Barcelona is a city soaked in wine. The rhythms of life here—the sunny terraces, the twinkling Mediterranean, the long, lazy lunches—all lend themselves to kicking back with a chat, a smile, and a glass of something delicious. The city is geographically surrounded by vino; just 15 minutes from downtown lie the white-wine-filled hills of Alella, and under an hour away, the seemingly endless cava-producing slopes of Penedès. In greater Catalunya, there are no fewer than 13 wine regions, all within a couple of hours’ cruise in your hire car. Barcelona is wine city. Full stop.
But because of Barcelona’s long and prestigious relationship with wine, the scene here can sometimes feel… exclusive. A bit elitist. Maybe even a little intimidating for those of us who love wine but don’t speak fluent Sommelier. You know what you like, you’re open to trying new things, but you’re not sure what maceration means—and honestly, you’re afraid of saying something “wrong” during a tasting. Oh, the horror.
That’s exactly why we started this journey: to demystify wine and wine tasting. To open the cellar doors and invite in the curious, the casual, the confused-but-thirsty. To help people explore why they like what they like (and why they can’t stand that one red their mate keeps buying). Most of all, to make wine fun again—in an unpretentious, lively, and judgment-free space.
So, we’ve created a suite of wine-soaked experiences here in Barcelona, designed for lovers of wine and lovers of life—no matter their level of knowledge. This is wine for the uninitiated, just as much as it is wine for the pros who don’t take themselves too seriously. This is wine for you.
The Problem With Traditional Tastings (And What We’re Doing Instead)
Why standing around being lectured about tannins isn’t our thing.
Now look, before we go on some wild rant, let’s be clear—we love wine tastings. All of them. (Well, maybe not the ones that drone on endlessly while our glasses stay empty. Those can go.) We love any tasting that gives enough wine. You know, proper pours. Not bar pours—because doing six of those in two hours would be a feat too difficult even for us—but solid, generous tasting pours. Enough to swirl, sniff, sip, and still feel your tongue loosen ever so slightly. (Which, let’s face it, is a very welcome side effect.)
We think wine education is brilliant. We’re all about learning—on your own time, or in a proper course, or with a textbook and a pen in hand. But when you’re in Barcelona, sitting down to a tasting, you want something social. Something engaging. Something that teaches you a little without making you feel like you’re back in school.
At our tastings, you’ll get the juicy bits. You’ll learn the hows and whys of the wine without the jargon. We break it all down into terms you actually use—so tannins, acidity, and body feel like things you can taste, not just words wine snobs throw around. You’ll also learn the how of tasting—seeing, swirling, sniffing, sipping, swishing, and (of course) swallowing—in a way that’s actually fun, not a lecture.
Because tasting wine should feel like a good conversation, not a monologue.
Experiences That Teach Without Preaching
How we get people swirling, sipping, and giggling – not nodding and pretending to understand.
We don’t believe in standing at the front of the room, waving a corkscrew around while everyone else sits quietly and wonders when the next pour is coming. That’s not how people fall in love with wine. People fall in love with wine when they laugh while they’re learning. When they’re surprised. When they connect a flavour to a memory. When they realise they do have a palate, actually—it’s just never been treated like it matters.
Our tastings are built around conversation, not condescension. We want you to talk. To ask questions. To say things like “this smells like my grandma’s spice cupboard” or “I don’t know what tannins are but I like this one better than the last.” That’s the magic. That’s real wine language.
And while we’ll always guide you through the Sexy Six—sniffing, swirling, sipping, sucking, swallowing, and savouring—we’ll do it in a way that makes sense. With humour. With stories. With just enough science to give you some tools, and just enough sass to make it stick.
You’ll leave a little tipsy, a little wiser, and a whole lot more confident ordering wine at dinner. And not once will we ask you to guess which side of the hill the grapes were grown on. Promise.
What to Expect From an Swallow Don’t Spit Wine Tasting
From rooftop sunsets to rosé revelations – here’s what goes down.
Picture this: golden hour on a Barcelona rooftop, a few new mates from around the world, a plate of pica pica snacks in front of you, and a glass of something cold and bubbly in your hand. That’s how we set the scene. No hushed rooms. No stiff table settings. Just a casual, come-as-you-are, bring-your-thirst kind of vibe.
We start with cava (because it’s criminal not to in Catalunya), and from there we guide you through whites, rosé, and reds – each with their own little lesson hidden in the fun. And every wine is picked to tell a story. Not a story about the winemaker’s great-grandfather’s donkey, but a story about why you might like it, what to look out for, and how to recognise wines that make your tongue do backflips.
You’ll learn the Sexy Six: Sniff, Swirl, Sip, Suck, Swallow, Savour. We break down how each step works, and more importantly, why it matters. Why swirling opens things up. Why sucking air over your wine makes the flavours explode. Why your “ugh, this one’s too dry” reaction is actually useful tasting data. It’s like a crash course in wine confidence—with laughs, lightbulbs, and that tipsy little buzz that makes everything better.
This is a tasting designed for people who like wine—not just those who’ve studied it. You don’t need a vocabulary, a wine fridge, or any kind of prior knowledge. Just an open mind and a thirst for something good.
The Rooftop, the Wine, the Sunset – Why It Works
It’s not just about the wine. It’s the vibe.
There’s something about being up high with a breeze on your face and a glass in your hand that just makes everything taste better. Maybe it’s the golden light bouncing off the buildings. Maybe it’s the soft buzz of a city shifting from day to night. Maybe it’s just being a little above the chaos. But rooftops? They hit different.
We chose our rooftop not because it’s fancy, but because it’s right. The view’s good, the sunsets are better, and it’s just far enough removed from the street noise to feel like you’ve stepped into your own little wine world. It’s relaxed. Intimate. And best of all, it’s ours for the evening.
This setting is what allows the experience to breathe. You’re not crammed in with strangers at a bar or shouted at over background music. You’ve got space to actually taste. To laugh. To chat to the person next to you and say “this one tastes like strawberries” without worrying if it’s the “right” thing to say. The atmosphere is half the magic. The wine is the other half.
Wine on the Waves: Guided Sailing & Tasting
Because sometimes the only thing better than wine and sun… is adding a boat.
This one’s for the barefoot sippers. The ocean lovers. The playlist-makers. Wine on the Waves is exactly what it sounds like: two hours of sailing along Barcelona’s sparkling coastline with nothing but good wines, good snacks, and good people to keep you company. Oh, and bottomless cava. Did we mention that?
We pour you a flight of fun whites and rosés—fresh, juicy, and perfect for sipping as you watch the city shrink behind you. You’ll learn the Sexy Six (yes, even on a boat), and we’ll guide you through each wine without killing the mood. We talk just enough to keep things interesting, and then we shut up so you can enjoy the view.
There’s swimming if you’re keen, music if you want it, and enough space to stretch out and soak it all in. This isn’t a booze cruise. It’s a floating wine lounge with salty air and your own private captain. It’s magic.
Wine on the Waves is a private experience for up to 12 people. Book here!
Stirred Not Spat: The Vermouth Experience
Hands-on, herb-laced, and heavy on the local flavour.
Barcelona without vermouth? Not a chance. But we’re not just sipping it—we’re making it. Stirred Not Spat is our ode to the city’s most underrated drink, served up in a funky central bar with all the warmth and weirdness we love about the vermut tradition.
You’ll taste a few different vermouths (some classic, some a little wild), learn how it’s made, and then jump in the deep end—literally mixing your own bottle to take home. We guide you through the bitters, the botanicals, and the booze, showing you how to balance it all out so you’re not just winging it. You’ll also make a little vermouth mixer with white wine to ferment at home—because the fun shouldn’t stop when the tasting does.
Best part? You’ll get to try vermouth made by past guests, and leave your own behind for future sippers. A tasting, a time capsule, and a bit of boozy alchemy all in one.
Scenic Hike & Cava in Penedès
History, bubbles, and a little sweat—this one’s for the adventurous sippers.
This isn’t a vineyard visit where you shuffle from barrel to barrel pretending to understand French oak. This is a proper countryside walk—through the rolling hills of Penedès, along an old Roman road, with vines on either side and a Cava in your future.
You’ll earn your fizz with a relaxed hike that’s more “good shoes and water bottle” than “trekking poles and regrets.” Along the way, we’ll talk terroir, tell a few stories, and keep things light until we arrive at one of our favourite cava producers for a full tasting. Then it’s on to a boozy Catalan feast at a rustic local restaurant—because we know how to reward a little effort.
It’s history, exercise, and indulgence all in one deliciously bubbly day.
Learn more about getting your steps up before your sips in, here.
Cycle & Vine: The Pedal-Powered Wine Tour
Wine. Bikes. Laughter. No Lycra required.
If your idea of a perfect day includes zipping through vineyards with the breeze in your hair and a wine glass in your hand (not at the same time, we’re not maniacs), this one’s for you. We meet in the Penedès region and hop on bikes—e-bikes if you fancy—then pedal our way through a route that’s got just the right balance of scenery, wine, and smug satisfaction.
First stop: a family-run organic winery for a tasting and a quick tour. Then we ride through little villages and open countryside, landing at a rowdy Catalan lunch where the food keeps coming and the wine flows freely. Think long tables, loud laughs, and the kind of buzz that makes you want to hug your new friends and ask the bodega owner to adopt you.
This is our most hands-on, slightly sweaty, big-smile experience—and somehow it always ends with the best stories.
Montsant & Priorat Wine Adventure
Big reds, tiny villages, and a full day of indulgence.
This is the heavy-hitter. The full-day, full-send wine adventure. We hop in a private van and roll out to two of Spain’s most legendary wine regions: Montsant and Priorat. They’re bold, they’re dramatic, and they’re packed with some of the country’s best red wines—no surprise, given the gnarly old vines clinging to the slate-covered hills.
We visit a couple of standout wineries (with proper tasting lineups), maybe do a cheeky little vineyard walk if the sun’s out, and then settle in for a long, boozy, soul-satisfying Catalan lunch. It’s scenic. It’s educational (without being boring). And it’s perfect for people who want to level-up their wine game without putting on a blazer or memorising maps.
This is where you taste the real depth of Spanish wine—surrounded by jaw-dropping landscapes and stories that stick.
Ready to Taste It for Yourself?
Whether you’re wine-curious, wine-clueless, or wine-devoted but done with the snobbery, we’ve got a seat (and a glass) waiting for you. These experiences aren’t about swirling in silence and nodding at notes of leather and lead pencil. They’re about exploring Spanish wine in the best way possible—with new friends, in beautiful places, one delicious sip at a time.
So come thirsty. Come open-minded. Come ready to laugh, learn, maybe mispronounce a few grape names, and discover what you actually like. We’ll handle the wine. You just show up.
