René Barbier

René Barbier Ferrer is one of the visionaries who revolutionised Priorat wines in the ‘70s. The mastermind behind Clos Mogador, he also created Manyetes and the white wine Nelin, with his career reaching a pinnacle in 2004 when he launched Espectacle under the Montsant DO label. This wine quickly became a must-have for collectors and wine lovers alike, earning critical acclaim and numerous awards.

Born in Tarragona in 1950 to a family of French winemakers, Barbier’s wine journey began in Burgundy and Limoux, where he trained as an oenologist. He gained hands-on experience in prestigious French wineries, including Pétrus and Château La Fleur Pétrus in Bordeaux. However, his passion led him back to Spain, where he worked at Palacios Remondo in Rioja before buying land in Priorat’s Gratallops in 1979. There, he planted Garnacha, Cariñena, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah, launching the iconic Clos Mogador project.

Barbier didn’t embark on this adventure alone. He was part of a pioneering group of winemakers, including Carles Pastrana (Clos de L'Obac), Jose Luis Pérez (Clos Martinet), Dafne Glorian (Clos Erasmus), and Álvaro Palacios (L'Ermita). Their shared vision and collaboration put Priorat on the global wine map. The wines, initially made in shared facilities, embodied a Burgundy-inspired philosophy but with a unique Spanish twist.

In 1999, Clos Mogador expanded to include Manyetes, a powerful red wine, and Nelin, a distinctive white. Around the same time, Barbier co-founded Celler Laurona under DO Montsant, which produced Espectacle—a wine he describes as pure magic. Espectacle’s Garnacha comes from nearly century-old vines, delivering a deeply emotional and memorable experience for anyone who tastes it.

Barbier’s approach to winemaking is rooted in his obsession with terroir. "A wine’s identity is the fingerprint of the place it comes from," he says. For him, being connected to the vineyard is essential. He personally oversees pruning, ensuring vines are healthy and balanced. This meticulous care extends to the harvest, which is done by hand at optimal ripeness. Grapes are transported in small crates to preserve quality and are carefully sorted before fermentation begins using native yeasts. His wines undergo long macerations and are aged in large barrels to enhance complexity and depth.

A True Love for Garnacha

Clos Mogador, his flagship wine, embodies the harmony of Garnacha and Syrah’s elegance with Cabernet and Cariñena’s structure and minerality. "It’s the soul of Priorat in a bottle," Barbier says. Meanwhile, Manyetes reflects the extreme conditions of its vineyard—a sunbaked, slate-covered hillside in Gratallops. Barbier describes it as an emotional wine, showcasing the essence of Priorat’s rugged landscape.

His enthusiasm increases when he describes his white wine, Nelin, his white wine. It is a blend that captures balance and nuance. With a Garnacha Blanca base, it combines spicy, mineral notes from the slate soils with the freshness of Roussanne and Viognier’s aromatic finesse. The inclusion of Pinot Noir adds structure and longevity, making Nelin a unique and age-worthy white.

But it’s Espectacle that truly captures Barbier’s poetic spirit. Made exclusively from old-vine Garnacha, it’s a wine that evokes awe and wonder. "This wine is pure magic," he says, describing it as a convergence of terroir, emotion, and artistry. Espectacle is more than a wine—it’s an experience that unites winemakers, critics, and wine lovers in shared admiration.

Thanks to his passion and dedication, Barbier’s wines have gained international recognition, with about 70% of his production exported to Europe, the US, China, Japan, and Australia. His influence goes beyond the wines themselves—he has helped shape the identity of modern Priorat, inspiring a new generation of winemakers.