REVIEW · BARCELONA
Barcelona: Vineyard Horseback Riding & Wine Tasting + Tapas
Book on GetYourGuide →Operated by WINE STORIES · Bookable on GetYourGuide
Winery plus horses in Penedès is a smart combo. You get a guided horseback ride through Catalonia’s wine country, then shift gears into an expert-led winery visit with tastings and food. This is the kind of day trip that feels special without turning your schedule into a sprint.
Two things I really like: the careful pacing (you’re not just dropped at a tasting room), and the focus on craft—your visit includes a winery tour and an attention to sustainability. One thing to consider is the pricing: the listed rate applies to groups of 4 or more, and smaller groups pay a surcharge.
In This Review
- Key points
- A Full Barcelona-to-Penedès Day, With Horses
- Picking Up in Barcelona and Riding Out to Wine Country
- The Vineyard Horseback Ride and Photo Stop
- Inside El Penedès: Winery Visit, Museum Time, and the Expert Tour
- Wine Tasting Paired with Tapas, Plus Lunch or Sunset Options
- Timing Tips: What 6 Hours Feels Like in Real Life
- Price and Value: Why $324 Can Make Sense Here
- Who This Tour Fits Best—and Who Should Skip It
- Should You Book This Horseback Riding and Wine Tasting Day?
- FAQ
- What is the duration of the tour?
- What time does the tour start and when does it end?
- Where are you picked up from?
- What’s included in the wine tasting and food?
- Is horseback riding included?
- Can I upgrade to lunch?
- What languages are the guides available in?
- Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Key points
- Horseback ride with an optional photoshoot during the vineyard time
- Expert winery tour in the Penedès region, with winemaking insights
- Wine tasting paired with pica pica tapas treats (and local snacks)
- Optional upgrades like a luxury lunch at a winery with a pool or sunset tapas
- Private-group feel with hotel pickup and drop-off from Barcelona
- Guides in multiple languages, including English (plus German, Spanish, and Russian where applicable)
A Full Barcelona-to-Penedès Day, With Horses
This tour is built around a simple idea: you experience the wine region first from the saddle, then you learn how the wine is actually made. That order matters. After you see the vineyards up close, the winery tour doesn’t feel like a checklist. It feels like the next logical step.
The total time is about 6 hours, starting in Barcelona at 10 a.m. and returning around 3 p.m. If you choose the luxury lunch upgrade, the schedule adjusts so you still finish with time back in the city.
A small but important detail: this is a private group experience. That doesn’t mean it’s empty and silent, but it does mean the day is run with your group in mind—less waiting around, more listening, and more room for questions.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in Barcelona.
Picking Up in Barcelona and Riding Out to Wine Country
Your day begins with a hotel pickup in a private, air-conditioned car or minivan. Then you’re on the road for about 1 hour toward El Penedès, with scenic views along the way. The upside of this setup is comfort and clarity: you’re not figuring out transit, parking, or meeting points.
The tour returns you to Barcelona after the tasting and ride, usually leaving you enough time to head into the city afterward. If you like your day trips to still keep a little energy for dinner, this timing helps.
Also, the guides are listed as English-speaking, with additional language ability (German, Spanish, Russian). In practice, that matters if you want real explanations during the winery portion rather than just tasting notes.
The Vineyard Horseback Ride and Photo Stop
The heart of the outdoor part is a guided horseback ride through vineyard scenery. It’s designed to be more than “walk a trail and leave.” You get a sense of the area from a different height and angle than you’d get on foot.
You’ll also have an official photo stop. If you’re the type who likes proof of the view (and not just memory), it’s worth taking the chance—especially because the tour already builds in time for it rather than rushing you through.
Practical expectation: it’s not described as a technical riding lesson. The tour is about the experience—scenery, time together, and getting the ride done safely and pleasantly. The reviews you’ll see align with that: people mention the ride feeling smooth and the horses looking well cared for.
One heads-up from the info you have: it’s not suitable for wheelchair users. If mobility is an issue for your group, this one likely won’t work.
Inside El Penedès: Winery Visit, Museum Time, and the Expert Tour
After the countryside time, you arrive in El Penedès for the winery portion. This is where the tour turns from scenery to context: you don’t just taste; you learn. You’ll see the winery area and get a guided tour with insights into winemaking.
A notable detail from real experience: you may also get time to explore the vineyard and a museum on the property after the tasting or during the broader visit window. That’s the difference between a simple tasting stop and a fuller visit. If you enjoy details—how a winery explains its history, production, or region—you’re likely to appreciate this extra breathing room.
Sustainability is part of the story. The tour description specifically calls out wineries that use eco-friendly practices to help preserve regional wine quality and reduce environmental impact. Even if you’re not a hard-core wine nerd, it gives you a meaningful lens for what you’re drinking.
Guides can shape this part a lot. One review specifically credited Giacomo for making the whole day feel helpful and well run. Another named guide, Mehdi, stood out for friendliness right from pickup. When a guide treats the day like a conversation instead of a script, the winery visit lands better.
Wine Tasting Paired with Tapas, Plus Lunch or Sunset Options
The tasting is the payoff: you sample a curated selection of wines in the Penedès region, and it’s paired with pica pica tapas treats. The point of the food pairing isn’t just convenience—it helps you notice how flavors shift with each wine. It also turns what could be a “small sip” session into a real meal-feeling break.
You’ll learn about the wines while you taste. The tour format is positioned as an educational experience with an expert, not a free-for-all. That’s especially useful if you want structure: you get guided explanations, then you taste and form your own opinions.
If you want more than tapas, there are upgrades:
- A luxury lunch at a winery that’s described as having a pool
- Or an optional sunset tapas experience
The lunch option matters for timing. The tour notes that if you pick luxury lunch, the schedule adapts so you can enjoy it and still get back to Barcelona around the stated return time. For some people, that upgrade is the difference between a fun half-day and a full, sit-down, slower experience.
And yes, food quality seems to be a standout here. One review said the lunch might have been the best meal in Barcelona, which gives you a strong clue that the food isn’t an afterthought.
Timing Tips: What 6 Hours Feels Like in Real Life
On paper, it’s a tight timeline:
- Pickup in Barcelona
- Ride to Penedès
- Photo stop and countryside time
- Winery tour + tasting + food
- Return to Barcelona
But in practice, it’s designed to flow. Reviews highlight that guests had time for property exploration and tasting—rather than feeling yanked along. One person even described having time to explore the vineyard and museum afterward, which suggests the winery segment doesn’t end the second you finish tasting.
You’ll also be moving between different “modes” of the day: transport, horseback riding, then indoor/covered winery time with explanations and food. That variety is part of the appeal. If you’re the type who gets bored on long transit days, this format keeps you engaged.
If you’re planning dinner after, aim for something nearby rather than booking reservations far out. You’ll be back around 3 p.m., so you can still enjoy your afternoon or ease into evening plans without feeling wiped out.
Price and Value: Why $324 Can Make Sense Here
The price is $324 per person, and it’s valid for groups of 4+. For smaller groups, a surcharge applies. That’s the key pricing detail.
So is it worth it? Here’s the value logic:
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in a private vehicle saves time and stress
- Horseback riding isn’t a quick add-on; it’s a major part of the day
- Winery entrance fees are included
- Guided winery tour is included
- Wine tasting is included
- Food is included via pica pica tapas treats (and local snacks), with optional lunch upgrades
If you try to recreate this day independently—transport to Penedès, a guided winery tour, and a horseback provider—you’ll usually pay more once you add up time, logistics, and booking effort.
One more subtle point: the tour is positioned as a “just-for-you” private-group experience. That often makes the hours feel less like a product and more like an itinerary designed for a real group day.
Who This Tour Fits Best—and Who Should Skip It
This tour is a great match if you want:
- Wine education without being stuck in a chair all day
- A scenic activity that feels different from another tasting room
- A day trip that still leaves room for a Barcelona evening
It also fits special occasions. One review described the day as romantic, and the combination of countryside views, winery explanations, and structured tastings naturally supports that kind of vibe.
Who should skip it:
- Anyone who needs wheelchair accessibility, since it’s stated as not suitable for wheelchair users
- Anyone who dislikes time outdoors or isn’t comfortable with horseback riding as the main activity
There’s also a simple “personality check.” If you’re the type who wants a purely luxury day with no physical component, horseback riding might not feel like your thing. But if you’re open to doing something active in the middle of a wine trip, that’s exactly what makes this day click.
Should You Book This Horseback Riding and Wine Tasting Day?
Book it if you want a guided Penedès experience with both countryside scenery and a real winery visit, plus food that makes the tastings feel like a proper meal break. The strongest reasons to choose it are the structure (ride first, then tasting), the included food pairing, and the sense of being treated carefully—pickup experience and guidance seem to matter here, and you can feel that through the names that come up like Mehdi and Giacomo.
Skip it if your group is small enough that the surcharge makes the price jump too much, or if accessibility needs rule horseback riding out.
If you’re torn, decide based on this question: do you want your day trip to feel like a story you can picture later (horses, vineyards, winery tour), or a quick tasting stop? This tour leans hard toward the first option.
FAQ
What is the duration of the tour?
The tour lasts about 6 hours.
What time does the tour start and when does it end?
It starts at 10 a.m. in Barcelona and typically concludes around 3 p.m. If you choose a luxury lunch upgrade, the timing can be adapted.
Where are you picked up from?
You get hotel pick-up and drop-off in Barcelona.
What’s included in the wine tasting and food?
Wine tasting is included, paired with pica pica tapas treats, plus local snacks.
Is horseback riding included?
Yes. Horseback riding is included as part of the guided experience.
Can I upgrade to lunch?
Yes. You can enhance your experience with a beautiful lunch at a luxury winery with a pool, or choose an optional sunset tapas experience.
What languages are the guides available in?
The tour is conducted in English, and guides are also fluent in German, Spanish, and Russian.
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
No. The tour is not suitable for wheelchair users.
