Nowadays it seems normal to make organic and / or biodynamic wines, but at Vins El Cep we were pioneers throughout the Penedés and in Spain.
We have been winegrowers since 1448. And knowledgeable about our orography: meteorology, type of winds, rainfall, etc. And as wine producers this year we are 40 years old, since 1980.
In 1980 we started a joint project to make wines and cavas that would represent the identity of our terroirs.
Today, these terroirs are cultivated following the principles of organic and biodynamic agriculture, where the earth, plants, animals and man work together to improve and preserve the natural balance of the ecosystem.
Biodynamic cultivation: pioneers and convinced
The viticulture that is practiced to obtain biodynamic wines is, basically, prioritizing the health of the vineyard. Just as traditional viticulture focuses on fighting diseases and pests, biodynamic viticulture stimulates the health of the vineyard so that diseases are not a problem, understanding that the vineyard is a life system in itself and that it must be treated as such, holistically. Biodynamics is considered by many to be a more advanced form of organic viticulture. And we began to carry it out in 2000, on the Can Miquel de les Planes farm.
The farmhouse of Can Miquel of the Plans, located in Gelida (Alt Penedés), was founded in 1513 by Joan Miquel de les Planes.
More than twenty generations later, Pere Parera is the owner, following in the footsteps of his grandfather and father. Founder of Vins El Cep, has always been a farmer dedicated to his land and a pioneer in biodynamic agriculture in the Penedès.
Throughout our history, each generation has contributed its grain of sand, its advances, but also the wisdom of knowing how to see and reflect. The experience that this direct contact with the land gives us led us, in 2000, to direct our agriculture towards organic farming.
Shortly after, with the concern to continue improving at all levels, we decided to take a step further and apply biodynamic agriculture. Although at that time it was a type of agriculture quite unknown in our country, the results spoke for themselves and we decided to bet on it. And today, we keep betting.
Biodynamic agriculture seeks balance with the ecosystem, preserving biological diversity and recovering the microbial activity of the soil. The goal of this type of agriculture is to have naturally balanced, healthy vineyards that produce better quality grapes and great expressiveness of the terroir. For this, of course we do not use any type of fungicide or pesticide, or any chemical. Biodynamics takes organic farming one step further, following the lunar and astronomical calendar (biodynamic calendar) as a guide to natural cycles and plant healing herbs in the vineyard, such as valerian, nettle, dandelion or chamomile. And it is fertilized by biodynamic compounds, such as compost in buried cow horns.
Characteristics of biodynamic wines:
- Do not use genetically modified microorganisms
- Do not use unauthorized clarifiers
- Maximized use of gravity techniques for warehouse work
- Minimal rectification of the harvest result
- Use only indigenous yeasts
- Minimal or no use of sulfides
El Claror: the world's first biodynamic cava (Cava de Paraje Calificado)
Claror is synonymous with purity, it is the essence of Cava, the maximum expression of the Mediterranean with the three traditional varieties of Penedés. The first cava made according to the principles of biodynamic agriculture. Long aging cava that represents the maximum expression of the terroir. And it is our most representative product of our winery.
