ABOUT US
For centuries, both vineyard and wine have been present in the Priorat region. Although it is acknowledged that Romans cultivated the land for the production of wine, it was during the eleventh century that under the protection of the Prior of the Carthusian monastery of Santa Maria de Escaladei that the Priorat, with its characteristic slate “licorella” soils, became a region synonimous to wine making.
Our family have taken an active part in our region’s wine heritage for at least six generations. Above all, we are farmers, growers which have inherited the tradition and expertise passed on along the generations, enriched over centuries by the arrival of new civilisations to this domain close to the mediterranean.
Such cultural abundance has forged a particular lifestyle, a style of life particular to the Priorat.
We are winegrowers, that have decided to share everything with you no matter where you are!
Many things have occurred since the arrival of the Carthusian monks, but the arrival of the Phylloxera epidemic to Porrera in 1893 marked a clear turning point in our history.
BUIL & GINÉ LUXE
The entrance into the most exclusive market of the world brings Buil i Giné and the Colección Familiar to another level. Both, experts and collectors, consider the wines in the Colección Familiar not only as high quality wines but also as luxury products. Our confidenciality policy does not allow us to provide any information on our collectors but we can confirm that they belong to the most valued and exclusive cellars in the world.
THE COLECCIÓN FAMILIAR IS STABLISHED AND BUIL I GINÉ ENTERS THE CHINESE MARKET
The Colección Familiar project is rounded off and the first wines are produced. Now we also begin our expansion towards our last pending market: China. Here our wines will gain huge importance in the future.
ARRIVE THE FAMILY RESERVE AT BUIL & GINÉ
After seven years of searching for the best plots and grapes, the winery team succeeds to dress the Family Collection with the wines of the most extraordinary corners of Priorat.
THE FIRST MAS GINÉ IS PRODUCED
The first results of the hard work that had already began in 2003 is the first production of Mas Giné. An exceptional wine, unique, exclusive and considered an object of desire by wine collectos and experts. This will place Buil in Giné among the best cellers in the world.
PROMOCIÓN DEL PRIORAT EN SUIZA
THE NEW CELLER IN GRATALLOPS IS OPENS
The new celler becomes the best equipped within the DOQ Priorat. This way we can elaborate our wine taking care of each and every detail. It is equipped with all the latest technological features and advances. This allows us to further improve our wines. It is the first celler in the regionready to be visited.
THE INTERNATIONALIZATION AND EXPANSION
The new concept, based on elegant wines, refined and versatile are a succes. The celler grows and continuing production in the Wine Cooperative facilities is not suitable anymore anymore. This is the place where we started and we will always be grateful to the Wine Cooperative but we required more space and beter facilities for further production. Our wine is sold in 4 continents and, from the year 2003 on we will become the first DO Priorat celler which also produces wine outside Catalonia: in the DO Rueda and the DO Toro.
JOAN GINÉ 1999 IS CHOOSEN SMART BUY BY WINE SPECTATOR.
THE FIRST GINÉ GINÉ 1997 APPEARS ON THE MARKET.
Besides this, old vines in Bellmunt and Vilella Baixa are recovered for the production of future wines.
PRIORAT´S ´SALVATION´. SHARING.
1996, I was just about to finish my studies when I decided that I needed to contribute in an original way and continue the compromise with the region. The compromise of ´SAVING´ Priorat. I decided to focus my career on SHARING this lifestyle through our gastronomy and our wine. This is how, with help from my family, friends like Xavi Fusté and from my future wife, Anna Cuadrat, I would found Priorat Natur and Buil i Giné.
THE ¨NEW¨ PRIORAT WINES ARE PRODUCED
They reach the market in 1991. Xavi experiences this moment closely, he knows the main figures in this picture and is able to enjoy the great wines these make.
FAMILY-FALSET-PRIORAT
Josep M. Buil, Xavi´s father, takes over the compromise with the region. He arrives in Falset under the wing of Jaume Cirana y Galcerán´s family, the first General Director of INCAVI, a member of the directive board of Priorat´s teachers Association, mayor of Falset and president of the Regional Council. María Giné, his mother is also part of the school´s Parents Association. Xavi and his siblings will complete their primary school also here.
A NEW RECTOR ARRIVES IN FALSET: MN. JAUME CIURANA I SANS.
The new rector leads the educational movement and promises to open a school of professional education. This school will provide agricultural studies from the beginning. In 1964 the school moves to the campus of Sant Pau where in 1981 the Oenolgy school will be established. Joan Giné has a small but very important role. The fact that he could enjoy a higher education makes him aware of his importance. He is a member of Priorat´s teachers Association from the beginning.
FINALLY THE FIRST REGULATIONS FOR THE DO PRIORAT ARE APPROVED.
JOAN GINÉ IS ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE COOPERATIVA DE FALSET FOR THE FIRST TIME
He got reelected 3 more times. We can highlight the efforts made by the Assembly of the Cooperativa to provide afiliates and their children with training on initiatives the Cooperativa did not always support.
SPANISH CIVIL WAR
The DO Priorat acknowledgement process stagnates and the crisis worsens in the region. The economy breaks down and depopulation continues. The post-war period in the Priorat is very harsh, there is a subsistence economy and many children end up working already at a young age.
HIS FATHER, EVARIST GINÉ, DIES WHILE WORKING THE LAND
Joan Giné will become an orphan (on his father side) fact that paradogically will grant him access to secondary education. This way he will become one of the most illustrated people in the village and at the same time realise the importance of his education.
FIRST ATTEMPT AT HAVING PRIORAT ACKNOWLEDGED AS A VITICULTURAL REGION
In 1924 acknowledgement of the Priorat d´Escala Dei region is requested to dictator Primo de Rivera´s government. In 1928 a second attemp is made but it is not until the approval of the Wine Statute (Estatuto del Vino) in 1932 that the official process gets started. The socio-political reality of the country, the Civil War and the harsh post-war conditios delay the approval until 1954.
JOAN GINÉ IS BORN
4th generation of agricultors originally from Guiamets.
THE FAMILIES WHO WERE ABLE TO REMAIN IN THE REGION BEGAN TO REPLANT THE HILLS WITH HELP FROM AN AMERICAN BREED.
Agricultors, specially in the most elevated areas of the region, had already substituted vines by hazel trees which, nowadays still remain. In 1889 there were already plant nurseries in the Penedés region promoting the reintroduction of vines with American root. Besides this, the Agricultural Union (Sindicato Agrícola) and the Caja Rural d´Estalvis in the Priorat region are created. It is not until the end of 1909 and 1910 that there is a significative reintroduction of the vine in the area.
THE FILOXERA ARRIVES IN PORRERA
30 years after the detection of the first European outbreak in Pujaut (France), the filoxera arrives in Priorat. The 27th of June of the same year it is detected in la Solana de les Viudes in Porrera and within 3 years it will spread through the whole region. A long period of depopulation and decay begins in Priorat. By the year 1900 Priorat´s population counts less than 7000 inhabitants.
