In 1980 the Penedès Carreras, Esteve, Masana and Parera families set out on the path to make wines and cavas by creating the Vins El Cep winery, in Sant Sadurní d'Anoia. Producers of broths since 1980, they shared their knowledge to elaborate and commercialize terroir wines and cavas. The experience and union of these four families - next year they will be 40 years old - have paid off.
SLocated in a privileged place that I have been lucky enough to meet through our Wine Coinneseur, Zoltan Nagy, riding from Sant Sadurní d'Anoia, Gelida and Sant Llorenç d'Hortons, Vins El Cep has been a great discovery for me. In a beautiful, idyllic setting, hidden between forests, you find the winery in L'Alzinar. Very flirtatious and with an irreproachable charm.
Minimalist and even with Nordic reminiscences (perhaps that is why the Nordics love it), the winery transmits a lot of love for what is done, and a lot of passion for working as it was always done, taking care of the countryside and the entire process of creating wines. and you dig.
And unlike other companies in the sector, its products are better known internationally than in Spain. In countries like USA, Sweden, Ukraine, UK, Switzerland, Japan are examples where Vins El Cep is known.
They export more than 80% of their production. Also to other countries such as Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Belgium, Holland and Denmark. The remaining 20% is distributed in Catalonia and the rest of Spain through specialized stores and high-class restaurants.
"Since its creation, they have aimed to prioritize respect for the environment, and also to produce cavas of the highest quality and uniqueness."
Vins El Cep likes to innovate when making its wines and cavas, therefore, it not only uses grapes such as Macabeo, Xarel.lo or Parellada, native to Penedés, it also dares with Pinot Noir, Chardonnay or Tempranillo.
Because excellent cavas can be made using native varieties together with other varieties that have adapted very well to our territory, and that can provide other characteristics.
Very gastronomic still and sparkling wines to enjoy at table and after dinner. And since its creation they have aimed to prioritize respect for the environment, and likewise to elaborate cavas of the highest quality and uniqueness.
Since 2003 they began to apply the techniques of biodynamic agriculture, selecting the most suitable vines from old vines.
They are located in the Alt Penedès between 200 and 400 meters, the Vins El Cep vineyards enjoy moderate temperatures, typical of the pre-coastal Mediterranean, with mild winters favored by the Montserrat and Ordal mountain ranges. As well as hot and dry summers, where the thermal oscillation is softened by the proximity of the sea. With 200 hectares of vineyards in different orientations and on a mainly calcareous-clayey soil, which allows the maximum expression, quality and personality of the different grape varieties to be obtained.
Among its most important brands are Claror, the star product (Cava de Paraje Calificado de «Can Prats», MIM Natura, Marquès de Gelida, L'Alzinar and GR5 Senders.
The General Director of the winery, Maite Esteve, is the one who leads with strength and feminine intuition this magnificent reality, a unique case where 4 families of winegrowers, who had vineyards since 1448, friends since always started the project 40 years ago. And it is one of the few companies in the cava sector, less than 20%, that are run by women.
"What I am passionate about about Maite Esteve is that her vision is similar to Romero's in everything."
More and more women are advancing in the world of wine, contributing among other things, sensitivity and good taste, although their presence in the sector is still not relevant. And what I see that a woman in charge of a wine company brings is order, perseverance and professionalism. In addition, women have more sensitivity and value the qualities of cavas more. For this reason, at Vins El Cep, the image and presentation of the product is very well cared for. That's clear.
What I am passionate about about Maite Esteve is that her vision is similar to that of Romero in everything, she is not afraid of anything, she wants to project Penedés to the world through her wines and cavas, and she wants to do it with the best possible products. The quantity is not relevant and the quality is. It is a salmon in a troubled river and nothing united, the Penedés, which, in my opinion, would need the same light, the same objective, generate the unique brand of Cava of the highest quality and project together more, much more and better, much! best!! But we also have the unique opportunity of tourism, and wine tourism has not just started, also due to a lack of coordination and confidence that together it could be a constant and considerable source of income. Maite, always advancing everyone, already has ideas that would help everyone, but since there is not the necessary quorum, it will be Romero who will bet with her to attract the highest quality tourism and eager for knowledge, in addition to the figure that almost everyone forgets , the international resident. Where Romero, as the leader of the international resident profile High End, he will channel into a series of events at his own winery in 2020.
