Parés Baltà, Blanc De Pacs, 2022

Grapes

Xarel·lo, Macabeo, Parellada

Vintage report

The 2022 growing season across Penedès was defined by heat and drought — the same story playing out across much of Spain and southern Europe that year. An exceptionally dry spring set the tone, and summer brought punishing temperatures that pushed vines into water stress. The region's higher-altitude vineyards, particularly those climbing towards the Penedès Superior, fared better than the plains, with cooler nights preserving freshness where it might otherwise have been baked away. Yields were down, sometimes significantly, but the dry conditions kept disease pressure low and concentration high.

The result is a vintage of ripe, generous wines with real structure behind the fruit. Xarel·lo performed well, holding its characteristic bite even in the heat, and still wines from Macabeu and Garnatxa show the vintage's sunny disposition without being flabby. Reds have grip and warmth. These are wines that reward drinking now or over the next three to four years, though the better-made reds from serious producers will carry comfortably until 2027 or beyond.