A go to to Cava Codorníu, the most important vineyard in Spain and the primary to supply Cava, is certainly a should for any wine lover visiting Barcelona Spain, and anybody on the lookout for an important historic (and entertaining) vineyard expertise. Discover what you’ll be able to anticipate from a go to to this historic vineyard in a shocking area!
Highlights
- Raventós Codorníu is the oldest household firm in Spain, and in addition the most important vineyard in Spain.
- Has an outdated and wealthy historical past (over 450 years).
- The property is taken into account a Nationwide Historic-Creative Heritage as of 1976.
- Identified for inventing Cava.
- They produce 90 million bottles of wine a yr.
- 30 km of caves (or round 18 miles of caves).
- With the introduction of the Anna de Codorníu model in 1984, they had been additionally the primary to supply cava from Chardonnay grapes (that is along with the standard Xarel-lo, Macabeo, and Parellada grapes).
Who’s Codorníu
Raventós Codorníu is a vineyard positioned in Sant Sadurní d’Anoia, within the Penedès area of Northwest Spain, roughly 30 miles exterior Barcelona. Identified around the globe for its Cavas (glowing wines made within the conventional Champenoise methodology) Codorníu is a testomony to the fervour and dedication of the Raventós household, who’ve been producing wines for over 450 years.
The Codorníu household began within the wine business in 1551. Codorníu heiress, Anna, married Miquel Raventós, becoming a member of two winemaking households collectively. Their future heirs stored the Raventós identify, however Anna’s surname, Codorníu would change into the model identify.
In 1872, Josep Raventós Fatjó produced the primary bottle of cava by making use of the tactic of glowing wine utilized in Champagne (generally known as the standard methodology exterior of the Champagne area) to a mixture of the native grape styles of Macabeo, the Xarel·lo, and the Parellada. Therefore the start of a brand new custom in Spain.
Josep’s son, Manuel, later took cost of the corporate and centered on cava manufacturing. He additionally led cost on constructing a state-of-the-art vineyard, designed by architect Puig i Cadafalch, which grew to become categorised as a Nationwide Historic and Creative Monument in 1976, and can be known as “Cava Cathedral”.
Within the final century The Raventós Codorníu group has since acquired greater than a dozen different wineries all through Spain, and in addition Argentina (Séptima) and California (Artesa).
Visiting Cava Codorníu Vineyard
A go to to Codorníu is an unbelievable alternative to study in regards to the historical past and tradition of the Catalan area, in addition to to style among the best Cavas on the earth.
The vineyard is surrounded by vineyards, with the Montserrat mountains within the distance. The surroundings alone is sufficient to make a go to to Codorníu worthwhile. Nevertheless, the vineyard affords far more than only a fairly view. Guests can take a tour of the vineyard and study in regards to the manufacturing means of their wines and Cavas. The excursions are led by educated guides who’re enjoyable and captivated with wine and desperate to share their experience with guests.
In the course of the tour, guests will study in regards to the grape varieties used to supply the completely different wines, in addition to the growing older course of and the standard strategies used to supply these glowing wines. Guests may also study in regards to the historical past of the Raventós household and the impression they’ve had on the wine business in Catalonia. The tour is a tremendous alternative to study in regards to the cultural significance of wine within the area, in addition to the traditions and customs related to winemaking.
After the tour, guests can take pleasure in a wine tasting session, the place they will pattern among the best wines and Cavas produced by Codorníu.
The tasting is an effective way to deepen one’s appreciation and understanding of the area, its historical past, in addition to to expertise the distinctive flavors and of Codorníu’s glowing wines.
One of many must-try wines is the Codorníu Anna Blanc de Noirs. This wine is created from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes, and is aged for no less than 15 months. The wine has a fragile aroma of crimson fruit and a balanced acidity, making it a scrumptious alternative for pairing with seafood, poultry, or cheese. The Codorníu Anna Blanc de Noirs has gained quite a few awards and is a testomony to the vineyard’s dedication to producing high-quality glowing wines.
Other than the wine tasting session, Codorníu additionally affords quite a lot of different actions for guests to take pleasure in. One in style choice is the picnic expertise, the place guests can calm down within the vineyard’s gardens and luxuriate in a picnic basket stuffed with native merchandise and a bottle of wine. The vineyard additionally affords workshops on wine tasting and meals pairing, in addition to guided excursions of the vineyards and cellars.
Along with its dedication to producing high-quality wines and Cavas, Raventós Codorníu can be dedicated to sustainability and environmental duty. The corporate has carried out plenty of environmentally pleasant practices, corresponding to utilizing renewable power sources, minimizing waste, and lowering its carbon footprint. Guests can study extra about these practices throughout a tour.
Tour Choices
There are a selection of tour choices, ranging kind 22€ – 75€ relying on what you’d wish to see and the way lengthy you want to keep.
You possibly can obtain excursions in English and different languages.
What to Count on from the Tour of Cava Codorníu
4 flooring underground, Codorniu’s tunnels lie in peace, damp and darkish. Right here, the model can retailer 90 million bottles paved in 30 km (or 18 miles) of tunnels which might be unfold over 4 flooring accessible by way of stairs and an elevator. It’s fairly a sight!
On the tour you’ll stroll amongst among the outdated caves, after which have the chance to get onboard a practice (sure, a practice!), taking you thru among the historic elements the place wines had been as soon as made. The underground tour, by the best way, was my absolute favourite a part of the expertise, to witness such historical past is a treasured factor!
It’s additionally an unbelievable alternative to style all kinds of wines from the corporate, could of which you gained’t see within the US, expressing the depth of winemaking within the area.
I used to be in a position to style a number of of their “experimental” wines, those who they check for a couple of years to see in the event that they wish to make them for the market. A really cool expertise.
For Extra Data on Raventós Codorníu or to go to Cava Codorníu Vineyard
For extra on the historical past of Raventós Codorníu or to go to the vineyard.
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