Spanish Wine Regions > Penedes

Producers in this D.O. have bags of freedom to operate as the list of approved varieties of grapes for this D.O. is quite long. Their wines are not innovative but when it comes to Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot for reds or Chardonnay for whites they have mastered a very good product. The area has many small producers that concentrate on quality rather than marketing, these are the ones that we have selected. Most of the wines from this area have that Mediterranean edge that gives the soft touch to a Cabernet Sauvignon or Tempranillo grape. No matter what we are going to put on the table for that special dinner we will find the match amongst the Penedes wines.

View wines from this Spanish Wine region

Wine region's location

This D.O. is situated in between the cities of Barcelona and Tarragona in Catalonia. The area is protected from the cold north winds by the Montserrat mountains. It is divided in three areas, The High, Middle and Low Penedes. This D.O. is amongst the most important in Spain, for both its diversity of wines and for its high production. Penedes wines are known the world over.

Wine characteristics

White Wines
The classic whites of this D.O, are mostly made out of Macabeo, Xarel-lo and Parellada grapes giving them a fresh, light and fruity taste. Another distinct feature of this type of wine is that it should be consumed with in the year. Barrel fermented whites are now starting to be produced, mostly single grape (Macabeo and Xarel-lo). The production of Chardonnay is also very important in this D.O.

Rose Wines
Their Rose wines embrace a modern style of bouquet with strong raspberry colours and aromatic and fresh smells. This wine is produced with a wide variety of grapes such as Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir.

Red Wines
Penedes red wines are made with classic grapes such as Grenache and Tempranillo creating a pleasant, light and easy drinking young wine. As for the oak aged reds, these are generally a combination of the classic red grapes of the area with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

Grapes

White Grapes
Chardonnay
Macabeo
Xarel-lo
Perellada
Riesling
Gewürztraminer
Chenin Blanc
Muscatel

Red Grapes
Grenache
Merlot
Ull de Llebre (Tempranillo)
Pinot Noir
Monastrell
Cabernet Sauvignon
Syrah

Facts & Figures

Area: 27,547ha
Average yearly temperature: 12 – 14 Celsius
Average yearly water fall: 990 mm