Winemaker
Pilar Salillas
- Discipline
- Winemaker
i. Biography
Pilar Salillas studied viticulture at Universitat Rovira i Virgili, setting out with a grounding that was as much about patience and precision as it was about agriculture. From the beginning, her career has been shaped by the tactile realities of the cellar: the cool workspaces, the rhythm of production, the close attention to fermentation, and the quiet discipline required to guide wine from grape to glass. She has worked as a winery worker at Raimat, and that practical thread has remained woven through everything that followed, keeping her connected not only to process, but to the table where wine finds its meaning.
Coming Up
Pilar Salillas trained at Universitat Rovira i Virgili before beginning a career shaped by hands-on work and steadily widening responsibility. The path was not abrupt, but cumulative, built through each cellar, each season, and each role that demanded both technical understanding and calm attention. She served as a praxis student at Nuviana Cellar Valle del Cinca in Aragon, Spain (until 2006), a formative stage that anchored her in the day-to-day realities of winery work. From there, she moved to an internship at Geyser Peak in Sonoma (from 2007), broadening her experience in a different setting while continuing to deepen the practical side of her craft. What followed was a progression through several winery worker roles at Celler Piñol in Terra Alta, Raimat, and Masia Bach in Penedès. Each step added another layer to her understanding of production, from the steady tasks that keep a winery moving to the more exacting decisions that shape style and consistency. That accumulation of experience eventually led her to become winemaker at Bodega Raimat (until 2018), a role that marked a clear transition from supporting the work of the cellar to directing it. Since 2018, Pilar has been director and winemaker of Lagravera, and also Director General and winemaker of CELLER LAGRAVERA SL. The shift to leadership brought her career into full focus: still grounded in craft, but now also encompassing oversight, direction, and the larger architecture of the winery itself. Her trajectory reflects a professional life that has remained close to the material realities of wine while expanding into the responsibilities of guiding an estate’s broader identity.
Where They Are Now
She serves as director and winemaker at Lagravera and as Director General and winemaker at CELLER LAGRAVERA SL. Her work includes wine and food pairings, bringing an additional dimension to the way she approaches wine: not only as something made in the cellar, but as something designed to meet flavor, texture, and the cadence of a meal. The pairing of those positions reflects a career that has stayed close to both cellar work and the way wine meets the table. In her hands, the role is not confined to production alone; it extends into the conversation between bottle and plate, where detail, balance, and timing all matter.
Signature
Pilar's signature dishes include ONRA, Ónra Blanc 2020, Cíclic Blanc 2018, La Pell Blanc 2019, and Cíclic Tinto 2017. These names sketch a profile that is at once precise and expressive, each one carrying the identity of her work in a way that suggests care, intent, and continuity across vintages and styles.
Honors
Pilar's honors include Won the tasting competition associated with her wine tasting course. The recognition underscores the practical, sensory side of her expertise, a reminder that her career has been shaped not only by making wine, but by understanding it deeply at the level of taste and perception.
Profile updated August 2026
FAQ
Asked of Pilar
What is Pilar Salillas's current role?
As of 2026, Pilar Salillas is Director and Winemaker.
Where did Pilar Salillas train or study?
Pilar Salillas trained at Universitat Rovira i Virgili.
What recognition has Pilar Salillas received?
Won the tasting competition associated with her wine tasting course.
