ORIGINS
History
A historical commitment with excellence
1924
Point of departure
The beginning of an exciting story
In 1924 Josep Mata Capellades made his start in the world of sparkling wines as a disgorger and professional winemaker. He took up his pick and spade and began building the cellar right under his home in the historic centre of Sant Sadurní d’Anoia (Barcelona).
This was the start of an exciting story of enterprise rooted in the craft of disgorgement.
1924
The path to a distinctive style
Pioneers in the production of Brut Nature
Josep Mata Capellades named his family-owned winery after his father, Recaredo Mata Figueres, who had been born into a family of craft potters in 1878.
Over time the respected family business would forge a path to its own distinctive style, pioneering the production of brut nature sparkling wines, the use of oak barrels, and the crafting of long-aged sparkling wines with the Xarel·lo grape variety as the main protagonist.
1955
The hallmark of long-ageing
Commitment to natural cork stoppers
In a historic bet on quality, Recaredo decides to continue using natural cork stoppers for bottle ageing of all its wines at a stage of industrialization when crown caps are being introduced.
Recaredo thus preserves the craftsmanship of manual disgorgement at the naturally cool temperature of the cellars.
1962
Reserva Particular de Recaredo
The most genuine expression of time
Nineteen sixty-two brought the first harvest of a new idea, another step – one of many taken since 1924 – in the process of defining Recaredo. Working closely with his sons, Josep and Antoni Mata, Josep Mata Capellades made the first batch of Reserva Particular de Recaredo, a sparkling wine with a distinctive, captivating character.
Reserva Particular de Recaredo captures the Mediterranean in its purest state, interprets the calcareous soil of Alt Penedès, and conveys the profound character of the oldest Xarel·lo and Macabeu vineyards.
1975
Vineyards as a vital element
Second generation of the Recaredo family
Over the years, Josep and Antoni Mata Casanovas, the sons of Josep Mata Capellades, continued to strengthen Recaredo’s reputation as a byword for rigour, quality, and passion for excellence, defining a truly unique style.
Thanks to their drive and dedication, the Recaredo winery (known familiarly as Can Credo) came to specialise in terroir sparkling wines, with the vineyards as a vital element and a resolve to produce sparkling wines that truly connect with the landscapes of the Alt Penedès region.
1990
When experience and new ideas come together
Third generation of the Recaredo family
In the 1990s members of the third generation of the family began to work in the cellars, setting in motion an enriching process in which the experience and know-how of the older generation was complemented by the younger team members’ new ideas and drive to move forward and learn.
2003
Honesty and transparency
Audited and certified by the independent verification body Bureau Veritas
In line with the principle of “saying what we do and doing what we say”, in 2003 we decided to obtain certification from Bureau Veritas in order to provide truthful, relevant and transparent information about our day-to-day work as grape growers and winemakers — a clear expression of our commitment to honesty and transparency towards consumers.
Bureau Veritas certifies every stage of the winemaking process at Recaredo — from our vineyard work, to vinification and winemaking on the family estate, to long ageing in our cellars — all aimed at offering outstanding wines that reflect their terroir.
2006
Biodynamic viticulture
An honest relationship with nature
To move forward, sometimes we need to take a few steps back, observing and listening to nature to find the answers we seek. Without chemical fertilisers, without herbicides, without fungicides: using only elements of natural origin.
There can be no wine without life in the vineyards. There can be no wines that capture the essence of the landscape unless we care for and respect the land itself. This is the thinking that led Recaredo to start practising biodynamic agriculture – to set life in motion.
At Recaredo we were the first producers of the Penedès wine region to be certificated in biodynamic in 2010.
2008
First estate sparkling wine in the Penedès region
Turó d’en Mota de Recaredo
The 1999 vintage of Turó d’en Mota, which would see the light in the autumn of 2008, marks a new chapter in Recaredo’s history. Turó d’en Mota is the first sparkling wine in the Penedès region made using a single variety of grapes (100% Xarel·lo) harvested from a single vineyard. It is also the longest-aged, having spent over a hundred months in contact with the lees.
Turó d’en Mota is a terroir wine in the broadest sense of the term: the expression of a land characterised by highly calcareous soil and a Mediterranean microclimate, with the Xarel·lo grape variety as the undisputed protagonist, and an approach to viticulture that stresses observation over intervention.
The year 2008 is also when the third generation takes over the management and leadership of the family winery.
2010
Family of ‘récoltant-manipulants’
100% Own vineyards
Land and time indelibly mark Recaredo’s journey in this decisive year for the winery’s identity. After working hard and pursuing a shared dream for many years, Recaredo becomes a true récoltant-manipulant, harvesting 100% of the grapes used for winemaking from its own vineyards.
Specialists in long-ageing
A tribute to time
2010 is also notable for being the year that Recaredo starts to specialize in producing only sparkling wines aged for at least 30 months. From 1 August 2010 on, every bottle placed on the market by Recaredo will go on sale after a minimum of two and a half years of careful ageing—the distinctive seal of a family-run winery.
2014
Indigenous varieties
The territory’s identity
Based on a deep respect for the region’s wine-growing identity, Recaredo makes a firm commitment to indigenous varieties. From the 2014 harvest on, Recaredo grows only grape varieties with historic roots in the local area, with a special focus on Xarel·lo, considered a great ambassador for the Penedès region.
2017
Revolution in terroir sparkling wines
A commitment to the use of materials
of exclusively viticultural origin
Recaredo takes a step forward in its conception of terroir sparkling wines by opting to make all its Corpinnat wines using organic must for the second fermentation in the bottle.
The winery has progressively switched from organic refined cane sugar to must from its own vineyards or organic rectified concentrated must for this stage of the winemaking process.
2018
Corpinnat, a new chapter
Born in the heart of the Penedès
In line with its commitment to excellence and respect for the territory, Recaredo opens a new chapter in its history by joining Corpinnat, a European Union collective mark launched with the aim of distinguishing quality sparkling wines made in the heart of the Penedès region.
2020
Indigenous yeasts in primary and secondary fermentation
Wines that reflect the land where they are born
We continue to build on Recaredo’s commitment to crafting wines that are truly expressive of their terroir. After twenty years of research, we are now able to use yeasts sourced from our family vineyards to initiate both primary and secondary fermentation of all our corpinnats.
2023
Twenty-five vintages of Turó d’en Mota
Recaredo Enoteca Turó d’en Mota is born
More than twenty-five vintages have passed, each shaped by a deep rapport with nature, continuous observation to interpret its signals, manual harvesting of grapes, and patient vinification and bottle ageing over decades. In 2023, Recaredo Enoteca Turó d’en Mota was born — an exceptional sparkling wine, aged on the lees for an unprecedented span of time: over 25 years in bottle.
2024
100 years since the birth of a passion
Tribute to Josep Mata Capellades
One hundred years have passed since our grandfather disgorged his first bottle.
Today we look to our shared history and the values handed down to us for the inspiration to continue pursuing an honest approach to farming that involves working in partnership with the landscape. The work we do as grape growers and winemakers has become our vocation. This is our story. But without the support and loyalty of all those who love us, it would never have become history.
As we like to remind ourselves and affirm, “the best of the present is what we’ve learned from the past”.
