Wine tourism has a great relevance in our country, since Spain has numerous wine producing regions with a unique culture and tradition. In this context, the Penedès stands out as one of the most exceptional.
Located in the northeast of Spain and with more than 2,700 years of history in winemaking, the Penedès has a great history linked to the world of wine and unique landscapes full of vineyards. In addition, this region is positioned as a synonym of quality wines due to the characteristics that define the area, such as the Mediterranean climate.
In these remarkable areas, wine routes emerge, which present itineraries to live a wine experience and learn all the details of the wine of an area, tasting its different varieties and performing activities to make it more immersive.
For this reason, we have created a proposed itinerary with which you can discover the wine history of the Penedès in a weekend. In this article, we present you from gastronomic proposals to places to visit and activities that will make you live a complete experience around the local viticulture.
DAY 1
Jean Leon Winery
For the first day, we suggest you start with a visit to our Jean Leon winery. Founded in 1963, it was the first winery to produce a single varietal Cabernet Sauvignon wine in Spain and to obtain the recognition of ‘Quality Estate Wine’ in the Penedés for four of its wines, the highest distinction awarded by the Generalitat de Catalunya.
Throughout the visit, you will learn about the history of our wines and our founder as you walk along the vineyard-filled paths.
Tasting and pairing
Next, we encourage you to discover the taste of a Jean Leon by enjoying a wine tasting and cheese pairing with our sommeliers.
In this way, you will be able to taste different varieties of these Penedès wines accompanied by exquisite cheeses that highlight their flavor and complement them perfectly. In short, a multi-sensory experience.
Wine Bar
To end the visit, you can disconnect and let yourself be enveloped by nature in our Wine Bar, an ideal place to enjoy a captivating landscape full of vineyards while accompanying the moment with a delicious appetizer and a glass of Jean Leon.
We are waiting for you on Saturdays and Sundays from 12 to 15h at the Jean Leon winery!
The gastronomy of the Penedès
For after the visit to our winery, we would like to present you two recommendations of restaurants near Jean Leon to eat after the visit.
If you feel like tasting Mediterranean food of proximity and completely homemade, we encourage you to visit the bar el Centre del Pla, a cozy place that transmits peace to everyone who visits it.
Another option that will surely not leave you indifferent is the Celler d’en Bacus, a restaurant that offers elaborate and high quality cuisine. In short, an ideal place to enjoy good wine and good food.
The viewpoint of the cadira
Located just a stone’s throw from the winery, this viewpoint offers an incomparable panoramic view of the vineyards and the surrounding landscape. From here, you can contemplate the vast expanse of vineyards stretching as far as the eye can see, a sea of green that changes with the seasons.
The Cadira viewpoint, as its name suggests, is a giant chair where you can sit and stop along the way and enjoy the moment. It is therefore the perfect place to stop and take a deep breath before continuing with the wine route in the Penedès.
Water interpretation center
Another activity that we recommend you to do is the visit to the Water Interpretation Center of Torrelavit. This cultural center in the Penedès reveals the relationship between the Riudebitlles river and the life of the village.
You will discover how water has influenced the domestic sphere, irrigation and industry, highlighting the twelve paper mills that made Torrelavit an industrial center from the seventeenth to the twentieth century. This visit enriches the wine route with a deep understanding of the essential role of water in the history and landscape of the Penedès.
Vinseum
The Pendès wine route continues in the afternoon at the Vinseum, the Museum of Wine Cultures of Catalonia. Here you can learn about the history and tradition of wine in Catalonia, from its origins to its role today.
In addition to learning in detail the process of wine from the harvest to the final tasting, at the end of the visit you will find the Vinseum Tavern, a wine bar where you can taste a variety of good Catalan wines.
Afterwards, we encourage you to explore the surroundings of the Vinseum, where you can enjoy the typical gastronomy of the region and the local restaurants, thus connecting with the purest essence of the area.
More gastronomy
Taking advantage of the fact that you are in Vilafranca, we would like to recommend three options for dinner while enjoying delicious gastronomic proposals accompanied by great wines.
To enjoy the local gastronomy, we encourage you to visit El Cigró d’Or, a restaurant that has been recognized by the Michelin Guide. This cozy place promises to make you enjoy good cuisine made with products faithful to the territory and dishes that claim the Catalan cuisine.
On the other hand, Cal 33 is a modern proposal with new tapas and wines that will surely not leave you indifferent. With more than 200 wines to try and new gastronomic ideas, who can resist trying it?
Last but not least, la Rambla is a cozy restaurant in the center of Vilafranca del Penedès that offers Mediterranean cuisine with proximity and quality products that, together with its unique presentation, will captivate you.
Lidia’s Rural House
To put an end to the first day touring the Penedès wine route, we suggest you to rest at Lidia’s Rural House. Surrounded by vineyards and located in the heart of the Penedès, this Catalan farmhouse full of charm is the ideal place to recharge your batteries so you can continue the next day discovering the wonderful Penedès region.
DAY 2
Torres Winery
On Sunday you will continue this wine experience with a visit to the Torres Winery. Founded in the 19th century, this family winery has contributed significantly to the development of the country’s wine industry.
During the visit, you will tour the facilities and learn about the wine process from the vineyard to the bottle. In addition, we recommend a tasting of Torres’ most emblematic wines accompanied by one of the winery’s winemakers, who will share with you his knowledge of the characteristics of each wine, its ideal pairings and the secrets of its production.
El Celleret
El Celleret is the garden restaurant of the Torres family and also the next step on our wine route in the Penedès.
With spectacular views of the mountain of Montserrat and located on the Mas la Plana estate next to the winery, El Celleret is an elegant and welcoming space ideal for enjoying an enogastronomic experience. Here, you can enjoy Mediterranean cuisine with fresh products of the highest quality paired with wines that complement it perfectly.
Route Penedès 360
If you like cycling, the 360 route in the Penedès is a plan not to be missed. It is a 100% cycling and sustainable proposal to discover the Penedès on two wheels.
With these routes you will discover the most emblematic villages and wineries in the area while riding along quiet roads that lead you through hermitages and other monuments surrounded by charming vineyards.
There are different proposals of routes that can be adjusted and adapted to the times and personal preferences of each one and that will allow you to enjoy the Penedès in all its dimensions. Therefore, we recommend you to visit the Penedès 360 website and find the route that best suits you.
As you have seen, the Penedès offers many options for wine lovers. We hope that this wine route in the Penedès has inspired you and that you are encouraged to explore this wonderful wine region to live a memorable experience around wine. Surely after reading this article you will feel like starting to plan your trip.
Don’t wait any longer and feel the magic of the Penedès for yourself!
