Petit Caus Negre

There are few places like the Garraf Massif. This large rocky mass, located to the northeast of Barcelona (just 50 minutes by car from the capital), is characterised by being one of the richest and most varied wine-growing areas. Located within the D.O. Penedés, and bordering the Penedés plains and the Mediterranean Sea, the real significance of this area lies in its soil (shallow and rich in limestone, microelements and minerals) and its very unique climate (with scarce rainfall, hot days, many hours of sunshine and sea breezes).

These factors work together to produce very aromatic wines with a mineral character, like Petit Caus Negre, a young, organic wine made by Can Ràfols dels Caus. This winery, which is one of the oldest in the area (there are documents that show it already existed in the year 992), is run by Carlos Esteva who decided to go to live at his grandfather’s farmhouse in 1979.

This move meant the beginning of a new chapter for the estate; the house was restored, a new winery was built, the old vineyards were recovered (growing new varieties) and new cultivation methods were established. In addition to the initial 450 hectares of the estate, another 250 hectares have been recently acquired by Esteva to prevent a stone quarry being built that would have threatened the survival of the old vines.

The grapes, grown with organic fertilisers and without chemical products, are harvested by hand. Petit Caus Negre is fermented with native yeasts for 24 days, and then aged in underground tanks and in the bottle.