have to give the customer the reason for long-aged Cava. Because Giró del Gorner is focused on offering Cava aged for a minimum of 3-4 years. We look for that fine and elegant bubble, those golden nuances and that creaminess in the mouth that is only conferred by the passage of time.”

When It Comes To Pairing Your Sparkling Wine With Food, Do You Have Any Favourite Combinations That You Would Personally Recommend?

“I have to confess that I used to drink Cava every day. Why? Because Cava is one of the wines that paring with everything at any time.

As an appetizer, I would choose our 100% Pinot Noir Rosé Cava. Its red fruits and freshness give it an easy-to-drink character.

If our mother prepares us an elaborate stew or some cannelloni, I would opt for a Cava Brut Nature Gran Reserva Vintage 2017. It is a very gastronomic Cava, which can accompany very elaborate dishes.

In my daily life, I usually eat light and varied, and a Brut Nature Reserva Cava makes it very easy for me. Fresh and very well-integrated carbon dioxide, makes it ideal to accompany a salad or a hamburger.

A combination that I really like is popcorn with Cava. An unsophisticated combination with an excellent result.”

Can You Share With Us Some Of The Countries And Locations Around The World That You Can Enjoy A Glass Of Giró del Gorner?

“Because we receive a lot of wine tourists. Much of the production is sold in our winery. Although we export more and more. The main countries where we export to are: Japan, China, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Dominican Republic, Cuba, USA_California, etc. and soon we hope to add some more to the list.”

What Future Plans Can Enthusiasts Of Giró del Gorner Look Forward To In The Coming Years?

“We have many challenges ahead.

The new generation is joining the winery and will provide us with new knowledge and a new vision to face changes in consumption.

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges we face. We are investing in irrigation systems for the vineyards.

We want to consolidate our offer in wine tourism. The winery is located in a privileged environment and there is increasing interest in learning about the world of Cava.

Currently, part of the estate’s grapes are sold to other producers. Our dream is, in the not too distant future, to use all the grapes from our vineyards to make our Cavas.”

Can You Share With Us One Of The Most Memorable Experiences You’ve Enjoyed With A Glass of Bubbly?

“I have many, although all of them involve sharing a glass of Cava and eating surrounded by friends and family. Cava is joy, but above all for sharing.”

Thank you Marta, for sharing your story and experiences with us and we at Glass of Bubbly wish you the very best for the future!

Images belong to Marta Giró i Via. Glass of Bubbly was granted permission to use them.