The wine originates from the winery's own high-altitude Penedès vineyards at over 500 meters above sea level, the source of its exceptional freshness and elegance. The blend features Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and a small percentage of Xarel·lo, crafted from carefully selected, hand-harvested grapes. After 30 months of bottle aging, this new signature sparkling wine makes its market debut with a small production aimed specifically at restaurants and specialized stores.
Esplendor by Vardon Kennett is fresh and lively, a faithful reflection of the vintage, the vineyard and the varieties. The result is a wine with fine bubbles that is elegant, fresh, harmonious and exceptionally ageworthy.
Homage to Vardon Kennett, a Briton who embraced the Penedès
According to Miguel Torres Maczassek, general manager of Bodegas Torres and part of the family's fifth generation, "Great wines originate in unique vineyards with an exceptional history, which have always been there and only need to be rescued from oblivion." The story of Vardon Kennett is one of them.
The new winery, dedicated to quality sparkling wine, is located on the Torres family's Santa Margarida d'Agulladolç estate in Alt Penedès, once home to Daniel Vardon Kennett, a British citizen, in the early 19th century. The winery took his name in tribute.
The son of a long line of maritime traders, Daniel Vardon Kennett was born on the island of Guernsey (English Channel) in 1781. One of his trips took him to Barcelona, where he fell in love with its wines and culture. So he decided to embark on a new venture: selling and exporting local wines to England and Saint Peter Port (Guernsey). Years later, Vardon Kennett married the Barcelona-born María Francisca de Ferrer and began a new life amid the vineyards. He died at the age of 54 without leaving any heirs. He was laid to rest in the Romanesque chapel at Santa Margarida d'Agulladolç where his wife's last words to him are inscribed on his tombstone.
The bottle design recalls Vardon Kennett's maritime history. The exclusively cast bottle displays curved lines and a surface texture reminiscent of waves, whereas the label, with gold-edged black lettering, echoes the undulating shape of a shell. The label also depicts the estate's original emblem, which is still visible on the main façade.
The winery that produces Esplendor was built so as to respect the architectural integrity of the old buildings and their harmonious relationship with the surrounding environment. The winery is fully equipped for sparkling wine production and has a small cellar for bottle aging.