Barcelona Wine Tasting

The best tours to Catalonia’s picturesque wine country (+ city tastings!)

By Duncan Rhodes Barcelona Life

With 12 denominacion de origen wine regions in Catalonia, worshippers of Dionysus won’t go thirsty in Barcelona! We review a selection of fantastic local wine tours, including a few that you won’t find on Tripadvisor. Keep reading to find your perfect experience

This article was last updated in February 2024. Email us on info@barcelona-life.com with any queries!

Wine-making in Catalonia…

Catalonia, in north-east Spain, is blessed with diverse and fertile soils and a warm climate which have proved to be perfect conditions for wine-making for centuries. Today over 70,000 hectares in Catalonia are given over to wineries and vineyards, across 12 different classified denominacion de origen regions, and the province has a long history of production that can be dated back to the Phoenicians, an ancient civilisation who arrived on the Iberian peninsular long before the Romans.

Catalonia, in north-east Spain, is blessed with diverse and fertile soils and a warm climate which have proved to be perfect conditions for wine-making for centuries.

Whilst vintages on this side of the Pyrenees don’t always garner the same praise as their French cousins across the border, the vineyards of Spanish and Catalan wineries have been turning out great tasting blends for generations now: although it wasn’t perhaps until the 19th century when regional producers truly mastered the art. It was of course at that time that the production of the now world famous Cava wines began, when Josep Raventos of the Codorniu winery successfully imitated the French Champagne method of producing sparkling vintages in the early 1870s.

The breathtaking landscape of the Penedes….

The Codorniu winery remains one of the most famous and popular in Spain, but there are in fact many more around Barcelona where you can visit and tour the vineyards and cellars – as well as of course indulge in some wine tasting, whether you prefer red, white, sparkling or still.

Finding your perfect tour…

The goal of this page is to help travellers connect with the perfect wine experience for them.

Activities 1-6 are excursions out of the city to some of Catalonia’s denominacion de origen wine regions, while activities 7-11 are tastings in Barcelona itself.

Some are combined with other attractions like Montserrat mountain, or sailing trips, which might suit travellers who want to fit more experiences into their travels.

Top 11 Wine Tasting Activities

Although it can be cheaper to travel independently from Barcelona to the surrounding vineyards by public transport, you may find that joining an organised excursion is worth the extra dinero you pay when it comes to enjoying a day out at the cellars.

Instead of having to research the wineries opening day/times, trying to find out when English-speaking tours are available, and navigating train timetables on the Renfe website, you can simply concentrate on enjoying some lovely wines and Cavas! Additionally, some of the very best wineries are only reachable by car, and no one wants to be the designated driver on a wine tour…

Top 11 Activities in Brief

Excursions to Wine Regions

1. Create Your Own Cava ~ Fun workshop with sparkling wines

2. Private Wine Tour ~ Sommelier-led tour to Penedes or Priorat

3. Montserrat & Wine ~ Visit Montserrat abbey w/ organic wines

4. 4×4 Penedes Wine Tour ~ Superb value small-group tour

5. Sailing & Wine Tasting ~ Sail to a family-run winery for a tasting

6. Penedes E-Bike Tour ~ Cycle to a boutique winery

City Tastings

7. Private Wine Tasting Class ~ Sommelier-led session in city centre

8. Small Group Wine Tasting Class ~ Affordable tasting session

9. Cava Sabrage ~ Learn how to open Cava with a sabre!

10. E-Bike, Wine & Tapas Tour ~ An epicurean city tour by e-bike

11. Can Calopa Winery Tour ~ Visit Barcelona’s only city winery

Check below for a curated list of activities which we have hand-picked for our readers, some of which we can help organise for you, others of which you can book online via our partner sites.

We’ve divided them into ‘Cellar Tours’ that take you out to wine country and ‘City Tastings’, which take place in Barcelona itself.

Excursions to Wine Regions

Let’s get out of town and explore some wineries!

1. Create Your Own Cava

For a hands-on wine tasting tour, look no further than the Create Your Own Cava experience. This day out combines all the activities of any self-respecting wine tour, such as a guided stroll around the sun-kissed vineyards, a nose around the cellars, and a thorough explanation of the production process, but it also invites people to participate directly in the wine’s preparation. After sampling three blends of Cava, guests choose a bottle of their favourite and then tackle the tricky process of ‘disgorgement’ themselves. Great fun, and afterwards you can personalise the bottle you prepared… and take it home to drink at your leisure! The cost is just 60 euros per head and includes free pick up from the local train station in the Penedes (you can easily make the 50 min rail journey from Barcelona). Splash out a bit extra and you can round off your tour with a rustic lunch in the romantic environs of the 1,000-year-old farm house. Email info@barcelona-life.com with your group size and available dates to reserve, or to ask for more info. The great value price and reviews make this our number one booked eno-activity!

barcelona cellar tours

Create Your Own Cava Experience

Location: Penedes (at a boutique winery, 50 mins away by train)
Availability: Every day at 10:30am (plus 4:30pm option during summer)
Duration: 2.5 hours (plus 2 hrs for optional lunch)
Included: Cellar tour, 3 x Cava tasting, bottle your own Cava (which you get to keep)
Price: €60 per person (available upgrade: €35 for rustic lunch)
Best for: Fun and affordable wine tasting with great, rustic hospitality

2. Private Wine Tasting Tour

On this bespoke private excursion, organised by an English-speaking Catalan sommelier and guide, guests will be transported to two top wineries in the Penedes region. However you won’t be calling in on the more touristic Codorniu and Freixenet wineries, but rather you’ll be shown around two family-run boutique vineyards where you’ll get a more personal tour of the premises and taste a wide range of mouthwatering local Catalan wines. Afterwards you’ll visit a top quality local restaurant for a hearty lunch with regional dishes. The cost starts at €335 per person for 2 people, going down to €210 p.p for 7 people or more, and that price includes all food and wine, hotel pick up and private guide, making this day out a great value luxury experience for those looking for that authentic tasting experience. To check availability, simply email info@barcelona-life.com with your dates and group size. For a little more time and money, your sommelier guide can drive you to the Priorat region of Catalonia instead, which is Spain’s second most prestigious producer after Rioja. More info here.

Private Wine Tour of Penedes (or Priorat)

Location: Penedes (or Priorat)
Availability: Private, best days are Monday to Friday.
Duration: 6.5 hours (8.5 hrs for Priorat)
Included: Tastings at two boutique wineries, lunch, sommelier, transport with hotel pick up
Price: Between €210-335 per person, depending on group size (or €240-435 p.p. for Priorat).
Best for: Wine lovers looking for a top quality private experience

“More Wine” Upgrade Option!

For both the private Penedes and Priorat tours, you can spend a little more to select a “More Wine” option that takes you to a third winery, for an additional tasting session. Just ask when enquiring!

3. Montserrat & Wine Tasting

A fabulous day trip that combines a visit to the unmissable Montserrat mountain and the sacred abbey nestled in the folds of its jagged peaks, followed by a delicious traditional lunch and the chance to taste some excellent regional wines. After a guided visit of the breathtaking mountain (Barcelona’s number 1 day trip!), and enjoying a three-course Catalan meal at a local restaurant, the second half of the day takes places in a family-run boutique winery, where your party will enjoy roaming the grounds and vines before sampling three different organic wines. At the all inclusive price (guide, transport, food, drink) of €104.95 per person it’s a great deal. Transport leaves from Plaça Catalunya, the very centre of Barcelona. You can reserve securely with free cancellation option via Get Your Guide.

Montserrat & Wine Day Tour

Location: Montserrat, and Pla de Bages wine region
Availability: Every day at 10am
Duration: 9-10 hours
Included: Montserrat guided visit, lunch, 3 wines at a castle, private transport
Price: €104.95 per person
Best for: Combining Barcelona’s best day trip with wines

Half Day Montserrat, Wine & Tapas Trip

If you want to book a 7-hour version of the Montserrat & Wine Tasting Tour (above), you can do so by selecting Half Day Wine & Tapas Trip option of this tour on Get Your Guide for €79.95 per person.

4. 4×4 Winery Tour in the Penedes

This small group activity leaves every day from Barcelona and offers fantastic value for anyone who wants to get out and explore the Penedes wine region and taste its produce. You’ll be whisked from Barcelona city centre by luxury Mercedes SUV and taken to two picturesque wineries. The first belongs to a wonderful manor house, and you’ll also be able to take an unforgettable ride in a 4×4 through the manor’s vineyards, which is also home to a Romanesque church. After learning plenty of Bacchic secrets from a professional vintner, you’ll be taken to a tasting room for tapas along with the chance to savour four distinct wines. Next you’ll head to a second winery that specialises in Cava for more of the same treatment! All tastings are paired with food, so you won’t go hungry. Available to book via Get Your Guide.

4×4 Winery Tour in the Penedes

Location: Penedes
Availability: Daily at 9am.
Duration: 6 hours
Included: Two wineries, 8 wines, tapas, 4×4 vineyard ride, transport
Price: €109.99 per person
Best for: Great value day trip to the Penedes with LOTS of wine!

5. Sailing Cruise with Vineyard Visit

Can you go sailing and wine tasting in a gorgeous organically-farmed vineyard in the same day? Yes you can… at least in Barcelona, the city where it seems everything is possible! On this half day trip, you set off from Port Olimpic at 10am and sail up the coast in a luxury yacht inhaling the fresh air of the Mediterranean (ask nicely and you’ll even have a go at the helm!). Your destination is Alta Alella, a wonderful winery set in a natural park with stunning coastal views. Naturally you didn’t come here just for the views though, and after a tour of the premises you’ll taste three of the organic blends made at this family-run vineyard, paired with sausage, cheese and bread. Afterwards, a mini-van whisks you back to Barcelona centre. You can book via Get Your Guide.

Sailing Cruise & Vineyard Tour

Location: Alta Alella
Availability: Daily at 10am.
Duration: 4.5 hours
Included: Sailing cruise, winery tour, 3 wines, snacks, transport
Price: €119.99 per person
Best for: Combining two of Barcelona’s great pleasures

E-Bike, Wine & Sailing Trip

A twist on the aforementioned Sailing Cruise with Vineyard Visit, this activity adds a third element to the tour, namely an E-bike ride up the coast. Setting off on a power-assisted electric bike, you will cruise past beaches and seaside towns to reach the nearby wine region of Alella. It’s a wonderful 1-hour ride and the perfect way to work up an appetite for some tasty tapas paired with three ecological wines from the Bouquet d’Alella family-run winery – enjoy drinking them on their terrace with sea views. Finally, you glide back to Barcelona on a handsome sailing yacht. You can book directly with Sailing Experience, or reserve via Get Your Guide.

6. Penedes Electric Bike Tour

The rolling countryside of the Penedes provides an idyllic rural counterpoint to Barcelona’s sprawling urban jungle, and arguably the best way to experience it is on a bike. On this two-wheel tour you’ll cut a swathe through the scenic countryside of Romanesque churches, quaint villages and lush vineyards to discover amazing local wines at an ecological vineyard, run by 4th generation vintners. To join the tour you’ll have to catch a train to Laverns-Subirat station (easily done!), from where you’ll be given your electric bicycle and set off in a small group with your expert guide. You can book the experience via Get Your Guide.

Penedes Bike & Wine Tour

Location: Penedes
Availability: Tuesdays and Fridays at 10am (or any day if self-guided).
Duration: 4 hours
Included: Electric bike rental, helmet, water, guide, wine tasting
Price: €79 per person
Best for: Breathing in the spectacular local wine country

TOUR OPTIONS: Extend your tour with the full day version. Or dispense with the guide on this self-guided tour!

City Tastings

No need to leave the city when you sign up for these experiences…

7. Private Wine Tasting w/ Tapas Pairing

While we fully advocate getting out to the Penedes, if you have limited time in Barcelona it’s a tough call. We also fully advocate seeing the unmissable architecture of Antoni Gaudi and checking out the best of the city’s art museums! For the wine lover on a tight schedule, this city-based wine tasting class offers the perfect solution. Taking place in one of Barcelona’s authentic vinotecas, a qualified sommelier with talk you through 5 premium Catalan vintages, from the likes of the Penedes and Priorat regions, and taught some expert techniques on how to recognise all those aromas and subtle nuances of flavours. The price is €99 per person for 2-3 people, going down to €69 p.p. for groups of 4 or more. All wines are paired with seasonal tapas or local cheese. To book get in contact via info@barcelona-life.com with your dates and group size.

wine tours in barcelona

Private Wine Tasting in City Centre

Location: Barcelona city centre
Availability: Private, on demand
Duration: 2.5 hrs (can be shortened if required)
Included: 5 wine tastings and food pairings with a qualified sommelier
Price: from €69 per person
Best for: Enjoying Catalonia’s finest wines without leaving the city

8. Small Group Wine & Cheese Tasting

You don’t need to go private to have a great wine tasting experience, as this affordable small group activity proves. A charismatic sommelier will talk you through 5 regional wines, paired with some light bites (or premium cheeses if you select the upgrade option!). The session takes place at 6pm every night (except Tuesdays) in the medieval Born district. Book easily online via Get Your Guide for €30 per person.

Small Group Wine Tasting in City Centre

Location: Barcelona city centre
Availability: Daily at 6pm (closed on Tuesdays)
Duration: 1.5 hrs
Included: 5 wine tastings (& cheese pairings)
Price: €30 per person (or €40 with cheese)
Best for: Great value wine tasting, with easy online reservations

Rooftop Wine Tasting Party

Younger travellers might want to consider this informal ‘wine party’ that takes place every Weds to Sunday on one of Barcelona’s epic rooftop terraces. For just €45 you get introduced to 7 Spanish wines with snacks to keep you going. A local expert offers some tasting tips, but the event is deliberately informal with music and a a party vibe. Perfect for wine-curious travellers aged between 18 and 35. Older folks welcome though! Book via Stoke Travel.

9. Cava Sabrage (+ Paella Class)

You’re not one of those dreary types that opens wine bottles with a corkscrew are you? Well you won’t be at least by the end of this class… exclusively available in Barcelona to the best of our knowledge! Cava sabrage is the art of opening a bottle of bubbly with a sword, sending the cork flying and keeping the wine flowing. The pressure of the sparkling wine helps create a clean cut so that you can safely pour out the bottle’s contents and drink it. You can read more about this unique activity here, or just email us on info@barcelona-life.com with your dates and group size and we’ll help book you in. The activity takes place in a charming bodega, where you can also upgrade your wine activity to include paella cooking class and lunch/supper.

Cava Sabrage (+ Paella Cooking Class)

Location: Barcelona city centre
Availability: 5pm every day (or on demand with paella class)
Duration: 1.5 hours (3 hours with paella)
Price: From €69 per person (€99 with paella)
Included: Instructor, bottle of Cava, snacks, Certificate + souvenir (+ paella)
Best for: Something fun and original!

10. E-Bike, Wine & Tapas Tour

Another great option for wine lovers who want to stay in Barcelona, this intimidate E-bike tour takes place every day at 4pm. The easy-to-ride electric bikes make getting around the city a breeze, and you’ll spend 2.5 hours exploring the medieval Born district, the stunning Parc de la Ciutadella and the sea front, with its urban beaches. The tour finishes at the very bar which Picasso, Dali and Lorca all frequented, and here you’ll spend an indulgent hour or so tasting three different wines paired with enticing local tapas. Available to book via Get Your Guide.

E-bike, Wine & Tapas Tour

Location: Barcelona city centre
Availability: Daily at 4pm.
Duration: 3.5 hours
Included: Guided bike tour, e-bike rental, 3 wines, tapas
Price: €59 per person
Best for: Mixing sightseeing with gourmet tastings

11. Can Calopa Winery Tour

Barcelona Life has teamed up with our favourite local sommelier once again, to offer this special tour to the little-known Can Calopa winery in Collserola Natural Park, the mountain range that rises up at the back of the city. This small vineyard is unique for a number of reasons. Firstly it’s the only place where you can taste wine made within the Barcelona city limits, and secondly it’s part of an amazing co-operative wine-making project that started in the 1970s, employing almost exclusively disabled staff. On this private tour you’ll be collected from your hotel and taken on an enjoyable ride up into the mountains for a slice of rural life, just half an hour from the city centre. After a tour of the farm house, cellar and vineyard, you’ll taste four Catalan wines, and then – on a sunny day – you can enjoy lunch out of the terrace. On a gloomier one, their 18th century dining hall is a wonder to behold. Available Mondays to Fridays. Email info@barcelona-life.com for more info.

Private Can Calopa Wine Tour

Location: Barcelona (Collserola Park)
Availability: Mondays to Fridays (at weekends available for groups of 6+ only).
Duration: 3.5 hours
Included: Catalan wine tasting, lunch, sommelier, transport with hotel pick up
Price: Between €140 and €240 per person (depending on group size).
Best for: Private winery tour just 30 mins from the city centre

Famous Wineries near Barcelona

Below are some of the most famous wineries within shooting distance of the Catalan capital, and some tips on how to reach them. Many can be accessed by train, whilst for others you’ll have hire a car (in which case please designate a driver!).

1. Freixenet Winery

Spain’s second most famous Cava producer, Freixenet’s beautiful Modernista winery can also be found in the Penedes region, and is easy walking distance from the Sant Sadurni d’Anoia train station, so a bit more practical to visit than the Codorniu cellars for example. A tour of their premises starts with a short audiovisual story of both Cava and Freixenet, after which you’ll visit the oldest part of the winery, where the wines are stored, and even get to ride on a miniature train through the underground cellars (great if you’re travelling with kids!). The experience includes two tastings and can be booked via Get Your Guide.
www.freixenet.com

2. Codorniu Winery

A historical winery in Esplugues de Llobregat with cavernous wine cellars, expansive vineyards, beautiful gardens and Art Nouveau buildings, this is the spiritual home of Cava, aka Catalan Champagne. You can reach the winery by making your way to Sant Sadurni d’Anoia (which is 50 mins by train from Barcelona Sants Station) and taking a taxi or walking (25 mins) from there. You can buy a ticket to tour the winery via miniature train and then enjoy two premium glasses of Cava for €20 per person. Tickets available on Get Your Guide.
www.codorniu.com

3. Marfil Alella

The last standing urban winery in Spain can be found just 14km up the road from Barcelona, and is a treat not just for wine buffs but architecture gurus too – the cellars are all built in the characteristic Modernista style of the early 20th century, the Catalan version of art nouveau. Winery tickets include a visit to the Marfil Museum, wine-making laboratory, pressing zone, bottling factory, and of course includes wine-tasting (three varieties). You can arrive to the winery via train, or – if you prefer to take a tour, I refer you back the Wine & Sailing Experience we highlighted earlier!
www.alellavinicola.com

Wine Tour Operators

As the trend of culinary tourism continues to grow, and interest in Spanish and Catalan wines continues to rise, no wonder then that there are more and more passionate local companies helping travellers discover the glories of the grape. Below we list some of the expert local providers, and what they offer:

1. Castlexperience

A young company, offering daily wine tasting trips from Barcelona, Castlexperience will transport you from the hubbub of the city to their modern winery in Oller del Mas, where you will relax in an idyllic environment whilst learning about – and sampling – the cellar’s finest produce. They offer numerous different experiences, but their best in our humble opinion is the Montserrat & Wine tour (as per above), where you get to spend an entire morning at Catalonia’s sensational Montserrat mountain… before commencing your more Epicurean journey into the world of Bacchic pleasures at a boutique vineyard. They are currently offering all their tours via Get Your Guide, including private experiences for those who prefer the luxury of a private tour.
www.getyourguide.com/castlexperience

2. Barcelona Wine Tours

Need more impartial advice on which tours and experiences might be right for you? Then check out the resource dedicated to Catalonia’s enotourism opportunities.  You can reserve a range of grape-related activities from day trips to the best vineyards in Catalonia to wine-tasting courses in the city.
www.barcelonawinetours.com

Frequently Asked Questions

We’ll wrap up this post with the answers to some of your FAQs… if you have an unanswered grape-related question please put it in the comments section and we’ll do our best to help!

Does Barcelona have vineyards?

Yes, there is one small vineyard within Barcelona's city limits, called Can Calopa. Meanwhile, the DO Alella wine region is just 20 minutes away by train, and the Cava-producing wine region of the Penedes is less than an hour away. In total Catalonia has 12 denominación de origen wine regions that can be reached from Barcelona.

Is Barcelona known for wine?

Barcelona is well-known by wine lovers for its proximity to Catalonia's 12 denominación de origen wine regions, including the Penedes region - famous for its sparkling Cava wines, and the Priorat region. Priorat is one of only two denominación de origen calificada regions in the whole of Spain (the other being Rioja), and is famous for its quality red wines.

What is the best wine tasting tour in Barcelona?

That depends on your needs and budget. The very best experience is our private wine tour to the Priorat region with hotel pick up by our Catalan sommelier guide, however there are at least a dozen excellent wine activities to choose from, such as the Create Your Own Cava experience, the Montserrat & Wine day trip and the E-bike, Wine and Sailing Tour.

Are wine tastings expensive?

The cost of a wine tasting is dependent on many factors, such as the amount and quality of the wines, the provision of transport, the experience of the sommelier leading the tasting, and what other resources are required to make the tour happen. Like all tours, the value for money is best calculated by the richness of the experience, not simply by what you consumed, which you can always do more economically by simply buying wine from the supermarket, store or vineyard.

How many wine regions are in Catalonia?

Catalonia has a total of 12 denominación de origen wine regions (Spain has 138), one of which enjoys denominación de origen calificada status - namely the Priorat region (the only other in Spain is Rioja).

About the Author

Duncan the Author

Duncan established Barcelona Life in 2009, whilst freelancing for the likes of Conde Nast, The Guardian, Easyjet Magazine, CNN Traveller and many more. From interviews with Ferran Adria to revealing the secrets of the city’s poetry brothels, he knows the city inside out… and shares all his best tips right here.

12 Comments

  • Alex

    Hi Duncan – we’re going to Sitges in August, do you know of any wine tours that start with a pickup in that town?

    21.05.2022
  • Olivia

    Hello Duncan,

    We are coming in late May/early June from United States, anyone particularly good with English that you’ve known of? Also looking for recommendations on great restaurants from breakfast cafe’s to late night fun as well.

    Thank you!

    26.01.2020
  • Norman Duncan

    Your name caught my eye, my wife and I will be in Barcelona October 24 – 28. We are looking to do a winery bike tour and a paella class, I am 80, she is 67 and bikes regularly. Your article is informative, maybe you have some more suggestions?

    05.08.2019
  • Dina

    Which of these wine tours is most suitable for a special celebration?

    21.07.2019
  • Deborah Reeder

    What wineries are on the 4×4 tour please?

    28.06.2019
  • Kathleen Kennedy

    Loved this article! Thanks so much. Wondering if there are wine/culinary tours to be had that exclude cheese pairings?

    21.05.2019

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