We first had the great pleasure of visiting the gorgeous estate of Pares Balta in 2017. Located in the Penedes mountains of Catalonia, about an hour outside of Barcelona, Pares Balta is a biodynamic estate focusing on indigenous Catalonian grape varieties.The winemakers of the family winery are Mara Elena and Marta, who are married to Joan and Josep respectively, the third generation of the Cusin family. The wines are produced from immaculately cared for grapes and made in a minimal intervention style in the winery.

In the 1980s, when Joan Cusin Cusin produced the first white wine from the Pars Balta winery, it was Blanc de Pacs. After more than 40 years, it continues to be harvested from with the most ingrained and traditional varieties of Penedes: Xarello, Macabeo and Parellada. These are the traditional grapes of the region, more famously used as the grapes to make Cava. The wine is aromatic, crisp, and mineral, the perfect wine for a sunny day.