It's hard to find a bad glass of wine in Barcelona, or Spain for that matter. Spanish wines have long been renowned for their delicious aromas, full-bodied charm and overall high quality. Whether you're drinking Rioja, Penedes, Ribera Del Duero or Cava (Spanish champagne), you're in for a treat.
One of the best ways to experience all that Spain has to offer when it comes to wine is to do a few tastings. Barcelona boasts a number of boutique, charming and trendy shops interspersed throughout the city and the wine tastings are usually offered at very reasonable prices.
VilaViniteca — Photo courtesy of VilaViniteca
A few key ones to check out include:
Paladar Vinoteca
Every day at 6 pm, this quaint wine shop in the heart of the Gothic Quarter holds tasting sessions. Run by two young Venezuelan girls, you'll get four full glasses of wine, a complete and interesting explanation of the wines themselves (including the vineyard and the region they’re from), as well as some tasty things to munch on while you’re sipping away.
If you feel like a meal, Paladar Vinoteca recently introduced high quality tapas to the menu. Ask for their fig dish, it's to die for.
VilaViniteca
A Barcelona staple, VilaViniteca is more than a wine shop. It's a gourmet foodies’ haven that doubles as a wine store and tasting station. If you're looking for small group events, this is an excellent option - just be sure to reserve in advance. The wine shop itself is lined with bottles from all over the world and has pretty much anything you could ask for. Be sure to ask the staff for their recommendations as they're all trained and incredibly knowledgeable.
Monvinic
No Barcelona wine tasting experience is complete without a visit to Monvinic. Located in the posher Eixample neighborhood, for those who really know their wines, this is the ideal place. With thousands of wines from which to choose, including a computer automated selection process of national as well as international vinos, Monvinic is as much about the wines as it is about the experience itself.
The restaurant/bar features top-notch service with an overwhelming variety of options from which you can select using your personal iPad. Monvinic has a restaurant as well as a bar, where you don't need to make reservations. But be sure to get there early especially on Fridays, and take note, they're closed Saturday and Sundays leaving the heavy drinking days to be had during the week.
