spanish wines - Penedès

Selma is a cult wine. Everybody has heard about it, but rare are those who got to taste it. Selma is the name of a small mountain village in the Sierra de Montmell, in Santes Creus (Province of Tarragona). Here are Jaume et Ester Jin's roots; and this is here that years ago they started ti plant vine son slaps, on a very small scale. Biodynamic culture and winemaking.

This cuvée is currently the only wine made out of Montanega (a variant of Parellada coming from Selma (El Pal de Manlleu), a small village in the Montmell hills). This is the project of Ester Nin and her brother, who originate from the place. The vines are planted on red clay soils (hence the name Vermella). There are cultivated biodynamically. A rare, classy and very Mediterranean wine.

Gessami means jasmin in catalan. This Cava producer harvests its grapes just before the full ripeness, the Cava's biggest enemy being oxydation. As a result, the wine are quite low in alcohol.

A Macabeu-based project. The grapes come from two parcels of one hectare each; one planted in 1969, the other in 1998. All vines are farmed bio-dynamically.

This Cava producer harvests his grapes just before they are fully ripe, oxidation of the most or juice being Cava's biggest enemy. This means his wines are low in alcohol. This Chardonnay from the oldest and highest vines of Mas Escorpí and El Serralet high is full of freshness.

1998 was the first vintage of this white Penedès wine. Since then, the cuvée has changed a lot. It is made with the grapes of a high altitude parcel of old Macabeu in La Juncosa, called La Finca Els Camps. It has a very Mediterranean character, and a nice minerality.

The vineyards are located at La Joncosa del Montmell, at an altitude of 400 metres, on limestone sols.

1998 was the first vintage of this white wine, named after the heights on which the vines stand: Els Camps.

Gerard Jané was instrumental in the revival of one of the most typical grapes of Penedès: Sumoll. For a long time, yet, this variety was not on the DO's grape list. Fortunately, this changed 10 years ago and now the DO favours the development of the local varietals.

A new line at Jané Ventura's estate. Until now, there were ont two whites in the range, an entry-level wine and a top wine. After a long period of experimentation, a new trio of wines was introduced, the Selecció (in white, red and rosé). These three wines are made with the grapes of 15 different vineyards planted with old vines.

A new line at Jané Ventura's estate. Until now, there were only two whites in the range, an entry-level wine and a top wine. After a long period of experimentation, a new trio of wines was introduced, the Selecció (in white, red and rosé). These three wines are made with the grapes of 15 different vineyards planted with old vines. Skin contact maceration at low temperature (10°C). On the label is the Fina Mas Vilella, located in the uplands and surrounded by vines.

After a long period of experimentation, a new trio of wines was introduced, the Selecció (in white, red and rosé). These three wines are made with the grapes of 15 different vineyards planted with old vines.

Istiu is Enric Soler's latest creation. For the first time a coupage wine, of very limited production, that shows Enric's creative and non-conformist character. Sourced from a 0.2ha plot with a subsoil of sand, loam and clay. The vines are respectively 42 (Xarel.lo) and 13 years old (Malvasia de Sitges). The vineyard is worked in biodynamics like all the other plots. A wine that shows the affinity between Xarel-lo and Malvasía de Sitges.

16 years ago, Jané Ventura started to try and revive the Malvasia de Sitges of ancient fame. Many other winemakers followed suit. This light and lively wine is a good introduction to this variety. semperviva means eternal, and is the name of a flower that can be dried and thus preserved for a very long time. A beautiful name for a beautiful wine, of which only 4,400 bottles have been made in this first vintage.