Catalonia has a long tradition of olive oil and wine production, which makes the farming of olives and grapes quite popular all over the territory. An increasing number of people are taking an interest in doing immersive activities in the world of olive oil and wine, that is olive oleotourism and enotourism: experiences that mix culture, heritage and history with gastronomy.
If you want to immerse yourself in the Catalan culture to live unique experiences in a land of oils and wines, keep on reading! This post offers you a range of activities and companies that will allow you to practise oleotourism and enotourism in Catalonia; a delicious way to taste Catalonia.
Oleotourism with Identitat Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Identitat Extra Virgin Olive Oil is a family business located in Horta de Sant Joan (Terra Alta) which, apart from producing and marketing top quality olive oil, offers some oleotourism experiences. Their aim is to disseminate the benefits of olive oil for our health and for the conservation and the respect of the surrounding landscapes and heritage.
Here are some of their main oleotourist activities:
- Immersion in the world of olive oil. This visit to their mill –the first olive oil mill in Catalonia to get the Environmental Quality Guarantee Award– is completed with explanations on local history, false myths about olive oil and a guided tasting of the monovarietal oils they produce. This activity will teach you how to distinguish the qualities of empeltre, arbequina and piqual oils and to identify their specific benefits for our health.
- Olive oil tasting with a clotxa. This guided tasting session of several monovarietal olive oils is different from the above-mentioned activity as it is done with a clotxa (hollowed bread), a typical dish of the local farmers and shepherds that used to be eaten once the new olive oil was produced. The tasting is also completed with a previous explanation on the characteristics and properties of the product.
- “Make your own olive oil” workshop. This workshop aimed at making your own olive oil is another activity we invite you to do with Identitat Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Before the making process, you will taste their oils to find out about their respective flavour and intensity. Those sensations will help you make your own oil according to your preferences.
Oleotourism in Molí de la Creu
Molí de la Creu is a family-run mill located in La Galera (Montsià) that produces olive oils with local varieties that have high organoleptic properties: morruda, farga, sevillenca and marfil. One of the oil they produce is Vilar Mil·lenari, the first olive oil made from Millenary Olive Trees of Catalonia.
The Porta i Ferré family offer a 100% oleotourist experience to all their visitors. An activity that starts in Arión Natural Museum of Millenary Olive Trees, goes on with the visit of Molí de la Creu (olive mill) –where you can find out about the evolution of the techniques used to produce olive oil– and finishes with a tasting of their olive oils: “A stroll through the history of olive trees and olive oil”, as they define the experience.
Enotourism in Celler La Vinyeta
La Vinyeta Cellar was founded by two young entrepreneurs who decided to set up a business with just four hectares of old vines located in Mollet de Peralada (Alt Empordà) and who ended up harvesting different awards.
Apart from producing their own wines, they offer accommodation and enotourist experiences, such as:
- Picnic amid the vines. This lunch with local cold meats and cheese, salad, deserts and two glasses of wine and must is offered in the heart of the vines of La Vinyeta, in a basket that contains a tablecloth that makes the experience really genuine. The picnic also includes the visit to the cellar and a guided wine tasting.
- Breakfast amid the vines. Enjoy a delicious breakfast with cold meats, handmade traditional pâtés and cheese with homemade quince jelly surrounded by vines and olive trees. The meal is accompanied with La Vinyeta wines and olive oil. Once satisfied, you will be ready to plunge into the history of the cellar and go for a guided tour to find out about how their wine is produced. The experience ends up with the tasting of several wines.
- Accommodation amid the vines. Includes a night, breakfast, a visit to the cellar and a wine tasting session. Possibility to add other complements such as dinner or picnic lunch.
Enotourism in L’Olivera
L’Olivera is a cooperative located in Vallbona de les Monges (Urgell) that grows grapes and olives. It also makes organic wines and olive oils integrating disabled people in the production process. Their organic farming is aimed at making products that reflect their land and inhabitants.
Here are some of the enotourist activities they offer:
- “Tastavinyes” in Vallbona de les Monges. This is an invitation to walk through the vineyard and taste the wines produced at L’Olivera. A map, a wine glass and three hours are the ingredients of a self-guided stroll amid the vine stocks that will allow you to discover the secrets of the vineyard and to enjoy the local wine. Possibility to visit the cellar and go for another tasting after the walk.
- Breakfast at La Vinyeta de Missenyora. Apart from this breakfast with local products and L’Olivera olive oil offered in the heart of the vines, the visit also allows you to discover Vinyes Trobades, a collection of the ancient grape varieties that are being recovered together with Slow Food Terres de Lleida.
As you can see, Catalonia hosts a wide range of activities related to oleotourism and enotourism. Apart from the few we have provided here, you can find many more on the website of the aforementioned companies. This kind of tourism allows you to taste the land and to combine history and tradition with Mediterranean gastronomy. All those experiences are perfect gifts and fantastic moments to live with your partner, your family or your friends. Who are you going to go for oleotourism or enotourism with?
