📍 Penedès
The heart of cava production, west of Barcelona.
Penedès is a wine region in Catalonia in north-eastern Spain, south-west of Barcelona. Vineyards rise from the coast to the hills and fall into three zones: Baix Penedès by the sea, Penedès Central and Alt Penedès in the mountains. Because of the differences in height, many different grapes are grown here.
Penedès is known as the heart of Catalonia for making the sparkling wine Cava. The first Catalan sparkling wine by the Champagne method was made here in 1872. The main Cava grapes are Macabeo, Xarel·lo and Parellada. The centre of Cava is the town of Sant Sadurní d'Anoia. The name Cava as such is wider than Penedès, but most of it is made here. Well-known houses such as Codorníu, Freixenet and the Torres family also work here.
Besides Cava, Penedès makes still white, red and rosé wines. International and local grapes are both common: Sumoll, a red variety gaining popularity again, and Tempranillo, which is called Ull de Llebre here.
For comparison with its neighbours: to the south lie Tarragona and Priorat with powerful reds, to the north-west Costers del Segre, and to the north Alella and Empordà.
How it connects to Wine
📍 Penedès ← grows in ← 🍇 Xarel·lo → kind of → 🍇 Grape varieties → kind of → 🍷 Wine
Links
- Part of
- 📍 Catalonia
- Wines made here
- 🍷 Cava
- Related to
- 🍷 Familia Torres (Vilafranca del Penedès), 🍷 Clos Ancestral Red, 🍷 Clos Ancestral Red 2023, 🍷 Clos Ancestral White, 🍷 Clos Ancestral White 2023, 🍷 Forcada, 🍷 Forcada 2023, 🍷 Fransola, 🍷 Fransola 2024, 🍷 Mas La Plana
- Grapes
- 🍇 Xarel·lo, 🍇 Macabeo, 🍇 Parellada, 🍇 Sumoll
- Main grapes
- 🍇 Xarel·lo, 🍇 Macabeo, 🍇 Parellada, 🍇 Tempranillo
- Wines
- 🍷 White wine, 🍷 Red wine, 🍷 Rosé
Frequently asked questions
What is Penedès known for?
The sparkling wine Cava, made by the Champagne method from Macabeo, Xarel·lo and Parellada.
Where is Penedès?
In Catalonia, south-west of Barcelona.
Which zones does Penedès have?
Baix Penedès by the sea, Penedès Central and Alt Penedès in the mountains.
What to read next
- 🍷 Familia Torres — A family wine company in Vilafranca del Penedès (Catalonia), founded in 1870 by the brothers Jaime and Miguel Torres Vendrell; known for Mas La Plana and estates in several Spanish appellations.
- 🍷 Reserva Real — Reserva Real: a line of Familia Torres (red DO Penedès wine); years on this site: 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016.
- 🍷 Clos Ancestral Red 2023 — Clos Ancestral Red 2023: red DO Penedès wine from the 2023 harvest, by Familia Torres.
- 🍇 Tempranillo — The most widely planted red grape in Spain and the world's fifth variety by vineyard area.
- 🥃 Brandy del Penedés — Brandy del Penedés is a Catalan grape brandy with an EU Protected Geographical Indication: aged at least 6 months in oak, made in Penedès and Constantí, from 36% ABV, sugars up to 20 g/l.
Similar
📍 Costers del Segre · 📍 Empordà · 📍 Montsant · 📍 Terra Alta · 📍 Priorat · 📜 Alella
⚠️ Wine contains alcohol: adults only, drink in moderation. Wine usually contains sulphites; egg white or milk proteins are sometimes used for fining — important for allergies and for vegans.
What it includes
Sources
- MAPA: Denominaciones de origen
- eAmbrosia – EU geographical indications register
- eAmbrosia – EU geographical indications register