The Familia Torres winery in Pacs del Penedès is among the world’s 50 top vineyards, according to the “World’s Best Vineyards 2019” ranking, recently released by the creators of the prestigious “World’s 50 Best Restaurants” and “World’s 50 Best Bars” lists. This new list distinguishes wineries that, besides making great wines, are worth visiting on account of being “amazing places to taste wine and learn about winemaking,” as the organizers explain on the event’s website.
Familia Torres comes in at number 28 and is one of four Spanish vineyards to make the list – although the only one in Catalonia – out of the 1,500 vineyards nominated from around the world. The nominees were voted on by the nearly 500 professionals from the wine and tourism industries who made up the expert panel and were asked to assess the whole experience, beyond just the wines, resulting in this Top 50 list based on their recommendations and votes. With 17 countries represented in the final ranking, it is aimed at increasing the level of wine tourism and encouraging travelers to enjoy wine-related experiences all over the world.
When it came to our century-old family vineyard in the Penedès region, the organizers particularly noted the minimalist design of the Waltraud winery, the work of architect Javier Barba, a benchmark in bioclimatic architecture in Spain, as well as its location on the “spectacular” Carretera del Vi: The Mediterranean’s first wine road, comprising 13 wineries along a 40-km route following an ancient Roman road that joins the inland area of the Penedès with the beaches of El Garraf.
Other aspects highlighted by the “World’s Best Vineyards” organizers are the wide range of experiences Familia Torres offers visitors, including those run by qualified wine educators and the possibility of personalizing experiences based on specific interests. The offer ranges from a classic pairing to a tasting of five high-end wines on a journey through different designations of origin, following a tour of the Mas La Plana vineyard and Waltraud winery where the wine of the same name is made, an icon of Familia Torres.
