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Cradle Bubbles
Author: Emilio Molines
Images: Valerii Piataiev
Magazine Publication Date: 1 November 2025
Web Publication Date: 1 November 2025Penedès is far more than a winegrowing region known for producing wines of international prestige. In this landscape of contrasts and traditions, in a 14th-century medieval farmhouse, lies the Can Martí estate in Gelida, a family project passed down through 22 generations, deeply rooted in the vineyard, the land and memory. Yet if the lineage is admirable, its evolution and growth are even more so. In 1951, when only French champagne was spoken of, Francesc Torelló i Casanovas, together with his wife Josefina Llopart, shifted the family’s agricultural activity towards the wine industry, producing bottled wines and sparkling wines. This visionary move not only forged a brand but also laid the foundations of what we now know as Corpinnat. Since 1993, the winery has been led by Ernestina Torelló i Llopart and her two sons: Paco, in charge of oenology, and Toni, responsible for marketing and promotion.
Club de Gourmets visits the Can Martí de Baix farmhouse, the flagship winery of the brand belonging to Corpinnat, to meet Ernestina and her sons, Paco and Toni, who were born in this farmhouse.In 2025, they celebrated 75 years since their first sparkling wine production and 630 years of family history. How would you define the Torelló philosophy?
Ernestina: Torelló’s philosophy is quality and striving to have as much estate-grown fruit as possible. With the drought of recent years this has not always been possible, but this year we hope to return to 100% estate fruit. As you know, we have belonged to Corpinnat since its creation. One of the first rules is that you may buy grapes but not wine; the second is that the grapes must be harvested by hand; and the third is that they must be vinified on the property and aged for a minimum period.
Paco: We are one of the six founding wineries. What is important is that we are six friends and perhaps the six families that used to make cava with different quality standards and ageing times. We were competitors, but at the same time friends from the area. The good thing is that we are of the same generation and share the same philosophy, the same view of life and the future, and where we want to go. This is very important.
Toni: One of Corpinnat’s commitments is to the historical, local grape varieties of Penedès: Macabeo, Xarel·lo and Parellada, together with Garnacha Tinta and Monastrell for rosés. We are required to use at least 90% of these varieties and up to 10% non-local grapes until 2034, when vinifying non-native Penedès varieties – that is, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir – will be prohibited.
Paco: We want to show the world that with our varieties we can produce long-aged sparkling wines and compete directly with champagne.You, Ernestina, represent the 21st generation, and Paco and Toni the 22nd. Will there be a 23rd?
Paco: Yes. My mother always says, “I was born here to pass the baton to our children,” and we were born here to raise this little by little each year so that our children inherit it – each of us has three – and so on. This premise is the most beautiful part of viticulture, and in our case, as owners of this estate since 1395, the idea is that it passes from generation to generation and that no one is ruined along the way.Does the future of sparkling wine lie with Corpinnat?
Toni: Exclusively. We are founders of Corpinnat. These six wineries and those that joined later share similar philosophies: estate fruit, family businesses and in some cases centuries-old. This made agreement easy. We are now 16 and, if the harvest audits are passed, by the end of the year we will reach 20.
Paco: Corpinnat is the best thing that has happened to us in the last ten years. Today it is easy to jump on the bandwagon, but when the six founders decided “Right, we’re leaving,” it was not that easy. We may have spent two or three nights without sleep because we did not know how foreign markets would react, nor cava itself, towards us… We were a bit frightened.How many bottles do you produce per year and in which markets are you present?
Toni: We produce around 300,000 bottles of Corpinnat and 150,000 still Penedès wines, and we are present in 32 markets. In terms of sales, 70% are in Catalonia, 15% in the rest of Spain, and the remaining 15% are exports.
Paco: This year has had all the elements to be considered excellent: it rained when it needed to rain, we had sunshine, the harvest was peaceful, there were no fungi, no mildew, almost no green leafhoppers. It has been a wonderful year. We harvest at night because, first, we need the grapes to arrive at the winery fresh, as aromas are very volatile, and the fresher they are, the better they integrate into the must; second, for energy savings, since we press and ferment at low temperature, around 16°C; and third, for human reasons, so that the people who come each year to pick the grapes can work more comfortably.How do you apply sustainability?
Toni: Sustainability is a must. We have gradually implemented measures such as night harvests where appropriate, purchasing lighter bottles to save glass and energy, installing solar panels, and practising organic farming to restore the soils that were depleted years ago when the aim was yield rather than clean yield. Fortunately, this has changed, and environmental awareness has reached many corners.
Ernestina: And you cannot imagine how many animals have returned: reptiles, butterflies, tortoises, woodpeckers, and more.Has climate change affected your work?
Paco: The reality of climate change is that heat comes earlier and the grapes ripen sooner. We have adapted, and the advantage we have is that, as the owners of our vineyards, we can be present every day, observing changes day by day. I always say that one of our keys to success, and I believe this applies to all major wineries worldwide, whether still or sparkling, is the grape. Eighty per cent of our success lies in our fruit.Related news
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