Penedes wine region: One of the best Spanish wine regions

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.

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:

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.

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.

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.

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].

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.