Catalonia’s wine culture and early 20th-century modernist architecture come together in what are known as the Wine Cathedrals. If you enjoy wine tourism, visiting vineyards and tasting wines and cavas, you’ll come across these buildings in the south of Catalonia, each with the added value of significant cultural heritage. Proud symbols of Catalonia’s rural past and present, most of these buildings were built between 1910 and 1925 and are located mainly inland from the Costa Daurada and the Terres de l’Ebre. These are the cooperative wineries built in towns across regions such as the Conca de Barberà, Alt Camp, Priorat and Terra Alta. Their grandeur, both inside and out, remains impressive to this day. It was Àngel Guimerà, one of the great playwrights of Catalan literature, who first referred to the winery in L’Espluga de Francolí as a “Wine Cathedral”. Since then, the name has been used for other buildings serving the same purpose and built in a similar, distinctive architectural style. What are the Wine Cathedrals? Heritage like no other The Wine Cathedrals are former cooperative wineries built in the early 20th century across several regions in southern Catalonia. They are an exceptional example of modernist architecture applied to a rural, wine-making context. These buildings emerged from a crisis in Catalonia’s agricultural sector, the rise of agrarian cooperativism and the influence of the modernist movement in architecture. The result was the creation of monumental wineries, with designs inspired by religious temples, which are now regarded as true works of art. Many of these buildings were designed by renowned architects such as Cèsar Martinell, a disciple of Gaudí, and Pere Domènech i Roura. They are characterised by striking parabolic brick arches, the functional use of simple materials like ceramic and brick, and their seamless integration into the rural landscape. The term “Wine Cathedrals” is used to describe these imposing and symbolic wineries. It is most often attributed to the playwright Àngel Guimerà, although some sources suggest figures like Josep Maria de Sagarra or architect Cèsar Martinell may have coined or helped popularise the term. Wine Cathedrals in Terra Alta: authenticity among the vineyards More than twenty wineries in Catalonia can be considered Wine Cathedrals, and choosing the most spectacular among them is no easy task. But if we had to narrow it down, the wineries of Gandesa and Pinell de Brai would undoubtedly be top contenders. Both were designed by Cèsar Martinell and built around the same time. For many, the Pinell de Brai winery is the Wine Cathedral par excellence. With a layout reminiscent of a Christian basilica, its imposing presence stands out in this small village in Terra Alta. It is one of the masterpieces of Catalan agricultural architecture, as is the Gandesa winery and olive press, which boasts a more distinctive and daring design. While there are plenty more reasons to visit, these two wineries alone make a compelling case for a short getaway to Terra Alta, the southernmost wine region in Catalonia, and home to its own designation of origin. Sample the wines of this land and be inspired by two of Martinell’s most outstanding works. Priorat and its Wine Cathedrals: where stone meets landscape To speak of Priorat is to speak of the deep-rooted winemaking tradition of this land. A proudly agricultural region, it is one of the most popular destinations among wine lovers. Within its territory lie two designations of origin: DO Montsant and DOQ Priorat. If wine is your passion, Priorat has plenty to offer. At the heart of this winemaking landscape is the Falset-Marçà Cooperative Winery, undoubtedly the region’s epicentre. Once again, you’ll encounter the work of Cèsar Martinell, who in this case designed a building with clear medieval inspiration. This is seen in its façade, which might even remind you of a castle. Inside, you’ll find large wine vats where the first cooperative wines were produced. And this winery is still very much still a hive of activity. Visiting Falset gives you a chance to see first-hand how wine is made in one of the most tradition-rich wine regions in Catalonia. Another must-see is the winery in Cornudella de Montsant. In its cellar, you can appreciate the full splendour of Catalonia’s modernist golden age. Once again, brick is the star material in this fully functioning building. And here you’ll find some of the finest wines of the DO Montsant, made from native grape varieties.Monumental wineries by the Costa Daurada The other key area where you’ll find these so-called Wine Cathedrals is inland from the Costa Daurada. In the Conca de Barberà and Alt Camp regions, you can visit numerous examples of these modernist-inspired wineries, many of which are still as striking today as when they were first built. One unmissable stop is the winery at L’Espluga de Francolí, the ‘first’ Wine Cathedral. It stands out for its nave with parabolic arches. Designed by architect Pere Domènech i Roura and completed in 1913, it was a pioneering space that brought together agricultural cooperativism and modernist architecture. In the Conca de Barberà region, we also recommend visiting the cooperative wineries in Barberà de la Conca and Rocafort de Queralt, both designed by Martinell. In fact, you can plan a route that takes in these three wine temples in a single day, while also tasting wines from the DO Conca de Barberà and sampling the local cuisine — with coca de recapte being a particular highlight. And finally, we can’t forget the finest example of a Wine Cathedral in the Alt Camp region: the Vinícola de Nulles. The striking façade of this monumental winery invites you to discover a space where wine is still produced today and where you’ll also find a small shop offering local products. Nulles is also located along the Cistercian Route and right in the heart of calçotada country. This means you’ll find plenty of visitor experiences that combine wine tasting with culture and excellent regional gastronomy. Today, the Wine Cathedrals are true temples of wine culture. They bring together the rural and agricultural traditions of southern Catalonia with heritage sites that rival the finest examples of modernist architecture. If you're planning a visit, don’t miss the chance to immerse yourself in the most authentic rural Catalonia through its wine culture and the breathtaking beauty of this architectural style.