It’s no secret that we love good food in this house, but a great dish without a glass of wine to match it is only half the experience. Catalonia is a land blessed with wine, boasting incredible designations of origin less than an hour from the city and projects that combine tradition, architecture, and an absolute respect for the land. This month in Siscu’s Diary, I’ve picked out three local wineries that are simply fantastic. Get your notebook ready—here come some top-notch recommendations.

Pure geology and the spirit of Bordeaux: Can Ràfols dels Caus

Talking about Can Ràfols dels Caus (in the Penedès DO) is to speak of one of the most unique and dazzling wineries in all of Europe. Utopically nestled within the solid rock of the Garraf, Carlos Esteva’s vision transformed this historic estate into an underground temple where concrete, glass, and karst stone coexist without disrupting the landscape.

When it comes to food and wine, their wines are wonderfully mineral thanks to the limestone soil dotted with marine fossils. If you want to see for yourself, try their legendary white wine Gran Caus Blanc is a masterclass in freshness, salinity, and elegance. But the real surprise comes with their reds: here they dare to adopt a distinctly Bordeaux-style blend adapted to the Catalan terroir, using varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc to create reds with structure and an Atlantic-style complexity right in the heart of the Mediterranean. The best part? A visit to the winery carved into the cave is an experience you have to have at least once in your life.

The Most Sparkling Rarity: Avinyó Vinyaters and Its Blanc de Noirs

At Avinyó Vinyaters (in Avinyonet del Penedès), a passion for sparkling wine permeates every corner of its 16th-century farmhouse. Although the Esteve family produces sparkling wines of exquisite finesse using the traditional method, there is one bottle in their lineup that is a true treasure for those seeking oenological gems: their Avinyó Blanc de Noirs. Crafting a white wine from red grapes is a complex art, and finding a cava in Catalonia Blanc de Noirs made from 100% Pinot Noir is no easy feat.

This cava stands out for its beautiful golden color with very subtle rosy hues, fine and delicate bubbles, and a complex bouquet that combines fresh red fruits with notes of pastries. What’s incredible about this bottle is that it offers an elegance and technical quality worthy of a great maison , yet at an exceptionally affordable and down-to-earth price. A must-have bottle to impress at any dinner party.

The Perfect Getaway: Oller del Mas

If you're in the mood to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city without spending hours driving, Oller del Mas is the ultimate solution. Located in Manresa (DO Pla de Bages), at the foot of the imposing silhouette of Montserrat Mountain, this estate with over a thousand years of history—dominating the landscape with its medieval castle—has been reimagined as the ultimate .

Here, wine isn’t just something you drink—it’s a way of life. They cultivate organic vineyards, reviving native grape varieties such as Picapoll and Mandó, and producing deep reds and whites with a distinctly expressive character. But the real highlight of the weekend is staying overnight: they have a small hotel with wooden cabins nestled in the forest, a space spa, a pool, and the Bages 964 restaurant, where locally sourced cuisine pairs perfectly with their estate wines. It’s the perfect combination of heritage, fine dining, and relaxation, all less than an hour from Barcelona.

At the end of the day, the world of wine isn’t about being pretentious or memorizing obscure vocabulary—it’s about finding the bottles and places that let you enjoy the moment. Now it’s up to you: pick a glass, find some good company, and enjoy what we have to offer. Cheers, and see you at the wineries!