Los monjes que buscan la excelencia en el vino: «vendimiamos a mano para no estropear las mejores uvas»

Benedictine monks from the Monastery of Santa María de Le Barroux in France are focusing on high quality rather than high yields in their wine production. During a presentation organized by El lagar de María at the Colegio Mayor Moncloa, Father Charbel Pazat de Lys explained that the community decided to apply the pursuit of evangelical perfection to their winemaking.

The monks harvest their grapes by hand to prevent damage to the best fruit. Pazat de Lys, who also serves as the secretary of the International Monastic Association, noted that the community previously produced mediocre wine because they did not fully understand the potential of their land.

The shift toward quality production also addresses local economic struggles. Pazat de Lys stated that local farmers previously faced desperate financial situations that led to frequent suicides. By focusing on excellence in their monastic wine tradition, the community seeks to improve the results of their labor.