Penedès Cava Country
Speakeasy Zone
Cycling
Despite its proximity to Barcelona, the Penedès is a very agricultural zone, with nearly 16% of all land dedicated to vineyards. The network of small asphalt and dirt roads is extensive and uncrowded. Gravel and E- bikes are the best way to see the Penedès towns, countryside and nearby Garraf natural park.
Cuisine
The Penedès offers a rich tradition of Mediterranean market cuisine deeply tied to the region's vineyards, olive groves and nearby the Garraf coast. It's a zone that really has it all. Wine and cava tasting have brought tapas and general standup eating into vogue, and calçots (spring onions) ring in the spring season from February onward.
Culture
The Penedés is synonymous with cava throughout Spain and the rest of Europe, and its culture is deeply rooted in its 2,700-year winemaking heritage. It's also the capital of the castellers, or castle clubs that fill small stadiums with thousands of spectators during festival time to see who can build the tallest human castle.
Base Camp: Font de la Canya
You don't have to venture very far in the Penedés to find great riding, great food and world-class sparkling cava. Font de la Canya is right in the heart of all of that. Perhaps the most spa-oriented of our base camps, there are times that you may not want to leave the hotel. Barcelona is a 45-minute drive away and always a temptation on an off day. The famous beaches of Sitges are also 45 minutes' drive through the Garraf natural park.
"Without losing track of the cycling, which was great, we really loved the side trip to Montserrat and LOVED meeting Ernest and Ricard at their bodega. Such nice people, nice people everywhere we went. We're heading home with some cava to break open when we all get back together this fall."
Victor D Lucerne, CH
