Since ancient times, wine has been produced in the Iberian Peninsula. Wine helped build the economies of kingdoms. Wine brought people together for millenia, and facilitated conversation, commerce, and innovation in agriculture and industry. Wine has found its way to the new world in many different ways. Wine has created a new world of itself
In the early 20th century, Victorino (the great grandfather of our founder Eric) launched his negociant project in Asturias, Spain called “La Borla”. He produced wines in Asturias, Spain to sell in Cuba before the revolution. La Borla did not survive into modern times, but lived on spiritually in the family through stories passed along generations. La Borla served as one of the inspirations for the deClaramunt project.
During the same period, Xavier and Eduard’s family cultivated their own vineyards in deClaramunt. For centuries, it was customary for each family in the region to own and tend their own land, producing wine, olive oil, and other goods. Wine has always been deeply ingrained in the Catalan countryside culture, and both wine and olive oil were traditionally cultivated for personal consumption and formed a significant part of the Mediterranean diet. Xavier and Eduard’s family, like many others, had a small plot of vines and olive trees to produce their own wine and olive oil, and a built-in cellar in their home.
Wine connects us to the stories of our ancestors, filled with warmth and love. It’s a reminder of simpler times, shared meals, and the enduring bond of family.
In the 2010s, Xavier and Eduard met Eric in Miami, Florida. Over the years they became close friends, and shared a common interest in re-establishing their connection to wine. They set out to create something larger than themselves. deClaramunt was born as a culmination of a desire to push towards new horizons, and to make our mark in the world of the finer things…So we took a risk to make it happen.
We searched for months for the right partners in our project. We experienced rejection and failure repeatedly, yet we remained patient and persistent. Finally in 2017, we found the perfect oenologist partners in the town of Batea, Catalonia (D.O Terra Alta). It was then that we began producing our first batch of wines to sell locally within the region as. In 2018 we made our launch in the United States and began selling in Eric’s home state of Florida. We have been fortunate enough to be able to share our wines and wonderful experiences with thousands of people over the years.
Building a brand from the ground up is daunting work, and involves taking many risks. Many that create their own brands have thousands of connections in their industry, backing from powerful and well-known people. Creating a beverage brand is often seen as a ritzy affair; a venture in which only the rich, famous, and the ultra wealthy see success.
deClaramunt fought an uphill battle from its start. Our founders peddled our wines door-to-door on the streets of Miami. They had recently graduated college, and decided to dive head first into the beverage industry. They had very few connections, only basic knowledge, and likely made fools of themselves on numerous occasions. This did not stop them.
