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: Manuela Chardonnay Crianza, Clos Antonia Viognier Crianza, Naveran Don Pablo Cabernet, Perles Blanques Brut, Naveran Perles Roses
Tip: The Clos Antonia Viognier is unusual for Penedes; book the still-wine flight to include it.
DO CavaMacabeo, Xarel-lo, Parellada, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir60 haFounded 1959Henkell Freixenet (Oetker-Gruppe)CCPAETorrelavit
Origins documented at the 11th-century Castell de Segura Viudas in Torrelavit. Commercial Cava production from 1959. Released its first organic-grape Cava (Lavit) in 2021. Part of the Henkell Freixenet group since the 1980s.
Tasting: Visit to the 11th-century Castell de Segura Viudas with cellar tour and tasting of Reserva Heredad, Brut Vintage and the Lavit organic line.
Signature wines: Reserva Heredad Brut, Segura Viudas Brut Vintage, Lavit Brut Organic, Segura Viudas Cuvee De Rosa
Tip: The Reserva Heredad bottle, with its pewter-base stand, is the cellar's photographic identity; the tour includes the castle keep.
DO Cava / DO PenedesXarel-lo, Macabeo, Parellada, Muscat, Pinot Noir40 haFounded 1979Esteve family (Joan Esteve Nadal)CCPAEAvinyonet del Penedes
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.
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: La Ticota Gran Reserva, Avinyo Cava Brut, Avinyo Petillant, Avinyo Rose Reserva Cava
Tip: Petillant is the off-piste discovery, an ancestral-method Muscat that drinks like a cleaner Moscato d'Asti.
DO Cava / DO PenedesXarel-lo, Macabeo, Parellada, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot40 haFounded 1985Cusco family (Joan Cusco)CCPAEAvinyonet del Penedes
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.
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.
CorpinnatMacabeo, Xarel-lo, Sumoll, Pinot Noir42 haFounded 2013Agusti Torello Sibill and familyCCPAEAvinyonet del Penedes
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.
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: Reserva Brut Nature, Rosat Reserva Brut Nature, Floral Brut Nature, At Roca Fenicis
Tip: The Sant Sebastia dels Gorgs monastery is right beside the cellar; combine the tour with the historic walk.
CorpinnatXarel-lo, Macabeo, Parellada7 haFounded 2003Bernet family (Xavi and Cristina Bernet)CCPAESubirats
Founded in 2003 by Xavi and Cristina Bernet at the family's traditional Alt Penedes farm at El Pago, Subirats. Recovered Xavi's grandfather's vineyards. 7 hectares CCPAE-certified organic since 2008; winery organic-certified since 2015. Joined Corpinnat in 2019 after leaving DO Cava. Named for the founders' first daughter.
Tasting: Small-group visit through the El Pago vineyards in upper Subirats, with a focus on Vinyer de Muntanya old-vine plots and a tasting of Cuvee U Brut Nature.
Signature wines: Cuvee U Brut Nature, Vinyer de Muntanya Brut Nature, Julia Bernet Pizpireta
Tip: Cuvee U is the only cuvee at scale; ask for the magnum format.
