white grape · regional staple
Parellada
Penedès, Catalonia, Spain
Say it
pah·reh·yah·dah
Catalan 'll' is a palatal lateral approximated as 'y' in English; stress falls on the third syllable
On the palate
Body
light
Acidity
high
Aromatics
pronounced
green applelemonlimeelderflowerwet stone
How you spot it blind: high-altitude late-ripener; delicate floral lift and bright acidity in a low-alcohol frame
The story
First written down · 14th century, Aragon and Catalonia (as Montona/Montònec)
DNA work (2021) identified Parellada as a cross of the ancient Iberian variety Hebén and an unknown second parent; Josep Raventós i Fatjó established it as one of three canonical Cava grapes at Codorníu in 1872.
Family tree: HEBEN × ?
Where it lives
DO Cava (Catalonia, Spain) · DO Penedès (Catalonia, Spain) · Tarragona (Catalonia, Spain)
Shows up as
sparklingstill whiteCavaCorpinnat