Vinya Ivo
“Vinos proceden de Cadaqués ” (Wines that come from the Cadaqués)
“This is the story of a guy” so begins the short biography of Ivo Pagès, founder of Vinya Ivo. This is the story of an epicurean guy with soul and passion from a young age by the world of the vines and Wine.
Son of the viticulturist in the Médoc and then in the Blaye, Ivo Pagès lived during the holidays in the family house in Cadaqués (Spain) surrounded by vineyards and the rest of the year at the homestead. It is enough to mention that in this environment he was bathed soon after birth and that for him it was always clear that he would turn a winemaker.
With his experience from within vineyard properties (Bordeaux, Burgundy and Languedoc), at wine shop or at the Embassy of France in London were he used to serve wine, he decided to follow the courses ENITA (Master offered in Bordeaux) to achieve one of his dreams for a long time: To vinify his own wines.
Lover and connoisseur of French, Italian and Spanish wines, he asked himself the question “Where to create his wines? “. He decided to settle in the area of Cadaqués (see photo on the left) in Catalonia for several reasons. The first is a special attachment to this city that welcomed himself so often as a child; the second is the presence of a great terroir. The third is that in France the administrative weight is so heavy that one has to spend more time “in the papers for the vineyard” than in anything else. It is so true that in France the administrative weight is greatly cumbersome for vineyards to the point that some winemakers have to spend more time there than in their actual vineyards … a French particular characteristic….
If you had to describe your job / your vision on viticulture in a few words, how would you do so?
“No limits! In every sense of the term. “ A job where you can’t count the times where you have to be versatile. It should not be limited to a name, a type of wine but to more accurately reflect its philosophy, to delight the consumers that the winemaker search but also and especially to produce more local trust. This being careful of “not to fall into the trap of standardized wines …. it must be unique! ‘
“I start being a local interpreter and from my version of what the terroir and the grapes can give.”
What do you recognize in your wines? What is your “brand” for your wines?
“I think my print on the wines that I make is elegance, lots of fun / of” drinkability “(ability to drink it).” That is to say, create wines that are not disgusting, not heavy but fresh ones, easy to access and with which we take pleasure in enjoy with friend (s). “But also wines where you do not feel the alcohol. It’s all about balance and assembly. ”
Where do the names of your wines come from?
“The best way to find the name is to take a bottle, open it with friends and try to reach an agreement for the name.”
Why “Sirènes“? (“sirens” in engish) Ivo Pagès is deeply bon vivant, epicurean and therefore he loves women. He even says that “without them we could not do anything, we could not make the world go round.” The name and label of “Sirens” is a tribute to women. The names of all the women of the village are present on this label … women who also identify themselves more to wine. This is a wine dedicated to women.
Why “Pirata”? The name of this Cuvée is a tribute to the turbulent history of this region. Formerly the village was regularly destroyed by the Franco-British or Franco-Spanish wars. The local nobility was weakened and this village became a shelter and prey of barbarian pirates. The most famous of them was Red Beard. Today the word “pirata” is entered in the local community; it has become a nickname used between couples.
Why “s’alqueria”? “When we arrived in Cadaqués, since more than 50 years, there were vineyards in Alqueria. Those vines which have since disappeared. ” It is their memory that Ivo Pagès chose this name.
Side project:
Currently on a vineyard that is not his own, he would in the near future buy his own vineyards. Concerning the question of the location if it, the answer is simple, Cadequés of course!
The anecdote of the week will involve the Cuvée Sirènes
For the story when women of Cadaqués saw the wine label and knew it was over their names figured some have offered to pay to appear on the first line. This is a wine that is synonymous with local pride.
Thanks to Ivo Pagès
Jonathan Choukroun Chicheportiche
Ivo Vinya
17488 Cadaqués
Girona Catalonia, Spain
