Penedès and Priorat by campervan: 4 days on Catalonia's wine route
Penedès and Priorat are the two faces of Catalan wine, both under two hours from Barcelona: on one side, the cava houses and modern wineries of the Penedès plain; on the other, the slate-terraced vineyards climbing the Priorat mountains, with villages that look carved into the rock. This 4-day route leaves from Mataró, crosses both wine regions and returns along the coast — about 380 km in total, comfortably within the 100 km/day included in a 4-day rental.
It's a route built for the California: the roads climbing to Siurana or dropping into Gratallops are narrow with tight bends, and where a big motorhome thinks twice, the compact van goes through without drama. And with the fridge on board, there's no problem bringing bottles from each winery through to the evening.
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Day 1 — Mataró to Sant Sadurní d'Anoia and Vilafranca del Penedès (65 km)
Head out to the Penedès on the AP-7/A-7, with a first stop in Sant Sadurní d'Anoia, the cava capital: it's worth booking a visit to one of the historic cava houses in advance, since summer and weekend slots fill up fast. At midday, head to Vilafranca del Penedès to visit the Vinseum, the wine culture museum, and have vermouth in the Plaça de la Vila.
Where to sleep: the motorhome area in Vilafranca or a campsite nearby; to extend the day, some Penedès wineries have a parking area set up for overnight guests.
Day 2 — Into the Priorat: Montblanc, Escaladei and Gratallops (95 km)
The road south crosses the Conca de Barberà and stops at Montblanc, home to Catalonia's best-preserved medieval walls — half an hour is enough for a walk around them. From here, enter the Priorat through Escaladei, where the ruins of the Carthusian monastery that gave the whole appellation its name still stand: this is where it all began, eight centuries ago.
In the afternoon, Gratallops, the smallest and best-known village in the Priorat, with a dozen wineries right off the square. For a base with more services, Falset, the capital, has César Martinell's modernist Cooperativa Agrícola and a wider choice of restaurants.
Day 3 — Siurana, the clifftop village, and its reservoir (30 km)
Morning for Siurana, one of the most beautiful villages in Catalonia, perched on a 700-metre cliff with vertigo-inducing views over the whole Priorat. Important note: the final stretch of road is very narrow with tight bends — take it slowly, don't rush, and watch for oncoming traffic.
Below, the Siurana reservoir invites a swim or a short walk by the water before heading back to Gratallops or Falset for dinner.
Day 4 — Return with a stop in Sitges or El Vendrell (190 km)
The drive back to Mataró is long, so it's worth breaking it up with a stop halfway. Sitges, with its seafront promenade and old town, is a classic choice; the quieter El Vendrell offers the Museu Deu and a good stretch of beach to stretch your legs before the last hour on the road.
Arrival in Mataró in the afternoon, with plenty of time to return the van without rushing.
The driver doesn't taste
It's the golden rule of any wine route: whoever's behind the wheel doesn't drink. With four days and several wineries a day, the simplest solution is to take turns among the group, so everyone gets to taste at some point on the trip.
Many Penedès and Priorat wineries offer a tasting-free visit for drivers, and you can always buy bottles to open later that night, at the area or campsite, with no car involved. The California's fridge makes that easy.
Frequently asked questions
How many kilometres is the route?+
About 380 km in total over 4 days, under the 400 km included in a 4-day rental (100 km/day).
Do you need to book winery visits?+
Yes, almost always, especially at weekends: the big Penedès cava houses usually run fixed visiting slots, and small Priorat wineries work by appointment — calling or booking online a few days ahead avoids disappointment.
Where can you sleep in the campervan?+
There are motorhome areas in Vilafranca and Falset, plus campsites in both regions, mostly €10–25. Free overnighting outside these areas is regulated, so it's best not to risk it.
