Hello, dear travelers. Spain ranks third in wine production after France and Italy. So one option for having a great time here is to visit the vineyards. If you plan to visit Barcelona, there are two regions you can go to: the Emporda region near Costa Brava and the Penedès region, which is easily accessible from Barcelona by commuter trains. Recently we visited the Freixenet vineyard.
You can purchase tickets to visit this vineyard online. We took a classic visit-tour, which included a vineyard tour and a tasting of two Cavas. Unfortunately the fountain is currently closed due to drought, like all other fountains in Catalonia. However future visitors might see it in operation. If you have small children, you can bring them along. For example, tickets for children over 8 years old cost 14.5 Euros and entry is free for children under 8.
We received our paper bracelets at the registration desk and left our belongings in the free locker. Tours were offered in Spanish, English, French and Catalan. First there was a film screening in the cinema.
The film was a bit long, about 10 minutes, but it explained the history of the vineyard and showed the grape processing process. After that we set off on the tour to see how the wine is made.
There is a special Cava prepared for the royal family, which can only be tasted here, hence it is called Reserva Real.
They told us we would taste two Cavas. One of them is the classic Cava that everyone knows. We walked through the halls displaying photographs and the stories told were interesting.
They used to use flat-bottomed bottles, but these bottles couldn't withstand the necessary pressure and would explode. Therefore, they are now only displayed in the museum.
Everything was really fascinating. Being involved in the process and listening to the explanations was enjoyable. The children also listened patiently. There was indeed a lot of interesting information. We could smell a faint scent of alcohol here. Then it was time to go upstairs and we climbed quite a high staircase. We went to the adjacent hall, where we learned interesting information about bottle volumes.
Later we left the underground area and went to the tasting area. The tour including the film screening, lasted about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Then we were offered a tasting of two Cavas: the classic one in the black bottle and a pink Cava.
In the tasting area, we tried the first Cava along with some salty nuts as snacks. This cost 19.50 Euros for four people. The tasting consisted of two Cavas. We tasted the first one; the Cava was good and it was pleasant to tour the vineyard and sit in a lovely atmosphere.
They brought us another wine and we also bought another bottle from the local store. They brought the bottle in a bag with an ice compartment to keep it cold. This bottle cost about 15 Euros, so we ended up tasting three different Cavas. There were offers on the table with two Cavas and snacks. For example, bread with tomato, olives and cheese for 20 Euros. Another option was two glasses of wine with chips, olives and mussels for 20 Euros as well.
The place where we did the tasting was very beautiful, different from our previous tasting tours. This was our third vineyard. With each sip the wines got better, though that's just a joke. In reality the tasting here is very limited, offering only two types of Cava in small amounts.
There is also a store here. The store is small and modest, selling the same Cava at a higher price. Don’t forget to bring snacks because the snacks here are expensive and no one checks what you have on the table. We brought some ham and enjoyed it here. You can also bring cheeses and other snacks.
The tasting tour at Freixenet is worth the 19.95 Euros. At the end of the tour, you don’t have to leave the town. Buy a few bottles from the local store and continue the tasting. This tasting can be endless with a good mood and great company. We continued our tasting on the streets with Cavas from Codorníu and Juvé & Camps.