Wine from Conca del Riu Anoia

Conca del Riu Anoia is a small geographical region that produces sparkling wines with a marked mineral character and saline expression. It is located in the Catalan region of Penedés, between the Prelitoral and Litoral mountain ranges, in one of the most historic wine-growing valleys.

Which wineries are located in this area?

Conca del Riu Anoia is an appellation promoted and claimed by Raventós i Blanc, for the time being alone, which does not yet enjoy the status of protected geographical indication.

What grape varieties can we find in the Conca del Riu Anoia?

In Conca del Riu Anoia you can find native varieties such as Xarel-lo, Macabeo, Parellada, Monastrell, bastard negre, Sumoll and Xarel-lo Vermell, grapes with more than 2,000 years of adaptation in the area. 

They are not very terpenic varieties, that is not very aromatic, which allows the character of each vintage and the soils in which they are grown to be conveyed more clearly.

Do the soils of the Conca del Riu Anoia have any particularities?

The soils in the Conca del Riu Anoia are of marine origin, formed by sandstones and clays and a calcareous bedrock with the presence of fossils. An adequate proportion of clays, silts and sands, as well as the depth of the soils, allow the vines to have good water reserves, which are essential for their good development.

What about the weather?

The Conca del Riu Anoia enjoys a Mediterranean climate with mild winters and hot, dry summers. The proximity to the sea moderates temperature variations, while the coastal mountain range protects the vineyards from excess humidity and the Compte and Montserrat mountain ranges from the cold of the Pyrenees.

What are the requirements in Conca del Riu Anoia?

In addition to complying with the requirements of the DO Cava, Raventós i Blanc requests that the future designation demand compliance with the following:

• 100% own vinification and elaboration: it is not allowed to buy wine or bottles in the ageing phase from third-party companies.
• 100% vinification of base wine for sparkling wine.
• Minimum of 80% of own vineyards; in case of buying grapes from other winegrowers, the requirements are as follows:
          ◦ Winegrowers who are 100% dedicated to farming;

        ◦ Control and monitoring of the viticulture work by the winemaker's technician;

        ◦ Vines older than 10 years (ideally more than 20);

        ◦ Maximum yields of 10,000 kg/ha;

        ◦ Harvest date according to berry tasting, sugar/acidity balance, health and weather forecast;

        ◦ Manual harvesting and grape selection in the vineyard, trailers weighing less than 2,000 kg and whole grapes entering the winery.

• 100% biodynamic viticulture
• 100% autochthonous grape varieties in all the vineyards.
• Minimum ageing of 18 months
• Vintage
• Date of disgorgement on the label
• Geographically delimited in the Anoia river valley, between the Mediterranean Sea and the Catalan Pre-Coastal mountain range, limited according to geological criteria.
• Criteria audited by an external audit and certification company.