A vineyard at Bodegas Grimau in the Spanish wine region of Penedes

DO Penedès

Key Points

Grape varieties: Garnacha (Garnatxa in Catalan), Cariñena (Samsó in Catalan), Monastrell, Tempranillo (Ull de Llebre in Catalan), Xarel-lo, Macabeo, Parellada, Chardonnay
Hectares planted: 25,000 Ha
Grape growers: 2,900
Wineries: 170

About Penedès

The Penedès DO covers a long strip of land sandwiched between the sea and the mountains about halfway between Barcelona and Tarragona. With a total vineyard area of 25,000 hectares it is the largest of the 11 DOs in Catalunya, and they’ve been making wine here on a large scale since the 19^th century. The proximity of Barcelona just 50km away provided ready local customers, while the ravages of phylloxera in France in the mid-19^th century opened up a market there too, at least until the pest arrived in Penedès too in the late 1880s.

Apart from its still wines, Penedès is best known for Cava. While Spain’s favourite sparkling wine is actually produced in 7 different regions across Spain under the DO Cava brand, it was essentially invented by the Codorniu family in the 1870s in the town of Sant Sadurní d’Anoia. The town remains the centre for Cava production to this day, churning out about 150 million bottles a year, or close to 75% of all Spanish Cava.

The Terrain of Penedès

Penedès can be subdivided into three distinct zones. The inland zone of Alt Penedès borders the inland mountain range and rises to between 500 and 800 metres above sea level. As you’d expect with all that altitude, this is where some of the DO’s best grapes are grown and where you’ll find some of the more minority varieties like Riesling, Gewürztraminer or Muscat of Alexandria. The central zone or Medio Penedès is a broad valley about 500 metres above sea level. This is the most productive zone in the DO, separated from the sea by the Garraf Hills, and it’s where most of the Macabeo, Xarello, and Parellada grapes are grown for Cava. Finally there is the warmest part of the DO, the coastal strip known as Penedès Marítimo or Bajo (lower or maritime Penedès).

With all this focus on zones and differentiation, it’s no surprise that in the last decade two new brands, or self-styled ¨labels of excellence¨, Classic Penedès and Corpinnat, have been launched within Penedès by groups of producers keen to flag up that their wines are made from 100% organic grapes, all of which are ¨historic¨ varieties grown within DO Penedès territory, and that their wines undergo significant ageing before release (15 months in the cellar in the case of Classic Penedès, 18 for Corpinnat).

Climate in Penedès

Penedès enjoys a typically warm and mild Mediterranean climate, with lots of sunlight throughout the year and fairly low rainfall, except for the higher inland areas in the Alt Penedès where the average is closer to 650 mm/year and temperature differences between day and night-time are more marked.

Grapes used in Penedès

Cava aside, Penedès is perhaps best known for its still white wines, normally made to be drunk young although winemakers are increasingly experimenting with barrel ageing. Xarello remains the main traditional variety of the DO, producing wines with intense aromas and flavours and sometimes with quite an earthy or herbal character. You’ll also find some Chardonnay, the small, sweet and aromatic Malvasia de Sitges, and even some Riesling in the higher areas. On the red side, Garnatxa, Samsó and Ull de Llebre remain popular in the lower and middle zones, while Cabernet Sauvignon and Monastrell tend to be planted higher up.

Summary

If you’re already a Cava fan, now is the time to venture a little further afield and try some of the wonderful aromatic white wines of Penedès. Base yourself in Sant Sadurní d’Anoia or Vilafranca de Penedès, delve into the history of Cava or grab the car and explore the beautiful countryside, vineyard landscapes and coastline that this region has to offer.

A vineyard in the autumn in the Spanish wine region of Alicante

DO Alicante

DO Alicante has had official status since the early part of the 20^th century. But, as elsewhere in Spain, in the last ten years the region has undergone something of a renaissance.

An old white cottage on the brow of a hill at sunset in the Spanish wine region of Bierzo

DO Bierzo

Sitting in the northwest corner of Castilla y León and bordering Galicia and Asturias to the north, Bierzo is something of a transition zone between the Atlantic and the Spanish interior.

VT Cadiz

VT Cádiz is currently Spain’s fourth largest IGP (Indicación Geográfica Protegida) and 80% of the production is centred on white wines made predominantly with the Palomino Fino grape.

A vineyard at Spanish Cava producers Bodegas Grimau

DO Cava

Cava is Spain’s most well-known sparkling wine. What many don't know is that it's also a DO in its own right. But unlike wines from other DOs, Cava is not made in just one geographical area.

A landscape shot of the Serra Llarga in the Spanish wine region Costers del Segre

DO Costers del Segre

Costers del Segre is one of ten DOs in Catalunya. The name literally translates as "banks of the Segre" which is one of the many tributaries which feed into the Ebro river.

A vineyard in the Spanish wine region of Jumilla

DO Jumilla

Sitting in a hot and dry corner of Castilla La Mancha, Jumilla is a great place to explore fuller-bodied reds made from the Monastrell grape. But it also offers plenty of fresher wines from higher altitude plots that are well worth investigating.

A vineyard in the Spanish wine region of Manchuela

DO Manchuela

Sandwiched between the coastal regions to the East and central Spain to the West, Manchuela has a long history of winemaking. It's famed for the Bobal grape, once a stalwart of bulk wine but now increasingly used to make some exceptional single varietal wines.

Barells in a wine cellar in the Spanish wine region of Sanlucar de Barrameda

DO Manzanilla - Sanlúcar de Barrameda

In 1935, Spain’s first Denominación de Origen, D.O. Jerez-Xéres-Sherry y Manzanilla de Sanlúcar de Barrameda was created and then in 1964, in recognition of Manzanilla’s distinct profile, the separate DO Manzanilla – Sanlúcar de Barrameda was formed.

A vineyard in the Spanish wine region of Montsant with mountains in the background

DO Montsant

Montsant is defined by mountains hills, ridges and slopes. The region can be divided into sub-zones from warmer, lower stretches in the south-west as the land falls away towards the Ebro river and higher, wilder areas to the north.

A vineyard in the Spanish wine region of Priorat

DOQ Priorat

Priorat is one of the 10 DOs in Catalunya and, along with DOCa Rioja, it’s one of the two wine-growing regions in Spain with "DO+" which means that, like Rioja, the rules are that little bit stricter for wines made here.

A vineyard in the Spanish wine region of Rías Baixas

DO Rías Baixas

Rias Baixas is home to the excellent Albariño wines, but has a growing number of other interesting grapes to discover. With thousands of small growers and producers, making wonderful artisanal wines, it's definitely worth exploring.

Steeply sloping vineyards on the banks of a river in the Spanish wine region of Ribeira Sacra in Galicia

DO Ribeira Sacra

Ribeira Sacra is the only DO in Galicia specialising in red wines. This is the land of "heroic viticulture" where vineyards hang from the vertiginous banks of the Sil and Miño rivers calling for winemakers with a good head for heights!

A vineyard in the Spanish wine region of Ribeiro

DO Ribeiro

Ribeiro is the oldest of the five DOs in Galicia. With vineyards grouped along the three valleys formed by the Miño, Avia and Arnoia rivers, Ribeiro is well-known as for its wonderful, blended white wines made from native local grapes.

An aerial view of the River Duero in Spain

DO Ribera del Duero

After Rioja, Ribera del Duero is one of Spain’s best known wine regions. But despite a long winegrowing history, the region was only awarded DO status in 1982.

A landscape view of a vineyard in the Spanish wine region of Rioja

DOCa Rioja

One of the world’s best known and best loved wine regions, Rioja was one of the first regions in Spain to become an official DO almost a hundred years ago. Today, it’s on a par with other great wine-producing regions of the world.

Close up of vines in a vineyard in the Spanish wine region of Rueda

DO Rueda

Like many of Spain’s DOs, Rueda is an historic wine region with winemaking traditions that stretch back to the Middle Ages. The Rueda DO was created in the early 1980s, and these days is famed for its white wines made from the Verdejo grape.

DO Sierras de Málaga

Spread across the province of Málaga, DO Sierras de Málaga has a winemaking histoiry that dates back to the time of the Phoenicians in around 800 BC.

A vineyard in the Spanish wine region of Somontano

DO Somontano

Somontano’s broad identity makes it a comfortable entry-point for international wine lovers looking to familiarise themselves with Spanish wine. But it’s also a region with a deep winemaking history and lots of local colour and diversity.

DO Terra Alta

Terra Alta is a county defined by its Mediterranean agriculture. Covering some twelve towns with a combined population of around 12,000 people, the plains, plateaus and valleys are planted with olive and almond trees, but above all vines.

A vineyard in the Spanish wine region of Toro

DO Toro

Toro is "the other DO on the Duero", sandwiched between the more famous Ribera del Duero to the east and the Douro region just across the border in Portugal.

An aerial shot of vineyards in the Spanish wine region of Vinos de Madrid

DO Vinos de Madrid

Despite its best efforts, the Vinos de Madrid region is still relatively unknown even for wine drinkers in Madrid. Which is a real shame because the DO has got a lot to shout about.