Barcelona: Sailing and Alella Winery Tour with Wine Tasting

Barcelona looks different from the water. This four-hour outing pairs a coastal sail to El Masnou with a visit to a family winery in Alella, giving you two pleasant ways to leave the city behind. I like the mix of sea air and local wine, and I like that the winery visit includes both vineyard walks and a guided tasting of three wines. The main consideration is time: one and a half hours at the winery may feel short if you want a leisurely meal or a long cellar visit.

The tour costs $152 per person, which is not cheap for half a day. Still, the price covers the sailboat, port services, onboard drinks and snacks, transfers, a bilingual guide, the winery visit, three tastings, and the private van back to Barcelona. For a small group of no more than 11 people, that is a fair package, especially if you value comfort and simple transport.

Key points before you book

• Alella is one of Catalonia’s oldest wine areas, with wine ties reaching back to Roman times and later connections to medieval Barcelona.
• The boat and winery are joined in one outing, so you get a coastal view, vineyard walk, tasting, and return transfer without arranging separate transport.
• The 1.5-hour sail runs between Barcelona and the Port of Masnou, depending on the day’s operating order.
• The family winery occupies a 14th-century farmhouse surrounded by vineyards and the Mediterranean coast.
• Three wines, cheese, sausage, crackers, nuts, and fruit are included, with drinks also available during the boat trip.
• The group limit is 11, though a group of nine was accommodated on a private boat, a useful sign for families or small parties booking together.

Leaving Barcelona from Moll de Mestral

Your meeting point is inside Port Olímpic at the BDA Sailing Experience sales tent, Moll de Mestral, mooring 1547. This is not a city-center street corner, so allow enough time to find the marina and the correct sales tent.

The trip can run in either direction. On one version, you sail first to El Masnou, transfer by van to Alella, visit the winery, and return to Barcelona by private minivan. On the other, you travel to the winery first and sail back to the city.

That flexibility matters. The sailing portion may be more appealing in the morning, when you are fresh and the sea outing feels like the main event. On another day, finishing with the boat could be a pleasant way to wind down after the tasting. You do not appear to choose the order yourself, so check the schedule and ask at the meeting point which plan is operating.

The boat is supplied with courtesy drinks, including water, soft drinks, beer, wine, and cava. Snacks include cheese, sausage, crackers, nuts, and fruit. That is enough to take the edge off your appetite, but it is not a full lunch. I would eat a light meal before departure, especially if you know wine affects you quickly on an empty stomach.

A 90-minute sail along the Catalan coast

The sailing leg lasts about an hour and a half. From the water, you get a different view of Barcelona and the coast than you would from a bus or walking tour. The point is not speed. This is the slower part of the outing, with time to sit, watch the shoreline, and enjoy a drink.

The trip includes sailboat rental, fuel, mooring, port services, surveillance, insurance, and final cleaning. Those details may sound dry, but they explain part of the price. You are not simply being dropped at a public ferry and told to find your own way. The boat, operating costs, and port arrangements are bundled into the booking.

The small-group format should make the boat feel more personal than a large harbor cruise. The group limit is 11, and one party of nine had a private boat arranged for its group. That does not necessarily mean every booking receives an exclusive boat, so ask if privacy is important to you.

Bring sunscreen, water, a camera, and comfortable clothes. Towels are not included. You should also consider the sea conditions. The operator specifically warns that the outing is not suitable for people prone to seasickness or those with back problems. The boat ride is a central part of the experience, not a short transfer you can easily ignore.

Alcohol is available as part of the courtesy service, but the rules prohibit outside alcohol and drugs. Since the tour combines sun, motion, and wine, pace yourself. The cheese, fruit, and other snacks help, but they do not turn the trip into a meal.

Reaching El Masnou and heading inland

The sailing portion ends at the Port of Masnou. From there, a private transfer takes you to the winery in Alella, with the listed transfer taking about 15 minutes.

This short van ride is one of the practical strengths of the tour. You do not need to locate a taxi, figure out a regional bus, or coordinate a rental car after drinking wine. The return to Barcelona is also handled by private minivan, with about 25 minutes listed for that final leg.

Alella is close to Barcelona, yet it feels removed from the city’s hard edges. The vineyards sit near the Mediterranean, so the outing gives you a taste of the coast and the nearby wine country in the same morning or afternoon. It is a good choice if you want more than Barcelona’s central streets but do not want to spend a full day reaching a distant wine region.

Touring a 14th-century family winery

The winery is housed in a beautiful 14th-century farmhouse surrounded by vineyards and the Mediterranean Sea. The setting provides much of the charm. You are not only sitting at a tasting counter. You also walk among vines and learn how the property uses organic and modern growing methods.

The vineyards have been cultivated for more than 25 years. That detail gives the visit a useful balance. The operation is connected to an old farmhouse and a long local wine tradition, but it is not presented as a museum frozen in the past. You learn about current vineyard work alongside the older story of Alella wine.

The guided walk is especially valuable for anyone who normally drinks wine without knowing much about how it is made. You can ask about the grapes, vineyard care, and the steps that carry the wine from the vines to the bottle. The guide is bilingual in English and Spanish, which makes the tour accessible to a wide range of visitors.

The winery visit lasts about 90 minutes. That is enough time for a vineyard walk, an introduction to the winery, and a tasting, but it is not an expansive estate visit. If you enjoy lingering over each glass or want a long lunch among the vines, you may wish the schedule allowed more time. A Korean booking specifically wanted a longer stay at the winery, which is a useful warning for wine enthusiasts.

Why Alella wine adds local character

Alella wine has a story that reaches back to Roman times. Pliny and Martial referred to wines from the Laietani area, the ancient territory connected with this part of the Catalan coast. In the Middle Ages, Alella wines were favored at the Seu de Barcelona, the city’s cathedral, and later became quality wines exported from Catalonia.

The historical context makes the tasting more meaningful. You are not simply sampling three unrelated bottles near Barcelona. You are learning about a wine area that served local religious and civic institutions, then reached Catalan communities overseas.

The tour also explains the winemaking process and the importance of Alella wines. The focus is regional rather than flashy. You are visiting a family producer, walking through working vineyards, and tasting wines made at the property.

Three winery-produced wines are included. The exact varieties are not specified, so do not book expecting a particular grape or style. That is also part of the appeal: you taste what this producer chooses to present rather than being promised a fixed list that may change with production.

The tasting comes with cheese and fruit, while the broader snack service includes sausage, crackers, and nuts. These pairings help keep the tasting comfortable and give you something to eat between glasses. They should not be confused with a full winery lunch.

How the four hours are divided

The advertised duration is four hours, with the main schedule arranged like this:

• Sailing between Barcelona and El Masnou: about 1.5 hours
• Transfer from the port to the winery: about 15 minutes
• Vineyard visit, winery tour, and tasting: about 1.5 hours
• Return to Barcelona by private van: about 25 minutes

The timing is tight but sensible. You spend the largest blocks on the two main attractions, the boat and the winery, while the transfers are short and organized.

You should not expect a full-day wine-country escape. This is a compact taste of Alella, designed for people staying in Barcelona who want a change of pace without giving up most of the day. If you prefer a slow lunch, several wineries, or a long cellar conversation, choose a longer wine excursion instead.

The short format also helps if you have evening plans. Still, allow extra time around the official four hours for meeting, boarding, disembarking, and any small schedule changes. The supplied schedule is clear, but transport and sea conditions can affect the exact rhythm of the outing.

What the $152 price really covers

At $152 per person, this experience asks you to pay for convenience as much as for the activities. You receive the sailboat, fuel, insurance, port charges, onboard drinks and food, a bilingual guide, transport between El Masnou and Alella, a private van back to Barcelona, the winery tour, vineyard walk, and three wines.

That is a stronger value than comparing the price only with a basic harbor cruise or a simple tasting. You are combining several services that would otherwise require separate bookings. The private return van is particularly useful after wine, and the small group keeps the experience from feeling like a large coach outing.

The value is less convincing if your main goal is simply to drink wine. The tasting includes only three wines, and the winery portion is limited to about 90 minutes. You are paying for the coastal sail, the setting, the guided interpretation, and the transfers. If those parts appeal to you, the price is reasonable. If you want a serious wine study, it may feel expensive for the tasting time.

The total rating is five out of five from seven verified bookings, with especially strong praise for the winery, the tasting, and the boat ride. A group of nine was also able to have a private boat for its outing. Those details point to the tour’s strongest qualities: a pleasant setting, a well-liked combination of activities, and a small-group feel.

Who should book this outing

I would recommend it to couples, friends, and small families who want a polished half-day outside Barcelona. It suits you if you enjoy gentle sightseeing, coastal views, local food, and an introduction to wine without committing to a long rural tour.

It is also a good fit for people who dislike complicated transport. You meet at the port, sail or transfer according to the day’s plan, visit the winery, and return to Barcelona in a private minivan. The operator handles the moving parts.

You should think twice if you have back problems or get seasick. The boat ride is not optional in spirit, even though the order may change. I would also hesitate to recommend it to anyone looking for a substantial meal, multiple wineries, or several hours of independent time.

Wear comfortable clothes and bring sunscreen, water, and a camera. Leave pets and bicycles at home. Towels are not provided, and the tour does not include extra food beyond the listed snacks.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those policies are useful if your Barcelona plans are still changing, but I would still check the exact starting time before booking because the tour operates at set availability rather than one universal departure hour.

Final verdict: a smart coastal and wine pairing

Book this tour if you want one easy half-day that combines sailing, Alella wine, and private transport. The best part is the contrast between the open water and the old farmhouse vineyards. The tasting, snacks, and bilingual guidance make the day feel complete without requiring much planning from you.

Skip it if you want a full meal, a long winery visit, or a serious study of several producers. The $152 price is justified by the boat, small group, transfers, and included refreshments, but the 90-minute winery visit leaves little room for lingering.

For most visitors with four hours to spare, this is a pleasant way to see a quieter side of Catalonia. You get local wine, a coastal outing, and a practical ride back to Barcelona, all in one compact package.

FAQ

Where does the Barcelona sailing and winery tour begin?

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

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts about four hours. The listed schedule includes 1.5 hours of sailing, a 15-minute transfer to the winery, 1.5 hours at the winery, and a 25-minute return transfer.

Is the tour always completed in the same order?

No. One option sails to El Masnou first, then transfers to the winery and returns to Barcelona by van. The other visits the winery first and returns to Barcelona by sailboat.

How many wines are included?

The winery tasting includes three wines produced by the winery.

Are food and drinks included?

Yes. The boat includes water, soft drinks, beer, wine, or cava, along with cheese, sausage, crackers, nuts, and fruit. Extra food is not included.

Is the tour available in English?

Yes. A professional bilingual guide provides the tour in English and Spanish.

Is the tour suitable for people with seasickness or back problems?

No. The activity is not considered suitable for people with back problems or people prone to seasickness.