Wine in Avinyonet del Penedes, Penedes

Can Rafols dels Caus ★ 4.8

Esteva family acquired the estate in 1939; Carlos Esteva launched modern production in 1979 after viticulture studies on Mallorca and led the estate until his death in 2023. Jordi Esteve Roger continues the family project alongside the long-standing winemaking team. Member of Grandes Pagos de Espana. The cellars are partly carved into the limestone escarpment of the Massis del Garraf, with vineyards on fossil-rich Cretaceous limestone planted to both indigenous (Xarel-lo, Garnatxa) and rare grapes (Incrocio Manzoni for the El Rocallis cuvee).

Tasting: Underground cellar tour at the cave-style bodega carved into the limestone escarpment, plus a vineyard walk through the Massis del Garraf fossil-rich plots and a tasting of Gran Caus, Xarel-lo Pairal and Caus Lubis.

Signature wines: can-rafols-gran-caus-tinto, can-rafols-xarel-lo-pairal, can-rafols-caus-lubis-merlot, can-rafols-ad-fines, can-rafols-el-rocallis-incrocio-manzoni

Tip: Ask for the Xarel-lo Pairal vertical going back 8 vintages to see how the grape ages.

Mas Candi ★ 4.6

Founded in 2006 by a partnership of growers in Les Gunyoles d'Avinyonet at the gates of the Garraf Natural Park. 40 hectares of organically farmed vineyards (13 at Les Gunyoles, 27 in higher-altitude Guardiola de Font-Rubi, Pla del Penedes and Torrelavit). Annual production roughly 60,000 bottles. Corpinnat member since 2019.

Tasting: Small-group estate visit at Les Gunyoles d'Avinyonet plus a tasting flight of MC Brut Nature, Desig Xarel-lo and the experimental indigenous-grape range.

Signature wines: mas-candi-mc-brut-nature, mas-candi-desig-xarel-lo, mas-candi-quatre-xarel-los, mas-candi-sumoll, mas-candi-pecat-noble

Tip: Ask for the experimental Sumoll alongside the Quatre Xarel-los flight to see Penedes's heritage red revival.

Mas Comtal ★ 4.5

The estate has belonged to the Mila family since the 15th century, set around a 2nd-century Roman tower. Brothers Albert and Joan Mila i Mallofre launched modern quality winemaking in 1993. CCPAE-certified organic.

Tasting: Tour of the Mas Comtal masia (built around a 2nd-century Roman tower), cellar visit and tasting of Pomell de Blancs (Chardonnay-Xarel-lo) and Petit Mas Comtal red blend.

Signature wines: mas-comtal-pomell-de-blancs, mas-comtal-petit-mas-comtal, mas-comtal-antistiana-xarel-lo, mas-comtal-rosado-merlot

Tip: Pomell de Blancs is the everyday-drinking white; ask for Antistiana single-vineyard Xarel-lo for the serious bottle.

Avinyo ★ 4.5

First Avinyo-labelled Cava produced 1979 in small quantities. Cellars in the 16th-century Can Fontanals farmhouse, with vines on four parcels totalling about 40 hectares. Indigenous varieties (Xarel-lo, Macabeo, Parellada) plus Muscat for the Petillant ancestral-method sparkler. Run by four Esteve i Via siblings.

Tasting: Visit to the old Can Fontanals farmhouse, cellar tour and tasting of La Ticota Gran Reserva, Petillant and the Avinyo Cava Brut.

Signature wines: avinyo-la-ticota, avinyo-cava-brut, avinyo-petillant, avinyo-rose-reserva

Tip: Petillant is the off-piste discovery, an ancestral-method Muscat that drinks like a cleaner Moscato d'Asti.

Cusco Berga ★ 4.3

Cusco Esteve family has farmed in Les Gunyoles d'Avinyonet since the late 19th century. Modern winery established in 1985 by Josep Cusco Berga with sons; winemaker Joan Cusco trained in Priorat and Champagne. Cellar built on natural limestone rock at the gates of the Garraf Natural Park.

Tasting: Cellar visit at Les Gunyoles, vineyard walk with views of the Massis del Garraf and tasting of estate Cavas and monovarietal whites.

Signature wines: cusco-berga-brut-reserva, cusco-berga-extra-brut, cusco-berga-xarel-lo, cusco-berga-merlot-rosado

Tip: The viewpoint over the Garraf massif is the photogenic stop; the Brut Reserva is the entry-level standout.

AT Roca ★ 4.6

Founded in 2013 by Agusti Torello Sibill and his family at the historic Monastery of Sant Sebastia dels Gorgs site. Dry-farmed organic viticulture, regenerative practices and hand harvest from the outset. Brand-new winery inaugurated March 2023. Joined Corpinnat in 2024.

Tasting: Tour of the modern Sant Sebastia dels Gorgs winery (inaugurated March 2023), the dry-farmed vineyards and a flight of AT Roca Reserva and Rosat Reserva Brut Nature Corpinnat.

Signature wines: at-roca-reserva-brut-nature, at-roca-rosat-reserva-brut-nature, at-roca-floral, at-roca-fenicis

Tip: The Sant Sebastia dels Gorgs monastery is right beside the cellar; combine the tour with the historic walk.

Mas Comtal Tasting Room ★ 4.5

Mas Comtal family tasting room outside Avinyonet, with vineyard walks led by the Mila family and four-wine flights of Pomell organic Xarel-lo and Petrea Merlot.

Cal Mestre Rural Guest House ★ 4.3

Family-run rural masia guest house Cal Mestre in Avinyonet del Penedes, with vineyard views, local-produce breakfast and an in-house Penedes cellar.

The list: Penedes Wine Route accommodation partner with cellar-tour packages and a small in-house wine library

Mas Candi ★ 4.7

Small organic Corpinnat producer at Avinyonet del Penedes producing recovered-variety still wines (Sumoll, Malvasia de Sitges) alongside traditional-method sparkling.

Tip: Ask to taste the still wines as well as the sparkling. The Cova Foradada Sumoll is the producer's signature still red and a rare bottling outside the region.

Mas Comtal ★ 4.4

Family-run organic estate at Avinyonet del Penedes producing still Xarel-lo whites, Bordeaux-variety reds and a small Cava range from estate grapes.

Tip: The estate runs an annual late-harvest dessert-wine bottling from Xarel-lo; it is sold only at the cellar door.

Mas Candi ★ 4.4

Mas Candi is a small organic Corpinnat producer at Avinyonet del Penedes, certified organic by CCPAE and practising biodynamic methods on the home vineyards. The Cova Foradada Sumoll and Desig Xarel-lo are the signature still-wine bottlings. Demeter certification has not been confirmed on the Mas Candi home vineyards.

Tip: Mas Candi runs a small visitor programme; ask in advance whether the cellar visit is available, as the team is sometimes in the field.