Can Ràfols dels Caus

Carlos Esteva's lifelong dream.

Bodega Can Ràfols dels Caus from Penedés was founded by Carlos Esteva, the scion of a well-to-do family from Barcelona that, in 1979, decided to move into his grandfather's estate, Can Ràfols dels Caus, a 450-hectare property presided by a then derelict country house of Roman origin. A resolute man with a passion for the land, Esteva immediately began a titanic process of reconstruction that, running in parallel with the development of his wine project, succeeded in transforming the area, after decades of hard labour, into one of Spain's finest wine estates. Some years later, Mr. Esteva even added a further 250 hectares of land to the estate, in order to prevent the construction of a quarry that would have done irreparable damage to the natural environment.

The vineyards of bodega Can Ràfols dels Caus are situated in the heart of Massís del Garraf, a very special terroir of the DO Penedès whose characteristics make it stand apart from other areas of the Designation. Located at 300 metres above sea level, at a distance of 15 km from the Mediterranean Sea, the vines grow in limestone-rich soils peppered with marine fossils, features that give a unique salinity, acidity and freshness to the wines. Covering an area of 90 hectares, the estate vineyards are planted with no less than 28 grape varieties – farmed with certified organic techniques – including local varieties, like Sumoll and Xarel·lo, international ones, like Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chenin Blanc, and esoteric varieties, such as Incrocio Manzoni. Most vines are middle-aged, and the oldest ones were planted in 1934.

The wines of Can Ràfols dels Caus are vinified in one of Europe's most spectacular winemaking facilities, a stunning, state-of-the-art building designed following the most rigorous sustainability criteria and totally integrated into the rocky landscape of the Garraf Massif. The winery produces a wide range of products: sparkling, still, red, rosé and white wines, both from local and international varieties. To name some noteworthy ones, Gran Caus Xarel·lo Pairal is a varietal Xarel·lo sourced from the oldest estate vineyards; Gran Caus Negre is one of Spain's absolute best Bordeaux blends; Gran Caus Rosat is a superb varietal rosé; not to speak of Gran Caus El Rocallís, a charming rarity made from Incrocio Manzoni, a little-known variety that was a personal favourite of Mr. Esteva's.

Mr. Carlos Esteva, the driving force behind the Can Ràfols dels Caus winery, passed away in 2023, having fulfilled most of his life ambitions. His three sons, Giacomo, Carlota and Julia Esteva, have taken on the responsability of keeping alive the legacy of their father.

Year of foundation: 1979
Address: Finca Can Ràfols dels Caus, s/n
City: Avinyonet del Penedés
Province: Barcelona
Zip code: 08739
Country: Spain
Phone number: 34 938 970 013
www.canrafols.com
Guided visits? Yes
Wine tourism services? Yes