The launch of the new vintage of our most iconic wine, Vinya La Scala Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Reserva 2017, has arrived, and this time it brings with it a work that pays tribute to one of the great Catalan artists: Gerard Sala i Rosselló.
As some of you may know, this wine is the winery’s flagship and is made only in those years when the harvest is exceptional. In each new vintage, we choose an artist to illustrate the label of this new vintage.
This year, the work of artist Gerard Sala chosen to illustrate the 2017 vintage is an explosion of colours full of strength, in a perfect combination that symbolises the natural landscape in its purest state, immersing us in the beauty of what surrounds us and reminding us of the importance of what is most essential. For the artist, nature is an intangible element present in all the cycles of life.
Getting to know Gerard Sala
Gerard Sala, born in Tona (Osona) in 1942 and who died in Badalona this past summer of 2024, was an outstanding Catalan artist who left a profound mark on the region’s art scene. Trained at the Massana School, Superior School of Fine Arts of Sant Jordi and Mural Painting School of Sant Cugat del Vallès, he became a benchmark in painting, as well as in other disciplines such as engraving, sculpture and muralism.
His work, characterized by an exceptional technical mastery and sensitivity towards nature, has been selected to illustrate the label of the 2017 vintage of Vinya La Scala, which reflects the connection between art and the natural environment through an explosion of colours and shapes. Influenced by music, poetry and Taoism, her work celebrates the simplicity and beauty of the natural world.
This new label seeks to pay homage to his life and work, a way of keeping his essence and artistic legacy alive.
A limited edition
Jean Leon Vinya La Scala is much more than a limited production organic cabernet sauvignon wine; it is the ultimate expression of a singular land and dedication to a tradition that began in 1963. Sourced from an 8-hectare plot of clay-limestone soils, planted by Jean Leon and his winemaker Jaume Rovira, this wine has achieved the prestigious ‘Vi de Finca Qualificada’ certification.
The climatology of the 2017 vintage is characterised by warm summers and little rainfall, giving the wine a unique personality, aged in French oak barrels for 24 months and rested in the bottle for a minimum of three years.
The result is a wine that stands out for its aromatic intensity and unique character. On the palate, Vinya La Scala is voluptuous and concentrated, with round tannins and a balanced acidity, providing length and persistence in each sip. Specialized guides have recognized its quality: the Peñín Guide 2025 awarded it 93 points, and at the Berlin Wine Trophy it was awarded a Gold Medal.
At Jean Leon, sensitivity to art has always been part of our essence. In the late seventies, we started to put art on the labels of some special vintages of Vinya La Scala, and from the nineties onwards, this fusion became a tradition to dress up this unique wine. Its name pays homage to Jean Leon’s restaurant in Beverly Hills, a meeting place for the Hollywood stars of yesteryear. Artists such as Josep Maria Subirachs, Antoni Tàpies, Joan Hernández Pijuán, Waltraud Maczassek, Javier Mariscal, Josep Guinovart and August Rosell have left their mark on the labels of this Gran Reserva, creating a lasting symbol of the symbiosis between wine and art.
The 2017 vintage, with its tribute to Gerard Sala, is not only a celebration of the union between art and wine, but also a reminder of the importance of both cultural and viticultural roots.
