cava codorniu visit

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Visiting Cava Cordoniu Spain’s oldest family-run business

The name Codorníu is undoubtedly associated with cava. The Codorníu Raventos family has been in the wine and cava business for 450 years, making it the oldest family-run business in Spain and among the oldest in the world. Codorníu can also be credited with inventing cava, the Catalan version of champagne, as they were the first ones to issue a bottle of the sparkling wine.

And because Codorniu is less than an hour from Barcelona or my home town, Sitges . You may want to save my complete 4 day itinerary to Barcelona , or my one day in Barcelona guide .

History of Cava Codorniu

It was Jaume Codorníu who, in 1551, set up a wine making business in the Penedes wine region, about 50km from Barcelona, in the same place where the company still is based today. A century later, Anna Codorníu, who inherited the estate and was the last one to bear the Codorníu surname, married a notable wine dresser, Miquel Raventos.

Their children’s surnames became Raventos Codorníu and their grandchildren Raventos. And so, the Cava Codorníu businesses changed hands from the Codorníu family to the Raventos family, the owner until this date, but conserved the brand name Codorníu.

Although Codorníu is best known for cava, it was first a wine company and only became a cava producer in 1872, when the first bottle was finally manufactured by Josep Raventos, five years before Cava Llopart, up the road from Cava Codorníu, also released its first bottle. It was Josep’s son, Manuel, who decided to change the focus of the company towards cava because he saw potential in the new product.

At that time, European vines were being attacked by the phylloxera pest which could have killed up to 90% of all the vines, and Manuel decided to replace the old vines with new American ones which were immune to the pest. I

t was also at that time when he decided to build a state of the art winery which was completed in 1915 and which was designed by Gaudi-contemporary architect Puig i Cadafalch , famous for the beautiful building Casa Ametller, the one right next to the stunning dragon building, Casa Batllo , one of Gaudi’s most amazing buildings.

The winery is still considered one of the most beautiful ones and is often referred to as the “Cava Cathedral”. A visit to Codorníu is worth it even if just for the building itself. Puig i Cadafalch also built the Raventos’ family country home, by the winery, sitting above the 30km of underground tunnels, split over 4 levels, where the 90 million cava bottles rest and age today.

The cava empire did not end there and Codorníu also moved back into wines around 1914 when Raimat was founded. Raimat is a separate brand also owned by the Codorníu Raventos Group and which produces high quality wines.

Raimat’s first vineyards were in the Costers del Segre wine region, about 1,5h from Sant Sadurni d’Anoia, where the headquarters and the cava region are. This entrepreneurial spirit of the raventos family has brought many key first items, including the first TV ad which was broadcasted in 1959 when the first Spanish TV channel was inaugurated.

Despite the humble beginnings, in a tough land for agriculture, Raimat has become the largest vineyard in Europe with 2,000 hectares of vines used to produce both Raimat wines and Cava.

During the 20th century, Codorníu Group acquired wineries in other Spanish regions like Rioja, Ribera del Duero, and Priorat as well as California and Mendoza, in Argentina bringing the total number to ten. Today, 50% of Codorníu production is exported.

Visiting Cava Codorniu

Codorníu receives 200,000 visitors every year. That makes it one of the most visited wineries in Spain and a destination of pilgrimage. It is common for visitors to come as part of organised day-tours which stop in the Montserrat Mountain, a few kilometers from Codorníu, and have lunch in the area.

Codorníu offers buses from Barcelona and tours in English and other languages daily but is usually closed on Sundays and public holidays. Its location, up on a hill in front of Montserrat, gives it a privileged position and view that make for a fantastic visit.

Since 2017 is the 150th anniversary of Puig i Cadafalch’s birth, Cava Codorniu is organising specific architecturally and heritage focused tours in his honour. There is also an Anna de Codorniu visit which includes tastings of three of Anna’s cavas accompanied with Catalan snacks after the visit.

The tours can also be paired with food in various forms. There are breakfasts to be taken pre tour, cheese and cava pairings or four types at the end of the tour.

The standard winery visit includes a brief audiovisual documentary with 3D glasses that goes through the beginnings and the vineyards. It is then followed by a visit to the old winery, the first one designed by Puig i Cadafalch which includes the area that has been converted into a museum and is used for private events like weddings and conferences.

After that, the most exciting part of the journey begins. Underground, four floors below the mountain side, Codorniu’s tunnels lie in peace, damp and dark. Here, the brand’s 90 million bottles are paved in 30km of tunnels that are spread over four floors accessible via stairs and an elevator.

The tour goes directly to the 4th level where a small section of the tunnels have been kept just like how they were when they were created. The tour only visits this section, onboard a train, and does not go to the modern parts where bottles are being held today in modern palets.

I enjoyed the tour, especially seeing how wine was made before and enjoying Puig i Cadafalch’s architectural masterpiece. But I found it short on wine or cava making and on history. There was little said on the building’s history, in fact, the modernist style or the architect’s name was not even mentioned once nor were we pointed at the magnificence of the building. Instead, we were slightly oversold on the private events Codorniu organises.

There was also little talk about the beginnings of Codorniu, the family’s name or any of the many firsts the brand is known for. It was enjoyable, but I would have liked a bit more substance and less showmanship. At the end, we enjoyed two full glasses of cava, a white and a rose, in the tasting room.

Make a day out of the Cava Codorniu visit

If you visit Cava Codorniu in your own private car, there are several other activities and places you can visit close to Codorniu to make a day out of the trip from Barcelona or Sitges . These are some of the possibilities to be combined with a Cava Codorniu visit:

Make it a day out for cava

Combine the visit to Codorniu with a visit to any of the other wine and cava wineries in the area. For example, Cava Llopart , the second oldest cava producer which is not too far from Codorniu.

For lunch, stop at El Mirador de les Caves , right above Llopart, which offers combined tours of Llopart with lunch at very reasonable prices and with some of the most stunning views. Combining Codorniu with Torres makes it a complete day with the two most relevant wine and cava companies in the region. But if you want something smaller yet also fascinating, try Albet i Noya , the pioneer organic winemaker.

Cava and beach

If you want to start the day with a traditional Catalan breakfast and tour at Codorniu, you could have lunch by the beach in Sitges , enjoying a tasty paella near the waves at La Santa Maria.

Sitges is a lovely quaint town by the sea, about 30km from Barcelona so makes for a great day out on its own and a lovely way to complement a cava tour. In Sitges, after lunch, you could enjoy a visit to the Cau Ferrat or Palau Maricel and a stroll along the town’s back streets and sea promenade.

Cava Codorniu and Montserrat Mountain

Montserrat is perhaps the most iconic mountain in Catalunya. Montserrat is a holy place of pilgrimage by many and is topped by a working Benedictine monastery that is nearly 1000 years old. The mountain range is rounded as a result of erosion and that accounts for the name.

In the monastery there is a black madonna, the most well known element of the mountain. For years until very recently, La Moreneta, the name used to refer to the virgin, was believed to have been carved in black but it was discovered that the virgin turned black as a result of smoke.

Apart from the virgin and the unique landscapes, Montserrat is well known for having the oldest boy’s choir in Europe and their performances can be enjoyed in the weekend. Montserrat also has a museum with paintings from El Greco, Picasso and Dalí and treasures from ancient Egypt.

The area around the basilica is dotted with several artisan products and some restaurants and bars where you can have lunch between Codorniu and Montserrat. If you don’t have a car, this tour can also be organised with transport from Barcelona. Here is my complete guide to Montserrat for more information. 

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Caves Anna d’ Codorniu

Top ways to experience Caves Anna d’ Codorniu and nearby attractions

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Caves Anna d’ Codorniu - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• (5.17 mi) B&B Wine and Cooking Penedès
• (8.03 mi) Cava & Hotel Mastinell
• (2.83 mi) Masia Can Canyes & SPA
• (0.78 mi) Hotel Fonda Neus
• (0.95 mi) Hostal Sant Sadurni D'anoia
• (0.01 mi) Cavas Codorniu
• (0.12 mi) La Torre de Codorniu
• (0.82 mi) Hatsukoi by El Centre
• (0.98 mi) Canals & Munne
• (0.65 mi) Ambrasa

Codorniu Winery

The birthplace of Cava

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This is where is all began –  Cava  production that is – back in the 19th Century. Josep Raventos Fatjo of the Codorniu estate came back from a fact-finding jaunt around France and, copying the production methods of French Champagne, came up with his own brand of sparkling wine.

He ordered a cave (or  cava  in Catalan) be dug to store the stuff, and hey presto history was made. Cava was an instant success and it wasn’t long before Spanish royalty were ordering express deliveries to their manifold tables.

The Codorniu Winery remains one of Spain’s two major Cava producers, but as well as buying up their rather tasty bottles, it is also possible to visit their vineyards on a guided tour. The Codorniu guide will lead you through the winery’s vast underground cellars, the beautiful gardens and the stunning Art Nouveau buildings designed by one of Barcelona’s greatest architects, Puig y Cadafalch.

You can book a tour of the premises via their website, or, if you have a bit more time, it’s a great idea to combine a a visit to the winery with a visit to the wonderful Montserrat mountain and its sacred abbey: in which case Get Your Guide offer this highly rated tour .

Aside from seeing Barcelona’s number one day trip, the advantage of taking a Montserrat & Codorniu combined tour is all your transport from Barcelona is taken care of, and you have a guide with you for the whole day.

Meanwhile, for more wine tasting activities click here .

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Wine Trip to Penedès: Visiting Cava Codorníu

In the beginning of September, we took few days off to head again to our beloved Barcelona and its surrounding. First few days, we rented a car and made a trip to Penedès, a beautiful hilly wine region where the cava (kind of Spanish champagne) is produced. In this post, I will tell you about visiting Cava Codorníu, one of the major producers of cava, and Villafranca del Penedès, the Capital of this region. After, we visited Montserrat and beach in Sitges before coming back to Barcelona, but that’s another story.

From Barcelona airport, we drove to Villafranca del Penedès and arrived on the last day of  La Festa Major , so we could still see people dancing and drinking vermouth on the main square, while when strolling the small streets in the historic center, the town seemed to be quite empty.

At Villafranca, we ate at Lizarran – a pintxos bar located in an alley not far from the central square. You can choose from various pintxos at the bar and yes, they all look tempting and those I tried were delicious.

Visiting Cava Codorníu

From Villafranca, we drove to Sant Sadurní d’Anoia . This town produces about 70% of Spanish sparkling wine and is home to 80 out of the total 300 wineries located in Penedès. And it is here where you find for example the worldwide known Freixenet or Codorníu. We decided to visit the Cava Codorníu not only because we just love this cava, but also for the architecture. The complex is a jewel of Catalan Modernism designed by Josep Puig i Cadafalch and has been on the list of National Historical-Artistic Heritage since 1976.

Besides, Cava Codorniù exists for centuries and introduced the French Traditional Method (based on secondary fermentation in a bottle) in Spain. So for us, this is something we needed to learn more about! 🙂

We arrived few minutes in advance so we had some time to start the tasting in the entrance bar while waiting for our French speaking guide. This is when we discovered Maria Christina – a delicious white Codorníu cava made uniquely from Pinot Noir red grapes that was introduced in 2010.

The visit of Cava Codorníu starts with a short 3-D documentary movie , continues with a train ride outside that makes the visitors discover the architectural complex of modernist buildings and beautiful garden.

Probably the most interesting part of visiting Cava Codorníu is the Celler Gran Museum and winery where you can see some traditional press and fermentation machines or the table of aromas where you can smell different aromas of each of the grape type used in the production of cava. Btw, the main grapes used for the production of cava here are macabeu, parellada  and xarel-lo.

After, the guide took us to the underground cellars and made us visit them in a train (yes, again!). Those are kilometers of aisles and you can still see the bottles as they used to be stored here for the secondary fermentation, although these bottles are filled with water to prevent the risk of explosion. Nowadays, the real cava is stored in large stainless tanks in the modern part. 

And finally the best part of visiting Cava Codorníu – the sweet moment of degustation ! We were served two different types of Cava Codorníu – Non Plus Ultra and one rosé (I don’t remember its name though).

Cava Codorníu Address: Avenida Jaume de Codorníu, s/n, 08770 Sant Sadurní d’Anoia, Španělsko Web:  www.visitascodorniu.com

How to get there:  Cava Codorníu lies about 40 km from Barcelona and if you don’t have a car, then there is a direct bus (check out www.hillsabus.com  for more info)

If you think about visiting Cava Codorníu, do not forget to book your tour in advance.

So this was about our short wine tour in Penedès and the rest will come up later – stay tuned! Have you visited any other wine regions in Spain and how did you feel about it? Please let me know in the below comments.

And if you enjoyed reading, share it with your friends on social media!

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Codorníu is the story of 18 generations of a family of vine growers. In 1872, Josep Raventós made the first bottle of Cava by applying the traditional method combined with Penedès varieties: Macabeo, Xarel·lo and Parellada. His cellars in Sant Sadurní d’Anoia were declared a National Artistic Historical Monument in 1976, as a key work of Catalan modernism by Puig i Cadafalch. Codorníu reflects the history, tradition, passion and expertise of a family company with more than 450 years of history, which today retains its leading position in quality Cavas.

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Codorníu The Iconic Tour

All the know-how of the almost 500 years of history of Casa Codorníu, creator of cava, and of its architect Josep Puig y Cadafalch. Visit one of the greatest masterpieces of modernist art in the world. Then let yourself be seduced by the entire sensory experience of 3 iconic prestigious cavas and a small aperitif.

The Iconic Tour

Guided visit to the Cavas.

• Start point: Sala Puig “the Cathedral of Cava”.
• Josep Puig i Cadafalch’s architectural Work was declared a Historical-Artistic Monument in 1976.
• History and Heritage of the Codorníu family.
• The Codorníu winery gardens.
• First Codorníu Cava.
• Descent into the underground cellars:
• Exhibit of traditional cava making machinery.
• A tour train inside the cava tunnels
• Tasting of 3 cavas Ars Collecta with a small aperitif.
• New gastronomic area "Els Jardins de Codorníu" by Cal blay, opened from Tuesday to Sunday.
• Shop opened from Monday to Sunday
• Reduced € 23,20
• Children from 8 to 17 years € 21,75
• Children under 8 years free entry

Avinguda Jaume de Codorníu , S/N 08770 Spain

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Wine Destinations · March 15, 2024

How to Visit Cava Wineries Near Barcelona, Spain

If you’re a wine lover visiting Barcelona, Spain, a day trip to a nearby Cava winery should be on your itinerary.

The center of production for this Spanish sparkling wine is just outside the city in Sant Sadurní d’Anoia. It’s a quick train ride away. So, you don’t even need to rent a car!

As an advanced WSET-certified wine expert , I’ve personally researched and explored the Cava region. And I put together this guide with all the details you need, including how to get there, top wineries to visit, and the best Cava wine tours.

So, let’s get started planning your Cava wine tasting adventure!

How to Get to Cava Wineries Near Barcelona

If you’re staying in Barcelona, getting to the town of Sant Sadurní d’Anoia by public transportation is super easy. From the Plaça de Catalunya, you can hop on the R4 train toward Sant Vicenç de Calders. It’s about an hour’s ride out to the town.

Make sure to pay attention so you get off at the right stop (also called Sant Sadurní d’Anoia). Freixenet will be right in front of you. And it’s only about a 10-minute walk into the town.

If you’re planning to visit Freixenet, another option is to buy a combined round-trip train and tour ticket .

Cava Tour From Barcelona

If you prefer a guided option, there are some excellent wine tours led by local wine experts.

For private tours, I recommend this full-day tour that includes transportation, tastings at two family-run vineyards, and a tapas-style meal.

Or if you prefer a small-group Cava tour, this one is a great option that includes wine tasting, tapas, and exploring vineyards in a 4×4 vehicle.

🚌 Book the Private Tour or the Small-Group Tour

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Best Cava Wineries Near Barcelona

These Cava and Corpinnat producers all have tasting rooms in Sant Sadurní d’Anoia that are relatively easy to get to. And they offer winery tours and wine tastings in English.

I’d recommend sticking to two for a day trip. But you might be able to squeeze in a third if you time your tours and tastings right.

1. Codorníu

If you want to see where it all started, there’s no better place than Codorníu .

Josep Raventós Fatjó was the first to make Cava. He was inspired by a trip to the Champagne region in 1872. And thought, “Hey, I could make something similar using Spanish grapes.”

He was pretty successful, and the idea spread to others in the area. After phylloxera hit in the 1880s, many others followed his lead and replanted their vineyards with white grapes suitable for sparkling wine production.

Codorníu grew larger and larger with each generation. It was eventually inherited by Josep Maria Raventós i Blanc, who later left to found Raventós i Blanc (which, unfortunately, you can’t visit). But prior to doing that, he played a major role in expanding Codorníu.

Today, Codorníu is still one of the largest producers of Cava wines, making a wide range of sparkling wines from both indigenous and Champagne grape varieties . I particularly liked their rosé Cava at the tasting. And they have a premium collection of Reservas, Gran Reservas, and the top-tier Paraje Calificado.

Visiting Tips

The winery is a bit out of town. I walked to it, but be warned that it’s uphill and takes about a half hour from the train station. So, if you’re not up to it, you can catch a taxi from the station.

The 75-minute Discovery Tour is a great option that includes a guided tour where you learn about the production of Spanish Cava and visit the cellars. This is followed by a tasting in their Cava bar. Check the site for other wine experience options like food pairings, chocolate tasting, and Cava tasting courses.

2. Recaredo

Recaredo was founded in 1924 by Josep Mata Capellades, who named the winery after his father.

Recaredo can claim a few firsts in the Penedès wine region. They were the first to make a single varietal sparkling wine from 100% Xarel·lo. And they were the first to be certified biodynamic in 2010 (basically, a stricter version of organic).

I should also mention they were named Catalonia’s Best Winery in 2017 by the Catalan Association of Sommeliers. And in 2018, they joined Corpinnat.

Recaredo’s sparkling and still wines are aged at least 30 months, and some for as long as 30 years! I love the delicious brioche and toasty notes this gives their wines.

They also use natural cork stoppers for bottle aging rather than crown caps. They believe this better preserves the original character of the wine. But it requires removal (called disgorgement) by hand so it’s a lot of manual labor.

You can book an Origen Visit to tour the cellar and learn about how they make and age the wines. You’ll get to taste two of their aged Corpinnat sparkling wines and two of their Cellar Credo still wines.

Or you can opt for a private visit, where you’ll get to see the vineyard and enjoy food pairings with your tasting.

Gramona is another Corpinnat producer. A bit of a romantic story, it was founded after the marriage of Pilar Batlle and Bartolomé Gramona. They started producing sparkling wines under the Gramona name and released the first one in 1961.

As with the requirements of Corpinnat, Gramona is all organic. And, like Recaredo, they are also certified biodynamic and use natural cork stoppers during aging.

The average age of Gramona’s sparkling wines is 6 years. Their flagship wine, Gramona Imperial, starts at 50 months. And then they go up from there at 7-12 years for the Ill Lustros label and 15+ for the Colección de Arte.

You can book a wine tasting to try these mature sparklers. They also offer food and wine pairing experiences. And, for you equestrian enthusiasts, even the option to go horseback riding in their vineyards.

4. Solà Raventós

If you’re planning to visit Gramona, you couldn’t be any closer to Solà Raventós . Located right next door, this small family-run winery was founded in 1898.

Pere and his wife have been at the helm since 1987. And their son Guifré is now helping.

This is a super limited production, with just 20,000 bottles per year. So, these wines are hard to get outside of the area.

They age their Cavas between two to five years. And have a selection of both white and rosé Reservas and Gran Reservas.

You can sample the full range of their excellent wines along with local snacks in a 1-hour tasting. Or book a 2-hour visit that includes a tour of the cellars as well.

5. Freixenet

If you’ve ever seen the famous frosted-black-glass Cordon Negro bottle in the Cava section at your local store, you’re probably familiar with the name Freixenet (pronounced fresh-eh-net).

This mega-winery is one of the largest sparkling wine producers in the world, selling more than 100 million bottles in 2021. And they make 80% of Spain’s exported Cava.

While I wouldn’t say you should visit Freixenet for the best that Cava has to offer, I thought it was interesting to see how production is done on a larger scale. Plus, it’s right at the train station, so if you’re pressed for time, you can’t get any closer.

Freixenet was founded in 1914 when two Spanish winemaking families joined through marriage. Pedro Ferrer and Dolores Sala Vive got hitched and decided to turn the family business from still to sparkling wine production.

Over the years, the winery expanded internationally. Today, they work with 200 growing partners that supply the base wine for their bubbly. And the wines are sold in more than 100 countries worldwide.

Visits start with a video of the winery’s history. And a look back on some of their well-known ads, such as the iconic boy in a red hat holding a bottle of Freixenet.

Next, visit the old part of the winery to see the cellars and learn about the original winemaking process that was used used. Then, tour the current production facility (or factory might be a better word for it!). You’ll end at the tasting room to sample a variety of their most popular Cavas.

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Where to Stay for Visiting Cava Wineries

If you plan to visit a Cava winery in Spain, there’s no better place to base yourself than Barcelona. This bucket-list destination is known for its stunning architecture, beautiful beaches, and tasty tapas.

The H10 Madison Hotel is a great 4-star option with a pool, terrace, restaurant, and bar. It’s right in the heart of the city close to all the top sites. And it’s a 5-minute walk to the train station you’ll take to get to Sant Sadurní d’Anoia.

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FAQs About Visiting Cava Wineries in Spain

What is cava.

Cava is Spanish sparkling wine that comes from the Cava D.O. (Denominación de Origen).

Macabeu, Xarel·lo, and Parellada are the traditional grape varieties used for Cava production. But you’ll also find Garnacha, Monastrell, Trepat, and Subirat Parent. Plus, some producers are slipping in French Champagne varieties like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Like Champagne, Cava is made in the traditional method (aka méthode champenoise) where the secondary fermentation happens in the bottle. But the warmer climate means it usually has lower acidity.

And basic Cavas are not aged as long as their French cousins. But look for Reserva, Gran Reserva, and Paraje Calificado for sparklers with more time in the bottle.

Check out more alternatives to Champagne and learn about Spanish white wines .

What’s the difference between Cava and Corpinnat?

A group of Cava producers felt many had become too focused on high-volume production and the wines lacked a sense of place. So in 2015, they formed the Corpinnat brand and committed to stricter winemaking practices.

These wines must be made with mostly estate-grown indigenous grapes that are hand harvested. And they have to be aged for at least 18 months.

In 2019, Corpinnat producers were forced to leave the Cava D.O. But they are some of the best quality wines coming out of this region. So, it’s worth seeking them out and visiting!

When Is the Best Time to Visit Cava Wineries?

Weather-wise, spring and fall are the best times to visit Cava wineries in Spain. Summer months can be hot and humid. So, visiting in March, April, May, October, or November is ideal.

If you’re okay with braving the crowds, Cava Week happens annually in mid-October. You’ll get to witness the “Cava Queen” be crowned and take the first sips of the year’s harvest. Plus, there are dinners, concerts, classes, and of course, plenty of Cava! 

How Many Cava Wineries are Near Barcelona?

The town of Sant Sadurní d’Anoia is home to more than 80 Cava producers. And there are 200+ in the entire Penedès region. This region is also known for producing some of the best non-sparkling Catalan wines.

How Much Are Cava Wine Tastings?

Cava wine tastings and tours are typically around €20 to €35. But some wineries offer extra experiences like private tours, vineyard visits, and food pairing experiences that cost much more. See my global guide if you’re wondering how much wine tasting is throughout the world .

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What’s your favorite Cava or Corpinnat sparkling wine?

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Visit at Caves Codorníu

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Cava, tradition and cultural heritage near Barcelona

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Visit Caves Codorníu and take a journey back in time to the origins and culture of cava while you enjoy a unique experience and discover a jewel of Catalan art nouveau, modernisme.

ADVANTAGES:

• Welcome in the Puig Hall "the Cathedral of Cava" .
• Modernista walk: Josep Puig i Cadafalch’s landmark + history and heritage of the Codorníu family + Codorníu winery gardens.
• Museum and large cellar : exhibition of traditional machinery used in harvesting and fermentation – interactive model of the winery + table of aromas.
• The first Codorníu winery.
• Visit to the underground cellars : exhibition of traditional machinery used to make cava + train ride through the cellars.
• Discovery tour : tasting of two of Codorníu’s top-of-the-range cavas (grape juice for the under 18s).
• Iconic tour : special tasting of three cavas from the Anna de Codorníu range (Blanc de Blancs Reserva, Blanc de Noirs and Rosé) accompanied by a snack (crisps, olives and mini cured sausage) in the Anna Room.
• By car : AP-7 or AP-2 motorways, exit 27 - Sant Sadurní d'Anoia (40km from Barcelona and 30km from Tarragona).
• By train : Rodalies (suburban rail) RENFE L4 + Taxi. From Barcelona-Sants or Barcelona-plaça Catalunya stations. Trains terminating at Vilafranca del Penedès/Sant Vicenç de Calders, alight at Sant Sadurní d'Anoia station.
• Taxis Sant Sadurní : 938 910 428.
• Hillsabus : Departure at 9am. from Barcelona (c. Urgell with c. Paris - Metro L5 Hospital Clínic stop). Departure at 11.50am. from Caves Codorníu to Sant Sadurní. Regular service Sant Sadurní - Barcelona.
• The visit is free for the under 7s.
• Reduced admission is valid for students from 18 years old, large families, single parent families, + 65 years old, handicapped; prior accreditation at reception.
• Children under 18 years old must be accompanied by an adult.

Free cancellation

Up to 24h before the tour begins (local time).

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Unique Spaces and museums

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Nine Cava wineries to visit

• Wineries to visit

Listings updated in August 2023.

Map: Maggie Nelson/Decanter

Alta Alella

This is the nearest winery to Barcelona of my suggestions. Enjoy tours of the cellars and vineyards, along with tastings of either three or six Cavas. For a really special experience, try one of their personalised tours.

Visit Alta Alella | Book here

Castellroig

Pay a visit to the old eighteenth century cellar at Castellroig, which has been converted into a wine museum. Then tour their vineyards and see how their wines are made, from the soil to the bottle.

Visit Castellroig | Book here

Castillo Perelda

Perelada are well geared up for wine tourism, with a range of tours options available, across the vineyards, cellars, the on site museum and tasting – as well as a wine spa to relax in at the end of your trip.

Visit Castillo Perelda | Book here

Castell de Peralada

There’s something to suit everyone at Codorníu – where the first Cava was made in 1872 by Josep Raventos – such as a Cava tasting beginner course, a Gran Reserva matching and tasting, and the ‘Codorníu Quest’ – with skills and ingenuity tests.

Visit Codorniu | Book here

Freixenet offer a range of tours of their wineries – from traditional oenological to family friendly ones, as well as the option for private tours. Available every day and in a range of languages.

Visit Freixenet |  Book here

At Gramona, you can tour the vineyards, visit the cellars and witness traditional cava production processes, such as use of a cork stopper, ageing ‘sur lattes’, working the bottles in ‘pupitres’, and disgorging by hand.

Visit Gramona | Book here

Book a tour at the Llopart vineyards, and learn about the history of Llopart, the production process and enjoy a tasting of three of their reserva Cavas. Advance booking required.

Visit Lopart | Book here

Plan a visit to Recaredo, where you’ll learn about their biodynamic winemaking, and witness their cava disgorgement by hand. Advance booking required.

Visit Recaredo | Book here

Learn about the Cava production process with ‘The Essence of Vilarnau’ tour, or taste the variety available in the ‘Vilarnau Expert Tasting’ – where you can also match the Cava with a selection of canapés.

Visit Vilarnau | Book here

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More From Forbes

Spanish sparkling: an exceptional tasting of top quality cava.

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Cava, the Spanish sparkling wine, is close to the volume and vineyard surface of champagne. Champagne has 34,000 hectares and makes around 300 million bottles annually, while Cava has just over 38,000 hectares and makes around 250 million bottles. However, champagne has the upper hand in terms of prestige and price. There is nothing wrong with being affordable, which cava often is. But low prices do not bring prestige. So, Cava wants to get the message out there that they also make top quality. An exceptional tasting recently in Barcelona clearly showed that they do.

Read more about how to make cava famous in this Forbes article .

Juve & Camps La Capella, cava paraje calificado, Catalonia, copyright BKWine Photography

Although many consumers only know the entry level cava, often from the big houses, most cava producers, large and small, have both a cheaper and a more upscale segment (although some focus on one segment or the other). As always, when it comes to large wine regions, there is a bit of everything in cava country, and as a consumer, you choose according to your wallet, occasion, and mood. It almost always pays to opt out of the cheapest if you want a bit of character in your wine. This also applies to cava.

For the past few years, cava has been striving to carve its niche in the competitive world of sparkling wines. The focus is on showcasing the Spanish identity of cava and introducing consumers to the realm of high-quality cava. The term Cavas de Paraje Calificado, introduced in 2017, represents the pinnacle of this effort. It signifies a cava that originates from a specific vineyard, chosen for its location and terroir. The winery must own and meticulously maintain its 'paraje', and the quality of the vineyard is verified through soil analyses.

Bottles in the cellar of Cava Oriol Rossell, Catalonia, copyright BKWine Photography

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A Cavas de Paraje Calificado must be aged on the lees for at least 36 months. The harvest yield must not exceed 8000 kg/ha, which is quite low for sparkling wines. The harvest must be manual (some cava is harvested by machine, which is facilitated by the fact that the three main grapes are white, unlike Champagne, where two are red). In a cavas de paraje calificado, the three local grapes macabeo, xarel-lo and parellada as well as pinot noir and chardonnay are permitted.

By introducing the concept of Cava de Paraje Calificado, the region also wants to show the complexity that can be achieved with extended ageing. During the Cava Meeting in Barcelona end of November last year, I took part in a tasting of extraordinary cavas. The tasting showed some of the "paraje calificado" (although most are older than 2017, when the term was formally introduced) as well as cavas with long and sometimes very long ageing. It was, as you can imagine, a very enjoyable tasting featuring cavas from some of the top producers.

The Barcelona tasting of top Cava

Cava Pere Ventura Gran Vintage Paratge Calificat Can Bas 2015

The grapes are xarel-lo and macabeo, and the vines are very old, between 60 and 105 years. The Can Bas vineyard is on four hectares and surrounded by water and forest. It is cultivated organically, with low yields, 3,500 kg per hectare, and with minimum intervention in the cellar. The fermentation is with wild yeast. This is a full-bodied and creamy cava style with a lovely, fresh, and mouthwatering acidity and a taste of almonds, citrus and fruit ripeness. Elegant and complex is the overall impression.

Cava Alta Alella Mirgin Exeo Paraje Calificado Vallcirera 2017

The producer Alta Alella is in the opposite direction from Barcelona compared to most other cava producers. It is situated just 20 minutes’ drive from Barcelona, north along the coast, and just two kilometres from the sea. Even the narrow, long shape of the bottle—the traditional bottle here—differs from other cava. According to the owner family Pujol-Busquets, the saltiness of the sea leaves its mark on the wines.

The base wine is aged in French oak for three months before bottling. The grapes are 60% xarel-lo and 40% chardonnay. "Pinot noir and chardonnay make excellent cava, but we must be in tune with the market. It is now trendy with local grapes," says Mireia Pujol-Busquets. The wine has an excellent taste of orange peel, ripe stone fruit, and saltiness (yes, it is definitely there). It is fresh and dry with a lovely creamy mouthfeel; delicious

Bottles in the cellar of Pares Balta, Catalonia, copyright BKWine Photography

Cava Codorníu Ars Collecta Paraje El Trous Nou 2010

From a small winery within the big house of Codorníu. This is a 100% pinot noir from a vineyard with a cool location. The wine was disgorged in 2014. An exciting wine with aromas of ripe citrus and an unusually high acidity of 9 grams per litre. The dosage of 9 grams of sugar balances the wine, but it still has a crispness and steeliness that is quite remarkable. Very enjoyable.

Cava Codorníu Ars Collecta Paraje La Pleta 2013

This is a 100% chardonnay, and here, too, the acidity is high and fresh. It is tightly structured, with aromas of green apples and lemon. However, hints of maturity have begun to show themselves.

Cava Vins El Cep, Claror Paratje Qualificat Can Prats 2015

This light and elegant cava has aromas of white flowers, almonds, green apples, and a slight saltiness. It feels fresh and energetic, with character. The vineyard is in the northernmost part of Penedès.

Cava Juvé & Camps La Capella 2009 Brut Nature, Cava de Paraje Calificado

La Capella is a 7-hectare vineyard with well-drained clay and limestone soil, with southern exposure. Around the vineyard are olive trees and pine forests. The grape is 100% xarel-lo, the vines are old and pruned as gobelet. “We want to show the ageing of xarel-lo”, says Meritxell Juvé, CEO and 4 th generation of Juvé & Camps. And the grape does age splendidly. This is a fabulous cava with a mature, slightly burnt character, and is very expressive. There is a bit of honey caramel which softens the brut nature style. Delicious.

Joan Juve with wife and daughter Meritxell Juve now CEO of Juve & Camps, cava, Catalonia, copyright ... [+] BKWine Photography

Cava Vins Familia Ferrer, José Ferrer Can Sala 2013

The Ferrer family founded Freixenet in 1914. Nowadays, the house is in the hands of Henkell Trocken in Germany. Familia Ferrer Can Sala, however, is still owned and run by the family. Here, we have 75% x-arello and 25% parellada (“but since then, we have switched to 50/50”, says CEO José Ferrer). It is full-bodied, quite intense, has a lovely mouthfeel, and is dry and fresh in the finish. The ripe aromas stay long on the palate.

Cava Vins Familia Ferrer Paraje Calificado Can Sala 2008

Very savoury with ripe yellow fruit, citrus, and nuts. Great complexity and flavours that linger for a long time.

Familia Ferrer Carbo-Capdevila 1975, cava, Catalonia, copyright BKWine Photography

Cava Vins Familia Ferrer, Vinyes de Can Sala 2015

100% parellada, which is unusual. It is pleasant, still young and energetic, complex with layers of flavours. Hints of ripe fruit, elegant with a crisp, fresh finish.

Cava Agustí Torelló Mata Kripta Gran Reserva 2011

This is a superb, exciting, and refreshing cava, with peach and honey on the nose and evolved toasty aromas of brioche on the palate with a bit of bitter almond in the aftertaste.

Cava Mestres Mas Via Gran Reserva Extra Brut 2003

Mestres is one of the oldest cava houses. The house only makes the higher category Cava de Guarda Superior Gran Reserva. Two of Mestres’ hallmarks are the ageing of the base wine in oak barrels and extended ageing on the lees. Right now, they are selling vintage 2006.

In 1945, Josep Mestres made his first sparkling wine without adding sugar, thus one of the first brut nature in history. His son, Antonio Mestres, now takes care of the business. He is, he says, a bit obsessed with gastronomic wines. He always thinks about gastronomy, so he has, of course, a significant focus on making cava that goes well with food.

This Gran Reserva 2003 was disgorged in 2018. It is an exceptional wine in an oxidative style. Dark in colour, it has a huge nose of honey, roasted coffee, and walnuts. It is a beautiful wine and very different from a young cava. Grapes are 75% x-arello and the rest macabeo and parellada.

Carbo-Capdevila 1975, cava, Catalonia, copyright BKWine Photography

Cava Blancher, Carbó Capdevila Reserva 1975

The oldest cava we tasted was made before Cava DOC even existed. The bubbles are slightly tired, but you can easily forgive that, as this is a magnificent wine. The colour is a beautiful amber, and the aroma is reminiscent of honey, walnuts, baked apples, and coffee—a treat.

—Britt Karlsson

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