DO Cava / DO PenedesMacabeo, Xarel-lo, Parellada, Ugni Blanc, Folle Blanche, Colombard90 haFounded 1946Mascaro family (3rd generation)Vilafranca del Penedes
Founded in 1946 by Narcis Mascaro and Maria Carbonell in the modernist Casa Galtes i Maine building in central Vilafranca, designed by Santiago Guell i Grau in 1912. Three-generation family business producing Cava plus the Mascaro brandy line. The distillery is one of three operating wine distilleries in Catalonia. Brandy grapes include Ugni Blanc, Folle Blanche and Colombard.
Tasting: Tour of the modernist Casa Galtes i Maine (1912) building, distillery and cellars; tasting of Cava Pure Brut Nature, Pure Rose and the Mascaro brandy lineup. Visit hours 9-13:00 and 15-19:00 Monday to Friday.
Signature wines: mascaro-cava-pure-brut-nature, mascaro-pure-rose-reserva, mascaro-nigrum-brandy, mascaro-narcis-brandy
Tip: The brandy tour is the differentiator from neighbouring Cava-only houses; sample Narcis aged in barrel.
DO Cava / DO PenedesXarel-lo, Macabeo, Parellada, Chardonnay, Garnatxa, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Tempranillo90 haFounded 1942Tetas family (3rd generation)Biodynamic PracticingCCPAEVilafranca del Penedes
Founded 1942 in Vilafranca del Penedes by Don Jose Maria Tetas. The original modernist buildings remain in operation in the historic centre next to the train station; a new estate cellar at Mas Muntanyans, 10 km west, opened in 2019 with biodynamic vineyards and experimental vessels (granite eggs, amphoras, ceramic barrels).
Tasting: Two cellars open to visitors: the original modernist 1942 winery in the historic centre of Vilafranca by the train station, plus the modern Mas Muntanyans estate 10 km away with biodynamic vineyards, granite eggs, amphoras and ceramic barrels.
Signature wines: pinord-clos-torribas, pinord-chateldon-cuvee-louis-philippe, pinord-mireia-xarel-lo, pinord-mas-muntanyans-pinot-noir
Tip: The Mas Muntanyans visit includes the amphora and granite-egg cellar room; book separately from the Vilafranca old-cellar tour.
DO CavaMacabeo, Xarel-lo, Parellada5 haFounded 2000Pere Mata CapdevilaCCPAESant Sadurni d'Anoia
Founded in 2000 by Pere Mata Capdevila after years consulting for larger Cava producers. Farms 5 hectares organically on the outskirts of Sant Sadurni d'Anoia, planted exclusively to the indigenous trio Xarel-lo, Macabeo and Parellada. All wines spend at least 24 months on lees; the Cupada library releases over 48 months.
Tasting: Small-group estate visit with vineyard walk and tasting of the L'Origen Brut Nature and Cupada Brut Nature Reserva. Reservation only.
Signature wines: mata-i-coloma-l-origen-brut-nature, mata-i-coloma-cupada-brut-nature-reserva, mata-i-coloma-pere-mata-cuvee-barcelona
Tip: Small-cellar tasting only - book at least three weeks ahead. The Cupada flight is the showcase.
DO Cava / DO PenedesXarel-lo, Macabeo, Parellada, Garnatxa, Sumoll, Cabernet Sauvignon12 haFounded 1914Jane Ventura family (Gemma Jane, 4th generation)CCPAEEl Vendrell
Family wine business since 1914 in Baix Penedes (12 hectares). The historic cellar is in El Vendrell. Cava production from 1990, 100 percent indigenous-variety from the 1988 first vintage. Pioneer of Garnatxa-based rose Cava. Cultural link to Pau Casals (also from El Vendrell). Vineyards on Xarel-lo, Macabeo and Parellada old vines from sea-level to 700 metres.
Tasting: Two cellars: the historic Cava cellar at El Vendrell and Mas Vilella in the hills for still wines. Tour covers both with comparative tasting of indigenous-variety Cavas and Garnatxa-Sumoll reds.
Signature wines: jane-ventura-mareny-blanc, jane-ventura-finca-mas-vilella, jane-ventura-rosat-garnatxa, jane-ventura-do-re-mi-pere-jane
Tip: The Mas Vilella still-wine cellar is in the hills - the rose Garnatxa Cava is the local-pride bottle.
DO CavaXarel-lo, Macabeo, Parellada, Chardonnay15 haFounded 1988Jaume Sabate (took over from founder Julia Olivella circa 2020)El Vendrell
Founded by Julia Olivella in 1988 at L'Arboc in Baix Penedes; traditional method since the start. Production uses the indigenous trio plus Chardonnay. Julia Olivella retired circa 2020; long-standing distributor Jaume Sabate took over the brand and continues artisanal production.
Tasting: Small artisan cellar visits by reservation, focused on the Olivella i Bonet and Mont Caranac brands with traditional-method demonstration.
Signature wines: olivella-i-bonet-brut-nature, olivella-i-bonet-gran-reserva, mont-caranac-brut-nature
Tip: Small artisanal stop on the south Penedes route; book directly via the website.
DO CavaMacabeo, Xarel-lo, Parellada, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir3245 haFounded 1551Raventos Codorniu (majority owned by The Carlyle Group since 2018)Sant Sadurni d'Anoia
Founded in 1551 by the Codorniu family in Sant Sadurni d'Anoia. The 1872 first traditional-method Spanish sparkling vintage is credited to Josep Raventos i Fatjo. The architectural complex by Puig i Cadafalch was declared a Historic-Artistic Monument in 1976 and receives roughly 100,000 visitors per year. Codorniu holds three of the Cava de Paraje Calificado approved sites: Finca el Tros Nou, Finca la Pleta and Finca la Fideuera.
Tasting: Cellar tours of the modernist Cathedral of Cava designed by Josep Puig i Cadafalch (1898-1915), including 33 km of underground galleries up to 22 metres deep. Train ride through the galleries, museum visit and tasting flight. Reservation required.
Signature wines: anna-de-codorniu, reina-maria-cristina, ars-collecta-finca-el-tros-nou, ars-collecta-finca-la-pleta, ars-collecta-finca-la-fideuera
Tip: Book the Ars Collecta library flight to taste the three single-vineyard Paraje Calificado cuvees side by side.
