The tradition of wine and cava production in the Penedes dates back hundreds of years and has earned it the designation of being the most prestigious cava in the world. More than 66,700 acres are cultivated by more than 5,800 viticulturists who make more than 1.3 million barrels of wine and 1.4 million barrels of cava a year. The region boasts one of the biggest bodegas in the world.
Departing from Barcelona, you will drive to the Penedes region where you will visit the Codorniu Cellars. The Codorníu family is one of the oldest winemaking families in Spain dating back to the 1500's. The first Cava wine was made in 1872. Tragically, 14 years later the Phylloxera plague infested the vineyards. The family fought back trying the most innovative viticulture techniques of the time, and survived the dilemma. By the end of the 19th century, Codorníu was producing over 100,000 bottles of cava per annum. In 1976, the cellars were declared a Monument of National Historical Artistic Merit by King Juan Carlos I of Spain. The ambience of the place paired with superb Cava wines, make a visit to Codorníu's cellars unforgettable.
Founded in 1870 by Jaime Torres, Bodegas Torres is a historical wine growing company with the most extensive vineyards in Pened's. They also have wineries in Chile and the United States. The company is currently managed by the fourth generation of the Torres family. Their fields in the Penedes region are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon and their La Plana is recognized as one of the most prestigious red wines in the world. Lunch will then be taken.
After lunch, travel to the Jean Leon Bodegas. The designer wine 'Jean León' is the culmination of the life of one man, a man whose fascinating biography begins in 1928 when he is born in Northern Spain. 19 years later his desire to travel urged him to leave for Paris with very little money in his pocket. Later he ended up in New York City after stowing away on a merchant vessel. With no immigration papers he kept moving, taking odd jobs where he could, until he landed in the land of dreams, Hollywood. Determined to legalize his situation, he spent two years in the army during the Korean War. Returning to Hollywood, he found work as a waiter in a restaurant owned by Frank Sinatra and Joe di Maggio and was soon making friends with the famous patrons. He met an actor whose dream was to own the most luxurious restaurant in Hollywood, which was his dream as well. The two joined forces and moved ahead. The sudden and tragic death of his partner James Dean almost derailed the venture. Jean Leon pressed on and in 1956 he opened La Scala in Beverly Hills. Even though he was acclaimed as a wine connoisseur, he would often lament that he was unable to find the 'perfect' wine, in his taste. So in 1965, he set off on his next great adventure. He needed to find the best land and climate, the best vines and finally, the best winemaking process. He travelled the world over in search of lands, until he reached the heart of the Pened's region. He purchased the current estate, paid a small fortune to purchase grafts from French wineries of renowned prestige such as Château Lafitte-Rothschild, La Lagune and Corton Charlemagne, he ordered the existing local vines be dug up and these unknown varieties were planted. Jean León thus went down in history as a pioneer in planting noble varieties in Spain. He then built the winery and gave his oenologist, Jaume Rovira, absolute freedom to equip it with all the latest technological advances and to work with the most demanding quality criteria. Today, as then, the Jean León winery continues faithful to the dictates of its founder. Oenologist Jaume Rovira still personally supervises all operations in the vineyard and the winery. After your visit, you will drive back to Barcelona.
