When you think of Barcelona and wine, you might envision Cava, a famous sparkling wine here. But Barcelona isn’t just about Cava; it’s surrounded by diverse regions offering many styles of wine. Let’s explore them.
Cava: A Unique Sparkling Wine
Cava is a sparkling wine, similar to champagne, made using local grape varieties like Macabeo, Parellada, and Xarel-lo. It brings citrus and apple hints with earthy tones. Aging gives it brioche or toast notes. Cava Reserva or Gran Reserva offers richer tastes based on aging.
Corpinnat: A Different Cava Class
Corpinnat refers to cava producers with stricter rules outside the Cava DO classification. Famous producers like Codorníu or Freixenet are in the Penedés region, near Barcelona. They’re still within Cava DO but can be produced in multiple Spanish regions.
Penedès: Home to Famous Brands
Penedès houses globally recognized wine brands like Torres. Wines labeled DO around Barcelona originate from various regions. Priorat, similar to Rioja, holds the DOCa classification, producing rich wines like Grenache Noir and Carignan blends.
Priorat: History and Quality
Priorat, with its steep slopes and poor soils, grows Grenache Noir and Carignan. Wines push higher alcohol levels with rich structures. Wineries like Álvaro Palacios or Miguel Torres contribute to Priorat’s reputation.
Montsant DO: Gaining Popularity
Montsant, similar to Priorat in varieties and prices, balances richness with precision. Wineries like Celler de Capcanes or Celler Cairats produce notable wines.
Conca de Barberà DO and Costers del Segre DO
Conca de Barberà grows Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon, offering muscular wines. Costers del Segre cultivates Trepat, adding lightness and floral tones. Producers like Castell d’Or and Miguel Torres showcase great wines.
Empordà DO: French Influence
Empordà, near the French border, produces Grenache-based red wines with rich flavors and higher alcohol levels. It also makes fortified red wines. Exploring Barcelona means experiencing diverse wines from various nearby regions.
