Carlos Esteva - Can Ràfols dels Caus

Can Ràfols dels Caus, a family estate distinctively situated on a singular stretch of natural parkland in Penedès called the Garraf Massís, is where the vision for an intrepid bodega by Carlos Esteva was born.  

In 1979, Carlos, an architect and engineer by profession, decided to spend some time on his grandfather’s farm and home, a sprawling 450 hectares, with vines growing alongside olive and almond trees.  Carlos began restoring the masia (a traditional Catalan farmhouse), while also recuperating roughly 90 hectares of small vineyard parcels on steep slopes. 

Carlos introduced sustainable and regenerative farming practices and innovative methods of cultivation for the native varieties such as Xarel·lo, Macabeu, and Sumoll. He also planted 25 other varieties. Vines thrive in the clay and chalky limestone soils rich in fossils and dolomite, and benefit from the sea breezes (marinade) of the Mediterranean which aid in the grape ripening process.

Grapes are hand-harvested, spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts, and aged in a range of vessels, from stainless steel to concrete tanks, to chestnut and French oak barrels, followed by extended bottle aging in an underground cellar carved out of the limestone – all in an effort to truly express the Garraf Massís.

Carlos was a pioneer for practicing organic viticulture in Penedès and blazed a path for future winemakers in the region.  Since his passing in 2023, the legacy of Can Ràfols dels Caus continues in the capable hands of Jordi Esteve Roger, winemaker and the Esteva family.