sweeteasy wine tours
the best of catalonia
"It's easy to enjoy life in Catalonia. Here you find some of the most interesting wine regions in Spain, where winemaking has been developed into an artform. Take a break, gather a group of friends, family or collegues, and join us for a memorable experience of the wine, the food, the culture, and the people of Catalonia. We hope you'll fall in love with Catalonia the same way as we did on our first visit.
Welcome! Benvingut!"
Catalonia is a land of immense beauty with no less that 11 geographically unique wine districts awarded with the D.O. status, denomination or designation of origin, and is also the main producer of the Spanish sparkling wine Cava.
During one day it’s possible to combine a hike in the mountain, a dip in the sea, and a walk through the vineyards. The Catalan nature offers the most stunning sceneries; from the sandy beaches of Costa Daurada to the steep hills of the Priorat vineyards, from the lush and billowing Penedès region, to the emblematic Monserrat Mountain.
The weather is suitable for tourism throughout the year. The winter is mild and dry, and the almond trees are in blossom already in February. The spring and autumn may come with a day of rain, but mostly the sun is shining from a sky as blue as the cornflower. In March, life slowly returns to the vineyards, and the young leaves paint them a fresch pale green. September is a busy month in the vineyards when the grapes are ready for harvest, and in October the colour symphony ranges from green to yellow, and from orange to red. In November it’s time for the olives to be picked, and for the end of the farmers’ year to be celebrated with the harvest feast in most rural villages.
Destination: Catalonia
The wine
In Catalonia's diverse wine regions, more and more producers are making exceptional wines, using sustainable methods both in the fields and in the winery. Most acclaimed internationally are the intense and fruity red wines from Priorat, the result of a dry and hot climate, the slate based soil and labor-intense farming methods. In Penedès, the queen of the wines is the sparkling Cava, made of local grapes, and in it’s best versions it’s a crisp dry Brut Nature. But more regions are reaching the international market with interesting wines, and each region offer it’s own unique reason for a visit.
The food
The Catalan cuisine is very complex and sophisticated, ranging from the seafood from the coastal areas, with the mushrooms of the forests, and meat from wild pigs and rabbits. Catalans are known for a brave mixture of taste and ingredients, and have come up with the sea-and-mountain style cooking, “mar i muntanya”, where meat and seafood come together in a delicious combination. Dried fruit and nuts are commonly used both in sweet and savory dishes, and olive oil is a must in almost any recipe. Garlic, tomatoes, and peppers are staples, and bough fresh from the vegetable markets in the local village. In the mountaneous interior, pork is turned into a wide variety of cold cuts and salamis, genetically referred to as “embutidos”, and to the local sausages like “longanissa” and “fuet”.
The accomodation
The majority of our guests are booked into rural hotels with a green profile, situated in the beautiful wine regions. During our trips around Catalonia, we have visited many charming hotels where the guests are received with genuine hospitality. Comfortable beds and clean bathrooms are a must, but not enough to quailify as a SweetEasy hotel. The hotels we recommend to our guests, are offering something special - true hospitality.
