Els Vinyerons ‘Lluerna’ Xarel‑lo 2022 from Penedès in Catalonia is a beautifully textural, saline white made from organically grown Xarel‑lo on clay‑limestone soils, offering a quietly serious natural‑wine twist on this local workhorse variety. This 2022 Els Vinyerons Lluerna Blanco Xarel‑lo is hand harvested, wild‑fermented, with most of the wine in stainless steel on skins and a small portion from the previous vintage aged in French oak for extra complexity.

In the glass you’ll find a pale, slightly hazy straw hue and lifted aromas of green apple, pear, lemon peel, fennel, sea spray and a faint nuttiness, all carried on a savoury, mineral edge. The palate is medium‑bodied and gently grippy, with juicy citrus and orchard fruits wrapped around a saline, almost seaside character, the no‑sulphur, low‑intervention handling giving Lluerna Xarel‑lo 2022 a vibrant, slightly wild energy.

Food‑wise, Els Vinyerons ‘Lluerna’ Xarel‑lo 2022 is spot on with South Australian whiting, grilled sardines, oysters, calamari or a classic seafood paella, its texture and salt‑licked finish slotting in perfectly alongside ocean‑fresh flavours. It’s also excellent with roast chicken, grilled vegetables, aioli‑heavy tapas or a simple plate of olives and manchego, where that combination of grip, freshness and savoury complexity keeps each mouthful bright and moreish.