Penedes wine region: One of the best Spanish wine regions
Whether it is climate, culture or geography, Spain offers spectacular variety. From rustic to refined, traditional to innovative, red, white, sparkling and fortified, the wines of Spain along with its legendary cuisine, friendly people and spellbinding natural beauty have something very special to offer visitors.
A wine vacation in sunny Spain is a feast for the senses you will never forget!
LARGEST WINE PRODUCERS IN THE WORLD
Spain has the largest area of vineyards of any country in the world and as you can see is the second largest wine-producing nation.
Spain is considered the “Europe’s orchard” because there are several regions whose activity is mainly agricultural, such as Galicia, Extremadura and Andalusia. There are also several vegetables that have designation of origin, which means they can only be produced in a specific area of the country under very strict conditions.
SPANISH WINE PRODUCERS AND REGIONS
The Mediterranean diet is followed all through the country and despite some differences between region due to the weather, you can find excellent wine, cheese and olive oil production all over the country.
The Spain wine regions are numerous, so the map can appear overcrowded and confusing. Therefore, we have divided our map of Spanish wine regions into seven distinct geographical areas:
Contrary to the stereotype, Spain has an extremely varied climate and you will find lots of smaller ´micro-climates´ across the country, each perfect for growing different kinds of grapes.
This means that Spain has a huge variety of distinct and different beautiful vineyard landscapes to explore.
WINE TOURISM IN SPAIN: AFTER THE HARVEST COMES THE REWARD
Spain is the world’s largest wine exporter for very good reason. In the past, it was mainly wine from the Ribera and Rioja regions that was wildly sold internationally, but that’s not the case anymore.
Today, among the best Spanish wine producers you can find whites, reds and rosés being produced all over Spain, and exported worldwide. And as the business of export is growing, Spanish wine is attracting more tourists who want to taste it at the source, alongside a delicious tapa or two.
Thanks to young wine growers, innovative ideas and modern, appealing products, wine tourism in Spain is on the rise with a series of interesting initiatives that are not limited to winery visits.
If you’re one of those people who gets excited when the grape harvesting season approaches, just wait until you taste the wine produced at some of Spain’s vineyards whilst standing in amongst the vines themselves.
SPANISH BODEGAS: THE BEST WINERIES IN SPAIN
Every single one of Spain’s 17 regions produces wines. You might think that La Rioja is the biggest producer of wine in Spain because it’s so well-known but it comes in fifth place after Castilla-la-Mancha, Extremadura, Catalonia and Valencia.
When we are talking about where to go we nearly always recommend one of the 69 denominación de origen (DO) regions which are similar to the French ´appellations´. Of these, La Rioja holds the highest number of registered quality wineries, followed by Cava, Ribera del Duero, La Mancha, Cataluña, Penedés and Rías Baixas.
The wine routes and various Designations of Origin offer the chance to learn all about the culture of wine and its exquisite taste, but also to explore the architectural heritage of the various wine-producing areas.
Trying to distinguish between the best Spanish wines can become risky if you’re unfamiliar with it. That´s because in Spain things are done a little bit differently.
Spanish wine is classified by region, rather by the grape type (with a few exceptions). Besides, there’s a system of quality classifications that are to consider as well. Add cava, sherry or vermouth to classic reds, whites, and rosés, and the world of Spanish wine becomes complex and fascinating at the same time.
Best wineries near Barcelona
It is not easy to describe something as being the best. If this is not obvious with a color: red, blue, yellow or green, it becomes more complex when we talk about wine. Put wine and architecture together and you get an idea of how complex it can get to speak about the best wineries in Spain!
Catalonia wine region is one of the most famous destinations in Spain having wineries with versatile and distinct wine styles. Penedes, Montsant, Pla de Bages and Priorat are some of the beautiful appellations of the region.
Wineries in Catalonia welcome visitors with utmost hospitality and are eager to share their wines and winemaking history. You will find amazing wineries near the heart of Barcelona, as well as hundreds of other attractions throughout the region.
Catalonia has no less than 10 appellations and among them are such famous wine districts are Penedès and Priorat, but also smaller and less known such as Alella, Empordà and Conca de Berberà.
Visiting a bodega means that you can not only see where the wine is stored, but often means a tour of the vineyards, chance to sample and buy the wines and find out more about the history and traditions that surround this particular winemaking business.
PENEDÈS: ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT WINE REGIONS IN SPAIN
If you would like to have a trip to a winery near Barcelona, you will enjoy seaside and vineyards in Penedès!
This wine route is one of the most visited routes in Spain due to its many assets: it is close to Barcelona and Tarragona, two dynamic cities, and to the Mediterranean coast, and it provides the unique opportunity to visit key players in cava production in Spain.
Located only one hour south of Barcelona, the Mediterranean wine region of Penedès is a lovely one-day excursion from the heart of the bustling Catalan city. The Penedès wine region’s boundaries approximate the territorial region of the same name—historically a ninth century defense outpost. The wine from Penedès, like that from more than 60 other wine regions in Spain, is classified as DO [Denominación d’Origen].
Why is Penedès wine region so popular
Most famous on a worldwide level for the Cava (bubbly) made here, Penedès is also home to some stellar dry reds and whites and some neat dessert wines. Most of the historic wine estates are located on “Masias” (Catalan farmhouses). Some examples of fantastic properties would include Parés Baltà, Can Feixes, Mas Comtal, and Can Ràfols dels Caus. Other fine producer is the hugely popular Miguel Torres, among others.
The wine region has more than 150 wineries and covers a large territory between the sea and the mountains. It is divided into three areas: Upper Penedès (Alt Penedès, Alt Camp, Anoia and Baix Llobregat), central Penedès and Maritime Penedès (Bajo Penedès: Baix Penedès and Garraf).
The Penedès vineyards are divided into three sub-regions: low (maritime), central and high. These relate to topography; the region stretches westward and inland from the Mediterranean Sea over undulations and hills known as the Catalan coastal depression, the coastal range and the pre-coastal mountains, where vines thrive at up to 2,600 feet (800 meters) elevation.
COME ALONG
We all know what it means to visit a winery: enjoying the landscape of vineyards, touring every corner of its installations learning about the wine making process, and rounding off the experience with a guided tasting of its wines.
This might be compounded by a meal at a local restaurant and while all of this sounds lovely, what about trying something a little less conventional?
These are just a few ideas for a different type of wine tourism. Cheers!
