In the land of cava par excellence, just 40 minutes from Barcelona, lies a small winery full of charm and enthusiasm, aiming to shake up the world of wine tourism by transforming the passion of its young founders for cava and vineyards into unique experiences for everyone.
Two entrepreneurs lead the project: Èric, an oenologist, and Ignasi, who is responsible for the business side. In 2004, after an impromptu conversation with a glass of cava in hand—it had to be—they decided to revive the old family winery, abandoned since the 1950s. This is how ArtCava was born, and it now produces 18,000 bottles of artisanal cava a year, made by hand and without adding chemicals or dosage.
Their philosophy is clear: ArtCava does not want to be just another winery, but to recognise and respect the traditional way of doing things, blending past and present to create an authentic and unique space.
The most distinctive wine tourism destination in Penedès
ArtCava was one of the first small wineries to embrace wine tourism. Its offering avoids pre-established formulas and is committed to local tourism, the slow travel philosophy and, above all, originality. Each visit is personalised, focussing on discovering the secrets of cava, and proudly conveys the winery’s hallmark style.
The most popular activity is “Create your cava”, a workshop that promises to fulfil one of the great dreams of cava enthusiasts, and which was created after seeing how so many friends and acquaintances who ordered cava wanted to take part in the production process in some way.
In this activity, which has earned them several awards and recognition throughout the sector, participants can disgorge and label their own bottles. After a tour of the winery and a tasting of the best ArtCava cavas, visitors move to the production room, choose their favourite, and perform the disgorging themselves; they then insert the cork, put on the cap and label it. The resulting bottle is a tangible memento of the experience and a testament to the magic of the artisanal process.
ArtCava also offers a complete tour of the winery and vineyards, where you can stroll through the 12th-century Masia Can Batlle and learn first-hand how cava is made, as well as the history of the Batlle family, winegrowers since 1730.
A meeting with the oenologist
For those who want to delve even deeper, ArtCava offers the chance to spend a day with the oenologist, visiting the best wineries in Penedès and discovering the area’s most spectacular viewpoints. This exclusive experience allows you to taste wines “in progress” and local products, and discover all the steps in wine production, from the harvest to disgorging.
The ArtCava Club is an innovative proposal that allows participants to create their own cava. Under the supervision of the oenologist, club members can experiment with different varieties and decide on the blend. A few months later, they will be able to enjoy their own creation at home, as if they had their own winery but without the risks this entails.
Gastronomy among the vineyards
To round off the experience, you can stop by La Manela restaurant at the end of any visit or activity. Located next to the vineyards, in an outstanding setting, it offers a culinary selection based on local produce—the icing on the cake of a day immersed in the wine culture and landscape of Penedès.
ArtCava offers a complete experience—culture, landscape, gastronomy, and above all, the chance to experience the world of cava in an intimate way, through learning, creation and connection with the land.
