Xarel·lo Verema 2024, by Aymar, awarded the bronze medal at the 59th edition of the Tastavins DO Penedès 2025 Competition.

Last Friday, May 16, the awards ceremony for the 59th edition of the Tastavins DO Penedès Competition took place at the Vilafranca del Penedès Auditorium. "The oldest Bacchic academy in the country" (Tastavins, 2025), in collaboration with the Vilafranca del Penedès City Council and with technical support from the DO Penedès, presented a total of 18 awards across seven different wine categories: white, aged white, red, aged red, Clàssic Penedès, and Xarel·lo.

Participation requirements: wineries must produce wines within the Penedès designation of origin and be registered with the Bottling and Aging Wineries Registry of the Penedès DO.

The selection process: an intensive blind tasting session held at the VINSEUM in Vilafranca, with the participation of 31 carefully selected professionals. Notably, this year’s edition set a historic record for the number of tasters involved in the competition.

The organic white Xarel·lo from the 2024 vintage, produced at the historic Castell de Pujades (Castellví de la Marca), was among the five wines awarded in its category, earning the bronze medal.

This award represents a recognition of our commitment to Catalan wines and native grape varieties, such as Xarel·lo. It reflects Catalan identity and the richness of the Penedès region.

Xarel·lo 2024

From the old vineyards of the Catalan winery Aymar, their distinguished organic Xarel·lo 2024 is carefully handled throughout the entire winemaking process.

The house’s oenologists, Roger Mellau Oriol and Manel Via Roig, note a soft entry on the nose, dominated by aromas of linden blossom and jasmine, which later give way to ripe white fruit notes such as apple and pear.

They describe it as a “true white Xarel·lo.”

Wine Tourism at Castell de Pujades

As part of the wine tourism experiences offered by Aymar in the Penedès region, visitors can taste both white and red Xarel·lo — a variety that was on the verge of disappearing in the Penedès and was recovered a few years ago by Aymar Castell de Pujades along with two other wineries.

You can enjoy a tasting experience of three wines paired with chocolate, cheese, and other delights, for groups of more than four people (more than six if the visit includes the vineyards and winery).

A sommelier will guide you through the history and origins of the winery, located among the vineyards. The visit concludes with a tasting and explanation of two still wines and one sparkling wine, all crafted in-house.