A Travel Guide for the Penedés Wine Region

If you find yourself exploring Barcelona and craving an authentic wine experience, you are in luck! There are numerous ways to enjoy the Spanish wine scene in the city of Antoni Gaudí (architect of La Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, and more). A simple way to enjoy wine in Barcelona is to order house wine (known as vino de casa) at an authentic Spanish restaurant. These wines are locally sourced and selected to pair perfectly with the regional cuisine. You may also decide to book a fun experience like this one to learn how to make sangria alongside local dishes such as paella. Wine bars offer Spanish wine in tasting flights, by the glass, or the bottle, which are often paired with small plates, known as tapas.

While all these options offer a fun way to discover the local wine scene, there is something truly special about tasting wine at the source. Spain’s mountainous terrain creates ideal conditions for producing wine, and as such, it has remained one of the world’s top wine producers year after year. The regions of Rioja in Northern Spain and Castile-La Mancha in Central Spain are some of the country’s most famous wine areas. To enjoy an authentic wine experience with proximity to Barcelona, however, venture to the beautiful region of Penedés.

From Barcelona, you arrive at the capital of the region, Villafranca del Penedés, in under an hour, and many surrounding wineries are just 45 minutes by car. If you prefer not to drive, you may take the train, though this option is less convenient and more limited.

The diverse landscape of Penedés facilitates the production of an array of wines, but the most famous is cava. Cava is a sparkling wine similar to French Champagne or Italian Prosecco, and 95% of Spanish cava production happens in Penedés. In addition to excellent cava, Penedés produces many white, red, rosé, and sparkling wines. Join me as we discover the best way to have an authentic wine experience in Penedés.

A visit to Penedés simply must include a taste of some of the world’s most delicious sparkling wines. Just as a wine may only be labeled champagne if it is grown in the Champagne region in France, a cava is only labeled so by being grown in the Cava Denomination of Origin (or DO) and by following strict fermentation standards. The three most common grapes used to craft Spanish cava are the Xarel·lo, Macabeo, and Parellada grapes.

Like champagne, cava achieves its first round of fermentation in large, steel tanks after the grape harvest and the second round (where the bubbles are formed) inside the bottle. The amount of sugar, if any, added during the fermentation process determines whether the final profile will be drier, such as a cava brut nature, or sweeter, like a cava extra seco. Prosecco, Italy’s sparkling wine, is generally sweeter than champagne and cava and achieves its second fermentation in steel tanks.

To discover high-quality cava producers, travel to the subregion of Alt Penedés. Here, local wine makers are devoutly dedicated to the craft. A fantastic taste of cava in the town of Sant Sadurní d’Anoia can be found at Sola Raventos. This family-owned winery is operated by a warm father and son team (Pere and Guifré) whose passion for cava is strong and infectious. The tasting is generous, and the cava at Sola Raventos is truly exceptional.

Just south of Sant Sadurní d’Anoia is the winery of Cava Guilera. This family-run winery has been producing limited quantity, long-aged cava since 1927. They are dedicated to crafting outstanding cava with an organic and sustainable approach. Book a tranquil cava tasting amongst the vineyards at Cava Guilera to enjoy a classic Penedés wine experience.

Other Wine Varieties

For those looking to venture beyond the world of cava, Penedés offers numerous other wines to try. Visit the winery of Finca Mas Perdut in the subregion of Baix Penedés for an authentic experience in nature. Finca Mas Perdut is a fifth-generation family-owned winery committed to producing organic, natural wines. During the visit, you walk through their beautiful property before tasting a variety of sparkling, white, and red wines. Book the Brunch Among the Vines tour for a generous and delicious spread of local cheeses, meats, produce, and Finca Mas Perdut’s own vinegar and olive oil.

A taste of Penedés paired with an excellent view is found at Albet i Noya winery. Their red wines are particularly good, and you can enjoy a glass or a tasting on their terrace overlooking gently rolling vineyards.

Albet i Noya also offers a selection of Spanish tapas. During your visit, order the coca subirats, which are bread slices toasted with brie, Spanish sobrasada sausage, and local honey. Muy bueno!

For a unique terrain in Penedés, travel to Cuscó Berga in the Garraf subregion. At Cuscó Berga, enjoy a wine tasting while looking out at the majestic Parc del Garraf mountain range. You can visit a limestone cave here to appreciate the unique soil in which the grapes from this region are grown. Cuscó Berga produces long-aged cava as well as interesting white and red wines.

Where to Eat

To fully submerge in the culture of Penedés, book a table at one of the many traditional Spanish restaurants of the region. For lunch, a prix fixe menu called the menú del día (menu of the day) is often the meal of choice, which includes an appetizer, a main dish, and a dessert.

Restaurant Cal Ton Vell is a traditional brasserie (a restaurant that specializes in grilled meats) that offers an excellent menú del día, freshly baked goods, and highly regarded house wine. Other traditional brasseries in Penedés with lovely vineyard views include Restaurant El Celler and Restaurant Cal Cassoles.

For freshly baked goods, visit Cal Forner. Their chocolate chip bread and red velvet cupcakes are irresistible. You can also buy local wine and desserts here.

Tapas are traditional in Spain for dinner and some of the best can be found in Villafranca del Penedés at Barchelona Tapas Bar. The décor in Barchelona is strange and eclectic, and the tapas are delicious. Try the patatas bravas and the burrito made with Iberian ham.

Villafranca del Penedés

Take time to explore the region’s capital, Villafranca del Penedés. While exploring the historic city center, walk through the Plaça de Jaume I to view the town’s beautiful cathedral, the Basilica de Santa Maria. Next to the cathedral is the Palau Balta, a Gothic palace. A short walk from the Plaça de Jaume I is the Ajuntament de Vilafranca del Penedès (city hall) and a smaller but very pretty church, the Capella de Sant Joan.

For a deep dive into the history of the wines of this region, visit the Vinseum in Villafranca del Penedés. This impressive museum is a fantastic value at €10 per person, which includes entry to the museum and a wine tasting. At the Vinseum, you have access to 5 floors of impressive displays, artifacts, and art, all surrounding the history of wine production in Catalonia. From inside, you are also greeted by lovely views outward of the Basilica de Santa Maria and the Palau Balta. It is truly a must-visit for wine lovers and history lovers alike.

Go explore Penedés for yourself, cheers!

Published: September 11, 2025