
Die deutsche Fassung dieser Web-Seite ist zur Zeit noch nict
zur Verfügung.
Wir bitten um Verständnis.
Mas Rabassa is the name of an ancient estate, more than 400 years
old, located in Alt Penedès (Barcelona - Catalunya - Spain),
township of Olerdola.
It is completely surrounded by vineyards, wheat fields and pine
forest.
Presently, Mas Rabassa has gained a reputation for the culture of
vines and the production of high-quality Cava and wines.
The wines and Cava made by Mas Rabassa
For the elaboration of our wines and cava, we exclusively use
grapes from our own vineyards. Everything, from winemaking to
bottling, is done on the estate.
The total yearly production will never exceed 50.000 bottles of
the wines we will comment below in more detail:
Mas Rabassa Gran
Blanc:
A dry, white wine made from the following grape varieties:
Macabeu (85%) and Xarel-lo (15%). The result of this blend, which
can vary according to the year, is a very fruity, delicate and
aromatic wine with a moderate alcohol content of 10 - 10,5 % vol.
In order to really enjoy this wine, we advise to drink it on its
own, or together with fruit or other delicate dishes which will
not overpower the fine aromatic delicacy of this wine.
Mas Rabassa
Xarel-lo:
A monovarietal white wine made exclusively from Xarel-lo grapes,
which are of Catalonian origin and truly representative of the
Penedes region. This is a wine with a strong personality, very
fresh and moderately fruity, with an alcohol content of 11 - 11.5
% vol. It is an excellent companion to mild-flavoured dishes:
Salads, pasta, white meats, fish and shellfish, soft cheeses, ...
Mas Rabassa Cava
Brut Nature (Extra Brut):
Cava (sparkling wine), made with blend of Macabeu and Xarel-lo
(proportions may vary, depending on the year). Has a very intense
"bouquet", where we can appreciate the perfect harmony
between the delicacy of the Macabeu and the energy of the
Xarel-lo. The bubbles are extremely small, not in the least
aggressive and very present without being intrusive. Mild, very
dry and with moderate acidity, it has an alcohol content ranging
between 11,5 and 12% vol. Its versatility allows it to be drunk
at any time and on almost every occasion: drink it on its own,
day or night, or enjoy it with nearly every kind of dish,
regardless of its flavour.
Wine-making methods
In making our wines, we have succeeded in combining the best
elements from ancestral wine-making traditions with the most
modern, up-to-date technical developments.
We have done our utmost to respect the natural environment and
the natural transformation processes of grape juice into wine.
Our goal is to help nature only when needed.
Wines:
As stated, all our wines and Cavas are exclusively made with
grapes we have produced ourselves on our own estate. The nearness
to the vineyard and the way the grapes are transported to the
winery (in small boxes) immediately after being picked, ensure
that the grapes will reach the winery in the best possible
condition. After reception, the grapes receive no treatment and
are crushed, slowly and gently, in a horizontal winepress in
order to extract the best possible juice.
Fermentation takes place with selected yeast cultures and is
temperature controlled, in order to mantain the finest possible
flavours in our wines.
Afterward, the wine is racked and with the help of the winter
cold, the wine is fined and practically stabilizes without any
aggresive and chemical treatments.
Bottling takes place in spring, and the bottles will remain a
minimum of 6 months in our bodega in order to allow the wine to
attain full maturity.
Cava:
Part of the harvest - the part destined for Cava - will also be
bottled in spring, but not before being prepared in such a way as
to cause a second fermentation in the hermetically closed bottle.
(Traditional Champagne method).
This second fermentation takes place in our underground cellars,
far away from possible vibrations, noise, light and sudden
changes of temperature. Here the bottles will remain for a period
of between 18 and 36 months (or even more), whatever is needed to
obtain a well matured Cava.
Afterwards, the wine is fined, dosed, corked and capsulated - and
ready to drink.
Quality Awards
After implementing these new winemaking techniques in 1981 in
order to attain the best possible quality, and notwithstanding
the fact that we disagree fundamentally with wine tasting
competitions, we presented our wines for several years at the
"Concurs Seleccio de Vins del Penedes".
This event is organized annually by the "Academia de
Tastavins Sant Humbert" with the cooperation of the
"Consell Regulador de la Denominacio d'Origen Penedes"
(the organization that forms the legal framework for winemaking
in our region).
The results were as shown below, from 1982 till 1989:
2 first prizes - gold medal
4 second prizes - silver medal
2 third prizes - bronze medal
We also wanted to get international approval, and to that intent
we presented our wines at the 9º Concorso Enologico
Internazionale in Milano (Italy), where we were awarded the gold
medal in the category of white wines.
Write us - Comments - Information
vins@masrabassa.com
Fax: 34 - 3 - 418.99.10
Post: Mas Rabassa - 08734 Olerdola - Barcelona - Spain