In partnership with Serendipity, Albet I Noya wines are currently available in the California Market.
With conversations about environmental sustainability becoming increasingly popular, more and more people are realizing the profound impact that organic viticulture has on the wine world. Few wineries have had as significant an influence on the organic movement as Albet I Noya. Located in the Penedès DO of Eastern Spain, the winery is helmed by 5th generation farmer turned wine pioneer Josep Maria. It was Josep’s conviction and courage that would fundamentally change standard growing practices for this world-class wine region, causing a butterfly effect of progress across the DO and beyond.
Spread Your Wings…
Long before Albet I Noya became the first certified organic winery in all of Spain, the Albet family worked as tenant farmers at their future estate, Can Vendrell de la Codina. As stewards of the land, they labored alongside other tenant farmers up and across the sandy vineyard terraces and slopes of the Ordal mountain range. It wasn’t until the 70’s that an idea fluttered past the Albets that they couldn’t ignore. A Danish company approached the local regulatory council with a mission to find someone who could produce organic wine. And Josep, recommended by the council, welcomed the opportunity to make that happen.
At the time Josep was 20 years old and organic wine was unheard of in Penedès. Despite widespread skepticism from peers, he set out to transform their processes. He used cover crops to oxygenate the soil, adopted green fertilizers, and controlled pests through integrated techniques like introducing bat colonies. In 1979 they sold their first bottle of 100% organic Tempranillo in Denmark and from then on out never returned to the old ways.
“We started making organic wine 43 years ago with one vineyard, when nobody believed in us… and now, we own 80 hectares of organic vineyards and the organic movement [has become] “normal” in all of the Penedès wine region.” — Núria Martí, Albet I Noya Marketing
Over the years Josep would continue to practice organic viticulture, slowly acquiring and converting their farmland along the way until fully purchasing the estate. They would make history in 1982 when the Catalan Council of Organic Production (CCPAE), with the support of both the EU and Ministry of Agriculture, granted Albet I Noya their organic certificate. But for Josep, this would mark the beginning of many decades of advocacy as he continued to encourage those around him to follow suit. He served as president of DO Penedès from 2012 to 2019 and has been a key contributor to one of the region’s highest quality designations: Classic Penedès.
Exploring Classic Penedès
At root, ‘Classic Penedès’ refers to a category of sparkling wines in the Penedès DO that have not only been true to the area for a long time, but that follow an elevated set of regulations. It came about as a response to the evolution of the Cava DO category, which rapidly grew during the 90’s to include regions beyond its origin in the Penedès. In an effort to meet demand, the Cava DO expanded to include over 150 municipalities across Spain. It eventually brought with it, however, concerns regarding quality, regional identity, and consumer confidence in specific products. Classic Penedès sought to address these incidents, providing a way to distinguish and promote wines from this area and created at a high caliber.
5 Generations at Albet I Noya played a pivotal role in the region’s evolution: Penedès DO (est. 1960), Cava DO (est. 1965), Classic Penedès (est. 2014), Corpinnat (est. 2018)
Classic Penedès was developed in 2014 and, among other regulations, emphasizes three core tenets: (1) Grapes are 100% from the Penedès region and are usually indigenous varieties, (2) wines are required to have 15 months of aging, and (3) the wines are organic. There are currently 18 producers using the Classic Penedès designation. It is also the first DO in the world to offer a category of premium sparkling wines that are 100% organic— a fact that can not only be attributed to Josep’s hard work, but that also hints at the future of the larger Penedès DO:
“DO Penedès has proposed to be, in 2025, 100% organic. [That would make it] the first 100% organic wine region in the world.” — Núria Martí, Albet I Noya Marketing
Taste the Butterfly Efecte
So what exactly does a Classic Penedès wine taste like? As vanguards in the industry, Albet I Noya has several offerings that proudly bear the Classic Penedès designation. If you’re new to this fresh category, it doesn’t get any more traditional than the ‘Petit Albet’ Brut Reserva. The blend consists of Macabeo, Xarel·lo and Parellada, crafted in the Champenoise method and aged for 15 months. Versatile and complex, it expresses notes of herbs and flowers, accompanied by perfectly ripe white fruit.
Perhaps even more emblematic of the Albet I Noya legacy is their ‘Efecte’ Brut Rosé. The labels cleverly reference the famous ‘Butterfly Effect’ for all that they’ve accomplished in bringing organics to the Penedès. The butterfly, too, symbolizes vineyard health. Since these delicate insects are incredibly sensitive to chemical products like pesticides, their presence in the vineyard indicates a healthy environment. Playful and dry, ‘Efecte’ is made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes and is charmingly expressive. Expect flavors and aromas of juicy strawberries, cherries, and figs rounded out with notes of fresh pastry and orange zest. For a truly metamorphic experience, try it with salmon poke, watermelon salads, or an excellent triple cream brie.
It’s undeniable that Albet I Noya has had a profound influence on both the organic wine movement and Penedès’ regional identity. They continue to innovate, building upon their early enthusiasm for environmental sustainability. While we wait to see what’s next, why not kick back with a glass of bubbly and enjoy the organic fruits of their labor?