Torres

Torres have the most extensive vineyards in the Penedès and is the largest winery in Spain. Established in Vilafranca del Penedes in 1870, Familia Torres is widely regarded as one of the world’s most innovative wineries and named Europe’s most admired brand for nine years by beverage magazine Drinks International.

Available in 150 countries with biodynamic vineyards now in California’s Russian Valley since 1982. One of their most famous wine is the red Sangre de Toro was launched in 1945 and white Viña Sol. Super Premium and Reserva wines include Fransola, Altos Ibericos, Celeste, Milmanda and Reserva Real (A Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot blend). Torres had received many awards and prizes including  Best European Winery, granted by the prestigious American magazine "Wine Enthusiast".

Miguel A. Torres has been described as “one of Spain’s most innovative and influential winemakers”. As well as being one of the first exponents of stainless-steel tanks and temperature controlled fermentation, he also pioneered the planting of non-Spanish grape varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon. Mas La Plana Cabernet formerly known as Gran Coronas Etiqueta Negra (100% Cabernet Sauvignon ), beat Chateau Latour at the World Wine Olympics organised by wine magazine Gault-Millau in Paris in 1979. This single vineyard cuvee is fermented separately and aged in the company's winemaking plant in Pacs del Penedès, which can be visited on a prestige tour.

Freixnet

The largest producer of traditional method sparkling wine worldwide and the largest exporter of Cava. The company was founded in 1861 and based in Catalonia and Sant Sadurní d'Anoia. By 2000, total production exceeded 200 million bottles, and half of all Spanish sparkling wine production.  

Tech-savvy innovations included the first company in Spain to pneumatically press grapes and use refrigerated vats to control fermentation, and to implement biomass controls used in space technology, which created one of the most important private yeast collections in the world.

In 1974, the company achieved international success with another cava, the Cordon Negro. Freixenet is the official cava of the MotoGP World Championship since 2003. Freixnet now own vineyards in Mexico, Champagne House Henri Abelé created in 1757, South America, Deakin Estate in Australia and Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards in Sonoma and the first sparkling wine producer in Carneros

Codorníu

Codorníu is the oldest and second-largest producer of Cava, the Spanish traditional method sparkling wine. Founded in 1551. This fact makes Codorníu the oldest family business in Spain and the 17th in the world. It was not until 1872 that Codorníu began to make sparkling wines. The Cava elaboration process is called traditional method or champenoise combining local and international grapes to obtain elegant, expressive, fresh and aromatic cavas, respecting the character of the grape variety and the terroir. 

The Catalán architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch, designed the facility. In 1976, the Codorníu cellars were declared a "National Monument of Historical and Artistic Interest" by King Juan Carlos

Codorníu is the only cava maker that uses vineyard grapes from three very different climatic zones within the DO Cava give Codorníu the potential to create different styles, ages, dosage, blends, and types of cava can be found in their brands Codorníu, Anna de Codorníu, Ars Collecta, Mont-Ferrant or Parxet. These three climatic zones are:

The Penedès, of clay-calcareous soils and Mediterranean climate, where the grapes of the traditional varieties, Macabeu, Xarel·lo and Parellada express all their original typicity.

La Conca de Barberà, an area with a moderate continental climate ideal for the cultivation of the Pinot Noir variety, from which we obtain grapes with a mineral touch thanks to the slate floors.

Costers del Segre, the most continental area of inland Catalonia, where the great thermal amplitude between day and night produces grapes with a high aromatic concentration and flavors, and a vibrant freshness ideal for the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir varieties.

The Penedès DOP is centred in the regional capital, Vilafranca del Penedès, with nearby Sant Sadurní d'Anoia the centre of Cava production. Penedès DOP is considered one of the country's best wine-producing regions after the Rioja, and one of the most ancient viticultural areas in Europe best known for its sparkling Cava.

Cava DO is a white or rosé sparkling wine in varying levels of sweetness, using a double fermentation similar to Champagne. Premium Cava largely concentrate on producing Brut Nature styles (without added sugar). It is produced from grapes which comes from eight places in Spain. Sant Sadurní d'Anoia only 45 minutes from Barcelona is the center of Cava production.

Catalan Cava producers pioneered a significant technological development in sparkling wine production with the invention of the gyro pallet, a large mechanized device that replaced hand riddling.

In 2014 Clàssic Penedès was created to differentiate higher quality sparkling wines. These follows the traditional method for elaborating quality sparkling wines used around the world. They are:

Cava can also include Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Malvasía. Rosé cava is made using the Saignée method with Garnacha, Pinot noir, Trepat or Monastrell. Macabao give volume and density. Parellada lends floral sensations.” and “Xarel-lo, provides fruitiness, and structure, allowing for long ageing and is often the main component to a blend.

The more typical black grapes like Garnacha, Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cariñena are found in the hot and humid coastal plains, and as the land rises whites become increasingly common. Penedès growers have made use of the various elevations and microclimate to experiment with French and German grapes varieties, including Muscat, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay.

Almost 95 percent is produced in the Penedès and the rest in Aragon, Castile and León, Extremadura, La Rioja, Basque Country, Navarre and Valencia. The Penedès DOP wine-growing region is divided into Alt Penedès, which rank amongst the highest vineyards in Europe. Here one finds characterised primarily by low yields and high quality Xarel·lo, Parellada and Macabeo grapes. Penedès Central, situated to the southwest and responsible for the majority of the region's total production and Baix Penedès, in coastal areas.

Cava Wine Adventures

Discover the finest Cavas and Classic Penedes wines with an overnight stay in the mountain vineyards with extraordinary wines, view and food. For those living in California we can extend your trip to include a Spanish heritage vineyard tour in Sonoma and Napa starting at Gloria Ferrer.

Multi Region Journeys