Venus La Universal

Sara Pérez and René Barbier Jr. form an esteemed winemaking couple each at the helm of their respective family properties Mas Martinet and Clos Mogador in Priorat. But together they have made a home at Venus La Universal in Montsant, just a stone’s throw into the neighbouring appellation where the soils are driven by limestone and granite, rather than schist. The Venus wines (including the entry-level Dido labels) are all produced in a genuinely hands-free fashion. Sara and René favour an earlier harvest on acidity; spontaneously fermenting with whole clusters, before long ageing in a combination of large foudré and concrete for 30 months, to naturally stabilise the wine. Sulphur use is low and the wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered.