Food & Wine Tours

Taste Your Way Through Catalonia

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Highlights of your unforgettable visit include:

Accommodation in a charming bio-hotel in the heart of Penedes for two nights and in a delightful converted masia hotel in the beautiful countryside of Girona for four nights
Private guided tours of four prestigious wineries, including a tour of cellars and vineyards and complete with wine and olive oil tasting
Excursions to three medieval villages and brief visit to the oldest rice mill in Europe
Private visits to the oldest flour mill in Europe, an Apiary in the hills of Osona, Goats Cheese producer, Jam & Marmalade Museum
A gourmet cooking class with a Spanish chef and a 3-course lunch with wine

Day 1top

Your private self drive food and wine tour commences when you collect your rental car which will be provided with GPS as standard on arrival at Barcelona Airport. You will then drive to the Penedes Wine region, south of Barcelona, where you will be staying in a charming bio-hotel for the next two days. Situated in the heart of Penedès, the masia ( old Catalan farmhouse) is surrounded by vineyards and typical crops of the area and you can enjoy uninterrupted views of the mountains of Montserrat to the castle of Sant Marti Sarroca. Over the years the house has been well modernised and a large secluded garden is composed of vines, fruit trees, an ecological vegetable garden and numerous small corners that invite you to relax and listen to the rhythm of country life.

Take some time to settle in and perhaps enjoy a relaxing luncheon at your hotel. In the afternoon you will leave for a private guided tour (five minutes away from the hotel) of a small but prestigious Spanish winery which was founded in the 1930's in an area that has been producing wine since the 1700's. The family-owned winery produces Cavas and still red and white wines. The vineyards enjoy a balmy microclimate and are located only a few miles from the Mediterranean Sea in the Penedes and Cava appellations. While not an "official" organic winery, they do use many eco-friendly viticulture and winemaking practices such as allowing sheep to fertilize the vineyards naturally. After touring the winery, you will surely enjoy a tasting of the various cavas and wines produced.

Tonight you will dine at your hotel, at the large oak table and relax whilst eating the finest of fresh vegetables and local meat or fish whilst sipping on a Penedes Wine.

Private Guided Tour of Penedes Winery, Dinner, Overnight in Penedes

Day 2top

After a delicious breakfast at your hotel this morning, you will leave immediately for the Priorat region, famous for its mineral-rich soil, slate (called licorella by the locals), which creates a unique humidity for the vines. This soil and the little rain that comes while the grapes are maturing results in full ripeness of the grape and creates a wine with high graduation that has more than 14% alcohol content. The wines of this region are unique for their great expression of fruit and all of the vineyards are planted on mountain terraces or on a steep incline. The particular family-owned wine cellar you will visit this morning has a long tradition of wine making dating from the XIX century. The present generation, formed by a husband and wife team, has created this winery for the production of quality organic wines. It is located within the municipal boundaries of Poboleda at Mas Sinén, a stone building dating from the XVII century, surrounded by the family vines.

When you arrive the in-house expert will be there to greet you and to show you the finest vineyards, afterwards you will enjoy a personalized tasting of their top vintages. Following your visit you will depart for a local restaurant which prepares the most delicious food, where you will surely enjoy an amazing luncheon with wines as the restaurant has an excellent reputation.

Afterwards your self drive tour will lead you to a model winery owned by the Cusiné family in the town of Gratallops in Priorat. In the wild and somewhat rugged landscape of the Priorat, there is a a dramatic struggle for survival of the vine. The result is a unique atmosphere that creates very special wines. That was what attracted the Cusiné Family, already the owners of a prestigious Penedes winery and one of the traditional wine families in the region of Penedes. You will enjoy a private visit with an in-house bi-lingual wine expert, following which you will taste some of the wines produced by the organic methods and also have an opportunity to taste their own very fine Virgin Extra Olive Oil, produced from olive trees on the estate.

Tonight you are free to relax and enjoy your surroundings after such a busy day. Maybe you will decide to dine at your hotel, the choice is yours.

Private Guided tour of two Priorat wineries, Lunch, Overnight in Penedes

Day 3top

This morning you will journey to Centelles in the contryside Osona Region. On arrival you will have a guided tour of a 500 year old flour mill and cheese production unit. Following your tour, you will be invited to enjoy a delightful country brunch, including freshly made bread and some of the cheeses, married with local wine or beer which has been brewed in a local village, in the company of the grandmother and grandfather of the present owners of the factory.

Your self drive adventure will continue with a visit to a local Apiary in a very picturesque village, where you will see how the honey is made and extracted from the combs and also have an opportunity to dress up in the appropriate uniform and visit the hives with the beekeeper, who will spend some time showing you how the hives work, the Queen Bee, the Guardian Bees, etc. The experience is totally fascinating and on returning to the demonstration room, you will remove the honey from the comb and go through the necessary motions to finally have a pot of real, fresh honey in your hand.

Now you will travel on a scenic route via Olot and the medieval town of Besalú to your new home for the next 4 nights, a charming Masia, the typical Catalan farmhouse a 17th-century country house surrounded by oak forests, which once was an old refuge to bandits. A thorough renovation boasts original elements as authentic as the wide stairway without a banister and the wooden rafters in the bedrooms, which are named after the signs of the zodiac and feature antique furniture and exposed stone walls. The hotel’s geographical position is ideal, half way from Girona, Figueres, Banyoles and Olot, the most important cities in Girona province.

The house has been restored as a welcoming rural hotel, where you can enjoy nature together with all of today’s comforts. The hotel’s restaurant offers a local and great quality cuisine.

Private guided tour of a 500 year old mill, Private guided tour of Apiary, Overnight in Besalú

Day 4top

This morning will start with a hearty breakfast, with hams and cheeses, fresh breads and jams for breakfast. Afterwards, you will head towards the fabulous City of Girona, where you will meet your Officially Licensed guide for a private tour. Walking into the old town you will immediately see that the influence of Arab, Christian and Jewish cultures, which is very apparent. From the remains of the Arab baths, to the magnificent Girona Cathedral with one of the widest naves in the world, to the curiosities of the Jewish Quarter, you will explore all three cultures and see where they resided within the walls of the city centuries ago.

Continuing your day, your guide will lead you to the medieval village of Besalú (just a short way from your hotel), renowned for its beauty and the 12th century Roman bridge that once was necessary to adjoin this small village to land. Besalú also houses the only remaining Jewish bath house in Europe of its time, the Mikwé. This was a place for ritual cleansing before prayer, marriage and childbirth before the thriving Jewish community was expelled in 1492

Your afternoon is free to relax and prepare for your OPTIONAL very special evening and dinner in Girona, as this evening you will be treated to a true Catalan dining experience at a famed local Michelin 3* restaurant owned by three Catalan brothers. Local recipes are the inspiration for the exquisite dishes served here, from delectable parfaits to the most appreciated wild mushroom soufflé. From the aperitif to the dessert, you will remember this dining experience in years to come! Alternatively, you may choose to eat a delicious dinner at your hotel or in one of the many local restaurants - for which we have lots of suggestions.

Private Guided Tours of Girona & Besalú, Overnight in Besalú

Day 5top

This morning you will enjoy a guided wine tour of an excellent Spanish vineyard in Peralada with a long tradition of wine making, commenced by Monks in the 14th Century. On your visit you will learn from a wine expert the unique factors of the Catalonia geography that contribute to the development of the wines and then taste a variety cavas, whites and reds in the cellar. The famous Spanish surrealistic painter Salvador Dali was often seen drinking their cava and popularized it all over Europe. After a few tastings, you will head across the lane to a 13th century Romanesque castle to see both an ancient wine press and current wine making facilities.

Your self drive tour will lead you now to Figueres, a short while away, where you will be the guest of a local Catalan chef at his cooking school. You will join him for private Spanish cooking class - a feast of traditional Spanish tapas, seafood paella, Catalan creme and wine in Catalan style! You will have the opportunity to participate in the chef's preparations or, if you prefer, you can sit back with a glass of wine and enjoy his cooking from appetizer to dessert. In this kitchen, you will learn from the chef how to prepare typical Spanish favorites whilst using Spanish cooking techniques to master the sofregit, a base of onions and tomatoes and the ¨xup xup¨ (pronounced chup chup). The delicious cuisine you enjoyed preparing will be even more rewarding after you have eaten your 3-course masterpiece, paired with local wine and complete with dessert and coffee.

Following your lesson, you will continue on to the Dali Theatre-Musuem, where you will have a private guided tour to view the masterpieces of Dali in his museum. The great artist purchased the museum building and he personally oversaw the reconstruction and renovation. Now restored in a style appealing to Dali, it is home to some of his greatest works of surrealism.

This evening you are free to relax after your very busy day. We have plenty of suggestions for a light dinner in a local restaurant.

Guided tour of Perelada Winery, Private Cooking Class, Lunch, Private Guided Tour of Dali Museum, Overnight in Besalú

Day 6top

Today, a visit to one of the best-preserved medieval villages in all of Spain, Pals, is the order of the day. As you walk through the narrow village streets, next to the city walls, towers and churches, you will feel as though you have stepped back in time. The stone archways, cobblestone streets and wrought balconies adorned with flowers create a welcoming feel in this Romanesque village. You will now take a tour of the rice mill facilities at one of Europe’s oldest rice mills. The rice grown in the Pals area is famous for its qualities, as the temperature in the area is perfect for the Spanish paddy fields and creates a superior quality of rice.

Your day continues with a visit to Ullastret, a tiny village which contains a small producer of wonderful goats cheeses and bi-products. You will enjoy a tour of the facilities and a tasting of some of the cheeses to follow.

For lunch, we suggest a cozy local restaurant situated in the center of this medieval village or perhaps you would prefer a tapas meal in the nearby medieval village of Peretalada, which is yet another amazing place to visit!

Your self drive tour continues to a very special Jam Museum, where you will learn the history of jam and marmalade and have an opportunity to see some of the many different types of jams being produced.

This evening you are free to relax at your hotel, take a local walk or drive to the coastal villages nearby for a light supper.

Tour of medieval villages Pals and Ullastret, Tasting of goats cheeses, Visit to Jam Museum, Overnight in Besalú

Day 7top

This morning, after breakfast at your hotel, you will trace your journey back to Barcelona at the end of your self drive tour and return your car to the rental company at the airport.

NB: Should you wish to extend this tour for some days by travelling on to North Western France or San Sebastian, this is an optional extra diversion which can readily be included.

Drive to Barcelona Airport, Continue on your journey homeward

Your Taste Your Way Through Catalonia includes:top

Accommodation for two nights in charming bio-hotel in the heart of Penedes region (double occupancy)
Accommodation for four nights in a delightful converted masia hotel in the heart of the Girona countryside (double occupancy)
6 full breakfasts
Private guided visits to four prestigious wineries, including tour of the cellars and vineyards and tasting of their top wines
All excursions and tastings as mentioned in the itinerary
2 lunches including wine in local restaurants; one dinner with wine at your hotel; brunch with wine or beer following your visit to the oldest flour mill in Europe
1 private cooking class followed by 3 course lunch with wine
Use of a medium range rental car with GPS for the duration of your self drive tour
Online Personal Travel Webpage including daily itinerary, general local information, details of places of interest, suggestions for restaurant reservations, and your free time, etc.
Customized Travel Journal, including the information from your Personal Travel Webpage, which you can take with you to use as a reference throughout your tour
24/7 Back Office Assistance

Your Taste Your Way Through Catalonia does not include:

Flights
Meals and Drinks not Specified or meals noted as OPTIONAL in the itinerary
Personal Expenses such as Telephone, Minibar, etc
Tips and Gratuities (Restaurants, etc)
OPTIONAL: Tasting dinner with wine pairings at Michelin 3* restaurant
Basic Travel Insurance may be included in your quotation on request. We strongly recommend you take out separate Cancellation Insurance

Taste Your Way Through Catalonia dates:

Available upon request all year round.

Taste Your Way Through Catalonia Prices:

Please note our tours are available for PRIVATE GROUPS ONLY and are not scheduled tours for mixed groups.