While our journey in Spain took us from city to city, we knew we wanted to spend at least a little bit of time out in the countryside. Preferably, in the countryside with wine. So, that’s just what we did.
We signed up for a wine tour with Castlexperience. After meeting our group in central Barcelona, we hopped on a bus and headed for Catalan wine country. First stop of the day: Bodegas Ca N’Estella, a winery specializing in cava, aka Spain’s answer to champagne.
At Ca N’Estella, we were taken into the owner’s private living quarters and served a small meal – meats, bread, cheeses, gazpacho, and dessert – along with three different glasses of cava. We even had a delicious pink rosé with dessert!
After our meal, we were taken on a tour of the property. We saw the tanks where wine is fermented, and we went down into the cellar where the wine is aged. The outdoor space is way cute; think white walls and plants galore.
Our second stop was Oller del Mas, a winery situated in a beautiful location in the foot of mountains (I mean, seriously picture perfect!). Here, we again took a short tour of the premises, and then we sat down for a tasting. We tried three different wines, plus some cheeses. Our guide, Simon, was incredibly informative and knowledgeable. He walked us through the steps of tasting wine like an expert, from sticking your nose deep down inside the glass, to looking at the color of the wine in the light.
Tipsy and full of cheese and bread, we ambled back onto the bus and returned to Barcelona. The day was lovely, and it made me think that, on my next trip to Spain, a longer sojourn in wine country might be in order.
