Photo courtesy of Catavino.net

For over an astonishing 500 years, the Raventos family in one form or another has been involved with winemaking in the Catalonia region of Spain. Growing grapes on their historic 90 hectares (just over 222 acres) that has been in the family since 1497, the quality of their wines is unparalleled in the entire region, and certainly Spain. Located in the town of Sant Sadurní d’ Anoia in the Penedés region, the Raventos I Blanc winery was founded in 1986 by the father and son team of Josep and Manuel Raventos. Unfortunately, Josep passed away just 20 days after founding the winery, but Manuel decided to carry on the project with the same passion and ideals he and his father originally set out to achieve- to create cavas with elegance and simplicity, and to put cava on the world map as a legitimate sparkling wine, not to imitate champagne. Luckily for all of us they have indeed succeeded in their mission, as their cavas are without a doubt some of the finest sparkling wines we have ever tasted, cava or not. An old oak tree is the official Raventos I Blanc symbol which graces each wine label- a symbol that still looks over the winery after more 500 years and 5 generations of winemaking.

Website: www.raventos.com

To read more about Raventos I Blanc, here is a fantastic article from Catavino.net

L’ Hereu Reserva Brut 2008

Varieties: 60% Macabeu, 20% Parellada and 20% Xarel-lo

Color: Pale straw with a frothy mousse

Nose: Exotically perfumed bouquet of pear, orange, toasty lees and anise and a suave floral quality

Mouth: Sappy orchard flavors complimented by honeysuckle and bitter orange pith, with a long, powerful, mineral driven finish

de Nit 2008

Varieties: 55% Macabeo, 20% Xarel-lo, 20% Parellada and 5% Monastrell

Color: Pale salmon color with a fine bead

Nose: Delicate aromas of strawberry, redcurrant, spicecake and jasmine

Mouth: Light-bodied, spicy red berry and citrus flavors with a graceful, tangy minerality on the finish

Perfum de Vi Blanc 2009 – D.O. Penedés

Varieties: 50% Muscat de Frontignan, 50% Macabeu

Color: Clear Pale Yellow

Nose: Melon and apricot on the nose, with a light floral quality

Mouth: Pear and grapefruit flavors with crisp acidity and a refreshing finish