Penedes is one of Catalonia's wine-growing regions.
Here you can find the region's best local wines.
Today, I'd like to take you on a detailed tour of the site.
Follow the guide!
Penedes: article summary
A brief history of winemaking in Penedes
Winemaking arrived in Spain in Roman times. Excavations certify that vines already existed in Penedes from the 4ᵉ century BC. The Roman road network, with the Via Augusta crossing the region, enabled locals to to export their wines throughout Europe.
In medieval times, wine continued to be an important product: society was strictly Christian and wine was necessary for mass rituals.
The arrival of the industrial revolution
The arrival of the industrial revolution enabled winegrowers to modernize their processes, and above all, with the first railroads, it was easier to export further afield. The wealthiest winegrowing families in the Penedes sent their heirs to study winemaking in France.
They returned with the knowledge they needed to begin producing champagne using the Champenoise method.
A wine that's still drunk today
Over the last few decades, Spain has seen a great change in its wine culture. Whereas before, inexpensive table wine was a staple at every meal, younger generations now prefer to keep wine for special occasions.
Geography and climate of the Penedes wine region
The Penedes wine region can be divided into three different zones, depending on its proximity to the sea, altitude and climate, which affect the type of grape that grows best in each area and therefore the best wines that can be made there.
The Lower Penedes by the sea
Bas Penedes includes the county of Baix Penedes, as well as the neighboring coastal lands. This area benefits a warm climateThis region is known for its white wines. This region is best known for its white wines.
Central Penedes
The middle zone of Penedes lies in a higher area, between 250 and 500 meters above sea level. The temperature tends to be cooler, perfect for growing cava varieties.
The High Penedes
The top of Alt Penedes county and Anoia county rise to an altitude of 800 m, and the climate is cooler, but still perfect for many local grape varieties.
The region's different types of wine
The Penedes wine region offers many different types of wine. So you can enjoy the region's sparkling wine or different grape varieties offered by local vendors.
Taste Penedès Cava (Spanish sparkling wine)
The Penedes wine region produces over 95 % of the total production of cava, the Spanish sparkling wine. And over 75 % is produced in just one town: Sant Sadurnà d'Anoia. This is easily explained, as the two largest producers, Codorniu and Freixenet, are based here, along with over 80 other small and medium-sized wineries.
Penedes Cava is made according to the French Champagne method, based on the fact that force a second fermentation of the wine by adding yeast and sugars. The 3 most typical cava varieties are the local Macabeo, Xarel-lo and Parellada.
Penedes white wine
Along with cava, white wines are traditionally made here. In addition to the traditional grape varieties xarello, macabeu and parellada, other foreign varieties such as chardonnay, riesling and sauvignon blanc are also used. commonly manufactured in the regionas well as Muscat and Malvasia.
In general, Penedes white wines are young, aged 1 to 2 years. There are also wineries that target crianza wines aged up to 5 years in oak barrels.
Try red wines
A few years ago, red wine was a rarity in Penedes. However, new generations of winemakers like to experiment and do new things, and if at first sight the region's climate does not lend itself to the production of red winesThe results are very interesting.
How to get here
The easiest way to get to the Penedes wine region is by car. by car. The AP-7 highway gets you there in about 1 hour, and from there you can take local roads to the winery of your choice.
The N-340 is also a good option if you want to visit wineries in the Ordal hills.
A visit to Barcelona usually involves a wine tasting. During your stay, if you'd like to sample the local wines, I recommend a detour to Penedes. You'll be pleasantly surprised surprised by the quality of the region's wines.
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