In the glass
Aroma: lemon zest, white flower, fennel, chalk
Palate: citrus, saline drive, white peach, long mineral close
Single-plot Xarel-lo from chalky limestone (calcari = limestone in Catalan). Biodynamic, vegan, mineral-driven Penedes white.
What it pairs with
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Esqueixada salt cod salad
Find esqueixada salt cod salad on TableJourney →
Catalan raw-cured cod meets Xarel-lo's saline-mineral drive. -
Grilled white fish with herbs
Green-herb Xarel-lo lifts white fish cleanly. -
Oysters
Saline lift and chalky lemon are a classic oyster pairing. -
Calcots with romesco
Find calcots with romesco on TableJourney →
Catalan spring onions and the wine's mineral lift balance romesco's nutty depth.
History
Single-plot Xarel-lo from chalky limestone soils (calcari) at Pares Balta. Biodynamic, vegan winemaking by Maria Elena Jimenez and Marta Casas.
- 2005 — First Calcari Xarel-lo vintage
- 2013 — Pares Balta becomes Demeter-certified biodynamic
- 2024 — Marta Casas named Tim Atkin Best Winemaker of the Year
Facts
- Producer
- Pares Balta
- Grapes
- Xarel-lo (100%)
- Classification
- DO Penedes
- Oak
- Stainless steel, no oak
- ABV
- 12.5%
- Price
- EUR 15 to 25 at retail
- Drinking window
- 2-8 from vintage
- First vintage
- 2005
- Biodynamic
- Demeter Certified
- Organic
- CCPAE
- Vegan
- Yes (no animal-derived fining)
Frequently asked about Calcari Xarel-lo
What does Calcari Xarel-lo taste like?
Lemon zest, white flower, fennel and chalk on the nose; citrus, saline drive, white peach and a long mineral close on the palate. Medium-bodied with high acidity.
When should I drink Calcari?
Drink 2 to 8 years from vintage. Best served young to mid-aged with a brief 15 minute opening.
Is Calcari vegan?
Yes. All Pares Balta wines are vegan and the estate is Demeter-certified biodynamic since 2013.
What food pairs with Calcari?
Esqueixada salt cod salad is the canonical Catalan pairing. Grilled white fish with herbs, oysters, and calcots with romesco are equally strong.
What grapes are in Calcari?
100 percent Xarel-lo from a single chalky-limestone plot, the name calcari being Catalan for limestone.