Finca Parera, Sassó Natural wine, Xarel-Lo, Penedes, Spain

About Celler Finca Parera: Fourth generation farmers since 1892, organic winegrowers since 1999 and biodynamic winemakers since 2013. Jordi Parera and Ruben Parera take care of different small plots of vineyard, along with other ancient cultures cherries, almonds, olives and vegetables garden. All with a small production of honey from their own bees.

Finca Parera is located in the upper Penedes region Penedès Montserratí in the village of Sant Llorenç d’Hortons, a historic area of quality Xarel·lo production which is characterised by its calcareous clay soils. Rubén converted his family’s 10h estate from organic to biodynamic farming, continuing the natural process into the cellar while applying the same practice to their cherries, almonds, olives, and vegetables, obtaining the rather grueling Demeter certification on their first visit.

Devoted to the green cover, compost and ancestral practices, they try to express the full potential of their terroir, foster the landscape, take care of the soil and close vital circles.

Vineyard : Sant Lorenç d’Hortons lies at 350m altitude in l’Alt Penedes Monterrati. A single young Xarel-Lo vineyard “La Toretta” with loam/ clay soil facing southeast.

Winemaking : Made in a natural way with manual harvest in 250kg containers. Grape entry into cement cups without stem. Grape entry into cement cups by pre-fermentation film maceration, without stem, for a few days. Wild fermentation starts in the same cup at a controlled temperature, and is transferred to old acacia barrels at mid-fermentation, to finish it inside the barrel. It will age about a year in the same barrels without any transfer. Before the next harvest, the barrels are released to decant the wine and let it rest a little more in a cement cup again.

Bottled without any intervention or addition, in a descending moon.

Precipitations and cloudy appearance may appear, denoting respectful processing and are a good sign of authenticity.

Description: 100% Xarel-Lo. The wine has a nice mouth weight. Tastes of tangy green apple and pineapple hit the palate, with aromas of honeycomb and a subtle tannic finish that is well integrated into the pleasant texture of the juice.