Organic Red Wine Surrealista Negre 2023 Ranks Second in DO Empordà

An organic red wine with a clear Mediterranean identity has earned a place among the most distinctive young reds in DO Empordà. Surrealista Negre 2023 received second place as the second-best young red wine in DO Empordà at the Premis Arrels del Vi 2026. The recognition confirms something simple but difficult to achieve: the wine shows its personality from the first glass.

In a blind tasting, labels cannot influence the verdict. Carefully designed imagery, commercial narratives and familiar names also lose their power. Consequently, only the wine remains.

An Organic Red Wine That Stood Out in a Blind Tasting

A panel of sommeliers and wine professionals selected the winners of the Premis Arrels del Vi through a blind tasting. Therefore, Surrealista Negre 2023 had to stand on its own. The judges focused on the wine rather than the bottle, its image or the story behind it.

That detail matters.

The award did not come from a carefully crafted narrative. Instead, it came from the moment when the wine reached the glass and revealed its character.

The name Surrealista may invite the imagination to wander. However, the recognition reflects something much more concrete: balance, expression and a direct connection with the Empordà landscape.

Organic Winemaking at the Heart of Surrealista Negre

Surrealista Negre 2023 is an organic red wine from DO Empordà, made with Lledoner Negre, Syrah, Cabernet and Cariñena. Its profile combines juicy fruit, spicy nuances and a mineral edge that reinforces its Mediterranean character.

Organic winemaking does not sit quietly in the background. On the contrary, it forms part of the wine’s identity. It reflects a way of working closely connected to the vineyard and gives the wine a sense of coherence from soil to glass.

Moreover, this approach has real relevance in today’s market. Sommeliers, distributors, importers and wine buyers increasingly value wines with a clear origin and a story that remains easy to communicate. Surrealista Negre brings together three strong attributes: organic production, a recognisable Mediterranean identity and a professional recognition earned through blind tasting.

Nothing more needs to be added.

A Young Red Wine Shaped by Empordà

The Empordà landscape brings sea and mountain together. The Pyrenees frame the region to the north, while the Mediterranean opens to the east. Meanwhile, the Tramuntana wind moves through the vineyards and leaves its mark on a wine-growing territory with an unmistakable character.

Surrealista Negre captures part of that landscape through its blend. Lledoner Negre, the traditional Empordà name for Garnacha Negra, and Cariñena connect the wine with varieties deeply rooted in the denomination.

At the same time, Syrah and Cabernet add a contemporary dimension. As a result, the wine does not remain trapped in a rigid or nostalgic interpretation of the region. It keeps its local roots while expressing them with freshness, freedom and energy.

The name Surrealista fits naturally. The wine stays grounded in its origin, yet it refuses to follow an entirely predictable path.

An Organic Red Wine with Commercial Relevance

For years, the market often treated young red wines as simple or straightforward choices. Surrealista Negre 2023 moves in another direction.

Its second place as the second-best young red wine in DO Empordà shows that freshness can carry depth. Fruit expression can coexist with character. Likewise, an approachable style can still communicate a strong sense of place.

This balance also gives Surrealista Negre a clear commercial role. It can add personality to an organic wine selection, bring a distinctive Mediterranean reference to a by-the-glass list or open a wider conversation around the renewed energy of young Spanish reds.

Furthermore, the recognition offers a clear message for wine professionals. Surrealista Negre does not need an exaggerated story. Its origin, organic identity and style already provide a solid foundation for a strong market position.

Some wines need a long explanation before they reach the glass. Surrealista Negre 2023 follows the opposite route: first the wine speaks, then the recognition follows.

By David Puertas – From soil to shelf, and everything in between