The area of the coast of Catalonia offers superb wine routes of all types: red, white and claret. All the names are presented in this post are of ancient tradition. We start rubbing the border of France with the population of Empordà, following the route Alella, Penedès and ending at the Priory. The wines are certainly the best known of the Penedès and the name of the Priory, but even so, each stop will be worth it.

Empordà-Costa Brava, the birthplace of the ancient vineyards Catalan

The Denomination of Origin Empordà-Costa Brava is located in Girona, on the border with France. The vineyards of this area are influenced by a Mediterranean climate. It is 2,500 hectares of vines spread over 34 municipalities in the province of Girona. The Grenache and Mazuela (or Carignan grapes) are the preferred varieties in black, but have also introduced the Cabernet-Sauvignon, llebre of the Ull and Merlot. The Macabeo, the Xarel  lo, the Chardonnay and Moscatel varieties are white you can also enjoy in these areas. The rosé wines are most characteristic of this designation, dry and fruity, highlighting the red cherry. But also produce white wines, red and sweet, special mention are the excellent cellars, made mainly with Chardonnay.

Vineyard in Garriguella – Alt Empordà
The gastronomy of the Costa Brava is another stop. You’ll find many restaurants on the Peninsula regionalists, and of course Catalan restaurants. It is traditional to start with a bread with tomato, followed by a fish stew and, for dessert, a crema catalana. Why not, this luncheon will be accompanied by an excellent wine by the name Empordà-Costa Brava. The best way to tour the vineyards is to find a cheap rental car in a nearby town such as Girona and continue the route.

Wines urban Alella
Alella vineyards are the last remaining natural habitat in this zone, which fight daily against urban sprawl. Therefore Alella wines are classified as urban precisely because Barcelona has been the main consumers since the beginning of the twentieth century. On this island wine, so we can qualify Alella, grapes are the preferred targets and what Xarel  Garnacha Blanca. In inks, are of Ull llebre (tempranillo grapes in Spanish), Garnacha Tinta, Garnacha and Pans Peluda Rosada. The main productions of wine Alella are the whites, the dry and semi. The personality of these white wines alellenses is determined by the variety Xare . These are elegant wines, perfume, crystal, soft palate and nice. Anyway, they are also very good red wines and aromatic rosé, distinguished by its rich aroma and extraordinary balance. We cannot fail to mention the excellent cellar.

During the second stop on the route, while enjoying excellent wine samples, you know the history of the appellation of origin Alella. The headquarters of the Board is one of the oldest farmhouses in the area, even preserved remains of buildings of the thirteenth century. This farmhouse, as well as being the seat of the Regulatory Board is a municipal museum and the House Wine Alella, places that you should not visit at this stop.

Penedès, the highest vineyards in Europe with its own style

In Vilafranca del Penedès has shown that even before the fourth century BC vines were grown in the area, imported by the Phoenicians and the Greeks. After the Islamic invasion warfare and various periods, was obtained to continue to cultivate the vineyard in the Penedès, whose main purpose was to provide wine for the Eucharist. They are currently the most famous cellars of this region, born in 1872, when they have already begun to conquer the big markets.

The influence of the sea and the sun makes the Penedès area warm and soft, suitable for harvesting traditional white varieties such as Macabeo Xarel and, like the reds like Tempranillo, Garnacha, Carignan and the Monastrell . Penedès Superior is the most protected in this region, and reaches 800 meters. Therefore, experts say that they are possibly the highest vineyards in Europe. This is the area where historically grown parellada, white traditional Penedès. Another noteworthy feature of this name is that most of its wineries produce wine from their vineyards, which are responsible for them from beginning to end. These wines are served with a unique style.

In this third stop on your route you can visit the interesting Museum of Wine in Vilafranca del Penedès, where the invention of the press beam, of special importance. This museum was opened in 1945 and is located in a medieval palace in the Gothic Quarter of the town. Through eleven rooms can follow the evolution of the techniques and history of the wine region since Roman times. To stay at a good price you can find a hotel in Vilafranca del Penedès.

Museu del vi – Vilafranca del Penedès

Wines of the Priorat wine divine
Some have even dared to say that wines from the Denomination of the Priory are touched by divinity, and in 2000 this name was the category of ‘Qualified’, thus becoming the second name under this title stating that the region meets all the conditions necessary to develop some of the best wines in the world. The Priorat is located in the center of the province of Tarragona, in a tortuous and highly fertile. The vines of this area are old and very robust and are between 200 and 1000 meters of altitude. Its thousand hectares of vines grow among the municipalities of La Morera de Montsant, Scala Dei, La Vilella Alta La Vilella Baja, Gratallops, Bellmunt Priorat, Porrera, Poboleda, Torroja del Priorat and Lloa. It seems that the landscape in these areas influence the unique wines that are extracted from them by their flavors and colors.

From these vineyards leave white senior and fruity aromas, rose wine very tasty and warm, rancid wines very classic, a golden color and aromas of almond, and wines that are sweet, pasty and balanced by the excellent level of acidity . But red wines are those that make the character of the appellation, with its maroon color of ripe fruit (red Crianza, the Reserves and Major Reserves).

In this fifth and final stop on your route wines Catalonia will have a very lively wine cellar visits if Buil & Giné Priorat, open 7 days a week. In addition to closely observe the process of winemaking, you can participate in guided tours, tastings and discussed all sorts of activities such as meals, games, workshops and culinary courses in wine tasting.