The DO Penedès is extensive, diverse and deeply linked to the history of wine in Catalonia. The cradle of sparkling wines, a land of native varieties and a benchmark in innovation and ecology, it is also a destination that invites visitors to discover wine through landscape and culture. The DO Penedès: an extensive and diverse designation The DO Penedès stretches across a wide strip of territory between Barcelona and Tarragona, in a transition area between the coast and the inland regions that gives rise to highly varied landscapes and microclimates. This diversity is one of its great strengths and explains the richness of the wines produced here. It is one of Catalonia’s most important designations in terms of size, production and international projection, with more than 150 wineries and over 2,500 hectares of vineyards. A significant share of its wines travels beyond the country, confirming the recognition of a territory that has been closely linked to the production of wines and sparkling wines for centuries. A thousand-year-old wine history The history of wine in Penedès goes back long before Roman times. At the Font de la Canya site, in Avinyonet del Penedès, vine seeds from the 7th century BC have been found, one of the oldest pieces of evidence of vine cultivation in Catalonia. Later, the Romans consolidated the territory’s wine-growing expansion and favoured its trade throughout the Mediterranean thanks to routes such as the Via Augusta. During the Middle Ages, monasteries helped preserve and pass on knowledge of vines and wine. All this has left a deep mark on the identity of Penedès, where wine culture forms part of the landscape and collective memory. The cradle of sparkling wines and of the sector’s modernisation Penedès holds a central place in the history of Catalan sparkling wines. It was here, at the end of the 19th century, that the production of sparkling wines using the traditional method was promoted, based on local varieties such as macabeu, xarel·lo and parellada. This pioneering spirit was also visible in the modernisation of the sector. The territory became home to some of the most innovative wineries on the Iberian Peninsula and a benchmark in the introduction of new winemaking techniques. This innovative vocation still defines much of the character of Penedès today. Native varieties and wines with their own identity To talk about the DO Penedès is to talk about native varieties and a way of understanding wine that is closely linked to the territory. Xarel·lo is one of its great protagonists, but macabeu and parellada also play an essential role in the wine personality of the area. White wines stand out especially for their freshness and aromatic expression, but Penedès also offers fruity rosés, reds with personality and high-quality sparkling wines. This plurality makes the designation a rich wine-growing space full of nuances, capable of surprising both first-time visitors and those who already know the territory. A DO looking to the future through ecology The DO Penedès is currently experiencing a moment of renewal that looks to the future without losing its roots. Its commitment to organic viticulture and respect for the landscape mark the path of a new generation of winegrowers and wineries working to better express the identity of the territory. This new momentum strengthens the connection between the vineyard and those who cultivate it, and highlights a more conscious, closer and more land-linked way of working. The result is wines and sparkling wines with an increasingly defined identity and growing international recognition. Wine in Penedès, between heritage, culture and innovation Penedès can also be discovered through its towns, its wineries and the spaces that explain wine culture. Vilafranca del Penedès and Sant Sadurní d’Anoia are two key names within this universe, but the experience extends throughout the territory. The Penedès Wine Route invites visitors to explore vineyards, taste wines and delve into a way of life that combines heritage, hospitality and landscape. This experience is complemented by major events such as ViJazz Vilafranca, which brings together wine and music, and Cavatast, dedicated to sparkling wines and gastronomy. In Vilafranca, the VINSEUM - Museu de les Cultures del Vi de Catalunya offers an immersive look at the history and wine culture of the country. It is a good gateway to a designation that, beyond its prestige, continues to reinvent itself while remaining faithful to its essence.