ClassificationDO Penedes / DO Cava
VarietalsXarel-lo, Macabeo, Garnatxa Blanca, Chardonnay, Incrocio Manzoni, Garnatxa Tinta, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir
Hectares90 ha
OwnerEsteva family (Jordi Esteve Roger; estate held since 1939, founder Carlos Esteva 1942-2023)
Founded1979
TastingUnderground 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.
OrganicCCPAE
NeighbourhoodAvinyonet del Penedes

Signature wines: Gran Caus Red, Pairal Xarel-lo, Caus Lubis Merlot, Can Rafols Ad Fines, El Rocallis Incrocio Manzoni

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

Cheese with Can Rafols dels Caus wines

Garrotxa Our pick Garrotxa is mild, milky and buttery under its grey mould. Penedès Xarel·lo made without new oak brings fennel, citrus and a saline edge with high acidity, which cuts through the firm paste and leaves the fresh goat's milk in front. Xarel·lo (DO Penedès), Penedes: Pairal Xarel-lo
Formatge serrat Our pick Merlot-led Penedès reds aged in French oak bring plum fruit, supple tannin and a savoury finish; serrat's fat rounds the tannin and its intense, slightly peppery flavour meets the wine's savoury side. Merlot-led red aged in French oak (DO Penedès), Penedes: Caus Lubis Merlot · Gran Caus Red

Location

Address: Finca Can Rafols dels Caus s/n, 08793 Avinyonet del Penedes (Barcelona), Spain

Also in Avinyonet del Penedes

Mas Candi ★ 4.6

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: MC Brut Nature Corpinnat, 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

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: Pomell de Blancs, Petit 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.

Full Avinyonet del Penedes wine guide →

More vineyards in Penedes

Albet i Noya ★ 4.7

DO Penedes / Classic PenedesXarel-lo, Macabeo, Parellada, Tempranillo, Garnatxa, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah90 haFounded 1978Albet i Noya family (Josep Maria and Antoni Albet)CCPAESubirats

Founded in 1978 by Josep Maria Albet when a Danish importer requested organic wine; Albet i Noya sold the first bottle of 100 percent organic Spanish wine (Tempranillo) in 1979. CCPAE-certified in 1982. Long-standing Spanish organic-wine pioneer and reference. Pioneer of the Classic Penedes category (organic estate-grown traditional-method sparkling under DO Penedes). Vineyards on the Ordal mountains around Sant Pau d'Ordal.

Tasting: Multiple tour tiers including the Original 1978 historical visit, biodynamic vineyard walk, and a flight covering the Reserva 3 Xarel-lo, Col-leccio Single-Vineyard reds and Lignum still-wine range.

Signature wines: Reserva 3 Xarel-lo, Lignum Blanc, Col-leccio Pinot Noir, Petit Albet Brut, Albet I Noya Syrah Coleccio

Tip: Time the visit with the Vivencia organic-wine festival in late September if possible.

Pares Balta ★ 4.8

DO Penedes / DO CavaXarel-lo, Macabeo, Parellada, Chardonnay, Garnatxa, Carinyena, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Tempranillo, Syrah200 haFounded 1790Cusine family (Joan Cusine Carol; Joan and Josep Cusine sons)Demeter CertifiedCCPAEPacs del Penedes

Vineyards documented since 1790 at Masia Can Tutusaus. Modern winery developed by the Cusine family from the late 20th century. CCPAE-certified organic since 2002; Demeter-certified biodynamic since 2013 across all 200 hectares. Vineyards spread across five sites including the highest-altitude Foix Natural Park terraces (up to 750 metres). All wines are vegan; current winemaker Marta Casas was named Tim Atkin Best Winemaker of the Year 2024.

Tasting: Estate visit at Masia Can Tutusaus with vineyard walk through the Foix Natural Park terraces, biodynamic preparations demonstration and tasting of Indigena, Honeymoon Xarel-lo and Calcari single-vineyard wines.

Signature wines: Pares Balta Indigena Tinto, Calcari Xarel-lo, Honeymoon Parellada, Pares Balta Cava Brut, Mas Elena Merlot, Electio Xarel-lo

Tip: The Foix Natural Park terraces require the long-walk tier; the Calcari Xarel-lo is the best single grape expression.

Mas Candi ★ 4.6

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: MC Brut Nature Corpinnat, 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.

Loxarel ★ 4.5

DO Penedes / Classic PenedesXarel-lo, Macabeo, Parellada, Pinot Noir, Garnatxa, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot50 haFounded 1985Mitjans family (Josep Mitjans and Teresa Nin)Demeter CertifiedCCPAESubirats

Founded in 1985 at Masia Can Mayol. CCPAE-certified organic since 2002; transitioned to Demeter-certified biodynamic from 2005. Member of Terra Dinamica (the only association of biodynamic farming in Catalonia, legalised since 2008). Since 2012 has used clay amphoras in winemaking; the A Pel natural-wine range (launched 2011) is made with no added sulphites.

Tasting: Visit covers amphora cellar tour, biodynamic vineyard walk and tasting of A Pel range, EOS and 109 amphora wines.

Signature wines: A Pel Blanc, Loxarel A Pel Negre, EOS Brut Nature, 109 Xarel-lo Amphora, Loxarel Gaia

Tip: The 109-amphora Xarel-lo is the cellar's standout; book the Premium tour for the full library flight.

Heretat Mont-Rubi ★ 4.5

DO PenedesXarel-lo, Sumoll, Garnatxa, Carinyena, Macabeo, Parellada60 haFounded 1984Peris family (Javier Peris Musso)CCPAEPenedes Superior

Founded in 1984 in Font-Rubi at the western edge of Alt Penedes. The estate's 60 hectares sit between 500 and 800 metres at 500 to 800 metres in Penedes Superior.

Tasting: Estate tour through the 19th-century cellar at Font-Rubi, vineyard walk through the high-altitude Sumoll plots, and tasting of Maria del Caus single-vineyard Xarel-lo, Black old-vine Sumoll and the sweet long-mature Xarel-lo / Sumoll dessert wines.

Signature wines: Maria del Caus Xarel-lo, Mont-Rubi Black, Heretat Mont Rubi White, Heretat Mont Rubi Finca Fonda Pinot Noir, Gaintus Rare Sumoll

Tip: The Gaintus Rare Sumoll is the showcase wine; pair with cabra-and-fig if the cellar offers it.

Mas Comtal ★ 4.5

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: Pomell de Blancs, Petit 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.

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