They say that in Sant Sadurní d'Anoia there is a kind of nobility that does not exist anywhere else. These are families who for generations and generations have been working the land to make cava and who, over the years, have shaped the landscape and architecture that now makes up the Alt Penedès region. We are talking, however, about a working aristocracy that, from the vineyard to the sale of the bottles, rolls up its sleeves to ensure that the entire process goes well. They are not nobles, formally, but the passion they put into their work and into the production of wines and sparkling wines makes them worthy of that distinction. What if there was an option to see the inner workings of some of these families? Well, now it's possible.
One of these families is Juvé & Camps, a well-known house that has accompanied the celebrations of many Catalan homes and throughout the state. More than 200 years ago, an ancestor laid the foundations of what is now an emblematic winery, which has been able to preserve the family spirit. In fact, the main person in charge is now Meritxell Juvé, fourth generation of the family. It is she who at this moment brings together all the family legacy of years and more years dedicated to the production of cava and it is also she who has decided that the time has come to show all that legacy to whoever wants to see and enjoy it. Her father, Joan Juvé, has joined this initiative by stating: "we have been entering people's homes for many years, but the time has come for people to also enter our home."
Entering the darkness of the cellar down a narrow descending staircase and feeling the humidity of the subsoil is not a common sensation. Once the eyes have become accustomed to the lack of light and can capture the sea of bottles placed in rhyme (this means capiculated to be able to make authentic walls of wine) the pupils dilate even more, with the eagerness to see everything, because it is a true spectacle. A thread of light that passes through the liquid of the glass bottles becomes the focus to follow for a journey that, far from seeming inhospitable, is increasingly pleasant.
Joan Juvé: "We have been entering people's homes for many years, but the time has come for people to also enter our home"See how the bottles sleep in the centenary cellar —some will take more than 36 months to hit the market and others more than 100— is just one of the experiences that can be lived at Juvé & Camps and that are open to everyone. Stillunderground, tastings are held, and some of the cava production processes are shown, such as disgorgement. It is always a surprise to see the force with which the liquid is expelled and the skill required of the person doing it. At the same time, it is also a great pleasure to be able to taste a bottle of sparkling wine that has just been uncorked, after many months resting with its yeasts.
For those who want to delve even deeper into the experience, one of the options offered in the same cellar is to access La Capella. Although it is not a religious place, it is true that some of the bottles resting there can be said to be "sacred". It is the place where the Juvé family keeps its historical and most prestigious sparkling wines. A restricted space that opens only on rare occasions.
Just above the centenary cellars, in the heart of Sant Sadurní, modernity contrasts with the tradition of the house's depths. At street level is the Juvé & Camps wine shop, where in addition to being able to purchase the bottles they produce, they can also be tasted by the glass right there. And with the advice of specialized staff, one can choose the references that best suit each person.
Entering Juvé & Camps is not just entering the building or seeing the bottles. The vineyard —at this moment close to 270 hectares cultivated with organic certification— is a fundamental part of the secret of the success of this centenary winery and only by stepping on it can one perceive the importance that the land and the environment have in the entire process and also in the essence of Juvé & Camps. For this, they propose various experiences alongside the vines —some more contemplative and others more active—, but all of them to spend a pleasant time and become aware of the value of viticulture.
Yoga lovers have the option of practicing it at the foot of the vineyard. This is a unique experience that connects with the environment and with oneself and breaks with the schemes of having practiced this discipline in an enclosed space. For the more intrepid, there is the option of segway tours. Maintaining balance on these two-wheeled electric vehicles, one can contemplate the vines by venturing along the rural paths that surround them. These paths can also be traveled by driving a Mehari, the iconic 70s convertible car, with which longer expeditions can be made and the viticultural extension of Juvé & Camps admired.
All these experiences and others detailed on their website, are always rounded off with a tasting of some of the house's sparkling wines and with the pairing of gourmet and local gastronomic products. A different way to plan an activity with family, as a couple, or with a group of friends. The options and combinations of experiences are diverse and can even be custom-made. This close treatment is a hallmark of the house, so it is not surprising that visitors encounter one of the family members working in the cellar or in the wine shop or accompanying clients.
The intention of the Juvé & Camps wine tourism team is not only to show how their sparkling wines are made. What they want is for their visitors to have a good time at their home, to see beautiful places, such as the centenary cellar or the vineyards, to enjoy tasting their wines in a privileged environment, and to more or less create a bond with the brand and become part of the family. It is the way to transmit a centenary legacy to understand, not only, the quality of their products but also of the family and the team that makes it possible. It is to see a little from within what that "nobility" of the Penedès of Sant Sadurní is like; it is to understand the dimension of cava, which has marked and marks an entire territory and, all this, while having a good time.
Some of the activities are the Gran Reserva Route, which includes a guided visit to the cellars, artisanal disgorgement and tasting from the same bottle, a tasting of three long-aged cavas and an aperitif with local products; the Premium Route, which is more exclusive with a tasting of premium products and a visit to La Capella and is carried out in small groups; and the Terroir Route, which, before visiting the centenary cellars with a guide and also enjoying a tasting with local products and the disgorgement spectacle, includes a car tour and also a walk through the vineyards, where a tasting with a picnic is also held.
These are the closed activities that can be found at fixed times. The rest —electric bicycle ride, segway or Mehari, picnic at the foot of the vineyard, tastings and introductory tasting courses, showcookings or cooking courses— can be arranged and customized according to needs, number of people, time, etc. It is as simple as contacting the emails visitas@juveycamps.com and casa@juveycamps.com
The rest of the wine tourism proposals can be found detailed by following this link.