Barcelona: Sailing and Alella Winery Tour with Wine Tasting

Barcelona has a fine way to change the pace: leave the city by sailboat, follow the coast to El Masnou, then head inland to one of Catalonia’s oldest wine areas. This four-hour sailing and winery tour gives you sea views, vineyard time, and three local wines without asking you to arrange separate transport.

I like the small group limit of 11, and I like the simple combination of experiences. You get a pleasant boat ride, a guided walk through organic vineyards, a winery visit, and cheese, fruit, and other snacks. The Alella wine story also gives the tasting more meaning than a quick drink at a city bar.

The main drawback is time. The winery visit lasts about 90 minutes, which is enough for an introduction and tasting but may feel short if you want a long vineyard walk. You should also think twice if you have serious back problems or are prone to seasickness.

Key points at a glance

• Sail the coast from Barcelona to El Masnou: The 90-minute boat ride gives you a different view of Barcelona and the Mediterranean shore.
• Visit a 14th-century family farmhouse: The winery sits among vineyards near the sea, giving the visit a strong sense of place.
• Taste three Alella wines: The tasting focuses on wines made by the winery rather than a broad commercial selection.
• Keep the group small: No more than 11 people join, with a bilingual guide in English or Spanish.
• Return by private van: After the winery, you ride back to Barcelona rather than repeating the boat trip.
• Choose the order of the day: Depending on the schedule, you may sail first or visit the winery first.

Sailing out of Barcelona from Moll de Mestral

Your day begins inside Port Olímpic at the BDA Sailing Experience sales tent, near Moll de Mestral and mooring 1547. Give yourself enough time to find the correct spot inside the marina. The meeting point is specific, and a port can be confusing if you arrive in a hurry.

The boat ride to El Masnou takes about 1.5 hours. This is not simply a transfer hidden inside a wine tour. It is a proper part of the experience, giving you time on the water and a fresh angle on Barcelona’s coastline.

You can expect a courtesy drinks service with water, soft drinks, beer, wine, or cava. Snacks on board include cheese, sausage, crackers, nuts, and fruit. That makes the sailing feel more like a relaxed outing than a basic boat crossing, especially if you enjoy having something small to eat while watching the shore pass.

The boat includes fuel, port services, mooring, insurance, and final cleaning. Those details may sound dull, but they matter when you compare this tour with arranging a boat and winery visit yourself. You are paying for the boat, the crew arrangements, the transfers, the guide, and the food service in one booking.

Bring sunscreen, water, a camera, and comfortable clothes. Towels are not provided, so do not count on this being a swimming excursion. The information supplied does not promise swimming time, and the focus is on sailing, sightseeing, and wine.

You should also be realistic about the sea. People prone to seasickness may find the boat uncomfortable, even on a calm day. If that applies to you, take the usual precautions before departure and choose a seat that helps you feel steady.

Arriving in El Masnou and heading to Alella

After sailing, a private transfer takes you from the Port of Masnou to the winery in Alella. The listed drive takes about 15 minutes, so you do not lose much of the day to road travel.

The two towns work well together. El Masnou gives you the sea, marina, and coastal setting. Alella adds vineyards and farmhouse architecture only a short distance inland. You get two different sides of the area without committing to a full-day excursion.

There are two possible orders for the tour. On one departure, you sail to El Masnou, transfer to the winery, and return to Barcelona by van. On another, you first go by van to the winery and then return to the city by sailboat. Check the exact order for your date, since it changes the rhythm of the day.

That flexibility can be useful, but it also means you should not assume the boat will always be the first part. If sailing is the main reason you are booking, confirm the arrangement when you reserve or check the departure details carefully.

A 14th-century farmhouse among Alella vineyards

The winery occupies a family property in a 14th-century farmhouse surrounded by vineyards and the Mediterranean. The setting is one of the strongest parts of the tour. You are not tasting wine in an anonymous room far from the vines. You are seeing the agricultural setting that gives the wines their identity.

The vineyards have been cultivated for more than 25 years and are now managed with organic and modern techniques. During the guided walk, you learn how the vines are grown and how the winery connects its current methods with Alella’s older wine tradition.

The vineyard visit is not designed as a long agricultural study. You have about 1.5 hours for the tasting and winery portion, including the walk and explanation. That should suit you if you want a clear introduction without giving up most of your day. If you already know Alella wines well or want an extended technical tour, the visit may feel brief.

The setting near the Mediterranean also helps explain why this is a worthwhile side trip from Barcelona. Alella is close enough for a half-day visit, but it feels removed from the city once you are among the vines. You get a rural pause without spending hours on a coach.

Why Alella wine has a story worth hearing

Alella is one of Spain’s oldest wine areas, and its wines have been known for centuries. Roman writers Pliny and Martial referred to wines from the Laietan area, the ancient region associated with this part of the Catalan coast.

The wines later became favorites at the Seu de Barcelona during the Middle Ages. In time, Alella wines were exported from Catalonia, including to overseas colonies with large Catalan communities.

That background gives the tasting useful context. You are not just sampling three bottles and trying to decide which one you like best. You are hearing how a small wine area near Barcelona developed a place in regional and international trade.

The guide explains the history and the winemaking process in English or Spanish. Since no individual guide names are provided, you should think of the bilingual guide as part of the general tour service rather than expecting a particular named host.

Tasting three wines with local snacks

The tasting includes three wines produced by the winery. This keeps the focus on the property you have just visited and lets you compare its own approach across the selection.

The tasting is paired with cheese and fruit at the winery. Earlier, on the boat, you receive a broader snack service with cheese, sausage, crackers, nuts, and fruit. These are useful additions, but they are not a full meal. If you tend to get hungry after a morning on the water, eat before meeting the group or plan food later in Barcelona.

I like this food arrangement because it fits the tour. You get enough to make the wine tasting comfortable, but the experience does not pretend to be a large lunch. The tour information does not list any extra food beyond the included snacks, so do not book it as a substitute for a restaurant meal.

The tasting also works for people who are interested in wine but are not experts. The vineyard walk and winery explanation give you a framework. You can focus on what you enjoy rather than worrying about using technical tasting language.

Returning to Barcelona by private minivan

After the winery, a private minivan takes you back to Barcelona. The listed return drive takes about 25 minutes, although traffic can affect the actual time.

The van return is a practical choice. After sailing and drinking wine, you do not need to navigate public transport or arrange a taxi from Alella. If your departure uses the opposite order, you return by sailboat instead, so the transport sequence depends on the option assigned to your booking.

The stated itinerary adds up to roughly 3 hours and 25 minutes of sailing, transfers, and winery time, while the advertised duration is four hours. That leaves room for boarding, mooring, vehicle changes, and normal movement through the day. Still, avoid scheduling an important appointment immediately after the tour.

What the $152 price includes

At $152 per person, this is not a cheap way to reach a winery. It is priced as a small-group premium outing, and the value depends on how much you want the sailing portion.

You are paying for:

• Sailboat rental
• Port services, mooring, insurance, fuel, and cleaning
• Drinks and snacks on the boat
• Transport between El Masnou and Alella
• Winery entry and vineyard tour
• Three wine tastings
• A bilingual professional guide
• Private van transport back to Barcelona
• A group limited to 11 people

If you arranged a winery visit and a separate sailing trip, the price could rise quickly, and you would have to coordinate the timing yourself. The private transfers are also important. They remove the awkward gap between the marina and the farmhouse.

The value is weaker if you mainly want a short boat ride or a basic wine tasting. You can find simpler versions of either activity for less. This tour makes the most sense when you want both in one compact half-day and prefer a small group over a large coach excursion.

The highest praise from the available feedback centers on the winery, the tasting, and the boat ride working well together. One group of nine had a private boat arranged for its party, which shows how the small-group format can feel particularly personal when your own group nearly fills the available places. The same group valued walking through the vineyard and learning about the production process.

Another useful point is that one visitor wanted more time at the winery. That is a fair warning. The experience is well suited to a first look at Alella, but the schedule does not leave room for a slow, lingering afternoon among the vines.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would recommend this experience to you if you want a gentle day outside Barcelona with several elements rather than one long specialist activity. It suits couples, small groups of friends, and visitors who like combining scenery, food, and local culture.

It is also a good fit if you do not want to rent a car. The private transfer handles the trip from the port to the winery and the return to Barcelona. You can taste wine without worrying about driving afterward.

The tour suits casual wine drinkers better than serious students of viticulture. You receive history, vineyard information, and a look at the winemaking process, but the supplied details do not promise an advanced technical seminar.

You should reconsider if you have back problems or strong seasickness. Boat movement, boarding, and vehicle transfers may make the day uncomfortable. The tour also is not suitable for pets or bikes, and alcohol or drugs are not allowed.

Wear comfortable clothes and use sunscreen. Bring water and a camera. Because towels are not included and no swimming program is specified, pack for a sailing and winery visit, not a beach day.

Should you book the Barcelona sailing and Alella wine tour?

Book it if you want a polished four-hour outing that joins coastal scenery with a real winery visit. The small group, included snacks, private transfers, and three wines make the $152 price easier to justify than a basic boat ride or tasting alone.

Skip it if you want a long winery afternoon, a full meal, or a low-cost excursion. The 90-minute winery portion is enough for a guided introduction, but it may leave wine enthusiasts wishing for more time.

For most visitors, the best reason to choose this tour is the balance. You leave Barcelona by boat, reach a historic wine area near the sea, taste local wines in a family setting, and return without sorting out the transport yourself. Just confirm which direction the tour runs and allow some spare time after the stated four hours.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

It begins inside Port Olímpic at the BDA Sailing Experience sales tent in Moll de Mestral, at mooring 1547.

How long does the experience last?

The advertised duration is four hours. The listed activities include about 1.5 hours of sailing, a 15-minute transfer to the winery, 1.5 hours for the winery visit and tasting, and a 25-minute return transfer.

How many people can join the tour?

The tour is limited to 11 participants.

Which languages are available?

The professional guide can conduct the tour in English or Spanish.

What wines will I taste?

You will taste three wines produced by the winery in Alella.

Is food included?

Yes. On the boat, the snack service includes cheese, sausage, crackers, nuts, and fruit. Cheese and fruit are also included with the winery tasting. Extra food is not specified.

Do I return to Barcelona by boat?

It depends on the option assigned to your tour. One option sails to El Masnou, visits the winery, and returns by private van. The other visits the winery first by van and returns to Barcelona by sailboat.

What should I bring?

Bring a camera, sunscreen, water, and comfortable clothes. Towels are not provided.

Is the tour suitable for people prone to seasickness?

It is not recommended for people prone to seasickness. It is also not suitable for people with back problems.