From Vineyard to Winery: How the Harvest Is Certified at Corpinnat
Throughout the year, the twenty-three wineries that belong to the Corpinnat Collective Brand are audited at least three times. Harvest is one of the periods subject to the most rigorous controls, with inspections carried out both in the vineyard and at the winery to ensure compliance with the brand’s regulations. Bureau Veritas is the certification body responsible for conducting these audits.
In the vineyard, inspections must ensure that the grapes, harvested by hand, come from the heart of the Penedès — the Corpinnat territory — and belong to one of the authorised grape varieties. The vineyards must be registered with the Catalan Viticultural Register and with the Catalan Council for Organic Agricultural Production (CCPAE), as all grapes used to produce Corpinnat are organically grown.
The regulations also stipulate that the winery must maintain a stable relationship with the vineyard, either through ownership or through a grape purchase agreement lasting at least three years. During the inspection, the auditor also checks that the maximum yield per hectare is not exceeded, verifies the potential alcohol content of the harvested grapes, their pH and acidity, among other parameters, and reviews the conditions under which they are transported to the winery.
The second harvest inspection takes place at the winery. In this case, the arrival of the grapes and the pressing process are monitored, along with other parameters established by the regulations. This year, the maximum pressing yield is 64.4 litres of wine per 100 kilograms of grapes. The alcohol content and the remaining requirements established by the Collective Brand are also verified.
In addition, Corpinnat wineries undergo a comprehensive audit covering their registered premises and their entire operations. This means that inspections are not limited to grapes destined to become Corpinnat: they cover all grapes entering the winery, thereby ensuring that the same quality and traceability standards are met for all grapes.
A minimum price of €0.943 per kilogram
For this year’s harvest, Corpinnat has set a minimum price of €0.943 per kilogram for grapes purchased from supplying winegrowers. This price applies to the historic varieties — Macabeu, Parellada, Xarel·lo, Garnatxa Negra, Monastrell, Sumoll and Xarel·lo Vermell — as well as Malvasia de Sitges and Trepat, and the international varieties Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The latter two will no longer be permitted from the 2034 harvest onwards.
The remaining grape varieties, which wineries may only use for their still wines, are also subject to a minimum price established by the regulations, set at €0.82/kg. For this reason, every year the audit verifies that all grape purchase contracts comply with the established minimum prices.
A rigorous process for joining Corpinnat
While wineries that are already part of Corpinnat undergo at least three audits each year, the process of joining the Collective Brand is even more demanding. Since this year, any winery producing sparkling wines in the heart of the Penedès that wishes to join Corpinnat must first obtain a suitability report prepared by the management of the Collective Brand. The report, which keeps the applicant’s identity anonymous, is submitted to the Board of Directors. Once approval has been granted, the auditing process begins.
During this period, Bureau Veritas carries out the necessary inspections to certify compliance with the commitments established in the regulations. Among other requirements, the applicant winery must demonstrate that it has produced sparkling wines in accordance with Corpinnat criteria for at least three years. This process is complemented by sensory audits and base wine tastings managed by VITEC, with the aim of ensuring that new wineries meet both the technical requirements and the quality standards established by the Collective Brand.
Provided that all requirements are met, full membership is granted three years after the process begins, following approval by the assembly of wineries. At that point, the identity of the applicant is also made public.
