Travel tips for Madrid and Barcelona-Aspasios apartment rentals

If you fancy a day out of Barcelona then I can highly recommend a wine tasting visit to the Penedés, an area famous for wine and especially cava (Catalan sparkling white wine, don’t call it champagne). We went by car and the Penedés is an easy hour south-west of the city.

Suggested day trips from Barcelona-Off to the Penedés for wine tasting

We went to the J. Miguel Jané winery for an organised tour and cata de vinos (wine tasting). Our host was superb, her knowledge was wide ranging and she gave us a tour of two different vineyards, and then we went through the bodega where they collect the grapes, wash and crush them, then store them. The process was explained in detail and we visited the storage areas and then saw some of the oak casks.

We were pretty well ready for a taste by then and we then went into a lovely, cool room where the tasting was set up.

There was a pica-pica (small selection) of tapas; pan con tomate, local sausages and cheese, as well as four different wines all set out for our group.

Our host wouldn’t let us start just yet, she explained a little about checking the colour of the wine and the lagrimas (tears, or for English speakers, legs).

Then we started with a Sauvignon Blanc, went to a delicious Rose, then onto a semi-reserve and a reserve. The latter two were combinations of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Xarello.

I was surprised when the tour finished, we’d spent nearly 3 hours at the bodega and it was fascinating and great fun.

Costs for a wine tour vary depending on where you buy it but should cost around €40 per head. Miguel Jané wines are popular in France and the UK, but only available in Spain via their cellar door. Prices are more than fair for all the work that goes into the wine, from €5 to €8 a bottle with discounts for cases, and they’ll arrange international shipment at reasonable prices.

There are tens of wineries to visit and the larger wineries (Torres, Vallhermoso, etc.) will accept walk-ups if they have space. We wanted to go the smaller, independent experience so needed to book a few days in advance and I’d have to say the Miguel Jané people put in a huge effort to make the visit enjoyable and memorable.

Tip-It’s perfectly possible to visit the Penedés using public transport but I imagine it would be a logistical challenge. Ideally a group could get a mini-bus and make a fabulous day of it, and maybe stop in Sitges on the way home, otherwise a car is recommended.

One small criticism, there was not a lot of interaction between us and the others in our group. A bit surprising when you consider that wine drinkers almost never shut up! Perhaps we needed just a little encouragement.

Just in case you had any doubts, Barcelona has been voted number 8 by Trip Advisor’s Travelers’ Choice 2012 awards.

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And who’s number 1 for self catering apartments in Barcelona…

Walking from Passeig de Gracia to the Sagrada Familia you will find the stunning Casa Terrades, more commonly known as the Casa de les Punxes (loosely translated from Catalan as the house of needles). One glance and you’ll see why.

Barcelona's Casa de les Punxes, an urban fairytale castle

It occupies an entire (triangular) block in the Eixample Dreta area of Barcelona and while not exactly a hidden gem, is a delightful surprise for determined tourists and students of architecture alike.

It is a working building, with a bank, a upmarket specialist bookstore, a kitchen design centre on the ground floor, and offices and residencial apartments above. In early 2012 it is underwent some maintenance and was covered up but it is no back in its full glory.

The building is private and cannot be visited, but the portero (concierge) is usually friendly and if asked nicely I imagine would let you in to see the foyer.

Before continuing on to the Sagrada Familia there is a great coffee shop next door. La Danesa (the Danish woman) is right on the corner of the intersection of Avenguda Diagonal, Carrer de Rosellon, and happily just a fews step back from la casa de les Punxes. They do snacks and light lunches and it’s all prepared there in the kitchen. The staff are friendly and obliging and speak English. Highly recommended.

The outside terrace of La Danesa is beautifully located but can be noisy from the traffic of Diagonal wizzing past just inches away, or inside is a gorgeous mid-morning suntrap. I recommend the chocolate-chip cookies.

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