The Penedes district is situated between Barcelona and Tarragona in Catalonia, North Eastern Spain, and takes its name not from a town or village, but from a former administrative area which covered the hilly coastal area. The mountains of Montserrat mark the border to the north and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. The mild Mediterranean climate is ideal for growing vines, with warm summers, mild winters and moderate rainfall - there is evidence that the Romans planted vineyards here. Due to the complex topography of the coastal hills, the microclimates are varied, the slightly wetter weather in the valleys means that there is no need for irrigation. The soil compositions range from chalky-clay to sandstone with distinct differences in depth. This Cava is produced from the native varieties of Xarel-lo, Macabeo and Parellada. Xarello, sometimes hyphenated as Xarel-lo, is a light skinned native Catalan grape, noted for bringing high acidity to the blend, an essential characteristic in sparkling wine, along with refreshing citrusy flavours. Macabeo is a synonym for Viura and produces fresh, floral and aromatic wines, while Parellada flourishes in higher altitude sites where it retains acidity and brings complementary notes of blossom and green apple.