Four Families, One Dream
The story of
Vins El Cep does not begin in 1980 but centuries earlier. The four founding families, Esteve, Parera, Carreras and Masana, had been farming their estates of Can Castany, Can Simon, Can Miquel de les Planes and Can Prats since the 15th and 16th centuries. For generations they sold their grapes to the big Cava houses, until Josep Esteve, Pere Parera, Gil Masana and Josep Carreras decided to write a chapter of their own.
They built their bodega at Can Llopart de les Alzines, in the midst of an impressive holm oak forest. The name “El Cep”, meaning the vine, became the symbol of their philosophy: quality begins in the vineyard, not in the cellar. Today the founders' daughters carry the legacy forward. Maite Esteve runs the winery with an international outlook, while Montse and Mercè Masana, Pilar Carreras and co-founder Pere Parera look after the 200 hectares of vineyards.
Pioneers of Biodynamics
In 2001 Vins El Cep became the first winery in the Penedès to convert to organic farming. Two years later came the next step: Spain's first biodynamic Cava. What started out as an experiment is now a conviction put into practice every day. Sixty of the 200 hectares carry the Demeter seal, and the rest is certified organic.
The vines are rooted in calcareous soils at 200 to 400 metres above sea level. Xarel·lo, Macabeo and Parellada form the backbone of the white cuvées, while Pinot Noir lends structure to the rosés. Traditional bottle fermentation, with at least 15 months on the lees and considerably longer for the Gran Reservas, gives the wines their characteristic finesse. The
CLAROR Can Prats even spends more than 60 months on its lees.
Estate Cava Without Compromise
Maite Esteve fought for years for a certification that distinguishes estate producers from large industrial operations. In 2022 Vins El Cep was recognised as one of only twelve “Elaboradores Integrales”, wineries that grow and vinify 100% of their own grapes.
The range reflects this uncompromising stance.
L'Alzinar Brut Nature is the perfect introduction: fresh, mineral, with no dosage. The
Clos Gelida 4 Heretats Gran Reserva brings together grapes from all four family estates, a liquid manifesto of cooperation. For the adventurous there is the
Pét-Nat XRL-LO, unfiltered and full of life.
More Than Sparkling Wine
The vineyards of the Alta Penedès benefit from a Mediterranean climate with cool nights. The altitude preserves acidity, while the lime-rich soils add minerality. Each parcel is vinified separately, and every vintage tells its own story.
The
MIM Natura range stands for the house's biodynamic philosophy. The Blanc de Noirs, made from 100% Pinot Noir, combines Burgundian elegance with Catalan temperament. Drink Vins El Cep and you taste not only outstanding Cava but also the conviction that great sparkling wines can only come from healthy soils and respectful craftsmanship.
