Nika Shevela Credit score: Blanca Galindo/Leafhopper Challenge
***3 Barcelona Wineries to Go to by Nika Shevela***
Meet Nika—a drinks educator captivated with all issues liquid, from the best wines to the trendiest kombuchas. In Barcelona, she’s the pressure behind two cool initiatives: Wine Alphabet and Lagom Somm, providing occasions, tastings, and consultancy for anybody eager to dive into the world of drinks.
Nika’s story begins within the Northern Caucasus, the place she grew up in a Russian-Ukrainian household earlier than transferring to Barcelona as a teen. Her first profession was as a translator and interpreter, which led to a pivotal translation gig with the enduring Torres vineyard. One sip led to a different, and he or she’s been exploring the fascinating world of wine ever since.
Now a licensed sommelier, Nika holds the coveted WSET Diploma in Wines and is a Spanish Wine Scholar, official Cava Educator, Rioja Wines Educator, and Canary Wines ambassador. She teaches at prime hospitality and wine faculties, writes for thrilling drinks manufacturers, and helps companies discover their voice within the ever-evolving drinks scene.
The Vinoteca at Can Calopa
Can Calopa / Secret escape in Collserola
Masía Can Calopa de Dalt
Crta. BV-1468 Km 4,8
08750 Parque de Collserola
Can Calopa Instagram
Do you know this metropolis has its personal vineyards? Most Barcelonians, whereas fortunately having fun with Catalan wine, are blissfully unaware that Collserola can be house to town’s solely semi-urban vineyard. Nika loves her occasional Sunday walks on beautiful Carretera de les Aigües. It’s an ideal mixture of nature and metropolis life.
Head simply 20 minutes from Eixample, and also you’ll land at Can Calopa, a dreamy Masia-style farmhouse surrounded by vines. The realm has a wealthy winemaking historical past, and in 2010, the group right here started reviving the vineyards that when thrived in Collserola Park. It’s a chunk of Barcelona you don’t wish to miss.
There are a number of nice methods to expertise what they’re all about. You may go for a fast 1.5-hour tour of the vineyards and vineyard or go all in with a half-day go to (minimal 6 individuals solely). Nika recommends the “Desayuna Collserola” expertise. Beginning at 10 am, it pairs a winery tour with a standard Catalan breakfast—esmorzar de pagès. Assume cheese and charcuterie, hearty botifarra with beans, and contemporary salads.
Their wine vary is brief and candy, with Barcelona-inspired labels and a deal with reds like Syrah, Garnacha, and Merlot. Additionally they have a enjoyable white mix of Xarel·lo and Chardonnay, created from grapes grown in Sabadell’s agropark.
12 months-round, Can Calopa provides loads of methods to degree up your love for wine. In September, they hosted hands-on harvest days, and there are occasional takeover tastings by a number of the finest Catalan winemakers.
Logistics: a cab is the best selection, costing simply over 20 euros. Should you’re up for an journey, obtain the Wikiloc app and take the FGC practice to Vallvidrera Superior or Les Planes. From there, it’s a scenic 2-hour hike to the vineyard— an ideal option to work the urge for food!
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Alta Alella Vineyards
Alta Alella / Mediterranean magic
Camí Baix de Tiana, s/n,
08328 Alella
Alta Alella Instagram
As somebody who’s explored a fair proportion of Europe’s wineries, Nika nonetheless discover Alta Alella’s beautiful views—stretching from their out of doors tasting room to the glistering waves of the Mediterranean— robust to match. She routinely recommends this fabulous, family-run boutique vineyard to family and friends – and takes her Enterprise of Wine college students there for a fairly particular wine go to.
Simply 15km from Barcelona on the gorgeous Costa del Maresme, Alta Alella sits within the quaint Alella appellation. Although much less well-known than its Catalan counterparts like Penedès or Priorat, this area constantly produces distinctive wines, specializing in contemporary, fruity Pansa Blanca (Xarel·lo) and balanced, clean reds. The vineyard’s amphitheatre-shaped vineyards are a showstopper, as are a modern indoor/out of doors tasting room. The guides are all extremely participating. Marc is palms down the perfect!
Alta Alella is likely one of the natural winemaking pioneers, crafting a number of the most scrumptious nonetheless and glowing stuff. Their premium Cavas rank among the many finest, and are available in a fairly memorable elongated bottle too. They’re additionally professionals at wine tourism, providing the whole lot from winery jeep excursions to yoga periods paired with aperitivo, or traditional cheese and Ibérico pairings.
Professional tip: Remember to take a look at their Celler de les Aus vary—pure wines with bird-inspired labels which are as intriguing as they’re scrumptious. Logistics: should you don’t really feel like driving, it’s a breeze with a direct bus from Barcelona to Alella, adopted by a scenic 20-minute stroll to the vineyard. Whereas there, pop into Compañía de Alella, Bodega y Taberna, a country wine bar good for extra tastings and conventional snacks.
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Vins Foresta / Sleep amongst the vines
Avinguda Principal, 18, 08734 L’Arboçar
Vins de Foresta Instagram
Simply south of Barcelona, the beautiful Massís del Garraf pure park is a treasure trove of adventures, from testing mountaineering trails, a few of which result in a Buddhist temple, to a handful of smaller wineries to discover. One standout is Vins de Foresta, the place winemakers Gerard and Lluís craft natural wines from breeze-kissed vineyards surrounded by lush forests. They largely work with native Penedès grapes like Xarel·lo and Macabeo for whites, and Sumoll and Garnacha for reds, but in addition experiment with much less frequent Cabernet Franc and Marselan.
Should you’re quick on time, Vins de Foresta provides a three-hour ‘wine safari’ in a 4×4, taking you thru the vineyards and forests of Garraf. It ends at their out of doors tasting room—a cool rustic desk overlooking the panorama—the place you’ll get pleasure from 5 wines paired with native cheeses and charcuterie. For English excursions, there’s a minimal group dimension of six individuals, so collect some associates and make it a enjoyable outing.
Should you’re up for an in a single day keep, their ‘Barraca entre Vinyes’ is such a enjoyable choice. These little stone huts, previously utilized by winegrowers who would spend the evening there in a busy season, are proper within the vineyards and sufficiently big for as much as two individuals. They’ll deliver you a breakfast basket within the morning, and you can too add dinner at one of many native eating places close by. I do know what you’ll ask subsequent: the huts aren’t heated within the cooler months, however they’re fairly cosy with thermal sheets and a double quilt— particularly for the Mediterranean “chilly. Plus, autumn and winter are quieter, and the world has a stunning lush, peaceable vibe.
Discover Nika at:
winealphabet.com
Instagram Wine Alphabet
Lagom Som the expertise platform for alcohol-free drinks based by sommelier Nika Shevela, joins forces with Sense in an thrilling collaboration.
shopsense.eu/en/merchandise/lagom-light
Instagram Lagom Som
Extra wine content material on Foodie in Barcelona
Gaby’s Greatest Wine Bars in Barcelona (2023)
5 Penedes Wine Experiences (2022)
Jean Leon Wine Tour (2017)
