More information on Penedès

Penedès is the perfect destination for wine lovers looking for exciting wine tastings and wine tours in the area surrounding Barcelona. Less than an hour away from the capital of Catalonia, Penedès offers wonderful landscapes that range from rolling green hills covered in pine trees and Mediterranean shrubs, to valleys of organized vineyards, and a coastline dotted with picturesque fishermen villages.

Your wine tastings in Penedès will most likely revolve around the area’s denomination of origin, Penedès DOP. In fact, Penedès corresponds to one of the oldest viticultural areas in Europe, and its wines distinguish themselves both for their territorial specificity and for the quality of their production process. Since 2014, the term Classic Penedès has been used to designate the sparkling wines produced within this appellation.

Which food to taste in Penedès?

While in Penedès, you’ll have the opportunity to taste some unique wines during your wine tastings and visits to the area’s wineries. Make sure to indulge in the local cuisine as well, famous for its top-quality products like the Penedès roosters, Ordal’s peaches, or Vilanova’s red shrimps. A typical dish from the area is xató, a salad usually containing codfish, tuna, anchovies, endive, and a traditional sauce made with almonds, hazelnuts, breadcrumbs, vinegar, garlic, and olive oil.

Which wines to taste in Penedès?

During your visits to the wineries of Penedès, you will surely encounter the flagship grape of Penedès DOP, Xarel-lo, which is native to the area. Xarel-lo is by far the most cultivated variety in the territory of Penedès, praised for its adaptability and versatility. Other local white grape types in the area include Parellada, Macabeu, Malvasia de Sitges, and Moscatell d’Alexandria. While the area is most famous for its white wines, more and more winemakers are recovering extinct local black grape varieties to produce quality red wines. Common black grape varieties from the area include Garnatxa, Monastrell, Samsó, and Ull de Llebre.

Which is the best season to visit Penedès?

Wine tastings, wine tours and weekend getaways in Penedès can be organised throughout the seasons. Depending on the activities you’re planning on doing while in the area, you might want to avoid the hottest month of July and August unless you want to spend some time exploring Penedès’ beaches.

What things to do in Penedès?

Between a wine tasting and a winery visit in Penedès, make sure to visit some of its most loved sites, like Vilafranca del Penedès, which hosts the Wine Culture Museum VINSEUM, or the coastal villages of Sitges and Vilanova i la Geltrú. You can also explore the area on the back of a mountain bike, riding along the Penedès Wine Route, or hike up one of the 7 peaks of Penedès.