Costa Dorada is a privileged destination for lovers of wine and olive oil tourism. This region is home to some of the most prized wines and olive oils in Catalonia, with seven recognised designations of origin for wine, such as Priorat, Montsant and Tarragona, and four designations of origin for extra virgin olive oil, a fundamental ingredient of the Mediterranean diet.
We want you to get to know, in depth, the oenological and olive oil heritage that surrounds Costa Dorada, living a unique gastronomic experience, among vineyards and olive trees, with which you can taste different varieties of oil and wine, and learn about the traditional techniques of cultivation and manufacture that have been passed down from generation to generation.
You can get to Costa Dorada from Barcelona airport, Barcelona port, Reus airport, Girona airport and Camp de Tarragona AVE train station, with Shuttle2Sun‘s shared transfer services and private transfer services, low-cost and sustainable. Remember that you can book your transfer up to 24 hours in advance.
Wine culture in Costa Dorada’s surroundings
The designations of origin closest to Costa Dorada are the DOCa Priorat, the DO Montsant, the DO Terra Alta, the DO Tarragona, the DO Conca de Barberà, the DO Penedès and the DO Cava.
The first of these, DOCa Priorat, is one of only two qualified designations of origin (DOCa) in Spain, which places it in a prestigious position in the world of wine. Among its grape varieties, Garnacha and Cariñena stand out, especially in terms of red grapes, and Garnacha blanca, for white grapes. In total, up to a hundred wineries make wine under this designation of origin.
The DO Montsant, which geographically surrounds Priorat, offers a different but equally outstanding offer. The wines of Montsant have four historical and predominant varieties, such as Garnacha blanca, Macabeo, Garnacha tinta and Cariñena; although you will also find others, such as Chardonnay, Parellada and Cabernet Sauvignon. One of the wineries we suggest you visit is the Celler de Capçanes, with a wide range of activities to learn about its production.
Further to the southwest, the DO Terra Alta stands out for its production of white wines made from Garnacha Blanca, a native variety that produces fresh, aromatic wines with a remarkable structure. It is worth noting that 33% of the world’s Garnacha Blanca is grown in this area.
Remember that you can get to Costa Dorada from Barcelona airport, Barcelona port, Reus airport, Girona airport and Camp de Tarragona AVE train station, thanks to Shuttle2Sun‘s shared transfer services and private transfer services, low-cost and sustainable.
Continuing with the designations of origin, the DO Tarragona is one of the oldest in Catalonia and offers a wide variety of styles, from young and fresh wines to sparkling wines, following traditional winemaking methods. This DO stands out from the rest for its significant use of the native Macabeo variety in white wines, as well as for its sweet and liqueur wines, known as Tarragona Clásicos. If you want to discover the DO Tarragona, don’t miss the route that will take you through its wineries and vineyards.
In the neighbouring region, the DO Conca de Barberà is known for its production of light and fruity wines, especially those made with the trepat variety, which is unique to the region, and which you can discover on this route.
You can also visit the DO Penedès region, another of Catalonia’s most emblematic designations, famous for its production of white wines, made from the Charelo variety. One of the wineries you should visit is Cellers Avgvstvs Forvm, with more than 2,000 years of history.
Finally, we must mention DO Cava, synonymous with quality sparkling wine in Spain. Although its production is spread over several regions, the Penedès is its epicentre.
Cava is made following the traditional method, similar to champagne, and is distinguished by its freshness, finesse and ageing capacity. It is the festive wine par excellence and one of Catalonia’s most recognised exports. It currently has up to 149 wineries.
Discover the liquid gold of the province of Tarragona
The province of Tarragona has a very important olive oil heritage, with the largest number of protected designations of origin (PDO) in Catalonia.
The DOP Siurana, in Camp de Tarragona, is known for producing extra virgin olive oils of great smoothness and balance, using mainly the arbequina variety. These oils are one of the most renowned in Catalonia, with the largest number of producers and the largest cultivated surface area in the Catalan territory.
If you want to find out more about this PDO, you can visit the Solé Olive Oil Museum in Mont-roig del Camp; the Riudecanyes Agricultural Cooperative, with games and activities for all the family; and the Priorat Olive Oil Trail, to discover its oil mills.
On the other hand, in Terres de l’Ebre, there are two outstanding designations of origin: DOP Oli de la Terra Alta and DOP Oli del Baix Ebre-Montsià. The DOP Terra Alta produces olive oils with a blend of varieties such as Empeltre, which results in a smooth and aromatic product. On the other hand, the DOP Baix Ebre-Montsià focuses on three different varieties, the Sevillenca, the Morrut and the Farga; and produces olive oils with a fruity profile, with hints of almond and a slight astringency. Don’t miss a visit to the town of Ulldecona, which has the largest concentration of thousand-year-old olive trees in the world.
On the border with the region of Tarragona, in the province of Lleida, you will also find the DOP Les Garrigues, the oldest designation of origin in Spain, which is famous for its arbequina and verdial oils, renowned for their exceptional quality.
Enjoy the surroundings of the province of Tarragona and Costa Dorada, discovering the culture of wine and oil, which is deeply rooted in the Catalan territory. Remember that you can get to Costa Dorada from Barcelona airport, Barcelona port, Reus airport, Girona airport and Camp de Tarragona AVE train station, with the shared transfer services and private transfer services, low-cost and sustainable, offered by Shuttle2Sun. Remember that you can book your transfer up to 24 hours in advance.
