The plenary session of DO Penedès agreed on Tuesday, although with some misgivings, to study through its technical commission the extension of its territorial limits. The feasibility of including more areas in the north of the denomination will be analyzed, including up to a maximum of 350 hectares of vineyards in the municipalities of Alt Camp, Anoia and Baix Llobregat. They are vineyards of Esparraguera, Collbató, Carme, Vallbona d'Anoia, La Torre de Claramunt, Orpí and Querol. There are claims that have dragged on for more than three decades, such as that of Querol (Alt Camp).
Coinciding with the presentation in November 2021 of the strategic plan of the DO Penedès, the Farmers' Association of the Plan de Manlleu reactivated the petition for the vineyards of Querol to join the DO. The promises made from the direction of DO Penedès stopped a mobilization. The extension would include the vineyards and the winery of Ca N´Estruc de Esparreguera, of Siscu Martí (partner of the distributor Vila Viniteca with Quim Vila).
Martí, who for now sells his wines with DO Catalunya since a torrent separates this winery from DO Penedès, states that they must study what they will do if the expansion is approved. In any case, he affirms that "it would mean an improvement for the viticulturists of the area". The expansion would also serve to incorporate the vineyards of the Pla de Morei winery in La Torre de Claramunt (Anoia), from where its co-owner Mercè Sangüesa also points out that they will study what to do, despite explaining that "we feel comfortable in the DO Catalunya" .
On the other hand, the conversations between the producers of the Clàssic Penedès sparkling wines (DO Penedès) and the Corpinnat collective brand are advancing to create a new DO for the Penedès sparkling wines. They have even invited Raventós i Blanc, who left the DO Cava in 2012, to the meetings. This is not the first time an attempt has been made to reach an agreement. If the negotiations now bear fruit, the DO Penedès would limit itself to covering only still wines, an issue defended by companies such as Familia Torres. From the DO Cava, the possible creation of a new DO for sparkling wines is followed with concern.
In view of these negotiations, both the Catalan Wine and Wine Institute (Incavi) of the Generalitat and the Department of Agriculture state that "we work to promote dialogue between all agents in the sector, always with the aim of promoting quality, fair remuneration for winegrowers and the search for the best competitive scenario for Catalan wine”, according to the director of Incavi, Alba Balcells.
In addition, the one from Penedès, which is increasing its international promotional actions to the detriment of local ones, wants to be the first DO in Spain to be 100% organic. They have set themselves to be so in 2025. Another of the objectives is to work so that the DO Penedès can become a Qualified DO. To achieve this, various aspects will be worked on, such as that the marketed wine is bottled from registered wineries and located in the delimited geographical area, that there is a control system from production to commercialization or having a cartographic delimitation of the municipalities to be able to guarantee the coexistence between wineries of different denominations.
