Why it matters
The producer
Cellers Avgvstvs Forvm works from a small winery in front of the Mediterranean Sea, with vineyards overlooking Sant Vicenç de Calders. Wine sits beside olive oil and wine vinegar under the Forvm brand. The business is better known for its bittersweet Forvm vinegars, while the cellar works with native and international grape varieties through microvinifications.
The wine range includes Xarel·lo, Malvasia de Sitges, Macabeu, Garnatxa, Ull de llebre, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. The vineyards, grower agreements and cellar experiments give the producer several ways to work with the grapes of Penedès.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
The vineyards lie in Baix Penedès, within the Penedès region and close to the Mediterranean. Coastal influence is part of the vineyard setting, while agreements with local farmers extend the fruit supply beyond the estate's own planting.
The winery's surroundings include vineyards overlooking Sant Vicenç de Calders. The coast sits beside the vines, and the broader Penedès sourcing brings both native and international grape varieties into the range.
In the cellar
Vineyards and cellar
Organic certification covers every estate owned vineyard. In the cellar, microvinifications separate native varieties such as Xarel·lo, Malvasia de Sitges, Macabeu, Garnatxa and Ull de llebre from international varieties such as Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
Avgvstvs NVDE is made with minimal intervention in terracotta amphorae. Terracotta is a porous clay vessel that allows a different exchange between wine and air from stainless steel or glass. The cellar also works with concrete eggs, which provide a rounded fermentation vessel with a neutral flavour contribution.
Wines to know
The range in view
The range comprises fourteen wines. Its Microvinifications are limited production wines from single vineyards, based on local varieties such as Malvasia de Sitges and Xarel·lo Vermell. Some of those vineyards are over 120 years old.
The named wines include Xarel·lo de Mar, Xarel·lo +100 and Primer Rosat 2021. Xarel·lo de Mar is a white wine made from Xarel·lo. Primer Rosat 2021 is an equal blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Avgvstvs NVDE adds an amphora made wine with minimal intervention to the broader range.