The Labels

“Our vision for this project lies in the tradition of creating meaning and memories through Art. This one, is a valuable treasure gifted to us by history and it is through this that we have come to know our roots, understand the human condition and visit landscapes of the past."

Mary’s approach to creating the wine labels was inspired by Joan Miró’s sensitivity to his environment, painting style and philosophy – “I work like a gardener or a winemaker. Things come slowly. My vocabulary of forms, for example – I didn’t discover it all at once. It formed itself almost in spite of me. Things follow their natural course. They grow, they ripen…, ripening goes on in my mind.”

The organic nature of the wine labels parallels the quintessence process of art and wine making; natural, intuitive and time-sensitive. The pursuit of beauty takes time, and it takes an eternity to practice.

Art and Wine is the perfect consummation of purpose, power and panacea, and we raise our glasses to that.

Six labels from six different regions have been created in different styles, motivated by personal dreams and interpretations, making each wine characteristically distinctive and special.

The labels – Pur, Essència, Aura and Lila – were painted with acrylic paints to create a highly textured and vibrant nature to match the richness of Priorat’s terroir, Conca de Barbera, Montsant and Empordà respectively. Penedès is known to be one of the most ancient viticultural areas in Europe and being close to the coast inspired Mary’s choice to use watercolours for the wine Daurat. Blanca’s label brings you up close and personal with this grape that embodies the microcosm of the world of wine which is translated with the transparency of water colours.

Little details are nestled within each label hiding secrets and revealing narratives inherent to our journeys ready for you to discover.

M.S.B. Pur

Mary feels that the greatest gift of life on the mountain is time. The artwork for Pur is a personal trip down memory-lane. It is a reminder that Time is a precious gift as with every moment that leads up to the Present.

The journey is what makes life worth living for; It is arduous and breathtaking at the same time and for all it’s worth, the fruits of hard work always tastes the sweetest.

Priorat is truly the holy grail of every wine enthusiast’s experience, and I want the art to encapsulate the quintessence of the land with all it’s grandiosity and pureness; that you will even miraculously taste the fragrance of the earth in a glass of Pur.

M.S.B. Aura

In Montsant, the iconic Serra del mountain is sincere and wise, quiet and strong, stoic and otherworldly. Set as a backdrop against the stunning rows of mature aged vines in Capçanes, a small village in Priorat is the perfect mise en scène for an mythical legend where Mary imagines an arduous journey through the vineyard straight into the heart of the mountains where there is a sacred stream.

If one finds it, it promises a steadfast and unwavering source of sustenance for the vineyards to prosper every fall where the autumnal harvest reaps a bountiful yield of the Grenache with great aging -potential for years to come.

Drinking Aura is without a doubt, drinking the most coveted hidden secrets of Montsant.

M.S.B. Essència

Trepat is believed by Ampelographers to be uniquely exclusive to Conca de Barberà. Protected from the sea by the mountains and nestled in the basin carved out by the Francoli & Anguera rivers, Trepat’s singularity and rarity is a reminiscence of a type of woman I visualise worthy of a glass of Essència.

She commands presence, is fire within and a force to reckon with. She flows with a moving patience and wears her confidence with a graceful disposition. Grounded with a quiet conscience, she is a woman of mettle; highly-esteemed, yet gentle and self-effacing, deeply conscious of her humble roots. With both feet grounded, heart centred, head in a cloud of aspirations, she is fearless and respectfully tenacious in all her endeavours.

Authentically one of a kind, she is deserving of an excellent glass of Essència.

M.S.B. Daurat

Inspired by Dionysus who is known as the greek god of wine and all manners of exquisite sensibilities, the main character in the painting, Alma embodies timelessness and personifies the sanctity of wine: Liquid gold that is beholden to the antiquity of the sacred land of Penedès and generations of love, tradition & culture.

That is, by virtue, In vino veritas – “Wine is sunlight, held together by water” , said Galileo Galilei.

Daurat is also a tribute to Tyron, a true best friend, a constant presence nestled in the recesses of the heart and mind.

Always loved, remembered in each sip of this wine for the eternity.

M.S.B. Blanca

Gandesa in Terra Alta is increasingly known for an exceptional grape “Garnatxa Blanca ”, a rare variety from vineyards of over 40 years old that embodies a pure and unadulterated mediterranean personality.

It is a characteristic that calls for intimacy and close proximity of the fruit that yields intense citric flavours and complexity.

The art aims to capture a microcosm of the world of wine with a cluster of the Garnatxa Blanca grapes, up close and personal, just like how we would like you to experience “Blanca”.

M.S.B. Lila

I always think a lot about what it means to lead a life well-led. My answer to that is in the little moments of quiet beauty; the kind that is intimate, heartfelt, joyful and shared. Mary envisions the art to mirror the lightness yet embody the waves of emotions felt when we experience those little moments; Visceral, spontaneous and passionate.

At the same time, the art also epitomises the vivacious spirit of Empordà, a cherished treasure of Catalunya’s viticulture.

She marries the idyllic lilac fields of lavenders in Provence and graceful undulating terrain in Empordà.

So, when we make a toast to Life with a glass of Lila, we remember the extra in the ordinary. Salut!

The Labels

M.S.B. Pur

© 2022 M.S.B. Somms & Vineyards, S.L