Painous -
Louis de Vernier (Josep Masachs) Cava (Spain)
The Estate
It was at the turn of the century when the Masachs
family started to cultivate grapes in their estate
located in Vilafranca del Penedès, a wine area par
excellence, where the growing of grapes had been
already introduced in times of the Roman Empire. This
family owned winery was founded in the 1930's. Today
the third generation of Masachs (Painous is the maiden
name of the current owners mother) run the operation.
Currently, Masachs ranks fourth in production at
208,000 - 240,000 cases of Cava yearly. The export 15%
and sell 85% in Spain. Mr. Josep Masachs Llorach, a
man with strong convictions, great character and
dedicated since his childhood to the growing of
grapes, founded Cavas Masachs within the decade of the
twenties producing cava in the best tradition of
craftsmanship and with a limited production meant,
basically, for his own consumption and to make it
known to his closest friends. Later, his son, Mr.
Josep Masachs Juvé, went on with his father´s job
under the same policy of very limited production and
craftsmanship combined with hard work with the aim to
improve the quality of his cavas. In 1977 Josep and
Joan Masachs start a new guideline and launch a new
line of cava to the market based on the experience and
know-how of their ancestors. Little by little, the
excellent quality of the cavas made by these young
producers is known both in the domestic and
international market, thus rewarding their efforts and
dedication. As a result of these achievements and the
growth in the demand for their products, the
production facilities used by their grand father
become too small and outdated. This compels Masachs to
set up new facilities in 1985 in the Montsarra estate,
situated in the municipality of Torrelles de Foix, and
provided with the ideal structure for the making of
the best cavas. Nowadays, Cavas Masachs continue the
production of cavas and wines in their Montsarra
estate with the same enthusiasm in order to improve
the quality initiated by its founders.
The Vineyards
Cavas Masachs owns 43 hectares of grapes: Maccabeo,
Xarel.lo, and Parellada, which they use for part of
their production, about 30%.
The Catalan country of El Penedès, which breathes the
Mediterranean air and spreads over the north-west
towards the Montserrat mountain range that protects it
from the north cold winds, is situated about 40 Km.
south of Barcelona and is the cradle which holds the
42-hectare estate, in the centre of which the Masachs
cellars are located.
An area which, thanks to the generosity of nature, is
endowed with all the factors which favour wine-growing
in the best of conditions. The characteristic of its
Mediterranean location, combined with those of the
soil and subsoil, an especially benign climate both in
Winter and Summer and an average annual rainfall of
525 mm., make the Montsarra estate a true paradise for
wine-growing. A privileged location which, year after
year, allows Masachs to harvest its most prized fruit:
its reputation and consideration as a great brand. The
mild winters protect the vineyards in lethargy from
the frost and the north cold winds, which can
severally damage the grapes. The winter rains help a
regular sprout of the grapes, later intensified thanks
to the water retained in the subsoil. As the Summer
approaches, the sunshine and the low humidity
regulated by the mild winds from the Mediterranean
help the balanced enrichment of sugar, acid and
primary aromas, basic for the making of Cava
The
Wines
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