Located halfway between Barcelona and Tarragona, the Penedès appellation covers a vast area between the mountains of the Montserrat mountain range and the Mediterranean Sea, in the north of the province of Catalonia in Spain.
The Penedès region is very hilly and comprises an array of micro-climates with a dominant Mediterranean climate.
The DO Penedès (Denominacion de Origen) is divided into 3 regions: Penedès Superior (near the mountains), Penedès Marítim which extends over an area nestled along the coast and Penedès Central, located around the plains.
The diversity of DO Penedès revolves around the singularity of the region, creating a myriad of different styles of wines, aromas and profiles. These conditions lend an array of expressions to the wine due to the different climates, territories and soils.
The DO Penedès is renowned for the quality of its white wines, combining indigenous varieties such as Xarel-lo, Macabeu and Parellada with other international varieties introduced to the region over the years (Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc).
The rustic Xarel-lo is the region's most widely planted variety, representing a production area of 7,000 hectares.
Penedès white wines are best enjoyed in their youth, within a year of bottling. They are renowned for their aromatic freshness and their lively expression on the palate. Some producers, however, allow their wines to age in oak barrels, especially the Xarel-lo variety which results in round, full-bodied and age-worthy wines with a mineral finish.
The DO Penedès also produces fine red wines and offers an incredible and high-quality range, notably using indigenous varieties. Garnatxa (Grenache) is widely cultivated, as well as some indigenous varieties such as Monastrell, Samsó, grown in the Baix Penedès area, and Ull de Lebre, present in the central and upper Penedès area. International varieties (Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir) are also used.
Lastly, the DO Penedès also offers a sparkling wine in limited quantities called Clàssic Penedès. Very strictly regulated, Clàssic Penedès is produced exclusively within the DO Penedès, from indigenous varieties. Produced based on ancestral methods and traditions, this sparkling wine must be aged in the cellar for a minimum of 15 months before release.
