Recaredo to be awarded the Robert Parker Green Emblem for sustainability
Recaredo has been recognised with the Robert Parker – Michelin Green Emblem, which recognises the value of wineries that have made a concerted effort to adapt their practices to tackle the challenge of climate change. Recaredo, which specialises in long-aged Corpinnat wines, is the first Catalan winery to receive this recognition and the second in Spain, after Descendientes de J. Palacios, located in Bierzo (León).
According to the Robert Parker team, “The Green Emblem certifies that the producer is an outstanding proponent of sustainability who looks toward long-term environmental protection and biodiversity.”
For 2022, Robert Parket Wine Advocate ha seleccionat per al 2022 un total de 16 “cellers inspiradors” de tot el món pel seu enfocament sostenible en la indústria del vi, entre les quals hi figuren empreses vitivinícoles com ara Domaine Ganevat, de França o Ridge Vineyards, d’Estats Units. The list includes the 24 wineries recognized in the inaugural list of the past 2021 with notable presences such as, for example, Champagne Louis Roederer, Champagne Larmandier-Bernier or Domaine Leroy (Burgundy).
Recaredo rethinks the vineyard of the future
As a winegrower, Recaredo has made bold decisions in recent decades to minimise the effects of climate change. They cultivate mountain plots at elevations of around 500 metres in way that respects the terrain and the richness of the landscape, carry out studies on shading vine stocks to protect them during intense heat waves, and specialise in traditional, more drought-resistant Penedès varieties, such as Xarel·lo. Recaredo also practises bush training – a traditional method that helps control the degree to which leaves and grapes are exposed to the sun – for new plantings.
For future plantings, Recaredo is firmly committed to propagating vineyards using cuttings from their oldest vines. This practice allows them to avoid using commercial clones and increase the diversity of individual plants within the vineyard while also making the vine stocks more resilient and more resistant to temperature fluctuations and pests.
For a decade, Recaredo has been working in close collaboration with the biologists of the Museum of Natural Sciences in Granollers, launching projects related to biodiversity in the vineyard, among which the study and preservation of bats and the study of butterflies as bioindicators of landscape quality.
Recaredo: pioneers in biodynamic viticulture
Recaredo has a long history of cultivating its own dry-farmed vineyards and practises biodynamic and regenerative viticulture that prioritises the distinctive character of the grapes and their quality. The winery also take a sustainable approach to the treatment of vine stocks and the soil. These viticulture techniques respect the integrity of the vine and its life cycle, which means a low production potential, but yields grapes of very high quality. “Produce at your own pace without contrivances” is the message that the Recaredo team seeks to convey to the plant.
The Recaredo family of winegrowers is a pioneer in certified biodynamic agriculture in the Penedès region, distinguished by the soundness of their philosophy. They make only vintage Brut Nature wines that bear the hallmark of long-ageing. In 2004, the winery took its first steps in organic viticulture, and in 2010 Recaredo became the first winegrower and maker of sparkling wines in Spain to obtain the international Demeter certification.
Recaredo’s commitment to terroir, bordering on obsession, has led them to grow only traditional Penedès varieties on their family-owned vineyards. In particular, the winery has long been committed to the Xarel·lo variety, which makes up 70% of its vineyard area. All of Recaredo’s production is hand-harvested, which means that careful selection of the grapes begins in the vineyard.
