Wine tourism in Tarragona

The wines of the Tarragona Appellation of Origin deserve special attention, especially the mistelas and rancios, ideal to accompany desserts. In vino veritas — wine will make you tell the truth. And, true to that saying, Tarragona feels fortunate with its wines: wines that, without pretensions of nobility, can grace the finest tables and hold their own. The Romans already knew that the Tarragona region was a very important wine area, with wines that are the ultimate expression of a land bathed by the sea and caressed by the sun for almost the whole year.

Tarragona is the only province in all of Spain to bring together eight Appellations of Origin (DO). The winemaking history of this land dates back to Roman times, although a site under study has revealed that vine cultivation here may be more than 2,300 years old. With the Romans a wine culture began that continued into the Middle Ages: the Carthusian monks at Scala Dei (Priorat) or the Cistercians at Poblet, Vallbona de les Monges and Santes Creus.

Tarragona offers two worlds for wine tourism. Inland, the villages of the Priorat such as Gratallops, Falset or Porrera, and the neighbouring Terra Alta around Gandesa, have rural houses and charming hotels among slopes of llicorella slate and old vines of garnacha and cariñena.

If you prefer to unite wine and sea, the Costa Daurada provides lodgings in the city of Tarragona, Cambrils or Salou, with broad beaches and fine seafood dining. Reus, at the centre of the Camp de Tarragona, is a comfortable base for hopping between the province's various appellations.

The Serra de Montsant Natural Park, with its ravines and viewpoints, offers hiking among the vineyards of the Priorat. The Ebro delta, further south, unfolds rice fields, lagoons and birds to explore by bicycle or boat. The coast completes the plan with coves and golden beaches.

Families enjoy the great amusement park beside Salou, while history lovers explore Roman Tarraco. Villages such as Siurana, perched on a crag, or Prades bestow stone scenes that combine perfectly with the wine route.

The Costa Daurada is one of the country's great camping areas, with establishments beside the beaches of Tarragona, Cambrils, Miami Platja and the Ebro delta coast. They are comfortable bases for alternating swimming, gastronomy and visits to inland wineries.

Those seeking the mountains find in the Serra de Montsant and Prades cool spots to camp among pine woods and crags. Travellers by motorhome have service areas spread across the Camp de Tarragona and the wine districts of the Priorat and Terra Alta.