The Only Vineyard in Barcelona
And wandering from New Orleans to Nevis
I’m going to New Orleans for the first time this week! Let me know in the comments if you have any recommendations for me.
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The Only Vineyard in Barcelona
By Sam Harrison
Catalonia is the birthplace of cava, Spain’s sparkling wine, and home to several D.O.Ps. In spite of this, there’s only one wine producer in the region’s capital, Barcelona: Can Calopa de Dalt, a small vineyard that produces wine and olive oil in Collserola Park, part of the city’s Sarrià - Sant Gervasi district.
Can Calopa is not your everyday vineyard. They’ve created a complete work training program and social initiative for people with intellectual disabilities, who live and work at the vineyard and adjoining restaurant. The project is run by l’Olivera and aims to build participants’ skills and social integration so they can live independently. Currently, around 12 people live and work (for pay) at Can Calopa, and another eight have moved on to transitional independent housing.
The land and property are owned by the Barcelona municipal government. In 2010, it asked l’Olivera, a worker cooperative that has been running a similar social project in Vallbona de les Monges since 1974, to take over.
“The idea is to create a viable economic project that’s based in social and solidarity ideals,” says Glòria Sala Segura, l’Olivera’s communication manager. “We’ve tried to create a respectful model for production that puts people and their well-being at the center of our project.”
The result? Vinyes de Barcelona, the only wine produced in the city of Barcelona. In the past, the wine was exclusively used by city officials as a gift for official visitors. It’s now available for purchase by the rest of us, both directly in Can Calopa’s bodega and online.
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New Orleans recommendations: Bacchanal, and Surrey's for wine and food. Touristy, but fun (especially if you go at an off time): Carousel Bar. Shopping on Magazine Street. Looking at the beautiful houses in the Garden District (Audubon Park is lovely). The sculpture garden outside the New Orleans Museum of Art. Brunch/lunch at Commander's Palace - you have to dress up a little, and there are 25-cent martinis!
I loved this piece about Barcelona wine and what a great operating model! I will add to Sophia's recs below about New Orleans (my favorite city). Do not miss Nina Compton's Bywater Bistro! la Petite Grocery is as charming as it is delicious. Toups Meatery is so good and Isaac is a doll- I interviewed him a few months ago. I'm sure Mosquito Supper Club is on your radar and I haven't been to Dooky Chase since Leah Chase died, but I think her grandson is running it. I also have a lot of love for Killer Poboys- they opened an actual location on Dauphine, but their walkup in the back of Erin Rose Bar will always hold my heart.