Wine near port

[EmmasNana]

Is there a place walking distance of the port to pick up a couple bottles of wine?

[helpthejuggler]

Barcelona?

 

There is a small wine shop in the cruise terminal.

 

For a wider choice there are small markets on Las Ramblas (eg Carrefour). Suggest using the port bus to the Columbus monument then walk up Las Ramblas

 

El Corte Ingles at Placa Catalunya (far end of Las Ramblas) for an even wider choice.

Edited May 17, 2014 by helpthejuggler

[EmmasNana]

Thank you!

[eandj]

If you are going to be in BCN precruise, we found the best selection of wines in the big dept store, El Corte Ingles at the ege of Cat. Square as mentioned. We actually ended up spending over an hour in the store on the food/wine floor of the store. The "deli" with fresh meat ( skinned goat heads, sea food galore,sausages etc) was amazing, after I got over the shock.:p Buying the wine turned out to be an after thought.:) The Spanish Rose's are wonderful.

Edited May 17, 2014 by eandj

[campolady]

El Corte Ingles is good and convenient but expensive.

[eandj]

I'm not sure if everything was expensive. :confused: We were there when someone was handing out samples and we bought several bottles all for around $15-20. That's par for what I drink here in the states. We stuck to Spanish wines. Didn't look much further after tasting some nice rose'.

Edited May 17, 2014 by eandj

[Adventures ahead]

El Corte Ingles is good and convenient but expensive.

 

We're staying in Barri Gotic for a week pre-cruise. We want to try Spanish dry red wines that are not expensive and fit the budget. Would Carrefour have the best price?

[Chairsin]

Carrefours selection is mostly mass market -- go to the wine shop nearby in La Boqueria for a more interesting selection.

 

 

 

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[quercus alba]

There's actually a duty-free shop IN the cruise terminal with a small selection, too.

[campolady]

We're staying in Barri Gotic for a week pre-cruise. We want to try Spanish dry red wines that are not expensive and fit the budget. Would Carrefour have the best price?

 

Carrefour definitely has better prices than El Corte Ingles - and despite what has been said on another post they do not just have ´mass market´ wines (and anyway these wines are often extremely drinkable - look for bottles around 4€ and upwards and you won´t go far wrong). You will not find locals buying in El Corte Ingles!

 

For a reasonably priced good red (around 4-5 Euro) try Sangre de Toro or Faustino V; if you want to pay a little more (around 20 Euro) Faustino I is my favourite.

 

 

<<I'm not sure if everything was expensive. We were there when someone was handing out samples and we bought several bottles all for around $15-20. That's par for what I drink here in the states. We stuck to Spanish wines. Didn't look much further after tasting some nice rose'. >>

 

eandj - 15-20$ for a Rosé (Rosado here) is expensive - Rosés are cheaper than Reds. The most popular Spanish Rosados are from Navarra and are generally 4-5 Euros for a decent bottle and even top end ones are usually around 10-12 Euros. The Rioja wineries also make some good Rosados and again Faustino V is a good option at under 10 Euros a bottle.

 

 

 

<<Carrefours selection is mostly mass market -- go to the wine shop nearby in La Boqueria for a more interesting selection.>>

 

Mass market does not necessarily mean poor quality - by far the most bottles of wine here are purchased in supermarkets rather than specialist shops! I do agree that the shop at La Boqueria is good if you want to pay more and have a more exclusive selection.

 

 

If, after all this, you still decide to go to El Corte Ingles go up to the 9th floor and have a Coffee - the panoramic views over the city are stunning.

Edited May 18, 2014 by campolady

[ger_77]

Thank you for the information - it's good to know there are lots of options. We plan on picking up some wine before heading to the ship on Monday. Can anyone tell me if Carrefour or La Boqueria are open on Sunday?

 

Smooth Sailing! :) :) :)

[campolady]

Can anyone tell me if Carrefour or La Boqueria are open on Sunday?

 

Smooth Sailing! :) :) :)

 

Would doubr it. Wine shops very rarely open on Sundays and Carrefour only generally open on a Sunday on festival weekends e.g. Easter.

Edited May 19, 2014 by campolady

[Adventures ahead]

campolady,

 

Thanks very much for the advice. 'Mass market' wine is fine with me and I'll certainly try the ones you recommended. We'll never be a 'local' but can drink like one!:)

[ger_77]

Thank you campolady, looks like we will have to get some wine on Saturday late afternoon when we arrive. We always like to have a bottle of wine in our hotel room as we relax and wind down from the day.

 

Am I correct in thinking that most stores/pharmacies (there's a farmacia next to our hotel) are closed on Sundays?

 

Smooth Sailing! :) :) :)

[campolady]

Thank you campolady, looks like we will have to get some wine on Saturday late afternoon when we arrive. We always like to have a bottle of wine in our hotel room as we relax and wind down from the day.

 

Am I correct in thinking that most stores/pharmacies (there's a farmacia next to our hotel) are closed on Sundays?

 

Smooth Sailing! :) :) :)

 

Yes, most stores are closed on Sundays, although you will usually find some small privately owned minimarkets open part of the day; there is one five week exception to this rule as major stores are allowed to open on Sundays in December and the first weekend in January in the run up to Christmas and, far more important for the Spanish, Three Kings (6th January when the Spanish exchange their gifts). You will always find at least one pharmacy open in each area - which are open or on call when you are in Barcelona will be listed on the door of the one next to your hotel.

Edited May 19, 2014 by campolady

[MADflyer]

To say that Corte Ingles is expensive is not really accurate. They sometimes have terrific sales to compliment their wide selection. Carrefour can be fine as well and you might save a few pennies.

 

For example, Faustino I at Carrefour is selling for 16.27 euro at Corte Ingles and you can get it now for 15.95 euro at Carrefour according to their online shop, just to take one example.

 

I do most of my grocery shopping at Corte Ingles when in Spain as a lifestyle choice and while you may pay a few cents more for some products the assortment, quality and service is great. Their card machines work they are conveniently located usually in the basement of all there department stores.

 

Most wines that the 'masses' buy are mass market and I really enjoy some of the moderate priced wines in Spain.

 

Carrefour on Ramblas is closed on Sundays along with Corte Ingles. Some Carrefour Express outlets are open on Sundays including the one on Carrefour Express Nou de la Rambla which is closest to the cruise port. They have limited selection.

 

I just cruised last week again from Barcelona and was surprised how relatively good selection the several tax free shops now have at terminal B at least and the prices were not bad at all.

Edited May 19, 2014 by MADflyer

[Ed]

What were the prices like at the duty free wine store at the port? I understand they have a limited selection but for what they have is it worth it?

Thanks

[MADflyer]

What were the prices like at the duty free wine store at the port? I understand they have a limited selection but for what they have is it worth it?

Thanks

 

They actually had 2 shops now in Terminal B and a pretty good varied selection. Prices were by no means 'expensive', but sure you can do a little better elsewhere and save a couple euros on some wines, but can not beat the convenience.

[DragonOfTheSeas]

I bought my wine at a little gift shop off Las Ramblas. I could not tell you exactly where if I tried. :p But, many of the shops sold wine. It might be mass market. but, I enjoyed it on my balcony looking at the sea. The Spanish wine I drank in Barcelona [and the Sangria] were all very good--or I thought so.

[quercus alba]

I bought my wine at a little gift shop off Las Ramblas. I could not tell you exactly where if I tried. :p But, many of the shops sold wine. It might be mass market. but, I enjoyed it on my balcony looking at the sea. The Spanish wine I drank in Barcelona [and the Sangria] were all very good--or I thought so.

 

I agree--the circumstances in which I am drinking the wine generally have a greater influence on my enjoyment of it than any objective quality measure! Darn near any wine on the balcony of a cruise ship is the best wine EVER! :D

[DragonOfTheSeas]

. . . Darn near any wine on the balcony of a cruise ship is the best wine EVER! :D

 

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