Hola, wine lovers! Just an hour outside Barcelona, hidden among rolling vineyards and Mediterranean forest, there is a place where time slows, history lingers in the air, and wine feels like a story poured into a glass. On my recent trip to Catalonia, I spent a sunny afternoon at Abadal Winery, in the heart of the Pla de Bages, and it turned out to be one of the most soulful and meaningful wine experiences I’ve ever had.
If you’re dreaming of a vineyard escape that blends authenticity, landscape, heritage, and unforgettable flavors… Abadal is exactly the kind of place that stays with you!
A Winery Rooted in Eight Centuries of History
Abadal is not just another picturesque Catalan winery, it’s the living continuation of a winemaking legacy that spans more than 800 years. Founded officially in 1983 by Valentí Roqueta, the modern winery carries the traditions of the Roqueta family, whose connection to the land dates back to the 12th century.
The moment you arrive, the sense of history is unmistakable. The visit begins at Masia Roqueta, a beautifully preserved medieval farmhouse that feels like stepping through a doorway into the past. Stone archways, weathered beams, and the original underground wine cellar – still intact – reveal how wine was made centuries ago, long before stainless-steel tanks and temperature-controlled fermentation existed.
Walking through this old estate is a reminder that wine is not just agriculture – it is culture, memory, and tradition, passed down from one generation to the next.
A Landscape Where Vineyard Meets Forest
What makes Abadal truly unique is its intimate relationship with the surrounding Bages forest. Instead of vast, open fields, the vineyard parcels are scattered across small terraces framed by oaks, pines, aromatic shrubs, and dry-stone walls. You feel the landscape before you even taste the wine.
As you walk between the vines, the air fills with the scent of rosemary, wild thyme, warm earth, and pine resin – the aromas of the Mediterranean forest that subtly imprint themselves onto the grapes. This is also one of the few regions where you can still find ancient, indigenous Catalan varieties like Picapoll and Mandó, preserved and celebrated by Abadal with deep pride.
Sustainability isn’t a buzzword here, it’s a way of life woven into every practice. Abadal is the first European winery with the “Fire Wine” certification, recognizing their commitment to responsible forest management and fire prevention. The estate functions like a living ecosystem: donkeys help clear vegetation, bees produce honey, and forest biomass is recycled to generate clean energy. It’s an elegant choreography between vineyard and nature, one that gives their wines an honesty and identity you can taste.
The Aging Room – Where Quiet Magic Happens
Stepping into Abadal’s aging room feels like stepping into the quiet heartbeat of the winery. The air cools instantly, carrying the comforting scent of oak barrels, earth, and patience. Rows of French and American oak surround you like guardians of time, each barrel filled with wines slowly transforming in the dark – breathing, maturing, absorbing subtle layers of spice, vanilla, and toasted wood. The room is softly lit, just enough to reveal the warm amber tones of the barrels and the gentle curve of the vaulted ceiling, preserving the stillness that wine needs to evolve.
Your guide explains how Abadal works with a variety of materials – oak, chestnut, concrete, stone vats – each chosen to shape the wine’s personality while respecting the character of the native grapes, Picapoll and Mandó. Standing there, you understand the philosophy immediately: wine here is not rushed. It is raised. nurtured. Honored. The aging room is both a laboratory and a sanctuary, a place where centuries of knowledge mingle with innovation.
A Tasting to Remember – Wines, Flavors & Catalan Hospitality
The tasting was the moment everything clicked. Seated at a rustic wooden table overlooking the vineyards, you’re greeted with glasses that sparkle like jewels in the afternoon sun. One by one, the sommelier introduces Abadal’s signature expressions – not through technical descriptions alone, but through stories about soil, forest, climate, and family tradition. Each sip becomes a journey.
The white Picapoll is bright and elegant, with floral notes and a mineral edge that speaks of the limestone-rich soils beneath your feet. Then comes Mandó, the native red variety nearly lost to time, revived here with remarkable finesse. It tastes like the landscape – herbal notes rising like a whisper from the surrounding forest, gentle red fruit that feels both familiar and new. The blends showcase balance, depth, and a quiet confidence.
As you taste, the sommelier brings homemade appetizers: local cheeses, crusty bread, cured meats, and a drizzle of Abadal’s own olive oil pressed from Corbella olives grown on the estate. Each pairing feels thoughtful, intentional – a meeting of land, palate, and history. It’s the kind of tasting where conversation flows easily and the wines linger long after the last drop.
Moments That Stay With You
What lingers most from Abadal isn’t just the beauty of the vineyards or the flavors of the wines, it’s the sense of harmony between land and people. You remember standing among the vines, surrounded by forest, listening to the rustle of holm oaks and the distant chirp of birds. The estate feels alive, not staged or manicured, but authentically rooted in the rhythms of nature.
There’s a moment when you pause near a dry-stone hut, centuries old, and imagine the generations of winegrowers who once sought shade here, hands stained with grape juice, hearts shaped by the same landscape you’re admiring now. The past hums quietly beneath everything at Abadal. Even the two resident donkeys, Aya and Torrent, grazing peacefully near the path, feel like symbols of a slower, more intentional way of life.
And when you finally leave, winding through forest-lined roads with the late-afternoon sun softening across the terraces, you feel fuller – not just from wine, but from connection. Abadal doesn’t simply give you a tasting. It gives you a memory that breathes, expands, and gently follows you long after you’ve returned to the city.
Bubbly Tips
- Location: Santa Maria d’Horta d’Avinyó (Pla de Bages), approx. 1 hr from Barcelona
- Getting There: Best reached by car; guided tours available via Abadal
- Don’t Miss: Tasting Picapoll and Mandó, the estate’s signature indigenous varieties
- What to See: Masia Roqueta (12th-century farmhouse), vineyards, aging room
- Best Time to Visit: Spring and fall for the most beautiful vineyard colors
- Food Pairing: Try the estate honey and olive oil during the tasting
- Photo Moment: Vineyard terraces framed by Mediterranean forest, pure magic!
Final Thoughts
Abadal Winery is more than a destination, it’s a bridge between past and present, nature and craft, heritage and innovation. It is a place where Catalan identity is not only preserved, but tasted, felt, and celebrated.
If you’re looking for a genuinely soulful wine experience near Barcelona, one filled with history, landscape, and exceptional wines… Abadal deserves a place at the very top of your list.
Have you ever visited a winery that made you feel connected to the land in a deeper way? Tell me your wine country stories below. I’d love to read them!
xoxo,
Bubbly 🍇
