On an exclusive private tour of Jean Leon Cellars, El Palace Barcelona invites guests to experience the bounty of Spain’s gastronomic tradition.
The experience begins at El Palace Barcelona, with a private transfer to picturesque Penedès, Catalonia's most important wine region, known for its sparkling white and rosé Cava, and dry red and white wines. Just an hour from Barcelona, at Jean Leon Cellars, one of Spain's first single-vineyard-estate wineries, guests will explore the property's scenic vineyards and cellars, and enjoy a tasting of the cellar’s top three vintages. Made with French style methods, and certified organic in 2012, guests will sample limited production bottles like Vinya La Scala Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Reserva, for example, made with grapes from the Vinya La Scala vines, a small eight-hectare parcel planted in 1963. Snack on local pâté, Catalan moja botifarra sausage, and a selection of artesanal cheeses while soaking up views of the Catalan countryside during the outdoor tasting amid the vineyards.
Tour the estate of one of Spain's most illustrious wine-makers, whose life has inspired numerous books and documentaries.
The founding vintner, Jean Leon was one of Spain’s most illustrious winemakers. His life has inspired numerous books and documentaries—full of adventurous highs and lows recounting his travels to America (where he fled military conscription as a stowaway on a ship he thought was bound for Guatemala); and the friendships he forged with Hollywood stars (like Frank Sinatra, James Dean, and Marilyn Monroe) working in Hollywood’s most glamorous hotspots.
After returning to Spain in the 1950s Jean Leon began a search for a plot of land that would let him fulfill his dream of becoming a winemaker. And in 1962, in the Penedès wine region, Jean Leon built his winery in the style of an authentic Bordeaux château as an homage to his love for France and French wine-making methods.
Upon your returning to the hotel, the stunning rooftop garden is perfect for an outdoor aperitif or dinner. Designed with pergolas, fountains, ponds, plants, and a restaurant, this tranquil escape from the bustling city below makes it difficult to imagine reconnecting with the real world below.
To learn more about El Palace Barcelona, or to reserve an excursion to Jean Leon Cellars, please contact the concierge upon making a reservation.
