History Cellers Augustus-Forum
In 1990, when the Augustus Forum project was launched, quality wines were quite rare in Catalonia: industrial wines of international groups had the lion’s share. Back from Chile, Joan Roca and Josep Puig, with the help of some friends (including some great cooks from Barcelona) decided to start up a small estate where they could make their own wines, with their own grapes, a little like the French châteaux. Returning to their roots, they bought a vine in Baix Penedès, with very poor soils. Everybody thought them mad but they knew poor soils would give them better wines. They planted their vineyard near the small village of Sant Vicenç, in El Vendrell, overlooking the sea. They planted the then fashionable French grapes: Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The estate is located on the ancient Via Augusta, which used to link Cadiz with Rome – hence the name chosen for the estate: AVGVSTVS. In a few years, it has sprung up to the top of Spain’s wine ranking, where it still is. Almost by chance, Roca and Puig also started producing wine vinegar mostly from grapes, and this product was also rapidly very successful. “FORVM” was born! Both the elaboration and the product are unique. The wine vinegars rest for years in oak barrels according to a solera system. And now the FORVM vinegar has become the estate’s most important production!