Maset del Lleó

Maset del Lleó is a historic Catalan farmhouse (masia) in Subirats, in the Alt Penedès region, Barcelona province, Catalonia. Set among the vineyards typical of this part of Penedès, the estate has long been linked to cava production.

Where exactly is Maset del Lleó located?

The site sits within the municipality of Subirats, part of the Alt Penedès region west of Barcelona. This area is known for its vineyards and its tradition of traditional-method sparkling wine, placing the estate firmly within Catalonia's cava heartland.

Is it a winery, a historic building, or both?

Maset del Lleó is a former masia with attached cellars. The main building was rebuilt at the start of the 20th century, but its origins trace back to an earlier 17th-century structure. This layering — an older agricultural core reshaped by a later renovation — is characteristic of rural Penedès architecture, where farming and winemaking families adapted their properties over generations to match the needs of wine production.

Why is the name associated with cava?

Today the Maset del Lleó name belongs to a family-run wine group whose winemaking roots in Penedès go back more than two centuries. The company produces cava using the traditional method, blending the region's classic grape varieties — macabeo, xarel·lo and parellada — into wines such as its reserva brut nature. Over time the group expanded and became known as a pioneer of direct-to-consumer sales of wine and cava, setting it apart from many other regional producers.

What can visitors expect to see?

Visitors encounter a combination of rural architecture — the old masia and its cellars — alongside a living winemaking tradition. It's a place where the continuity between the historic farm buildings and modern cava production is easy to see, with wines resting in the quiet of the cellars as part of the traditional ageing process.

How to get there and when to visit

Subirats is within easy reach of Barcelona, along the well-connected roads typical of the Penedès wine route. The grape harvest, from September to October, is a particularly lively time to visit, though the cellars and cava tradition can be explored year-round.

Frequently asked questions

Which region is Maset del Lleó in? It lies in the municipality of Subirats, in the Alt Penedès region, Barcelona province, Catalonia — right in the heart of cava country.

How old is the building? Its current form dates from a rebuilding at the start of the 20th century, but the structure is built on an earlier 17th-century masia.

Is Maset del Lleó still an active winery? Yes, the name belongs to a family wine group producing traditional-method cava, with a winemaking history spanning more than two hundred years.

Which grape varieties go into the cava made here? The core varieties are macabeo, xarel·lo and parellada — the classic blend for Penedès cava.