Wine tourism in the Empordà Vineyards

Empordà is one of the most fascinating and least-known wine regions in Europe. With a winemaking tradition dating back to the Greeks in the 6th century BC, the DO Empordà is now home to more than 50 wineries producing wines that express their territory like few others: the tramontana wind that dries and strengthens the grapes, the sandy and limestone soils between the sea and the Pyrenees, and a Mediterranean light that translates into powerful Garnachas, aromatic whites, and rosés with a freshness that is hard to find in other Spanish appellations.

Wine tourism on the Costa Brava is experiencing an exceptional moment. The wineries of Empordà have evolved from simple points of sale into full experience destinations: private tastings among vineyards, dinners with in-house chefs, visits to medieval castles, sunset concerts with Montgrí as a backdrop, and sailing routes paired with Palamós prawns. A top-level wine offering that blends perfectly with the sea, gastronomy, and the historical heritage of the area.

Hotel Aigua Blava, located on the seafront in Aiguablava (Begur), is the ideal base to discover the best wineries of the Costa Brava: less than 30 minutes from the most interesting projects in Baix Empordà and under 80 minutes from the leading references in Alt Empordà. The combination of a morning among vineyards and an afternoon in one of the best coves of the Costa Brava is a definitive experience.

The best wineries on the Costa Brava for wine tourism

Bodega Perelada — the most complete wine tourism experience in Empordà

Bodega Perelada is much more than a winery: it is a unique monumental complex in Spain where a winemaking tradition documented since the Middle Ages coexists with some of the country’s most avant-garde architecture.

The New Perelada Winery, designed by RCR Arquitectes, winners of the 2017 Pritzker Prize (the Nobel Prize of architecture), is the first winery in Europe to achieve LEED GOLD sustainability certification—making the visit an experience that goes far beyond wine tasting.

The visit combines a guided tour of the Perelada Castle Museum, with its library, church, cloister, and wine museum, with a visit to the new winery facilities, ending with a wine tasting.

Available experiences

• Winery + Castle Museum tour: group guided visit with tasting of 3 wines.
• Exclusive private visit: personalized service with tasting of 4 premium wines and a welcome drink in the vineyard.
• Finca Garbet: vineyard visit on the Mediterranean coast, north of Cap de Creus, one of the most exclusive and unique estates of DO Empordà Perelada.

Practical information

• Location: Peralada, Alt Empordà
• Distance from Hotel Aigua Blava: 80 minutes
• Ideal for: couples, premium groups, special celebrations

Clos d'Agon — high-expression wines between Les Gavarres and the sea

Clos d'Agon, under the family estate name Mas Gil in Calonge, has been cultivating grapes since the 15th century. With 42 hectares of land—16 of vineyards and the rest Mediterranean forest—it is surrounded by the Les Gavarres Natural Park, forming a natural amphitheater with sea views.

The winery works with integrated production, hand harvesting, and careful grape selection to produce wines that reflect each vintage’s climatic conditions. Its wines have international recognition and are a benchmark in high-end restaurants throughout Catalonia.

What sets Clos d'Agon winery apart from other Costa Brava wineries is the sophistication and originality of its wine tourism experiences: they go beyond the standard guided tour and tasting, offering a curated catalogue of experiences that make the winery a destination in itself.

Highlighted experiences

• Classic visit + tasting: vineyard walk, winery history, and tasting of representative wines
• Private tasting with cheeses: exclusive tasting of flagship wines paired with Catalan cheeses
• Vineyard picnic: walk to viewpoints overlooking the Mediterranean with a picnic of local products
• Nocturnal sensory circuit: walk through Les Gavarres discovering aromatic plants with a tasting of 4 wines
• Sailing and Palamós prawns
• Private chef show-cooking

Practical information

• Location: Calonge, Baix Empordà
• Distance from Hotel Aigua Blava: 30 minutes
• Ideal for: couples, groups of friends, unique and customizable experiences

Mas Geli — sunset, music, and wine among vineyards with Montgrí as backdrop

Mas Geli is probably the winery offering the most emotional and distinctive experience in the entire Baix Empordà. Located in Masos de Pals, surrounded by the mountains of Begur, Montgrí, and the Medes Islands, it is a family project aimed at creating a 360° experience combining landscape, music, and sunsets among vineyards.

With views of the Montgrí massif and sunsets that bathe the vineyards in orange and ochre tones, Mas Geli is much more than a winery. In 2024, it also introduced a new minimal-intervention wine range fermented in granite eggs—La Gran Noche—highlighting white Carignan, a native variety at risk of extinction.

Its 15 hectares of organic vineyards feature native Empordà varieties: white Garnacha, red Garnacha, Garnacha tinta, Samsó, and Subirat Parent, all cultivated organically with hand harvesting. Sandy and limestone soils, proximity to the sea, and the unique microclimate of Masos de Pals give the wines a distinctive personality that blends maritime freshness with the strength of the tramontana.

Highlighted experiences

• Visit + tasting
• Mas Geli Fest: music and gastronomy experience with sunset over the vineyards and Montgrí as backdrop
• Sunset dinner: open-menu dinner among vineyards paired with Mas Geli wines
• Wine bar: wines by the glass, Catalan cheeses, and local products—the perfect plan for a relaxed sunset

Practical information

• Location: Masos de Pals, Baix Empordà
• Distance from Hotel Aigua Blava: 20 minutes
• Wine bar: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (reservation required)
• Advance booking required for all experiences
• Ideal for: couples, groups of friends, special sunsets, musical experiences

Mas Llunes — biodynamic viticulture in the heart of Alt Empordà

Mas Llunes is one of the most interesting and committed wine projects in DO Empordà. Located in Garriguella (Alt Empordà), it practices biodynamic and organic viticulture, following the lunar calendar for vineyard work—a benchmark of conscious and respectful winemaking.

Its vineyards lie in a landscape of great beauty, between the Albera mountain range and the plains descending toward the Mediterranean. Its wines express the territory with honesty: no additives, no corrections—just the direct personality that comes from carefully nurtured grapes.

Available experiences

• Guided vineyard tour explaining biodynamic viticulture and the lunar calendar
• Tasting of organic and biodynamic wines with local products
• Walk among vineyards with tasting in the field

Practical information

• Location: Garriguella, Alt Empordà
• Distance from Hotel Aigua Blava: 75 minutes
• Advance booking recommended
• Ideal for: natural wine lovers, conscious and curious profiles, small groups

La Vinyeta — innovation, sustainability, and cultural nights among the vines

La Vinyeta, in Mollet de Peralada, is one of the most innovative wineries in DO Empordà. It began with 4 hectares of old vines and is now a leading reference for sustainable wine on the Costa Brava.

A pioneer in sustainable viticulture with organic certification and circular economy initiatives, its wines—focused on native varieties—are gaining increasing national and international recognition. What truly sets La Vinyeta apart is the cultural dimension of its experiences.

In summer, the experience expands with nights of poetry, music, and astronomy among the vineyards, turning the winery into a unique cultural venue in Alt Empordà. Its wine bar, open daily, allows guests to enjoy wines paired with homemade cheeses and family-produced cured meats in a relaxed, unpretentious setting.

Highlighted experiences

• Guided visit to vineyards and winery with tasting
• Vineyard picnic with house-made cheeses, olive oil, and artisanal cured meats
• Wine bar
• Summer nights of poetry, music, and astronomy
• Sustainable viticulture and circular economy activities

Practical information

• Location: Mollet de Peralada, Alt Empordà
• Distance from Hotel Aigua Blava: 80 minutes
• Wine bar open daily
• Ideal for: wine lovers with cultural interests, sustainability-focused groups

Mas Oller — Catalan farmhouse and terroir wines in the Empordanet

Mas Oller, located in Torrent (Baix Empordà), near Pals and Begur, is set in a restored Catalan farmhouse and combines architecture, landscape, and product into an authentic and approachable experience. Its red wines have gained growing prestige in recent years and are a benchmark in DO Empordà for their character and freshness.

It is one of the most highly rated wineries by visitors seeking a more intimate and personal experience, far from the resort format—where the owner often leads the visit and explains each winemaking decision with genuine passion.

Available experiences

• Guided tour of the farmhouse, vineyards, and winery
• Tasting of young and aged wines with technical explanations
• Private experiences for small groups

Practical information

• Location: Torrent, Baix Empordà
• Distance from Hotel Aigua Blava: 35 minutes
• Ideal for: small groups, terroir wine lovers, intimate and personal experiences

DO Empordà: why its wines are unique

Empordà is a land of contrasts shaped by wind and sea, where viticulture dates back to the arrival of the Greeks in the 6th century BC. The tramontana, a dry and powerful northern wind, is not just a weather phenomenon—it is the architect of the landscape and the guardian of vineyard health.

DO Empordà covers 48 municipalities across Alt and Baix Empordà, with sandy soils that drain well and are low in organic matter, forcing vines to dig deep and concentrate. The region produces fresh, aromatic whites; characterful rosés; structured reds with aging potential; and two unique specialties: Garnatxa de l’Empordà, a natural sweet wine that is warm and silky, ideal for desserts, and Moscatell de l’Empordà.

The leading native varieties are Garnacha (white, red, and black) and Carignan (Samsó), which in Empordà find soil and climate conditions unlike any other Spanish appellation.

When to enjoy wine tourism on the Costa Brava

• Harvest (September–October): the most special time to visit wineries. Many offer hands-on harvest experiences where you can pick grapes, understand the process from vine to cellar, and witness the start of fermentation.
• Spring (April–June): vineyards are in full growth, the Empordà light is spectacular, and the tramontana is less frequent. Fewer crowds mean more personal experiences.
• Summer (July–August): high season. Mas Geli’s wine bar, La Vinyeta’s concerts, and Clos d’Agon’s night experiences are particularly popular. Book weeks in advance.
• November–March: the most intimate experience. Few European regions can offer private tastings among vineyards in autumn with the Mediterranean as a backdrop.

Enjoy Empordà wine at Hotel Aigua Blava

The wine tourism experience continues at the hotel itself. The restaurant at Hotel Aigua Blava features an extensive wine list, carefully curated to include many of the Empordà wineries mentioned in this guide.

This allows guests to keep exploring the character of DO Empordà at the table, with sea views in a privileged setting, turning every lunch or dinner into a natural extension of the journey through the vineyards.

Wine tourism on the Costa Brava combines what few wine regions in the world can offer: wines with a unique personality shaped by the tramontana and the Mediterranean, wineries with top-tier experiences, and a landscape that moves from vineyards to sea in less than twenty minutes.

From Hotel Aigua Blava, with the sea at your doorstep and the best Empordà wineries just half an hour away, the experience is complete in every sense.