Spanish Food, Wine & Architecture
This pre-cruise package is not yet available for purchase. Specific details for this program are not yet finalized and the tour elements are subject to change. An email announcement will be sent to all group members when the tour is open for sale
Food & Wine Trails’ two-night pre-cruise Barcelona package offers guests the opportunity to experience and taste the Spanish Food, Wine & Architecture of Barcelona. This package includes the four-star Hotel Colon (or similar), conveniently located in front of the city’s Cathedral and just a few steps away from Las Ramblas. Some say the best way to really get to know the culture of a place is to eat and drink your way through it. From the time you arrive until when you are dropped off at the pier that is exactly what you’ll do.
Truly a city for all the senses, Barcelona has a reputation for daring experimentation with art, design, cuisine, and more recently, in the wines flowing from neighboring wine-growing regions like Penedés and Priorat.The city is saturated with art; the influences of Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, and architect Antoni Gaudí can be seen throughout the city. The city’s culinary reputation and critical acclaim can be validated by the fact that Barcelona is home to an incredible twenty-five Michelin-starred restaurants. For these reasons and more, Barcelona is one of the world’s best cities for a food and wine lover.
After settling into your hotel room, join your fellow group members in the hotel lobby before the evening’s walking tapas tour. Your knowledgeable, English-speaking guide will introduce you to the local cuisine that welcomes the new, while celebrating the old―tapas!
It has been said that Spain owes much of its status as a mecca of progressive cuisine to these small plate dishes; Spaniards will try anything once – as long as it’s small! At each stop along your route there will be a glass of wine and one of the famous small plates waiting.
Spend a full day in the Penedés wine region and be treated to a tour, tasting and multi-course lunch at the 200-year old Parés Baltà winery. Three generations have overseen the vineyards and winemaking operations, always respecting tradition but also bringing new and fresh ideas to the winery.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate describes Parés Baltà as having “serious aspirations” in their efforts for “producing world-class wines.” An organic winery, Parés Baltà grows 18 different grape varietals (12 red and 6 white) and produces 25 different types of wine.
Also included is a city tour of Barcelona that will take you to one of the city’s most celebrated attractions,Gaudí’s famous unfinished cathedral, Sagrada Familia. Sagrada Familiais one of Gaudí's most impressive works. This enormous church is a summary of everything that Gaudí designed. The architectural style of Sagrada Familia has been called "warped Gothic," and it's easy to see why. The rippling contours of the stone façade make it look as thoughSagrada Familia is melting in the sun, while the towers are topped with brightly-colored mosaics which look like bowls of fruit.