It wasn’t even two years ago that the couple behind Cisteller were lamenting that they would be the ‘unlucky’ number 13 to join the Corpinnat association. I told them to think of themselves more as a “baker’s dozen” and that ultimately, there would be new additions at such a speed that their order of joining wouldn’t matter.
Their placement hasn’t hurt them at all, nor Corpinnat which has just announced that they’ve reached a full two dozen members with the addition of #24, Fèlix Massana Ràfols. Like many, they’re one of the wineries that made the decision to leave DO Cava.
It should come as little surprise that they left as they’ve met all the Corpinnat requirements for some time in that they farm organically and they were one of the “Elaboradors Integrals” which DO Cava has apparently already scrubbed from the list on their website. This is a small (and getting smaller) group within DO Cava who are certified to produce wines only from their own grapes. To give a sense of the scope, there are now only 18 of them and over 150 wineries still within DO Cava. Thus, it shouldn’t be any surprise that Fèlix Massana Ràfols opted to join a much smaller association where their principals are the baseline for production, not an afterthought.
This will also allow them to potentially receive the “Corpinnat Bump” wherein wineries who join are able to charge more (and correctly) for their wines do to being in what is now, a group recognized for its quality. Higher prices in turn allows them to produce even better wines. Additionally, I’ve long-noted that the wineries within Corpinnat do a lot to help each other as everyone succeeds with a rising perception of the group overall.
I make note of this ‘bump’ given that the wines of Fèlix Massana Ràfols are mostly running a little less than 10€ a bottle currently which at the lower end of Corpinnat. I have no doubt that they’ll be able to raise this in a vintage or two once integrated into the association as these are still Cava prices and are quite frankly, unsustainable for smaller wineries.
The winery is currently being run by the fourth generation of Fèlix Massana and his wife, Cristina Castillo although they’ve only been producing sparkling wines since 2001. Their daughters, Marta and Júlia Massana are steadily integrating more and undoubtedly will have even more presence now that they’ve made the large decision to join Corpinnat.
