International Enologists Praise Andorran Wines as World-Class

International enologists have hailed Andorran wines as "world-class" after touring the Principat's three cellars, praising their purity, territorial identity, and potential to rival prestigious global labels.

The visiting experts—Almudena Alberca, Christopher Kenan, and Jorge Orte—assessed wines from producers under Andorra's quality control regime. They identified strong growth prospects in both quality enhancements and stylistic innovation. Kenan described the vintages as comparable to top international benchmarks. Alberca called them "very fine and very pure," products of high-altitude "heroic" viticulture in an extreme climate, marked by acidity, fruit, and landscape-driven character.

Orte said the wines "can compete head-to-head with the great classics from other countries" and could boost enotourism. Miquel Medall, enologist at Ordino's Casus Belli cellar, welcomed the external validation: "That outsiders say our wines can carve out their own market segment means a lot to us."

Agriculture Director Josep Casals praised the feedback as confirmation that Andorra should keep investing in the sector. He highlighted collaborative research with cellars since 2006-2007, noting wine's value in enriching tourism with nature, gastronomy, culture, and authentic local experiences amid demand for unique visitor offerings.

This year's harvest is advancing ahead of schedule due to higher temperatures, though altitude creates varying maturation paces. Sant Julià de Lòria's Casa Auvinyà plans to begin picking this weekend, while Ordino sites await early October. Casals pointed to opportunities from the warmer conditions, including earlier starts for more complex winemaking. Medall forecast Casus Belli's best harvest since 2015, calling it a standout year.