Llopart

The Lloppart family, perhaps still little known in other parts of the world, has a remarkable history in the Penedes, dating back well over 600 years. A document shows that the first vineyards were transferred to the family as early as 1385. For centuries, the estate was involved in mixed farming, but with the advent of cava, the family decided at the end of the 18th century to dedicate themselves exclusively to winegrowing and in 1887 they also began producing cava. To this day, the winery has resisted the temptations of impetuous growth and has retained the charm of a pure family business. Heretat Can Llopart de Subirats cultivates around 70 hectares of vineyards, spread over three parcels, organically in a unique environment consisting of forest and wild Mediterranean vegetation with considerable biodiversity. The terroir here in the steep vineyards at around 380 meters above sea level consists of pebbles, limestone and marine fossils. The emphasis in both wine and cava production is on traditional indigenous grape varieties. Grape varieties such as Xarel-Lo, Malvasia and the rather rare Sumoll are used for still wines, while the indigenous Garnatxa is used for red and rosé wines. With Xarel-Lo, Macabeo and Parellada, the blend for the cavas is kept traditional, and the trend towards more Chardonnay and Pinot Noir has been consistently resisted. In 2019, the winery was one of the co-founders of the exclusive circle of winegrowers who produce and market their cavas under the brand name "Corpinnat". In addition to 100% organic cultivation, members are also required to harvest by hand. Due to the first-class grape quality, most cavas are produced without dosage and are marketed as "Brut Nature". The ageing periods are unusual and can be up to 60 months, depending on the cava. One of the very best cavas is the rare "Llopart Original 1887", which is a reminder of the origins of cava production. The label is adorned with a view of the vineyards; in addition to the traditional Xarel-Lo and Macabeu grape varieties, the indigenous Montónega grape variety, which is rarely found, is also used. The ageing period is an impressive 9 years. It goes without saying that still wines and cavas under the Lloppart name have nothing in common with the conventional large-scale productions from Penedes.