Private Insider Wine & Gastronomy Experiences Hosted by Chef Marcus & Jamie Guiliano

Catalonia Spain Wine & Culinary Journey

October 24 – November 1, 2026

Private custom travel also available for groups, families, and culinary clubs.

Chef-led insider travel

Hosted by Chef Marcus & Jamie Guiliano

Travel through Catalonia from the Mediterranean coast of Sitges into the mountain vineyards of Priorat, the monasteries of Montserrat, the medieval streets of Vic, and the underground sparkling-wine cellars of Penedès.

Date

October 24 – November 1, 2026

Destination

Catalonia, Spain

Experience

Wine, Gastronomy & Culture
Chef-led insider travel

Catalonia through people, flavor, and place

Catalonia is not Barcelona, and that is exactly why we love it — Mediterranean coast, Pyrenees foothills, ancient slate vineyards, monastery cellars, vermouth bars, and family wineries where Marcus and Jamie have spent years building relationships in Priorat, Montsant, Penedès, Sitges, and Vic that don’t open from a brochure.

What you’ll see

Sitges seaside, Priorat mountain vineyards, Montsant natural park, Montserrat monastery, Vic’s medieval squares, Penedès Corpinnat cellars, Tarragona’s Roman roads, and the hidden villages that make Catalonia feel personal, layered, and alive.

What you’ll feel

Private winery visits, Corpinnat sparkling tastings, Priorat slate-soil reds, Garnatxa from Montsant, Xarel·lo and Malvasia from the Garraf Massif, FORVM vinegar tastings, vermouth rituals, Catalan charcuterie, long lunches, small group access, and slow travel shaped by chef-led hospitality.

Scheduled & private travel

One hosted departure Private journeys by request

Join the October 24 – November 1, 2026 Catalonia departure, or ask us to design a private version for your own group.

Private custom travel depends on timing, producer availability, and group size.
Why VIP Winery Vacations is different

No giant buses
No tourism desks
No generic itineraries

Instead, Private winery experiences, producer relationships, owner introductions, family hospitality, long lunches, small groups, and insider access. Because often the owner becomes your guide.

City Highlights

Winery Highlights

Restaurants & Culinary Highlights

Hotel Highlights

A Slower Way Through
Costa Brava

The Costa Brava is where Catalonia meets the Mediterranean in dramatic fashion. Rugged cliffs, hidden coves, fishing villages, medieval towns, and some of Spain’s finest food create a coastline unlike any other.

Pals

Perched above the Empordà countryside, Pals is one of the most beautiful medieval villages in Spain. Stone towers, winding cobblestone lanes, flower-filled balconies, and panoramic views transport visitors centuries into the past.

Calella de Palafrugell

Calella de Palafrugell captures the timeless charm of the Mediterranean. Whitewashed fishermen’s houses line the waterfront, colorful boats bob gently in crystal-clear water, and seaside cafés invite lingering afternoons.

Calonge

Nestled between the sea and the vineyards of the Empordà, Calonge offers a perfect blend of history, culture, and coastal beauty, combining Catalan heritage with a slower pace of life that invites exploration.

Michelin Dining, Paella & Extraordinary Culinary Experiences

Catalonia is tasted slowly

Expect Corpinnat sparkling rituals, Priorat reds drawn from monastery cellars, vermouth and olives at the bar, charcuterie cured in mountain air, paella prepared with exceptional ingredients, FORVM vinegar tastings, market-driven lunches, and chef-led hospitality shaped by the people, places, and traditions of Catalonia.

Nine-day immersive itinerary

A slower way through Catalonia

Each day is designed around the rhythm of place: Mediterranean coast, slate mountains, ancient monasteries, Corpinnat sparkling cellars, medieval villages, and the family hospitality that defines Catalonia.

DAY 1

Arrival in Barcelona and First Taste of Catalonia

Arrive in Barcelona and head south to Cellers Avgvstvs Forvm near Tarragona for wine, FORVM vinegar, and gastronomy along the historic Via Augusta. Climb into the slate mountains of Priorat and check into Terra Dominicata, a restored 12th-century monastery wrapped in vines. Dinner among the vineyards.

DAY 2

Priorat Slate and Costers del Segre Vineyards

Visit Mas Blanch i Jové, where the Vinya dels Artistes project turns the Costers del Segre vineyards into an open-air sculpture museum, then continue to Mas Doix for the famous llicorella slate slopes that define Priorat. Lunch among the vines. Return to Terra Dominicata.

DAY 3

Montsant and Hidden Catalonia

Spend the day inside the Montsant Natural Park at Celler Vinyes Domènech, where native Mediterranean grapes and old-vine Garnatxa thrive in a protected biodiverse landscape. Small villages, ancient traditions, family wineries — the Catalonia most travelers never see. Final evening at Terra Dominicata.

DAY 4

Penedès Mountains, Garraf Massif, and the Mediterranean

Leave Priorat for the Garraf Massif near Sitges. Visit Can Sumoi for mountain vineyards, organic farming, and indigenous varieties, then Finca Viladellops — a nearly thousand-year-old wine village among stone towers and olive groves. Check into ME Sitges Terramar on the Mediterranean.

DAY 5

The Great Sparkling Wines of Catalonia

Descend into Gramona’s historic Corpinnat cellars where bottles age for years on the lees, then continue to Raventós i Blanc — a Penedès family farming the same land for more than five centuries. Two of Spain’s most respected sparkling producers in a single day. Return to Sitges by evening.

DAY 6

Montserrat, Vic, and Catalan Traditions

Travel north to Montserrat Abbey — sacred history, jagged peaks, and one of Spain’s most iconic landmarks. Continue to the medieval city of Vic for the vermouth ritual at Bar El Barmutet and a hands-on charcuterie tasting at Ca La Teresona. Check into Mas Albereda for a quiet countryside evening.

DAY 7

Costa Brava: Medieval Villages and the Mediterranean Coast

Travel east to the Costa Brava — one of Spain’s most beautiful coastlines. Walk the medieval streets of Pals, the whitewashed fishing town of Calella de Palafrugell, and the seaside calm of Llafranc. Sunset over the Mediterranean before dinner back at Mas Albereda.

DAY 8

Costa Brava Headlands and Farewell in Barcelona

A final day along the coast — choose between Begur’s hilltop old town, the coves of Calonge, or the wild headlands of Cap de Creus. Return to Barcelona for a farewell dinner celebrating a week of wine, food, culture, and friendship.

DAY 9

Departure

Final breakfast in Barcelona before transfers to the airport. Guests leave with new friendships, lasting memories, and the question we always hear: “When and where is the next trip with Marcus and Jamie?”

Wines + Grapes to Expect

From Corpinnat sparkling precision and old-vine Garnatxa to powerful Priorat reds shaped by llicorella slate

Expect wines shaped by mountain, sea, soil, and Catalonia’s deep relationship with food and place. Macabeo, Parellada, Xarel·lo, Garnatxa Blanca and Negra, Carinyena, Trepat, Sumoll, Malvasia, and the rare native varieties that make Catalonia one of Spain’s most diverse and exciting wine landscapes.

Questions before Catalonia

What airport should I fly into?
Barcelona–El Prat Airport (BCN).
Yes. Arrival and departure transportation during the hosted experience is included.
Absolutely. Whether you’re deeply into wine or simply curious, this experience is designed for all levels.
Moderate. Expect walking through villages, vineyards, monasteries, markets, and uneven historic streets.
Yes. Please notify us in advance.
Yes. We assist guests with purchases whenever possible.
Typically 8–14 guests for an intimate experience.
Comfortable walking shoes, smart casual dinner attire, layers for cooler evenings, and room in your suitcase for discoveries.
Because we built this through relationships, not reservations. We don’t simply show you places. We introduce you to them.
Priority Waitlist

Join the Catalonia journey before it fills

Only 8–14 guests are invited into this hosted Catalonia experience. Leave your details and Marcus or Jamie will personally share more tour details.

Your details are used only to follow up about the Catalonia hosted journey or private travel request.