Profile of Freixenet
Freixenet is one of the giant Cava houses in Catalonia, similar in quality, size, and importance to France’s Moet & Chandon. The winery has a long history, first founded in 1889. Francesc Sala I Ferrés founded the winery “Casa Sala,” the first wine exporting brand in Sant Sadurní d’Anoia, in the late 1800s. The cava business was launched commercially by his son, Joan Sala I Tubella, who took over the business at the turn of the century. After his daughter Dolors Sala I Vivé married Pere Ferrer I Bosch, the company really took off. This was around 1914. Pere was the son of “La Freixeneda,” a prestigious family estate located in the Alt Penedès region since the 13th century. Credit is given to Pere for its growth and the first labels with the Freixenet Casa Sala brand name. The beautiful cellars were then established in Sant Sadurní d’Anoia in the heart of the Penedès region. The 20th century saw a multitude of events in Catalonia and greater Spain.
In the ’20s, there was a boom in business, followed by the horrific Spanish civil war. Luckily, the wines had already been set up for export, which helped the business survive the years after the civil war and the second world war. The USA started importing Freixenet as far back as 1935. The other two big events of the 20th century were the launch of the two flagship wines Carta Nevada in 1941 and Cordon Negro in 1974. Freixenet has expanded its empire to California, Mexico, and Australia and is today one of the world’s top wine companies. The traditional method sparklers are always reliable and have done much to promote the wonderful wine region of Cava worldwide.
Wines produced
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Carta Nevada
Dry, 33% Macabeo, 33% Xarel.lo, 33% Parellada, The "dosage" is made with wine from the same blend, aged for 12 months in oak.
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Cordon Negro
Dry, 40% Parellada, 35% Macabeo, 25% Xarel.lo, Quintessential cava, light and extremely fresh.
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Excelencia Brut Reserva
Vintage Dry cava, 33% Macabeo, 33% Xarel.lo, 33% Parellada.
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Excelencia Semiseco
Off dry, 33% Macabeo, 33% Xarel.lo, 33% Parellada.
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Freixenet Brut Nature
Dry, 40% Macabeo, 30% Xarel.lo, 30% Parellada, Alc. 11.5%, Reserve Cava only produced in best years.
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Brut Barroco
Dry, 40% Parellada ,30% Macabeo, 30% Xarel.lo, Reserve Cava produced in exquisite bottle.
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Brut Rosé
Dry, 70% Trepat, 30% Garnacha.
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Freixenet Cuveé S.S.
40% Macabeo, 40% Xarel.lo, 20% Parellada; The liqueur d'expédition is made with wines aged in oaked Freixenet.
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Freixenet Reserva Real
Vintage cava, 80% Macabeo, Parellada and Xarel.lo (in equal parts), 20% Reserve Wines Gran Carta Freixenet Malvasia Vintage: Sweet vintage cava made with classic Catalan grape, malvasia, delicious sparkling dessert wine.
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Reserva Siglo XXI De Freixenet
A dry, vintage cava made with wines coming from the Freixenet vineyards in the famed Mediona (Alt Penedès) region, which is said to have the best climatic conditions for growing the Parellada and Macabeo varieties. 60% Parellada, 40% Macabeo.
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Cuveé Casa Batllo
Cuvée named after Catalan architect Gaudi's famous masterpiece in Barcelona. Dry and excellent quality, 40% Macabeo, 40% Xarel.lo, 20% Parellada.
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Trepat
Dry, rosado, 100% Trepat- a black variety, from the Pira region (Tarragona), Vintage cava.
Winery details
Joan Sala, 2, 08770 Sant Sadurni D'Anoia
Barcelona
Spain
Tel +34 938 917 000
Fax +34 938 183 095
- Appellation
- Cava
- Founded
- 1889
- Age of vines
- 1-30 years
- Oak barrel origin
- American
- Winemaker
- Josep Bujon
- Owner
- Ferrer Sala Family
- Grape varietals
- Macabeo, Xarel.lo, Parellada, Trepat, Monastrell
