Wines and Cavas Eudald Massana Noya

Overall Impression As a lover of fine foods and wines including bubbly, one of my favorite libations, I was excited to visit Wines and Cavas Eudald Massana Noya, a Spanish wine and cava estate within easy driving distance from Barcelona during a weeklong visit to that northern city. We arrived in the middle of the afternoon on a sunny spring day. After welcoming our group warmly Eudald Massana Noya, the owner, and Ester Tous Font, his wife, walked us out to the vineyards where, with the help of an English language interpreter, he told us, in Catalan (the language of the region) about the vineyards, winery and the property’s organic and biodynamic farming practices.

From the vineyard he, his wife and his staff showed us around indoors through the cellars and production area, sharing information about the wines and cava they produced and bottled on the estate. The visit was reminiscent to the many tours I have enjoyed in France’s Champagne region.

At the end, we were rewarded with an inviting table setting of wine and sparkling wine glasses, wine and cava bottles and plentiful Josep M. Mitjans, a regional producer of pork, duck and deli products, platters. I enjoyed the tasting of wine, cava and deli products and brought home a couple of bottles of the Familia brut cava which I plan to enjoy soon with a light seafood dish or deli appetizers. They will be worthy reminders of my pleasurable visit to Catalonia, the region in northeast Spain, bordering on France and the Mediterranean, that is home to Barcelona and the Penedès region where the estate is located.

Average Duration Of Visit Our group of 20 spent about 90 minutes visiting a small area of the vineyard and cellars and tasting a handful of the wines and deli products.

Children Families with children and children with adult supervision were welcome and invited to become familiar with the culture of wine.

Established The Massana Family had owned and farmed the land since the seventeenth century. In 1993, Eudald Massana Noya, part of the ninth generation of his family, established a commercial venture and winery in his name.

Handicapped Access According to a spokesperson, most spaces open to the public were accessible to individuals with reduced mobility.

Location In the Penedès region 10 kilometers from Vilafranca and 30 kilometers south of Barcelona.

Number Of Employees There were seven employees.

Owned-Managed Eudald Massana Noya was the owner, manager and vintner.

Size The 30 hectare estate housed a small store, vineyards and cellars, all of which were open to guided tours and special events.

Transportation The estate could be reached by car. From Barcelona the exit on the highway was Sant Sadurní de Noya. The vineyard was past the town of Lavern.

Description The owners of the estate believe that “the earth, the breeze, the sun and the clean Mediterranean air make Subirats a unique place to grow vines.” Like their ancestors, Eudald Massana Noya is the ninth generation of wine producers to closely work with the land in Sant Pau d’Ordal in Subirats. They follow, the owner explained, biodynamic and organic farming methods to ensure sound ecological practices. The property was a member of the Catalan Council of Agrarian Production Ecological CCPA (Council of Catalan Ecological Agrarian Producers.)

Food Although there was no restaurant on site there was a variety of cold cuts from Josep Mitjans, a local vendor.

Souvenir Shop A small shop sold house wines, cavas, regional organic and artisanal products like olive oil, quince, and honey.

Tours The estate offered guided tours of the vineyards and cellars as well as tasting options.

Other In addition to the tours, the property offered, on request, a beginners wine and cava appreciation program, a carriage ride, a tour of the vineyards followed by meal at a nearby restaurant and a bicycle visit. The grape varieties, all organically grown, on the estate were macabeu, xarello, parellada, moscat, chardonnay, hardonnay, cabernet, savignon, merlot, tempranillo, and petit verdot.

Month And Date Of Visit May 2011

Reviewers Article and Photos by Elena del Valle

Would You Visit This Attraction Again? Yes