With its lively city beaches, amazing architecture and cosmopolitan vibe, no wonder that the Catalan capital of Barcelona, eclipses even Madrid as the most popular travel destination in Spain. Stroll down the legendary Las Ramblas boulevard with its street performers, flower stalls and theatres, pay homage to the epic and mindboggling creations of Gaudi and his art nouveau contemporaries, drink sangria and watch the surfers, volleyball players and sun worshippers on Barceloneta beach…. there’s no shortage of things to do in this larger than life metropolis.
You’ve probably guessed by now, that at Catavino, we believe the best way to understand and experience a culture is via its food – and in this respect Barcelona offers some of the richest experiences anywhere in the world! A visit to the legendary La Boqueria food market, where the Catalonia’s best chefs do their groceries, is a must – but why not take a guided tour with cookery lessons afterwards? Or what about a gastronomic walking tour of the Gothic quarter, where you discover the authentic tapas bars and their culinary specialties (like razor clams, Spanish meatballs, and llonganissa sausage, and of course that Catalan classic pan amb tomaquet), as well as the Modernista cafes serving chocolate and churros and the backstreet bars where the locals go for a shot of Vermouth before lunch?
Wine lovers won’t go thirsty in Barcelona either. The sparkling white wine known as Cava (aka Catalan/Spanish champagne) is produced in the neighbouring Penedes region, and you can either sample it in the city bars or take a day trip to some of region’s top wineries, for vineyard tours – and tastings! Gorgeous art nouveau cellars, beautiful scenery (usually accompanied by great weather!) and fun and friendly locals make wine tours from Barcelona a real treat! Slightly further afield is another top wine-producing zone, in the form of the Priorat. Take a tour of a boutique winery or two and you’ll discover some fantastic reds and still and sparkling whites, including ecological wines. Most excursions include rustic lunches, either homemade or in an authentic Catalan restaurant.
Below find our current list of recommended food and wine experiences to be enjoyed in and around Barcelona.
Barcelona Food & Wine Tours
The Penedes Wine Experience
Wine lovers simply can’t afford to visit Barcelona without spending at least a day in the Penedes, one of Spain’s foremost wine-producing regions, with its rolling vine-covered hills, rural churches and quaint Catalan villages. On this day trip you’ll travel from Barcelona via train (private transport also an option) for 35 minutes into the heart of rural Catalonia, where you’ll visit, not one, but two boutique wineries. Here you’ll meet the local wine-makers, learn how to disgorge a bottle of Cava, and of course taste the wines themselves. Your private guide for the day is an English-speaking sommelier, with 10 years experience of the region.
Availability: On request, via email
Price: 187 euros per person (2-3 persons), 117 euros per person (4+ people). Minimum two people.
More info: Full details and itinerary of this wine tasting day trip from Barcelona
The Barcelona Food & Wine Experience
For Epicureans who don’t want to leave the city, this gourmet gastronomic experience is a guided insight to the very best tastes that the Catalan capital has to offer. Starting your day with a tour of two different markets, you’ve get to see, smell, feel and savour the unique ingredients of the region, before enjoying lunch at the world famous Boqueria market. In the afternoon a walking tour of the grandiose Gothic Quarter’s artisan food shops, chocolatiers and delicatessens is enough to build an appetite leading up the day’s highlight… a Michelin-starred meal where you get to meet the chef and ask him his secrets. This experience has been tailor-made for Catavino readers.
Availability: On request, via email
Price: 480 euros per person, min. 4 people (for 2-3 people please enquire)
More info: Full details and itinerary of this gourmet food and wine day out in Barcelona
More experiences coming very soon, including info on cooking lessons. Meanwhile read on for culinary tours available in the rest of Spain.
