Gastronomy and wine tourism

Barcelona is the land of wines. More than 2,500 years ago, the Romans and Iberians cultivated vines to produce the favourite drink of the gods, a drink that has shaped the landscape and culture of the regions of Barcelona. Just a stone’s throw from the city, you can enjoy three DO (Designation of Origin) wine areas that offer such a wide range of activities and experiences that you’ll want to keep coming back to try them all.

In the five wine and cava DO (Designation of Origin) areas in the regions of Barcelona, you can do all sorts of things: learn to distinguish between young and aged wines, take part in the daily tasks of a winery, discover different grape varieties, stay overnight on a wine estate... And, if you’re a walking enthusiast, you can also go on one of the signposted routes among vineyards. Can you think of a better way to spend the weekend?

Set between the Catalan Pre-Coastal Range and the Mediterranean coast, the DO (Designation of Origin) Penedès is an outstanding winegrowing area with the largest production yield in Catalonia. The quality of the soil, the sun exposure and the sea breeze go a long way to explaining the success of wines and cavas capable of surprising even the most demanding of palates. The region also has the largest number of wineries, along with a wide-ranging wine tourism offering that you can also enjoy with the family.

La Cadira (The Chair), La Bardera (named after a nearby ancient farmhouse), El Circell (The Tendril), Sant Pau (Saint Paul) and Balcó del Penedès (Balcony of the Penedès) are the names of the five lookout points that form part of the Miravinya route. This route, designed to be travelled by car, is a fantastic way to discover a good part of the geography of the Alt Penedès region, along with its culture and history. In addition to vineyards, you can also explore mediaeval castles, paper mills, chapels, monasteries, towns and villages, and natural areas of great interest.

The Bages region has been home to vineyards since the 16^th century. However, in recent years, the wines produced there have obtained the DO (Designation of Origin) Pla de Bages quality seal. The local grape variety of the region is picapoll, which produces a fruity white wine with a fresh bouquet and a wonderful texture and personality, as you will discover on the DO Pla de Bages Wine Route.

Bages and Anoia are quintessential crop and livestock farming regions. In recent years, various groups of producers and chefs have sprung up that have begun to revive a cuisine with a conscience, based on local products.