Pomagrana

Pomagrana is Catalan for pomegranate, and the name tells you exactly where this wine is heading — bright, red-fruited and refreshing. It's a varietal Trepat, an indigenous Catalan grape usually relegated to the rosé blending vat, here given the lead role by Fredi Torres at Lectores Vini.

Torres founded the project in 2016 and farms organically in the Conca de Barberá, up in the hills of northern Tarragona at around 520 metres, with the vineyard ringed by forest. The winemaking couldn't be simpler or more respectful: hand-harvested, destemmed, fermented on native yeasts in stainless steel, a brief week or so of maceration, then six months on fine lees. No oak whatsoever, which keeps Trepat's delicacy intact.

The result is a light, energetic red that drinks almost like a serious rosé's confident older sibling. Pomegranate, a twist of grapefruit and crunchy cherry, dry and medium-bodied with a herbal lift and gentle acidity. Serve it cool and it's dangerously drinkable — the sort of red you reach for when the heavier bottles feel like too much.

This is summer-terrace wine with a natural-wine pedigree. Chill it down, pour freely, and don't expect it to hang around.

How to Serve

Serve properly chilled, around 12 to 14°C, in a standard red glass. No decanting — it's all about freshness. Drink young.

Where to Drink It

Planque near Haggerston, ground zero for chillable natural reds. Dandy in Newington Green, for exactly this kind of bottle. Noble Rot, if you want it somewhere that gets light reds.

Food Pairings

Grilled sardines or a plate of Iberian ham suit it down to the ground. I'd also drink it slightly chilled with a tomato and anchovy salad on a warm evening.