Penedès is located on the Catalan Mediterranean coast south of Barcelona in the north-eastern part of Spain. The area, which has been one of the heavyweights on the Spanish wine scene for a long time now, stretches 50 km up the limestone-rich ridge and comprises no less than 24,000 ha of demarcated land.
Thanks to the large differences in altitude, it is an area that offers a wealth of exciting and individual wines. The selection goes from the sparkling Cavas, made in the original Champagne method and produced in four times the quantities of the French Champagne district, to fresh and fruity white wines to the remarkable red Reservas.
In the relatively cool mountain areas, it is possible to produce very sensible wines from French grape types such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, but the most important grape types are still the local Spanish grapes, which – in contrast to the above – benefit from the mild winters and hot summers of the Mediterranean climate.
The 1970s was the decade in which the district inscribed its name in the international context and became known as a serious source of quality wine. Until then, Rioja had largely been the only one to represent Spain's colors to the world's wine lovers, but now people really got their eyes on Penedès.
Today, in terms of wine technology, the area is far ahead of the others in Catalonia – even far ahead of most other wine districts in the rest of Spain. The reason, in short, is the prosperity and technological expertise that the exploding Cava production has created.
Tasting comment:
Inviting fragrance with notes of pear, melon and dandelion. The taste is full and intense with a long dry aftertaste.
Serving suggestion:
Apéritif – The introduction to a good dinner
Fish - light – Light, lean and fine-tasting, such as e.g. sole or turbot
Shellfish – lobster, prawns, oysters, mussels, crabs etc.
Vinification:
Exclusively in steel tanks with subsequent fermentation and storage in the bottles for 30 months before the wine is released for sale.