DO PenedesCabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot150 haFounded 1963Familia Torres (since 1995)CCPAETorrelavit
Founded in 1963 by Jean Leon (Ceferino Carrion), Cantabrian-Hollywood restaurateur who served the first 1969 vintage of La Scala Cabernet at his namesake Los Angeles restaurant. The first single-variety Cabernet Sauvignon labelled and bottled in Spain. President Ronald Reagan served the 1975 vintage at his 1981 inauguration dinner. Family-owned by Torres since 1995; managed by Mireia Torres since 2010. Organic-certified estate.
Tasting: Self-guided estate walk through the 1963 Vinya La Scala plot, multimedia exhibit on Jean Leon's Hollywood-Penedes story, and a comparative tasting of La Scala Cabernet, Le Havre Cabernet Franc and Merlot Petit Chateau.
Signature wines: jean-leon-vinya-la-scala-cabernet, jean-leon-vinya-le-havre-cabernet-franc, jean-leon-vinya-gigi-chardonnay, jean-leon-3055-cabernet, jean-leon-petit-chateau
Tip: Walk the Vinya La Scala plot before the tasting; the 1963-planted vines are still in production.
DO Penedes / DO CavaXarel-lo, Macabeo, Garnatxa Blanca, Chardonnay, Incrocio Manzoni, Garnatxa Tinta, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir90 haFounded 1979Esteva family (Jordi Esteve Roger; estate held since 1939, founder Carlos Esteva 1942-2023)CCPAEAvinyonet del Penedes
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.
Corpinnat / DO PenedesXarel-lo, Macabeo, Garnatxa Blanca, Garnatxa Tinta, Sumoll, Cabernet Franc40 haFounded 2006Mas Candi partners (Toni Carbo, Ramon Jane, Mireia Torres-Maczassek, Marta Casas)CCPAEAvinyonet del Penedes
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.
DO PenedesXarel-lo, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Garnatxa Blanca50 haFounded 1993Mila i Mallofre family (Albert and Joan Mila)CCPAEAvinyonet del Penedes
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.
Corpinnat / DO PenedesXarel-lo, Malvasia de Sitges, Sumoll, Cabernet Franc, Garnatxa60 haFounded 1996Ramon Parera and Jordi ArnanCCPAETorrelavit
Founded in 1996 by oenologist Ramon Parera and agronomist Jordi Arnan at Finca Can Comas in the Bitlles river valley (Alt Penedes). The 60-hectare property comprises Mediterranean forest, cereal crops, pasture and barren land around a medieval farmhouse. Labels carry a wild-boar print (Sus Scrofa). Corpinnat member since 2018.
Tasting: Small-group estate tour at Finca Can Comas including the medieval farmhouse cellar, Mediterranean forest reserve and tasting of Sus Scrofa Xarel-lo, Aspriu single-vineyard and the indigenous-grape reds.
Signature wines: pardas-sus-scrofa, pardas-aspriu, pardas-xarel-lo, pardas-rupestris, pardas-collita-roja
Tip: Sus Scrofa is the entry-level Xarel-lo; ask for the Aspriu vertical to see the single-vineyard ageing potential.
DO Penedes / DO CavaChardonnay, Pinot Noir, Xarel-lo, Macabeo, Parellada, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Viognier110 haFounded 1984Gilleron Parellada familyCCPAETorrelavit
Family-owned estate founded in 1984 by Michel Gilleron Parellada de Naveran at the Can Parellada farmhouse in Torrelavit. 110 hectares of terraces and woodlands in Alt Penedes producing 375,000 bottles of Cava and 250,000 bottles of still wine per year. Sustainable practices with no herbicides or pesticides; organic fertilisers only.
Tasting: Estate tour at the 110-hectare Sant Marti Sadevesa property includes vineyard walk, sustainable-viticulture demonstration and tastings of Manuela Chardonnay Crianza, Clos Antonia Viognier Crianza and Don Pablo Cabernet Reserve.
Signature wines: naveran-manuela-chardonnay, naveran-clos-antonia-viognier, naveran-don-pablo-cabernet, naveran-perles-blanques-brut, naveran-perles-roses
Tip: The Clos Antonia Viognier is unusual for Penedes; book the still-wine flight to include it.
Corpinnat and DO PenedesXarel-lo, Sumoll, Cabernet Franc, Malvasia de SitgesFounded 1996Ramon Parera and Jordi ArnanWinemaker Jordi ArnanCCPAETorrelavit
Organic-certified Corpinnat producer at Torrelavit producing small-volume Xarel-lo and recovered-variety still wines from a single estate.
Tip: Pardas keeps a small reserve of older Xarel-lo Vermell on the cellar list; ask whether any bottles are available on the day.