Spain is of course a great wine-producing country, exporting its celebrated bottles all over the world, and the vibrant city of Barcelona is a great place to try them. If you’re looking for the best places for wine tasting in Barcelona, here’s our pick of the best, from old traditional bodegas where you can help yourself straight from the barrel, to swanky wine bars with their own cellars and sommeliers.
Els Sortidors del Parlament
A rustic affair, Els Sortidors del Parlament is a favourite among locals and visitors alike. Quirks include seating at old wine barrels; the chalkboard outside, featuring offers of the day; and the wine list printed on, erm, a wine bottle. Try specials such as oysters and a glass of cava, or the house-made vermouth, which is raved about. They serve a range of local Catalan and Spanish wines, as well as wines from further afield – perfect for wine tasting. You can also pair them with traditional local tapas.
Address: Carrer del Parlament, 53, Barcelona, Spain
Price: €€
Atmosphere: Charming and lively
El Diset
This is a cosy, softly-lit restaurant where you can sample wines from around Catalonia, and combine them with delicately-prepared tapas too. There’s an urban-chic vibe to El Diset, which places as much emphasis on its drinks as its tantalising tapas. Pair some quality Catalan wines, such as those from DO Montsant or Terra Alta, with a selection of tapas, and even top it off with one of their prized cocktails.
Address: Carrer Antic de Sant Joan, 3, Barcelona, Spain
Price: €€
Atmosphere: Romantic and sophisticatedV
Monvinic
Located just off Passeig de Gracia, plush Monvinic opens between 40 and 50 wine bottles from its continually-updated wine cellar. It’s home to award-winning sommeliers, such as Isabelle Brunet, who can suggest an appropriate wine to suit your taste. The cellar not only stocks bottles from Spain, but also winemaking regions across five continents. This wine bar even offers a space for wine tasting and presentations. The gourmet restaurant will also satisfy your tastebuds with its creative culinary offerings. Try the lightly smoked tuna with aubergine and ginger or the organic lamb dish with pureed potatoes.
Address: Carrer de la Diputació, 249, Barcelona, Spain
Price: €€€
Atmosphere: Sophisticated, swanky and upmarket
Bar Brutal
A wirey wine rack surrounds the charming and lively bar of Bar Brutal, close to the Picasso Museum. Choose from the habitual French wines like a Chardonnay or a Sauvignon blanc or something more local like a Penedès Clot de les Soleres. This is a casual and alternative spot for wine tasting with quirky illustrations, and even a pig’s head on the wall.
Address: Carrer de la Princesa, 14, Barcelona, Spain
Price: €€
Atmosphere: Cosy and alternative
Zona d’Ombra
With the chance to sample over 300 types of wine at Zona d’Ombra wine bar (but not in one sitting), you’ll no doubt find a few to your taste. This hip and stylish bar has bare brick walls and chunky wooden tables. As you enter, you’ll pass by full wine racks and the day’s recommendations chalked up on the board. Choose from several Catalan wines such as Cava, a red Idoia wine, a white from Penedès region or a red Montsant.
Address: Carrer de Salomó ben Adret, 12, Barcelona, Spain
Price: €€
Atmosphere: toned-down hip and stylish
Viblioteca
A cute illustrated whiteboard heads the light canteen-style bar of Viblioteca. You’ll see it has a great selection of cheeses penned up on the board, as well as hundreds of bottles lining the walls. This bar aims to fuel the spirit, just like a good book would, hence the name. They also offer 50 types of cheeses made by small producers, to pair with your wines. Viblioteca is a great spot to tantalise your tastebuds and test out wine and cheese pairings.
Address: Carrer de Vallfogona, 12, Barcelona, Spain
Price: €€
Atmosphere: Bright and casual
Bar Bodega Josefa
Mix Catalan culture with the unlikely combination of the Wild West and you’ll be in the right mindset for Bar Bodega Josefa. The Catalan Senyera and a Wyoming flag greet you as you walk through the doors. Inside, you’ll get a cosy feel. The walls are decorated with car number plates, social club photos, and even cowboy photos. With a backdrop of old-style illustrated ‘wanted dead or alive’ posters, you’ll find self-service wine barrels. This is a great local haunt with a Wild West twist. It also creates a great atmosphere for Barcelona FC games.
Address: Carrer de Saragossa, 86, 08006 Barcelona, Spain
Price: €
Atmosphere: Local and wild west
Bar Bodega Montse
A busy mix of wine barrels on tap (including Moscatel), antique bullfighter posters and a somewhat unfittingly flashy arcade machine, inhabit the jumbled Bodega Montse. If you want to travel back in time to a quaint bottle bank of a wine bar, then choose Montse’s. Located in an area which used to be called Barrio Chino, this is an authentic remnant of the type of bars found in the early 60s in Raval. It’s close to Saint Augustine church, so you’ll be able to repent your sins after coming here.
Address: Carrer de l’Arc de Sant Agustí, 5, Barcelona, Spain
Price: €
Atmosphere: Local and nostalgic
Celler Florida
A warm and inviting wine bar, Cellar Florida is perfect for wine tasting. Fill up your bottle from a barrel or choose from one of the hundreds of wine bottles surrounding you. The staff pride themselves on their wine knowledge here. Sip a varied selection in this casual and friendly wine bar.
Address: Carrer de Floridablanca, 112, Barcelona, Spain
Price: €€
Atmosphere: warm and traditional
Cellarer Wine Bar
More of a shop than a bar, Cellarar offers regular wine tasting events. Make your way through stacks of wine bottles to a huge varnished table at the back, where you can sample fermented grapes to your mind’s content. Visit them for selections of wines of the month and masterclasses on specific types of wines like sauvignon blanc ,or regional wines such as those from the Emporda region.
Address: Carrer Aribau 76, Barcelona, Spain
Price: €€
Atmosphere: friendly and cosy
These are all permanent wine bars in Barcelona, where you can go wine tasting throughout the year. If you’re in Barcelona in September for the La Mercè Festival, the Mostra de Vins i Caves de Catalunya (Exhibition of Wines and Cavas of Catalonia) event pops up each year, showcasing the best wines the region has to offer.
