Vardon Kennett

On Friday, October 27th 2016, the Torres Family revealed their best-kept secret, the revival of the Vardon Kennett brand and launch the debut vintage of Cuvée Esplendor 2013. According to the family, Vardon Kennett project was closely guarded ever they announced their intention to make a high-quality signature sparkling wine in the Penedès

The project represented a new challenge for the winery, enormous amounts of work, and an exercise in great responsibility for the team headed by Mireia Torres. 

THE STORY:

Daniel Vardon Kennett, the son of a legendary family of maritime traders, was born on the island of Guernsey in the English Channel in 1781. Daniel arrived in the port of Barcelona as a young man in the early 19th century and was soon captivated by the region's wines and culture.

Kennett decided to embark on a new venture: selling and exporting local wines by sailboat to England and Saint Peter Port (Guernsey). Years later, Daniel Vardon fell in love with Maria Francisca de Ferrer, and they eventually married. They began a new life together, built around growing grapes and making wine.

After years of hard work, they restored the historical estate to its original splendor. They planted new vineyards and built a fortified country house. From its tower, they could almost see the sea on a clear day. This marked the beginning of Cuvée Esplendor by Vardon Kennett, made exclusively from carefully selected grapes grown in our own vineyards.

He died at the age of 54 without leaving any heirs. He was laid to rest in the Romanesque chapel at Santa Margarida d'Agulladolç where his wife's last words to him are inscribed on his tombstone. 

Esplendor by Vardon Kennett originates from the Torres family's own vineyards in the Penedès, at over 500 meters above sea level. The area provides the right vines to create the desired blend, which accentuates the elegance and exquisite acidity of the final cuvée.

Although rooted in the Penedès, Esplendor looks to the future. Specifically what the future holds for the map of varieties. As temperatures continue to rise due to climate change, winemakers will have to seek out grapes from higher-elevation areas. 

Vardon Kennett is a hand-harvested Pinot Noir (55%), Chardonnay (40%) and Xarel.lo (5%) blend. The goal from the very beginning has been to connect with a wide international audience of people who share a love for exceptional food and wine. 

At the winery on the Santa Maria d'Agulladolç estate, the wine underwent three fermentations and aging to become Esplendor by Vardon Kennett.

The style: Vardon Kennett is feminine in its conception. It seeks the same subtlety and elegance as evoked by the fine, beautiful bubbles. High acidity is a defining characteristic of this sparkling wine with a style all its own. At first, the nose offers notes of citrus and fresh fruit. They give way to confident aromas of lees aging reminiscent of toasted bread, brioche and distinctive notes of pastry. Fresh and luscious on the palate, it displays enduring elegance. The wine's freshness and acidity marry exquisitely with all manner of gastronomic delights.