An outing to the Codorniu cellars, in the Penedés area, about 30 Kilometres from Barcelona. The Penedés is the wine-growing region which created the “cava”, a sparkling wine vintage of worldwide renown. During the trip you will visit the Codorniu, a huge centre for the production of cava following the traditional methods of fermentation and storage of the sparkling wine in quiet cold caves excavated in limestone.

After the cellars the guests will visit Sitges, a fashionable beach resort in which one can find a unique blend of sophisticated and plain tourism with one of the highest densities of artists per square meter of the Mediterranean Coast.

Artists, such as Rusiñol or Utrillo, already discovered its charm at the end of the XIXth century. The Cau Ferrat Museum, former residence of Rusiñol, and also the Maricel Museum, display beautiful samples of the Catalan modern arts. Lunch in Sitges is included in the tour.

Wine Cellar

The history of the Codorníu family goes back t o the middle of the 16th century. A document of that period mentions Jaume Codorníu and confirms that at that time he owned presses, barrels and casks.

In 1659 Anna, the Codorníu’s eldest daughter, married Miquel Raventós. Anna was the last of the family dynasty to bear the Codorníu name – the heirs were called Raventós.

The history of cava is closely linked to that of Codorníu. In 1872, Josep Raventós i Fatjó, after visiting the Champagne region, in France, where he investigated and learned the Champanoise Method, produced his first bottles of quality sparkling wine with its own identity, In 1895 a new winery was planned, in 1915, twenty years after commencing, construction of the new Codorníu cellars was completed. This was one of the finest examples of architecture for the production and ageing of cava and was a symbol of the company’s enterprising spirit and vision of the future.

Josep Puig i Cadafalch, who, like Gaudí, was one of the leading exponents of the great Catalan modernist architectural school, was in charge of the design and construction of the winery.

In 1976 the Codorníu cellars were honoured by being declared a National Monument of Historical and Artistic Interest by King Juan Carlos I..

SITGES

Sitges, situated just south of Barcelona, belongs to the Garraf region and is surrounded by sea and mountains, along 18 km of Mediterranean coast, most of which is made up of beaches. Its Passeig Marítim, or seafront Esplanade, is more than 3 km long, from the Baluard (Bastion), a spectacular natural viewpoint, to the Terramar residential area.

Throughout its history Sitges was a roman settlement, an Arab castle and a medieval fort. Situated on the Mediterranean Sea, it’s believed that it was already inhabited before the Neolithic period; the existence of Iberian and Roman settlements has been confirmed by many different archeological finds.

Back in medieval times, Sitges was essentially a small fishing village, and life was organized around Baluard headland, where the parish church, hospital and cemetery were, as well as a small group of houses, all enclosed and connected to the rest of the village by a bridge at the top of Major or Main Street. There are references to the existence of different gates that closed off Nou, Tacó, Carreta, Aigua and Davallada Streets and several towers, possibly erected in the 14th century, a fact that shows the entire village was walled.

During the passage from the 19th to the 20th century, the town became home to painters, sculptors, musicians and intellectuals who left their mark here that Sitgetans have maintained to this day.

Today, Sitges is known around the world for its heritage and for being a cosmopolitan town that continues to lure people belonging to the world of art and culture from all over.