Weekend full of proposals in Barcelona coinciding with the long Purísima and Constitution bank holiday. Most events are related to Christmas, but wine lovers can also enjoy a very special party this Saturday, the Festa del Vi Novell, which returns to Palau Robert after two years without being able to be held due to the pandemic.
From 11 in the morning until 8 in the evening, the gardens of Palau Robert will be the setting for the celebration of the arrival of the first wines of the 2022 vintage, that is, the first bottles that come to market as a result of the grapes harvested in this last summer's harvest. Unlike other young wines, which come out later, vi novell is bottled and consumed without having rested, which gives it a freshness and very special characteristics.
The thirteen Catalan wineries that have made this type of wine this year and that belong to seven different designations of origin will participate in this exhibition. Three wineries from Mallorca have also been invited to join the party. According to the Catalan Institute of Vine and Wine (Incavi), vi novell "is a very traditional product both in Catalonia and in Mallorca, so wineries are working to make it known and value it."
Access to the Festa del vi novell is free, but to taste the first wines of the season it is necessary to buy a ticket for 1.5 euros or a pack of 8 tastings for 10 euros. To accompany the wines, there will be Catalan cheeses and cured meats. The wineries that will be present at the festival are Carles Andreu, Josep Foraster, Vinícola de Sarral and Vins Petxina, from DO Conca de Barberà; Celler de Sanuí, from DO Costers del Segre; Celler Cooperatiu d'Espolla, from DO Empordà; the Masroig and Ronadelles wineries, from DO Montsant; Celler Cooperatiu de la Granada, Covides and Maset, from DO Penedès; Celler Cooperatiu d'Artés, from DO Pla de Bages; and Sant Josep Vins, from DO Terra Alta. As for the Mallorcan wineries, they are 7103, Macià Batle and Jaume de Puntiró.
In addition to tasting the wines, visitors who come to Palau Robert will be able to participate in various activities, such as a theatrical performance at 12 noon to explain the origin and tradition of vi novell. At 4 in the afternoon, anyone who wants to can test their knowledge about this type of wine by participating in the Trivial del Novell.