History
Brief description and current status
The notable state of Torre del Veguer is situated in the far west of the St. Pere de Ribes, located on the boundary of Vilanova y la Geltru.
On the foundation was a medieval fort dating from 1359, of which it still retains some elements. The isolated building was built in the 19th century and artistically has an eclectic style,
On the outside we can find a large arched portico adorned with a 16th century marble shield containing the Avinyo family coat of arms supported with solid, attached buttresses.
Inside the cellar there are three pointed arches and a medial point that testify the antiquity of the building.
On the first floor are the remains of a cloister with various round cornered stone arches, dating from the time of the Jeronimic Order of the 15th century.
In 1878 Jose Ferrer y Vidal, an industrial “entrepreneur” from Vilanova i la Geltru bought the property and undertook substantial reforms, inspired by a medieval French Chateaux. These reforms included a square based tower, decorative “Marline” arches, ancient pebbles and towers with looped holes in the corners: all in recognizable neoclassic style. In 1896 Mr. Ferrer i Vidal also opened a small public chapel on the same grounds, this time in neogothic style, dedicated to Maria Auxiliadora.
Upon Jose Ferrer i Vidal’s death in 1904, the property passed on to his son, Juan Ferrer-Vidal y Soler, who added a small theatre (1895) where some of his own plays were performed.
History
QUADRA D´ESCORTEY VEY
1318
Guillem de Cortei
(1ª generation)
↓
Guillem de Cortei
(2ª generation)
↓
End fourteenth century
Genís Almogàver
(from Barcelona city)
*Monastery of S. Jerónimo De Montolivet
↓
1413
Jeronimic Order
↓
Blas de Castellet
↓
1464
Gaspar D´Avinyó
TORRE DEL VEGUER
↓
1601
Frederic D´Avinyó
(“Veguer” from Vilafranca)
↓
Jerónima D´Avinyó
Luis de Vilafranca
↓
In the mid-nineteenth century
Marqués de Montella
Count of Torralba
↓
Family Desmassieres y
Fernández de Santillana
↓
1883
José Ferrer Vidal
(Industrialist from Vilanova i la Geltrú)
Juan Ferrer-Vidal Soler (Surnames link)
Agustín Ferrer-Vidal y Goytisolo
Elena Ferrer-Vidal i Llorens
Joaquín Gay de Montellá Ferrer-Vidal
Gay de Montellá Estany (3)
*The origin of Bodegas Torre de Veguer began with a monastery founded by a merchant from Barcelona, Bertran Nicolau, who also founded the Augustine monastery in Sant Pere de la Gornal. Bertran Nicolau obtained permission from Pope Benedict XIII to found a Jeronion monastery in the Penedes region, or elsewhere in the diocese of Barcelona. At that time the current owner of the monastery was Genis Almogaver, who sold the then-named “Quadra D’escortey Vey” monastery to the Bertran Nicolau (prior of the Hebron valley’s monastery), including all of its land and the people whom inhabited it.
On the 9th of October, 1413, the foundation of the newly-acquired monastery was signed, and Bertran Nicolau donated 14,000 “pounds” on the condition that the monks celebrated mass for his salvation while he was alive and for his soul long after his death.
However, on the 21st of October, 1416, the Jeronimo brothers sold the monastery to Blas de Castellet as they had decided to move somewhere more suitable for the order, arguing lack of water and woods, which were essential for their survival and development. The brothers then established themselves in the Murtra de Badalona, where their presence was long and fruitful.
The Ferrer-Vidal Family
Since 1878 this former monastery, known today as the Torre del Veguer, has been owned by the Ferrer-Vidal family; and 5 generations later, it is still owned and operated by direct descendants of this family. In addition, due to its important and eclectic history, the “Generalitat de Catalunya,” or the General Government of Catalonia, has listed this property as a historic and artistic building of public interest (ref. number: R-I-51-5665).
Jose Ferrer i Vidal (1843-1904).
Mr. Ferrer-Vidal hailed from a modest family within the town of Vilanova i la Geltru, and due to his intense interest in enology, he left Spain for a period of time to pursue his studies in Burgundy, France.
Once back in Spain, he then entered the textile industry and founded the company “Guma y Ferrer,” which he later renamed “Jose Ferrer y Cia,” once the building had finished construction on the sea-front “Rambla” of Vilanova.
Continuing on with business and industry, Mr. Ferrer, together with his father-in-law, Antonio Lopez y Lopez (Count of Comillas), founded the Trans Mediterranean “Tobacos de Filipinas,” (Filipinean Tobacco Company), the “Banco Mercantil,” (The Merchant Bank), “Hispano Colonial,” and “Ferrocarriles del Noroeste,” (Northeastern Railways), among others. He was also president of the “Caja de Ahorros” bank in Barcelona and during the time of his presidency of the bank, he was also president of the “Fomento del Trabajo Nacional,” (or National Workers League).
A notable politician in the “Lliga Catalanista,” a defender of national security and Senator to the King - upon Jose Ferrer i Vidal’s death in 1904, King Alfonso XII joined the names Ferrer and Vidal (to become Ferrer-Vidal) which ennobled his eldest son to count status, under the title: Marques de Ferrer-Vidal.
Carrying on with the tradition of the grape cultivation of wine production, beginning with the Jeronimo Friars and continuing with Mr. Ferrer-Vidal’s sincere interest in enology; this monastery-turned-winery has always been a part of the grand “world of wine.”
Indeed, even since the early 1930’s, Bodegas Torre del Veguer has made wine for export to Burgundy, France, taking advantage of the winery’s strategic location, near to the old port of Vilanova.
Towards the end of the 19th century, these same wines were so highly acclaimed they were awarded a Gold Medal in Barcelona’s 1888 Universal Exhibition.
In 1990 a new chapter of wine making begun at the Torre del Veguer property, with the goal of producing wines with the utmost quality while retaining the building’s unique history at the same time. In 1995 our first vintage was released, which marked the birth of our first two wines: “Blanc de Blancs” and Cabernet Sauvignon.
