The first invoice dates back to March 1995. That’s when the first bottles of Augustus Chardonnay arrived at La Buena Vida. It was Josep Puig, co-owner together with Joan Roca (the estate was then still called Puig & Roca and was renamed “Augustus-Forum” about 15 years ago), who contacted me to introduce his wines in Belgium.
At the time, as a 24-year-old, I was surprised that someone of Josep’s calibre contacted me to sell his wines. He had previously worked for many years as a commercial director at Torres and already knew all the major importers in Europe.
I had already tasted his now famous Augustus Chardonnay in one of the classic top restaurants in Barcelona: Ca’l Isidre (still open today). And Isidre, the owner, was apparently a good friend of Josep and had informed him about my visit.
One month later I visited the estate, and just two weeks after that, the first bottles were already delivered in Oud-Turnhout. Things can move fast 😊!
31 years later, we are still working with our Augustus Chardonnay.
And to this day, it remains, for us, the best Chardonnay in Spain.
They were also pioneers in planting this grape variety and now have some of the oldest Chardonnay vines in Spain.
A few years later, they also started producing the now famous Forum wine vinegar, always artisanal and in small quantities.
Today, Forum vinegar accounts for more than half of their turnover. I still remember a visit with several Belgian sommeliers: Josep let me taste a barrel of Chardonnay and I was amazed by the quality. “That’s the wine for our vinegar”, he said with a straight face.
The sommeliers and I were highly impressed.
If the base Chardonnay for the vinegar was already that good, how great must the wine be! 😉
And indeed, after a tasting under the “Garrofer tree” (carob tree) overlooking the sea, accompanied by a fantastic paella prepared on the spot by Josep himself, the Augustus Chardonnay was unanimously crowned the best Chardonnay in Spain.
Such great memories… Josep sadly passed away in January 2024. Today, the new generation led by Albert Roca, son of co-owner Joan Roca (still very much active!), successfully runs the estate.
There is now a small restaurant on the estate where dishes using their world-famous vinegar can be tasted, attracting sommeliers and top chefs from all over the world.
If you ever pass through El Vendrell, it’s definitely worth a stop!
Well, that Chardonnay, that very best Chardonnay in Spain…
It is now on promotion!