Alt Penedès. Come to enjoy a region where the passion for land, nature, traditions and culture is felt in their fields of vineyards and wines.
Alt Penedès is a region located in the province of Barcelona, and very close to Tarragona. It is a very soft terrain, dominated by a plain with very little grade and gentle mountains. This and its Mediterranean climate, with moderate winters and hot summers, makes it a privileged place for the cultivation of the vineyard.
The Romans (218 BC) were the ones that introduced the cultivation of the vineyard, since then this cultivation has impregnated every corner of the territory, and gives identity to a region where the fields of vineyards dominate a landscape dotted with farmhouses and small village.
Enotourism (wine tourism) is a good way to know the importance of the vineyard in the territory.
We can visit wineries, participate in the harvest, walk through their vineyards and make wine tastings (denomination of Origin Penedès). White, light and aromatic wines, intense and light red wines... Most of these wines have their origin in small or medium-sized farms, where they produce their wines with their own vineyards.
The farmhouses, the small towns and wineries are connected by a great network of roads that cross the vineyards and, thanks to the almost plain relief of the region, make them a great attraction for the practice of cycling or hiking. With the name of " "Camins del vi i del cava" (Wine and Cava roads) you will find numerous proposals for well-signposted excursions.
The vineyard is also the protagonist in the festive calendar. The festivities of the "Verema" (harvest) or the festivities of the "most" (must), they are celebrations that are celebrated by all the towns of the region and are made to celebrate the end of the harvest of the grape (in the beginning of the autumn), they are accompanied by festive activities and Traditional. We can highlight the week of the "Cava" (spanish wine) de Sant Sadurní D'Anoia, the Feast of the "Most" (must) of Santa Margarida i Els Monjos, The Feast of the "Most I Arrencaceps" of Sant Pere de Riudebitlles and the festival of the "Verema" of the Penedès in Vilafranca del Penedès.
Although the vineyard is the great dominating of the landscape (80% of arable surface), the region offers pleasant surprises for nature lovers. We recommend an excursion to the natural area of the "Sierra de Montmell", where you can enjoy the gentle mountains of the coast. If it is too hot... there is nothing better than a getaway to the natural area of Las Dous (Torrelles de Foix) and bathing in its magnificent waterfall. If you are looking for a little more excitement for the whole family, you need a visit to Les Deus (Sant Quintí de Mediona) where you will find many activities in a spot with fountains and caves. And if you still want to have more... Visit the Garraf Natural Park.
Vilafranca del Penedès is the capital of the region and offers a very good offer of commercial services, restaurants, cultural and recreational activities. We can visit the VINSEUM, Museum of the Culture of wine, walk through the different routes that the city offers (modernist or medieval), enjoy the quality offer of the shops of the town and rest in some establishment of the varied offer of bars and Restaurants we can find.
Traditions, nature, wine tourism... Come and discover a territory where the vineyards mark the passing of time, full of small and pleasant surprises and very close to Barcelona and its metropolitan area. To enjoy all this RuralVerd recommends the following holiday cottages...