From Barcelona: Montserrat & Cava Winery Day Trip

Highlights

• Explore Montserrat before the crowds
• Visit Montserrat's basilica on a guided tour
• Tour a family-run cava winery with a farm-to-table lunch
• Learn about the cava production process
• Travel in a small group on a comfortable private minibus

Description

Meet your guide and small group first thing in the morning at a convenient location in Barcelona and board a private minibus for the hour-long drive out to Montserrat. Along the way, your guide will give you a bit of information about Barcelona, Catalonia, and Montserrat itself to set the scene for your experience.

It’ll still be early by the time you get to Montserrat, which means you’ll beat the crowds that tend to arrive later in the morning. First, you’ll explore the basilica and monastery founded in the 11th century with your guide. From the basilica, your guide will point out the famous Black Madonna (La Moreneta), a carved wooden statue from the 12th century that many pilgrims who visit Montserrat believe has healing powers. Throughout the visit, your knowledgeable guide will share stories of religion, nature, and history that will help you appreciate Montserrat more than if you had attempted to navigate this fascinating space on your own.

After the guided portion of your Montserrat visit, you’ll have a bit of free time to explore the site and its surroundings at your own pace. Visit the small yet impressive onsite art museum with paintings by Dalí and Picasso, hike to a nearby panoramic viewpoint, explore the local farmers market, or grab a cup of coffee in the café.

Following your time at Montserrat, you’ll board the minibus once again for a short drive out to the nearby Penedes wine region. Your guide will share plenty of information about cava production during the trip, so you’ll know exactly what to expect upon arrival.

Your final stop on this day trip is a family-run cava winery, where the owner will show you around. Sip a glass of welcome cava before heading out to the vineyards on a 4x4. Enjoy a relaxing stroll among the vines, and if in season, you may even have the chance to do a bit of pruning or grape-picking yourself.

Then it's time for a homemade lunch prepared by the owner and his family. Sit down at an outdoor table overlooking the vineyard* and enjoy a delicious lunch with high quality regional products and paired with the bodega’s best wines. You’ll finish up with a look at the bottling and labeling process inside the production plant (one lucky guest will even get to take home a custom bottle) before heading back to Barcelona.

*In the event of rain or inclement weather, you'll enjoy a homemade farm-to-table lunch inside.