Wine Tours in Penedes
The Spanish sparkling wine of Cava is famous worldwide and the wine region of Penedes is the region to visit to experience this classy beverage. Luckily this lovely corner of the wine world is just a short drive from Barcelona and as such wine tours in Penedes are very accessible from your base in the Catalan metropolis. We will take you to some beautiful, historic wineries and arm you with new knowledge about this famous Spanish bubbly, tasting some fine examples along the way.
You will get to know some local grapes which are specifically used for Cava – Macabeo (aka Viura), Parellada and Xarel·lo (strange spelling!). Interestingly the Cava region is credited with the first commercial use of the Gyropalette (and we will visit the winery in question).
The Codorniu winery is a true architectural beauty
- Drink at the very table used to open the first ever bottle of Cava
- Enjoy visits to a large range of Cava and still wine producers
- Premium tastings at the prestigious and influential Codorniu Winery
- Soak up the atmosphere in the Cava capital – Sant Sadurni d´Anoia
- Enjoy art, history and contemporary design to complement your wine
- Vineyard visits on foot, bike or quads – picnics among the vines
- Visit lovely hill-top towns and Monasteries – Sample local gastronomy
- Add in time visiting the exciting city of Barcelona and beaches
Wine Tours in Penedes | Example Itinerary
Here we will give you an idea of what we can show you – remember that everything we do is tailor-made so we can adjust anything and everything. If you can come during harvest or fiesta periods our options are extended even further.
We will start with two very impressive and historic Cava producers. Gramona is located in the center of the wine capital of Penedes, Sant Sadurni d´Anoia. This wine town is lovely to stroll around. If you elect to say here there are several wineries you could visit under your own steam. Gramona is one of our favorites and we generally visit this winery upon arrival in town.
Clients will enjoy a superb visit and tasting at Gramona
Note: Talk to us about where to stay – Barcelona or Sant Sadurni itself, both places have pros and cons. Barcelona speaks for itself but Sant Sadurni is a lovely place close to all the wineries, wine bars, and the Cava Interpretation Center. Gramona employs organic and bio-dynamic practices in their fields and is proud of doing so. Something unusual is that for the second fermentation the bottle is sealed not with a crown cap as most wineries do, but with a cork and staple fixture.
Another noteworthy thing is that Gramona are semi-artisan in their approach to the Champenoise method , disgorging and filling final bottles of the high-end product with very basic and manually operated equipment, one-by-one. The necks of the bottles are not frozen either, another interesting variation on the norm.
Codorniu is a winemaker with a history stretching back over 450 years. You can taste Cava at the table where the very first bottle of Spanish bubbly was opened in 1872. The buildings at Codorniu are spectacular so art and architecture enthusiasts will really enjoy themselves, add top-notch wine to this and you have a fantastic visit.
As impressive inside the Codorniu buildings as outside 
Traditional method Cava fills the cellars at Codorniu
The reception area alone is enough to get your juices flowing, what a room! This is (or was until 2019) the oldest family business in Spain and the first producer of Cava. There are a number of options for lunch on our Penedes wine tours, depending on our schedule and location. We may eat at Codorniu winery or at another winery in the area or maybe at a traditional restaurant depending on your personal tastes.
You will also enjoy a smaller winery in the afternoon. One of our favorites is Caves Nadal, which has seen generation upon generation of winemakers farm this land. We will get a chance to taste this rich history and see the plots and surrounding countryside with so much to offer.
Vineyard instruction at the Caves Nadal winery
Depending on how we are going time-wise (remember it is YOUR tour) we might be able to squeeze something else in, especially if you are staying in Sant Sadurni. Whatever we manage to jam in you will have a much greater appreciation of Cava and its lovely region by the end of the day. Our Penedes wine tours are usually combined with Priorat. Priorat is a short drive away and combines very nicely, staying overnight in either of the two wine regions before heading back to Barcelona.
