The Spanish champagne has a name: Cava, and I’m sure you have heard about it. The region that includes the designation of origin, called the Cava Region, basically comprises the Catalan region of Penedés (Barcelona and Tarragona province). Is one of the most Spanish product known outside the country and the most drink inside the country.
HISTORY OF CAVA
It was in 1872 when Josep Raventós Fatjó started marketing cava produced in Sant Sadurní d’Anoia, culminating in his son Manuel Raventós Domènech, making Codorníu one of the world’s leading brands.
Cava is a Protected Designation of Origin of Spanish sparkling wines made by the traditional method. Cava region that formed by a total of 159 municipalities in the provinces of Barcelona (63), Tarragona (52), La Rioja (18), including Girona and Zaragoza.
PENEDES REGION
A small city 50km from Barcelona, Vilafranca del Penedes is a territory that provides a wine of quality with a Designation of Origin (DO). That offers an inviting and captivating experience with the new project: “The Carretera del Vi”. A great project for wine lovers and to know the good wine that this area offers. Each winery offers the possibility to do interesting pairings with good prices.
San Sadurní de Noya is the most important production center. Here you can find it Cavas de Codorniu and Freixenet the most important wineries in Catalonia. Book here the Cava tour!
BEST WINERIES
The Carretera del Vi is the first Wine Road in Spain, a private and joint initiative of the 13 wineries of the route, with the support of the 7 municipalities of Catalonia. It is a territory that provides a wine of quality with a Designation of Origin (DO) that offers an inviting and captivating experience. A great project for wine lovers and to know the good wine that this area offers. Each winery offers the possibility to do interesting pairings with good prices. Most of the wineries are around Vilafranca del Penedes a pretty small town.
- Cavas de Codorniu
- Gramona
- Freixenet tour
- Mastinell
- Pinord
Codorniu and Gramona, are the most expensive and good cava in Catalonia. The price it normally depends on the type, if it is Reserva or Gran Reserva. I suggest you visit the Codorniu winery the tour is very funny and the pairings are so good. Freixenet is the most commercial brand, not expensive and perfect for a party.
Cava & Hotel Mastinell offers a tour of the shop + a wine/cava tasting every weekend of the month. The tour includes tasting 2 cava glasses and 1 wine, cost of the tour 14 €. There no chance to taste the wine pairing with some cheeses, which other wineries allow you to do. The visit, in my opinion, one of the best tours of the Carretera del Vi, with the Pinord winery tour. Pinord is located at Vilafranca del Penedes at 5min from the train station. More info here…
WHERE TO STAY
The Cava & Hotel Mastinell is located at 1.5km of Vilafranca del Penedes, The hotel belongs to the Olivia Hotel chain, although it remains one of the few 5-star hotels.
The shape of the hotel resembles several bottles on top of each other, the ceilings and windows are the most beautiful part of the hotel. Room prices range from € 240 for a double room to a € 500 suite. The suite has a bathtub in front of the window, I think it can be a great present for Valentine day or some anniversary.
Breakfast always included and according to Booking.com excellent. I have not really tried the hotel restaurant, but it seems that it has received good reviews.
