Vilarnau

The noble Vilarnau family settled in the 12th century in this privileged land of the Penedes, a land where the vineyard was already cultivated. Vilarnau is the etymological result of Vila Arnau, that is the "country house or Domus” of the Arnaus. The Vilarnau Domus was a stately term from the Subirats Castle (which today is still in good condition and can be seen from the vineyards of Vilarnau), where, in the 12th century, an altar dedicated to the Blessed Mary was built. Not very far from the current farm are still some ruins of what was at that time the "Domus" or fortified house such as door cloths, remains of foundations of buildings, some tiles and evidence of walls.

In the 13th century the owners of the Vilarnau Domus were important people with solid economic position, they owned land, mills and cultivated their vineyards with care. Albert de Vilarnau, the actual name that the most exclusive branded cava receives, was a very unique person that did grow the power of the family and even in the 14th century, was one of the patrons of the Santa Maria de Vilarnau church. The Vilarnaus’ main lineage became extinct with the noble Galceran de Vilarnau, who got married to Elizabeth Masdovelles when the property passed to his nephew, Joan Lluís de Masdovelles.

The "Can petit i Planes de Vilarnau" estate, 20 hectares, is located in a privileged enclave in the heart of the cava region.  From the estate, one can enjoy the spectacular views of Montserrat Mountains, the same that protect the vines from the cold winds of the Pyrenees.  Towards the south, the vineyard is flanked by the Serrada Litoral (“Jagged Coastline”) and towards the East, it open up to the Mediterranean Sea,  just 30km away.  In this beautiful setting, situated 250 meters above sea level, the vines are grown in an excellent manner.

We cultivate these 20 hectares with all the pampering and care to the best of our abilities. Together with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, foundations for the development of our cava, we have the Macabeo, Xarel·lo, Parellada y Trepat types. All of these varieties are planted in the best direction to receive the necessary hours of sunlight and the best ventilation thanks to the  gentle breezes from the Mediterranean, which guarantee us an optimum ripeness of the fruit in each harvest. The soils of the "Can petit i les Planes" estate are of alluvial origin, formed by layers of silt and clays. The harvest, which is totally manual, begins in mid August and ends in the last week of September.

In Vilarnau we want to develop the best cava with the least possible ecological impact on our planet. We live off the land and that is why it is in our DNA to care and pamper it fully. If we treat the earth and our environment better, we will obtain better fruits from our vineyards and we will be able to produce the best cava for the client.

›› SUSTAINABLE VITICULTURE, BETTER CAVA

We work to reduce CO2 emissions that are the principal cause of climate change. We reduce the weight of the glass bottles. We retrieve the rainwater and recycle it because the water is and always will be scarce. We apply integrated and sustainable viticulture on all our estates to preserve their future. We use the pruned branches as a fertilizer, we reduce the phytosanitary treatments with pheromones to cause sexual confusion of insects and we do not use herbicides. We encourage the use of the natural cork for the cava as well as the wine.

›› NATURAL CORK, BETTER CAVA

Cork is a forest product whose removal is performed every 10 years in a manner that is respectful without damaging the tree. Cork is a 100% recyclable material and its manufacture does not generate waste. The final balance of CO2 is negative.

The cork industry promotes and encourages the sustainable management of the ecosystem of the cork oak, which houses a wealth of fauna and flora. In addition, the cork forests help to combat other environmental problems in the Mediterranean: desertification, regulation of the hydrological cycle, loss of biodiversity, fires …

And the best thing, up to this day a better closure for cavas and wines has not been invented. The properties of the cork make it a "perfect" system because they guarantee the fair accuracy of hermetism and enhance the aromas of the wine. Just like the barrel, the cork allows the entry of oxygen and the aromatic complexity.