D.O. Penedés
Among the Catalan Mediterranean coast and plains, the Penedès vineyard is born. The influence of the sea and the sun makes Penedes a warm and mild climate zone.
The floor of Penedes is very varied but the majority of land is farming land. We find grounds with deep soils, or very sandy or very clayey, porous and retain water from rain. The Penedes soil is poor in organic matter, calcareous and infertile. This was the first wine region in Spain to use stainless steel equipment and cold fermentation.
GRAPESThe major white grapes are used for the production of Cava: Macabeo (called Viura in other Spanish regions), Xare.lo, Chardonnay, Parellada and Malvasia. They are experiencing with white varieties from France and Germany for the manufacture of dry and sweet wines, for example, Muscat de Frontignan, Riesling and Chenin Blanc. Among the varieties of grapes allowed we can find: Tempranillo, Garnacha, Tinta, Cariñena, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Monastrell, Pinot Noir and Samsó. All of them have adapted well to the denomination and are even displacing to local varieties. All grapes are grouped geographically. Lower Penedès is planted with Grenache, Cariñena and other grapes for the elaboration of red wines. In the Middle Penedes you can find Cava varieties, Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon. Finally, in the superior Penedès lie the new white varieties. |
HISTORYThe production of wine dates back to Roman times and has left many archaeological remains. From the eleventh century the vineyards were extended inwards and began to export wine from the nearby ports, and since 1865, also by rail. Until the nineteenth century reds predominated in the Penedès. After vines were affected by phylloxera, growers replanted with American strains, which subsequently brought white grape varieties due to the increasing popularity at that time of sparkling wines. The Council of the Designation of Origin was founded in 1960. Viticulture began to represent an important economic power in the Penedes, a set of companies that bottled elaborated wines and also started to market them were established. This led to creating the Penedès Denomination of Origin. Aging and bottling began in the early twentieth century. In the 1970s, producers began to introduce the technology of stainless steel and cold fermentation. The pioneers were also the first in Catalonia and throughout Spain to introduce grape varieties from France. Due to excellent results they were adopted not only in the Penedès but by other growing areas of Catalonia. The first organic vineyards that existed in Spain was also in the Penedes area. |
DENOMINATION OF ORIGINThe D.O. Penedes is the most important of Catalonia in terms of production and variety of wines. The wine region lives for its demanding and cyclical rhythm of its 28,000 acres of vineyards, always under the use of the most modern techniques and the pursuit of excellence of the fruit, which extends also to foreign breeds. The Control Board has currently enrolled in their registration, 5,700 grape growers, 270 wineries and 148 companies dedicated to aging and exportation, this implies an annual production quota of between one million and a half to two million hectoliters of wine. |
LOCATIONSThe cultivation area extends to the south of the province of Barcelona, with 47 municipalities, and in an area (Lower Penedès) located in Tarragona, with 16 municipalities. Vilafranca del Penedès wine is the main locality of the DO, with three distinct areas clearly delimited geographically: Lower Penedès is the coastal zone, which reaches 250 meters above sea level. Middle Penedes is the main production area, with an altitude of between 200 and 500 meters above sea level. It is located southeast and has good sun exposure, and an excellent environment for maturation. Superior Penedès is the highest area, in the interior and mountains. Their vineyards exceed 800 meters of altitude at the ends of the central plateau, with low production but high quality. Other known locations are: Sant Sadurni d’Anoia, Avinyonet del Penedès, Pacs del Penedès, Sant Pere de Ribes, Sitges and El Vendrell, among others. |
VINTAGES
Contact Control Board: Plaza Ágora, 1 |
