Cati Ribot

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Cati Ribot 〰️

Mallorca

About Cati Ribot (Ve d’Avior)

  • Background: Cati Ribot, a third-generation winemaker from the Galmés i Ribot family, began working with her father Jaume in 2004 in Santa Margalida, northeast Mallorca. Initially focused on conventional wines with international varieties (Syrah, Chardonnay), she trained as a sommelier in Barcelona in 2008, discovering natural wines and connecting with Catalonia’s natural wine scene. This inspired a shift to organic (certified 2012) and biodynamic practices (since 2014, guided by Joan Rubió). In 2019, she took over the family bodega, stopped using sulfur, and launched Ve d’Avior (“from the past” in Mallorquin), focusing on indigenous Mallorcan grapes. She collaborates with Charlie Prymaka (ex-Terroir, Les Caves de Pyrene) and other local winemakers like Eloi Cedó and Jaume Prats.

  • Wines: Cati specializes in natural, low-intervention wines, including still reds, whites, rosés, and pét-nats, using forgotten Mallorcan varieties like Escursac, Callet, Fogoneu, Manto Negro, Gorgollassa, Callet Negrella, Giró Ros, Prensal Blanc, and Malvasia de Banyalbufar. Key wines include:

    • Escursac Tinto (100% Escursac): Red, carbonic maceration in steel for 20 days, aged 4 months in terracotta amphorae, moderate alcohol, delicate red fruit, soft tannins. From 6 hectares, a rare variety replanted in 2006. (€21, MORE Natural Wine)

    • Cambuix 2022 (Callet, Manto Negro, Escursac): 1-liter red, 6-day steel maceration, partial aging in 500L barrels, light and persistent, born after a 2020 hailstorm.

    • Bosquet 2024 (Escursac, Fogoneu): Pét-nat via ancestral method, biodynamic, fresh and vertical.

    • Malvasia Blanco 2022 (Malvasia): White, fermented in stainless steel, aged 4 months in 500L oak, cool-climate Chardonnay-like with lemon, almond, and subtle herbs.

    • Son Llebre, Eusarac: Experimental wines, often blends or unique expressions.

  • Production: Farms ~6 hectares of calcareous-clay soils, with Escursac as a flagship (1.2 hectares planted in 2006, 5 more in 2020). Uses small vessels, ceramic tinajas, and minimal sulfur pre-bottling. Biodynamic practices include cover crops, Mallorquin sheep for weed control, and apple saplings for biodiversity (aiming to produce cider). Output is small, with wines like Cambuix and Escursac in 1-liter formats, emphasizing rarity and authenticity.

  • Style: Clean, fresh, and terroir-driven, with Mediterranean scrub, floral, and herbaceous notes. Known for reviving forgotten grapes, Cati’s wines are vegan-friendly, exuberant, and reflective of Mallorca’s heritage.

A woman wearing glasses and a teal blouse points to bottles of wine on a wooden barrel at a wine tasting event, with glasses and a cork nearby.
A bottle of Cambuix wine on a wooden table, with a glass of water and another bottle in the background.
Featured
Poc a Poc.
spain, mallorca, fairs, natural wine salons
Poc a Poc.
spain, mallorca, fairs, natural wine salons

Visit to Poc a Poc wine fair in Palma de Mallorca showcasing Spanish natural wines.

spain, mallorca, fairs, natural wine salons

Online Retailers (Global & EU Focus)

Wine-Searcher.com **Your essential tool for global availability.** Search for "Cati Ribot" or "Ve d'Avior" to find merchants listing her wines and compare prices.
Decántalo (Online, Spain & International Shipping) A large Spanish online wine shop that often carries a range of Cati Ribot's still and sparkling wines.
MYSA Natural Wine (Online, US & International Shipping) A prominent online retailer specializing in natural wines. They frequently stock a good selection of Cati Ribot wines.
Sip Wines (Online, UK & Europe Shipping) A UK-based online natural wine shop that has a curated selection of Cati Ribot's wines, indicating availability for UK customers.

International Retailers & Distributors (Examples)

  • **Spain:**
    • **Winery Direct Sales (by Appointment):** Cati Ribot operates from Santa Margalida, Mallorca. Given her artisanal approach, direct visits for tastings and purchases are likely possible by appointment. It's best to contact the winery directly.
    • **Specialized Enotecas & Natural Wine Bars:** Seek out independent wine shops and natural wine bars across Mallorca and in major Spanish cities (e.g., Barcelona, Madrid) that focus on local, organic, and biodynamic producers.
  • **United States:**
    • **Jose Pastor Selections (US Importer):** A highly respected importer focusing on artisanal Spanish wines. They are a key importer for Cati Ribot in the US market. Inquire with local natural wine shops or fine wine retailers who work with Jose Pastor.
    • **Flatiron Wines & Spirits (NYC, Online US):** This well-known shop often stocks Cati Ribot's wines and writes about her project, making them a good source in the US.
    • **Wine Therapy NYC (NYC, Online US):** Another natural wine-focused shop in New York that carries Cati Ribot's selections.
    • *Contact independent wine shops in major US cities (e.g., NYC, LA, SF, Chicago, Portland) that specialize in natural wines or unique Spanish producers. They are the most likely to carry or be able to source these wines via their importers.*
  • **United Kingdom:**
    • **Sip Wines (Online, UK):** As mentioned, a strong online retailer for UK customers.
    • **Highbury Library (Online, UK):** Another UK-based natural wine specialist that carries Cati Ribot's wines.
    • *Look for independent wine merchants in London and other major UK cities who focus on natural and biodynamic Spanish wines, particularly from the Balearic Islands.*
  • **Europe (General):**
    • *Beyond the specific online retailers, explore natural wine shops and importers in countries like France, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Cati Ribot's wines are part of the broader European natural wine circuit.*
  • **Asia (e.g., Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore):**
    • *As a celebrated natural winemaker, her wines likely have distribution in key Asian markets with a strong natural wine scene. Look for importers specializing in natural Spanish wines.*

Winery Information & General Profile

**Winemaker:** Cati Ribot.
**Location:** Santa Margalida, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain.
**Philosophy: Biodynamic & Minimal Intervention:** Third-generation winegrower operating under "Ve d'Avior." Vineyards are farmed organically (certified 2012) and biodynamically (since 2014, with guidance from Joan Rubió). Focus on indigenous Mallorcan varieties. In the cellar: Hand-harvested grapes, spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts. Wines are unfined, unfiltered, and made with no added sulfur (or extremely minimal amounts). Emphasis on expressing terroir and preserving freshness. They also cultivate local apple varieties for potential cider production.
**Key Grape Varieties:** Escursac (red, a specialty for Cati), Callet, Mantonegro, Fogoneu (red indigenous varieties); Prensal Blanc, Malvasia de Sitges, Giró Ros, Gorgollassa, Callet Negrella, Vinater (white indigenous varieties).
**Signature Wines (Examples):**
  • **"Bosquet":** Often a vibrant Pét-Nat or a light red blend (e.g., Escursac, Fogoneu).
  • **"Son Llebre Negre":** A red blend (e.g., Escursac, Callet, Callet Negrella), showcasing freshness and red fruit.
  • **"Son Llebre Blanc":** A white blend (e.g., Giró Ros, Malvasia), known for its crispness and aromatic profile.
  • **"Malvasia":** A still white wine from Malvasia de Sitges, sometimes with skin contact.
  • **"Cambuix":** Often a red blend in a 1-liter format, designed for immediate enjoyment.
  • **Single Varietal Escursac:** As the leading producer, her pure Escursac wines are highly sought after.
Wines are typically classified under Vino de la Tierra Mallorca or Vino de España (for natural wines that operate outside traditional DO regulations).
**Production:** Artisanal and very limited production.
**Style:** Authentic, lively, and terroir-driven wines, often with bright acidity, fresh fruit, and a distinct Mediterranean character, reflecting the unique grape varieties and the island's soils.