Cavas Recaredo  Family-owned Biodynamic winery whose renowned Brut Natur Cava sparkling wines come from the Alt Penedes in the Cataluña region of Spain.

Owner | Josep and Antoni Mata Casanovas (‘Ton Mata’).

Background | In 1878, Recaredo Mata Figueres was born in the town of Sant Sadurní d’Anoia. In 1924, his son, Josep Mata Capellades, founded Cavas Recaredo (Can Recaredo) when he began to sell cava in bottle. He wanted to make only non-dosage, long-aged cavas. He had no vineyards at that time, and only bought base wines. But step by step, he started buying and pressing grapes, working closely with the farmers who grew the grapes. Josep Mata Capellades built the cellars in his house, in the historic centre of Sant Sadurní d’Anoia. Some parts of the original cellars still survive today. Josep Mata Capellades forged Recaredo’s identity by pioneering totally dry Brut Nature cava, working with oak barrels and extended aging of the wines in bottle prior to their release. He also bought a few vineyards. The second generation followed this idea of being vignerons by buying vineyards. Under the third generation Recaredo continued to buy vineyards so much so they stopped purchasing grapes from local farmers. The next step was to go organic. Cavas Recaredo is currently managed by fourth generation family members Josep and Antoni Mata Casanovas,

Staff | Contact Joan Rubio (607.759452 cell or joanrubio@recaredo.com. Sales: Alex Bautista.

Estate vineyards | The vineyards are located around 25 miles (40km) from Barcelona in the easternmost part of the Penedès region in Sant Sadurní d’Anoia, Torrelavit and Subirats, in the Bitlles valley of Alt Penedès. In 2012 the estate comprised 75 hectares (185.25 acres) of land of which 50 hectares (123.5 acres) was productive vines, 5 hectares (12.35 acres) was newly planted vines and as yet uncertified vines, and 20 hectares (49.4 acres) were forest. The soils are a mix of calcareous clay-loam and loam with occasional gravel. Annual average rainfall is 530 mm (20.9 inches). 

certification | 2003 The vineyards go organic but without certification. The owners had heard about Biodynamics when on sales trips to France and Germany. Subsequently they attended seminars given by Maria Thun and her son Mathias, and by Nicolas Joly and Claude Bourguignon. The family elected to have no Biodynamic consultant but did join the local biodynamic group in Catalonia. | 2005 5 hectares (12.35 acres) are converted to Biodynamics and in 2005, 2006 and 2007 it works well with no threat from mildew. In 2006 Recaredo’s estate vineyards begin official 3-year conversion to certified organic status. In 2006 Recaredo was still buying in grapes from 5 farmers whose vineyards they managed and subsequently converted to organics. | 2008 was the last vintage in which grapes were purchased. 50ha of estate vineyards. 2008 was a testing vintage with a “very wet summer that pushed us to the limit. To control mildew they used 6kg (13.3lb) of copper per hectare (5.38lb per acre) in the organic vineyards, but only 1kg (2.2lb or 0.9lb per acre) in the Biodynamic vineyards. | 2009 In 2009 conversion to full Demeter Biodynamic status begins. | 2010 The 2010 vintage was the first for which Recaredo obtained full Demeter Biodynamic certification, the first white wine and Cava producer in Spain to achieve this.

Biodiversity | Sheep graze the vineyards, Recaredo having begun working with the Veterinary School of the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) on how sheep can be best integrated into wine-growing, with particular regard to the optimum number of sheep so that they graze the sward between the rows, rather than the vine vegetation and without causing soil compaction. The project of the Research Group on Ruminants is headed by Gerardo Caja and Elena Albanell of the Department of Animal and Food Science at the UAB’s Veterinary School. The Catalan Institute of Vines and Wines (INCAVI) has also collaborated on the project.

Winemaking | 100% hand picked. 100% hand disgorging for sparkling wines.

Still wines–Celler Credo

Celler Credo | Recaredo sells its still wines under the Celler Credo label to avoid confusion with its Cavas.

SPARKLING WINES–WHITE

CAVA BRUT NATURE GRAN RESERVA, TERRERS2009 Xarel-lo. 5 yrs on yeast. Disgorged Nov 2015. Lovely weight and flavour (Real Wine Fair 2016).

CAVA BRUT NATURE GRAN RESERVA | From dry-farmed organic vineyards in the Alt Penedes zone and is made from a blend of Xarel.lo (46%), Macabeu (36%) and Parellada (18%). The wine is a Brut Nature, completely dry.

CAVA BRUT DE BRUT NATURE GRAN RESERVA | 2006 Creamy and quite intense (Real Wine Fair 2016).

CAVA BRUT DE BRUT, BRUT NATURE GRAN RESERVA | From old vines. 2007 Nice mix of sherbet and acetaldehyde (Real Wine Fair 2012).

CAVA RESERVA PARTICULAR DE RECAREDO | This flagship wine was created in 1962 by Josep Mata Capellades. The Xarel-lo part of the blend is oak aged. The blend is given extended lees aging in bottle before disgorging by hand, and release.

CAVA TURÓ D’EN MOTA | A single vineyard wine made from 100% Xarel·lo grown in a single hill site (or turó in Catalan) in Sant Sadurni d’Anoia called Mota. The vineyard was originally planted in 1940. The vines are bush vines, spur pruned. The soil is calcareous, low in organic matter and with a high active lime content. 1999 The first vintage of this wine, first released in 2008.

SPARKLING WINES–PINK

CAVA BRUT INTENS ROSAT

Contact

Cavas Recaredo, Mata Casanovas, S.A., C/ Tamarit nº 10, E-08770 Sant Sadurní d’Anoia (Barcelona), Spain

Tel+34 938.910214 | Website www.recaredo.es