History
Sauvella's origins lie in the convergence of geology, enology, and the pursuit of freedom and values. Our Dutch family settled in the Pyrenees and started reviving a lost, two-thousand-year-old winemaking culture.
Origins: Passion for Geology
We first got to know the Pallars region when Peter Nagtegaal explored its geology, at the end of the fifties. He would drive his motorcycle from The Netherlands to the Pyrenees to study the local rocks. Later he brought his girlfriend Lia along and together they made many friends around the area. From then on and after they got married, they returned almost every summer, with their two little boys in tow.
To us, these summer holidays in the Pallars were paradise: breathtaking sceneries, lakes, rivers and warm-hearted people. While hiking through the mountains with his dad the eldest son, Jeroen, also developed an interest in geology.
Next Generation
Jeroen studied geology in Amsterdam, while at the same time enjoying a social student life in Leiden. By regular dedication and occasional distractions he eventually graduated and started looking for jobs. By that time oil prices had plummeted and oil companies no longer hired geologists, so Jeroen decided to broaden his scope and followed a master in Environmental Management in Utrecht.
From Geology to Wine
Four years of office work in environmental monitoring were a good experience but Jeroen felt something was missing. He valued the outdoors and entrepreneurship and realized he’d have to take a leap. Although vineyards had all but disappeared from the Pallars he knew the region had, for perhaps thousands of years, produced wine and he wondered: “what if...”
Jeroen left for Catalonia to do simple jobs on the work floor at the impressive winery of Torres in the Penedès area. That is where he learned a lot and met interesting people and a year later he was convinced he wanted to continue in wine. He then moved to Laguardia in the Rioja to learn the basics by obtaining a master in Oenology while working at the famous winery of Remirez de Ganuza. He learned about grape growing and wine making, and, above all, what excellent quality means.
Return to the Land
In 2003, Peter and Lia retired and, after having lived all over the world, decided to settle in Orcau. This small village had always been renowned for its rich geology and its good, strong wines.
Jeroen and his parents together came up with the idea to make their own craft wine. They planted their first vineyard in 2004 and conducted their first fermentation experiments in the old wine cellar below the house. Sauvella was born.
From then on, we acquired more land and planted more vineyards. Sauvella now grows nine grape varieties on 5.5 hectares. Our way of working quickly evolved from organic to regenerative and natural, by following our intuition and values.
In 2023 we lost an important pillar of our company when Lia passed away. She had been our great supporter from the very beginning, administratively, practically and especially with her gastronomic talent. Her memory will live on in all of us.
Looking Forward
The year 2026 promises to be an important marker in our short history. We're proud to be releasing our select range of wines. Wines that have kept on improving throughout the years. Wines that are showing excellence.
We welcome you to taste our wines, share them with friends and be part of the continuation of the story.
