In memoriam: Josep Roca Benito (1957–2026)

04 Mar In memoriam: Josep Roca Benito (1957–2026)

A simple man who loved Priorat and its people

On 3 February 2026, Josep Roca Benito, founder of Celler Devinssi, passed away. Although his departure pains us deeply, we prefer to remember him as he truly was: a discreet, hardworking person, loyal to those close to him and defined above all by a humility that mattered more to him than any success.

His beginnings and a sincere love of wine

Josep was born in Sants, Barcelona, in 1957, into a family with memories of vineyards but without a winery of their own. What he inherited above all was a story, and with his characteristic calmness he decided to carry it forward.

Over the years he worked steadily in the world of wine. He completed a Master’s degree in Oenology and Viticulture and gained experience both in distribution and in winemaking.

His shop, Taula Selecció, opened in Sants in 1999, was a welcoming place where he personally attended customers and recommended wines without pretension, with that quiet passion that characterised him. An article in Time Out simply described him as “the owner of the winery”, in love with the wines of Priorat.

Arriving in Priorat: work rather than words

Josep was not someone who made grand speeches. When he felt drawn to Priorat, he did not turn it into a heroic story; he simply decided to try. He bought some land and started from scratch. He planted vines, set up a small winery in Gratallops and worked, without haste and without noise.

The first vines were planted in 2001, and the small winery — built from the old walls of a former olive mill — became his daily workspace. The wines he produced, such as Il·lia, Rocapoll, Mas de les Valls and Cupatge, reflect that approach: honest, artisanal and without artifice.

He never chased recognition. If it came, good. If not, he kept working just the same.

A small project, made with care

Devinssi has always been — and remains — an artisanal winery. Josep valued precisely that: being able to do everything by hand, to know every corner of the vineyard and to maintain direct contact with the people who visited the winery.

He also had a particular way of dealing with difficulties. When a commercial setback forced him to rethink things, he did not complain: he simply chose to create modest but well-made projects, such as the albariño Diviño or the cava Le Jardin de Ma Tante. None of these projects aimed to be grand; they simply aimed to be honest and carefully made.

The way he was

Those who knew him know that Josep was a man who was:

• reserved,
• loyal,
• and someone who cared for people quietly.

He drew energy above all from time spent in Priorat, from contact with the land and from unhurried conversations. Although he was a city person, in Gratallops he found a rhythm of life that suited him: discreet, slow and close to others.

He also painted — not to show anything off, but because he enjoyed capturing light and landscape — and he loved cooking, especially when he could do it without rushing. He always arrived at the winery with the calm that made him so distinctive.

A heartfelt thank you

At Celler Devinssi, the team would like to express a deep and sincere thank you.

Gràcies, Josep:

• for your humble way of doing things,
• for the trust you always gave us,
• for believing in a small and honest project,
• and for teaching us that wine, above all, is respect for the land and for people.

We know you never liked grand words, so we will keep it simple: thank you for being there, and for leaving us this path traced with simplicity and truth.

Rest in peace, Josep.

We will continue working in your way: with humility.