Husband and wife nerds Jessica and Sergi began envisioning what has become Cisteller in the early days of their romance when they first met and fell in love as lab partners at UC Davis in California, circa 2015. Upon completion of their studies they traveled the globe, together and individually, working 15 different harvests in both hemispheres under the tutelage of world class misfits and maestros of winemaking. They learned practical insight into reductive winemaking in New Zealand, how to handle wine gently in the Mosel, ways to soften tannins in the Priorat, and also spent time working with the astounding wines of Marchand Tawse in the Côtes de O’r in Burgundy made by inimitable winemaker Pascal Marchand. They returned to Sergi’s home in Subirats in 2019 to make their dreams come true.

Cisteller’s rich history dates back to the 1920’s when Sergi’s great-grandfather gained notoriety as a local basket weaver used for grape harvests. This naturally led to a next generation of grape growers when Sergi’s grandfather purchased his first plot ‘Finca El Sot’. It was there where he began making Cava with Sergi’s father years later, and where the newly constructed winery stands today.

The family estate is located in the Muntanyes d’Ordal, Alt Penedès with an elevation of 300 meters with Mediterranean climate and marine influence. Organically farmed, they own about 20 hectares of land, 12 of which are currently under vine as many of the parcels are resting to allow the soil to rejuvenate after years of extractive practices. The vineyards have been certified organic for ten years and are cared for with regenerative viticulture principles. The majority of the old vines at El Sot are Xarel.lo, and Cisteller will continue replanting this emblematic variety as it is resilient to the changing Mediterranean climate.

The soil type in Subirats is calcareous clay and limestone over marine seabed. This soil type is very high in calcium carbonate and very poor in organic matter which means low yield, more concentration, excellent balance, and high acidity with low pH. The vines are 100% hand harvested, dry farmed, and pruned using respectful pruning practices, returning all of the organic material back to the vineyard that we take after pressing and fermentation (pomace and lees) to help the soil recover from the long growing season. The parcels are situated around natural corridors to allow native plant and animal species to coexist and encourage soil biodiversity. They lightly filter their wines which along with aging sur lie prevents oxidation, and allows them to use minimal sulfur.

Jessica and Sergi have that powerful, gripping energy of young winemakers with true brilliance, incredible knowledge, passion, and a creativity that gives hope for the wine industry, and hope for the great wines of the future. Cisteller is now proudly the 13th member of the exclusive Corpinnat group (which speaks volumes to the quality and recognition they are already achieving) and requires sparkling wines be made from the Traditional Method, with organic and biodynamic agriculture, from all estate fruit of at least 90% indigenous varietals. Cisteller is making their wines from Xarello, Xarello Vermel, Garnacha Gris, Garnacha Peluda (which is a good variety for coping with drought), Manzoni Bianco, Macabeo, and the nearly extinct, highly expressive: Malvasia de Sitges.

Jessica and Sergi are also among a group of young producers with new energy in Penedès both informally, and with the collective called Vida Penèdes. And while they may be more aligned with natural winemakers in essence, their decisions are made for quality over dogma. Currently pet-nat styles, without the traditional method infrastructure, have exploded among many of these new producers in this region, but the traditional method and the elegance it brings, are what drive Jessica and Sergi’s vision – a vision that is radically agnostic, refreshingly classic and undeniably precise. These wines are going to knock your socks off.

Cisteller means “Basket Weaver” in Catalan. The striking Cisteller labels feature a traditional hand-painted mercantile which historically adorned trade shops doors to showcase their goods inside- a dedication to Sergi’s family of ancestral basket weavers from the fishing village near Barcelona where Sergi grew up. The 2 birds are symbols of Sergi and Jess returning home to the family’s estate.

“Above all, wine has to be fun to drink. But the greatest wines maintain a tension between the hedonic and the intellectual, and we aspire to this. In the world of wine, it is tempting to reach for the dogmatic, yet we try to remain agnostic. We are not limited to the academic, nor the ideologic. We weigh every winemaking decision heavily and equally in our hearts, minds and palates. For us, the romance of wine extends beyond myth and tradition and into science and art as well.”: - Jess and Sergi