Penedès Wine
Penedès has been asociated for many years to innovative vineyards and wineries. Ever since the area was the first to use stainless steel equipments and fermentation in cold, the Penedes wine makers have elaborated excellent modern wines proceeding for a blend... of local and French varieties. This have been possible due to the Penedes varieties of heights, soils and microcliamates, which enhance the optimum growth of the different types of grapes.
Recently, it has been favored the investigation the recovery of the local varieties, developing organic cultivation techniques and experiencing with new varieties and with different plantation densities. Actually, new elaboration formulas are being searched and also they are being incorporated casks capable to offer on the palate bigger aromatic intensity, untuosity and lenght.
The growing area is extended to the southern of the Barcelona province, with 49 municipalities and an area (Lower Penedes) located in Tarragona, with 16 municipalities:
Villafranca del Penédes, Lower Penédes, Medium Penédes and Superior Penédes.
Nowadays the white wines are frequently elaborated starting from blend of Local and French varieties. These wines use to be light, fresh, clean and full of fruitiness and aromas. Some of them like The Chardonnay are varietal and they already use the fermentation in casks for their elaborations.
Along the last years the red wines have acquired an enormous popularity and own a characteristics proceeding from the local and foreigner blend of grapes like Tempranillo, Garnacha and Cabernet Sauvignon. They are light, elegant and rounded.
There are also some sweet wines, like Muscat or Malvasía elaborated in Sitges using the traditional method of Oxidation.
A few wineries elaborate sparkling wines, different to the local Cavas.
Main authorized white varieties: Macabeo, Xare.lo, Parellada, Subirat-Parent, Chardonnay.
Experimental white varities: Chenin Blanc, Muscat of Alexandría, Muscat of Frontignan, Riesling, Sauvignon blanc, Gewürztraminer.
Main authorized red varities: Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Garnacha Tinta, Cariñena, Monastrell, Samsó Merlot.
Experimental red varieties: Cabernt franc, Pinot Noir, Syrah.