Press releases
The white wine De Llevant, from the U MES U winery, has been awarded 95 points at the prestigious 2025 Decanter World Wine Awards, placing it among the top 20 white wines in Spain.
The Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) evaluate more than 18,000 wines from over 50 countries every year. All wines are blind-tasted by a panel of experts who assess quality, origin, and the ability to express the character of the terroir, thereby recognizing the dedicated work of wineries from around the world.
This distinction is a milestone for the winery, as it reinforces its commitment to producing wines with unique grape varieties such as Malvasia de Sitges, a historical gem that was nearly lost and has been shining once again in recent years.
Malvasia de Sitges, a recovered variety
One of the most distinctive features of De Llevant is its grape variety: Malvasia de Sitges, sourced from the Vinya de Cal Ferrando, located in Font-Rubí and planted in 2014, where the grapes are hand-harvested to preserve their quality.
This historic variety, documented since the Middle Ages, was on the brink of extinction but was preserved thanks to the Sant Joan Baptista Hospital of Sitges, which maintained the last vineyards as a cultural heritage legacy.
The technical team at U MES U revived the variety through massal selection from a nearby vineyard in Sant Pere de Ribes, planted with buds taken from the hospital’s vines. Throughout the year, the vines were observed, the most promising ones selected, and in winter, the buds were collected and grafted by a nursery to produce new vines.
After a two-year process of careful observation and selection, the new vines were planted at the Vinya de Cal Ferrando.
The chosen plot stands out for its fertility and freshness — ideal conditions for a vigorous variety like Malvasia de Sitges, capable of producing shoots up to six meters long.
Agronomically, it is a variety sensitive to fungal attacks and is known for its low yields but highly concentrated grapes. For all these reasons, it requires constant attention and very intensive manual care.
This recovery has allowed the winery to rediscover the potential of Malvasia de Sitges for crafting still white wines with character, freshness, and excellent aging potential. De Llevant is a fine example: it expresses all this uniqueness with a complex aromatic profile and a fascinating evolution over the years.
The name of the wine pays tribute to its vineyard, as it refers to the Llevant (eastern) wind that sweeps across the estate from north to south, directly shaping the wine’s final character. At Cal Ferrando, the first light of day arrives from the east, bringing freshness, vitality, and charm.
De Llevant, a wine with unique character
De Llevant stands out for its freshness and elegance, with aromas of exotic fruit and citrus notes, combined with a pleasant minerality and salinity that evoke the proximity of the Mediterranean Sea. 15% of the wine is made using the brisat method, which involves fermenting the must with the grape skins, just like in red wine production. This adds structure and complexity to the wine. The remaining part undergoes aging in a ceramic egg for 4 months, which brings stability and rounds out the palate while preserving its freshness and aromatic profile.
About U MES U winery
Located in the heart of the Penedès, the U MES U winery is committed to ecological and sustainable viticulture, prioritizing respect for the environment and everything that surrounds it. With a focus on quality and the authentic expression of the land, the winery works to ensure that each wine reflects the unique personality of the Penedès and the distinct character of each grape variety.
In the words of Sales Director Maria Piñol: “I’m confident that Malvasia de Sitges will play a key role in the future of our region.” This conviction reinforces U MES U’s philosophy: to convey the uniqueness of the environment and the team’s dedication to producing wines with character, freshness, and elegance.