Of the myriad of cava wineries that populate the Penedès region, Josep Masachs is one of the lesser-known. Josep Masachs Llorach owned vineyards in Vilafranca del Penedès since 1920. He was one of the pioneers in the region in making still wines, which at that time he produced as a hobby and for the enjoyment of his family and friends. Over time, he expanded his vineyards, largely with new land located on the Sant Pau mountain. The great-grandfather's vision ---the fourth generation of the family now runs the winery--- inspired the grandfather, Josep Masachs Juvé, to professionalize production, and in 1950 the family's first cava was released, labeled under the Cal Cabanyes brand.
Since then, Josep Masachs has continued to evolve and grow, and if the great-grandfather increased the extension of the vineyards, now the fourth generation has opted to acquire new estates to convert them into wineries. "Our growth has been remarkable in recent years. From being a single winery, today we have expanded to become a group that houses three distinctive wineries, each with its own character, specialization, and space," says Alex Ruiz Masachs, winemaker and manager of Josep Masachs.
Thus, Josep Masachs currently has the Nau Sarroca wineries as a logistical and innovative product development hub, such as 0% wines and different sparkling wines; Finca Montsarra, where wines and cavas with origin and young wines are produced; and La Nova Masia (Masia Olivella in Castellví de la Marca), dedicated to the great-grandfather Josep Masachs, which will focus on high-quality own production.
For the acquisition of this last property, the Josep Masachs group has had the support of the Institut Català de Finances (ICF). "The ICF's help has provided us with the financial security we needed to undertake a project of this magnitude. The acquisition of Masia Olivella was a dream for us, but the financial challenges inherent in such a large purchase were an obstacle. The support of the ICF has allowed us to overcome these barriers," says the executive.
History of two families
With the acquisition of Masia Olivella, the histories of two families with winemaking tradition intertwine once again. The Masachs family itself and the Sardà family. The collaboration in 1986 between Joan Sardà and Josep Masachs in the production of the first cava that Joan Sardà launched to the market strengthened the commercial ties between both families and cemented a friendship that remains to this day.This year the Sardà family has transferred the estate to the Masachs family. "We embark on a new chapter and take the reins of this millennial farmhouse with the commitment to keep its essence alive and with the vision of merging the history of the building with innovation, says the manager of Josep Masachs.
Strengthening of the own brand
In addition to the new estates, in recent years Josep Masachs has also made a commitment to strengthen its brand. The main measure to achieve this has been to create the umbrella brand Vins del Terme, which encompasses most of its products focused on DO Penedès, DO Catalunya, and DO Cava. Soon, the winery will launch several own brands under the reference Josep Masachs, among which Carolina stands out, a cava that will be relaunched in the coming months.Currently, Josep Masachs owns more than 30 hectares of vineyards, more than 150 hectares under controlled exploitation, and has a workforce of 73 employees.
The ICF in Penedès
The ICF's role in boosting investment in the Penedès region has been intense in recent years. The entity has financed, during the 2020-2022 period, 118 companies and organizations in the region with 90.3 million euros. "It is important to promote transformative projects that drive sustainable development and reindustrialization in the Penedès region," says ICF president, Vanessa Servera.
In recent years, the ICF has committed to financing business initiatives that contribute to these key areas for the local economy, complementing the private sector's offerings and providing long repayment periods that can extend up to 30 years, depending on the project.