My Latest in Azure Road:
“Exploring Penedès, Spain’s Sparkling Wine Paradise”
Where to eat, stay, and sip around this storied region
by L.M. Archer
“Spain is among the European countries most exposed to climate change, pushing producers here to adapt early.”
As the birthplace of Cava, Spain’s signature sparkling wine, the region stretches between the Catalan Pre-Coastal Range and the Mediterranean, about an hour from Barcelona, with a winemaking history dating back more than 2,000 years. Today, still and sparkling wines made from local grapes like Xarel·lo, Malvasia de Sitges, and Garnacha draw visitors, alongside winery tastings and destination restaurants across the region.
Less obvious is how much of Penedès is shaped by environmental pressure. Spain is among the European countries most exposed to climate change, pushing producers here to adapt early, with some estates converting to organic farming as far back as the 1970s. In 2025, after decades of transition, the region became the first Denomination of Origin wine appellation to be certified 100% organic. Today, all wineries — from large producers to small estates — work exclusively with organic grapes under those standards.
Here’s where to taste, dine, and stay across one of Spain’s most progressive wine regions.
Where to Sip:
Albet i Noya
North Stars: Waste Management, Certifications, Energy Efficiency
If you want to learn about sustainability in Spanish wine, begin at the winery that started it all: Albet i Noya. The winery began farming organically in 1978, long before it became standard practice.
Located in the Ordal Mountains, this B Corp–certified estate backs that early start with practical measures, including bottle reuse, cork recycling, and repurposing vegetable oil into biodiesel to power vineyard tour vehicles.
In the vineyards, native varieties like Xarel·lo, Macabeo, Parellada, Tempranillo, and Grenache are grown alongside experimental VRAIC grapes, developed to resist disease and adapt to changing climate conditions.
Tastings often include an overview of that ongoing research, alongside the wines themselves. READ MORE HERE.
Read more articles by L.M. Archer here.
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