Don’t you know about Wine Tourism? Wine tourism is a tourist activity related to the visit and enjoyment of wine-growing areas and wine culture. It is a type of tourism that focuses on tasting and learning about wines and local gastronomic products, as well as experiencing the natural and cultural environment where wine is produced.
Wine tourism can take place in various wine regions around the world and can include activities such as winery visits, wine tastings, wine pairing, vineyard tours, festivals, and any other wine-related activity. Catalonia is a paradise for this type of experience and is one of the most important regions in Spain as it contains a wide variety of Denominations of Origin. There are many places where you can practice wine tourism in the localities of Barcelona, Tarragona, Reus, Valls and Cambrils, and with Shuttle2Sun you can discover all of them, booking any of our shared or private transfer services. Do you want to know the best wine routes and getaways around the Catalan territory? Stay to discover them and come and try this fun tourist activity.
Penedès Wine Route
The Penedès Wine Route is one of the most famous wine routes in Catalonia. The region of Penedès is located about 40 kilometres southwest of Barcelona and is known for its production of sparkling and still wines, especially cava. The most popular wines are the white wine Xarel-lo and the red wine Tempranillo.
This route covers a wide area that includes different municipalities of Barcelona, such as Sant Sadurní d’Anoia, Vilafranca del Penedès, Subirats, Sant Pere de Ribes and Sitges, among others. It can be done by car, bicycle or on foot, and offers many options for visiting wineries, learning about the culture of wine and cava, tasting them and enjoying the local restaurants.
Among the most famous wineries in the area are Codorníu, Freixenet, Torres, Jean Leon, Albet i Noya, Gramona, Juvé y Camps, and Mas Comtal. If you want to make the most of your visit, there are guided tours, wine tastings and other gastronomic experiences that combine local wines with typical local products.
In addition to these wineries, there are other places of interest, such as the Wine Museum of Vilafranca del Penedès, the castle of Subirats, the Monastery of Sant Sebastià dels Gorgs, and the Garraf Natural Park.
Priorat Wine Route
The Priorat Wine Route is another of the most outstanding and popular wine routes in Catalonia, located in the Priorat wine region, in the south of the province of Tarragona. This route takes you through the history of an area that is known for its production of high quality red wines, especially from the Garnacha and Cariñena grape varieties.
This wine route offers a complete experience for lovers of wine, nature and gastronomy. The best-known wineries are Clos de l’Obac, Clos Mogador, Álvaro Palacios, Mas Doix, Clos Figueras and Scala Dei, among others. There are also professionals in the sector who offer guided tours and wine tastings.
Don’t forget to round off your getaway to the Priorat region with a visit to its most emblematic sites, such as the Scala Dei Monastery, one of the oldest monasteries in Spain, and the Sierra del Montsant Natural Park, an ideal place to enjoy nature and go hiking.
Empordà wine route
The Empordà Wine Route is located in the Empordà region in the north of Catalonia, in the Costa Brava area and very close to the French border. This region is known for its production of high quality red, white and rosé wines, as well as for its Mediterranean gastronomy. The route can be done by car and, thanks to its easy terrain, you can also do it by bike.
Some of the most outstanding wineries include Masia Serra, Castillo de Peralada, Mas Llunes, Vinyes dels Aspres, Celler Espelt and Cooperativa Garriguella, among others. Many of these wineries offer guided tours, wine tastings and gastronomic experiences that combine local wines with typical local products such as olive oil, cheese and ham.
In addition to the wineries, the Empordà Wine Route also has other places of interest, such as the Perelada Wine Museum and the Cap de Creus Natural Park. If you want to make the most of your trip and visit the Costa Brava, visit our blog about What to see on the Costa Brava.
Alella Wine Route
We could not fail to mention the Alella Wine Route. It is located in Maresme region, very close to Barcelona, and is one of the oldest wine routes in Spain.
It is a route with a great personality and a very particular wine production. It is located in a privileged area with a Mediterranean climate, poor soils and steep slopes. You can learn about the history and winemaking process of the best wineries such as Alta Alella, Alella Vinícola and Bouquet d’Aelella.
You can also enjoy wine tourism experiences that include tastings, guided tours and tastings that will allow you to learn about the variety of wines produced in the region and taste the local food. Typical dishes of the region include “xató”, a salad with an almond sauce, and “suquet de peix”, a fish stew with potatoes and aioli,
You can also visit the Museo de la Vila de Alella, which shows the history of the town from Roman times to the present day, or the Monastery of Sant Jeroni de la Murtra, an impressive 15th-century monastery in the hills above Alella.
We hope you’ve taken note of these popular wine routes around Barcelona, Tarragona and Costa Brava and, remember, with Shuttle2Sun you can enjoy them without worries. Book now any of our shared or private transfer services that we offer from Barcelona airport, Barcelona port, Girona airport, Reus airport and the AVE Camp de Tarragona train station.
