Christmas Colors that flow into a Spanish Summer
Golfers have often enjoyed a glass of wine or 2 after a round – and, now, one of Spain’s oldest golf clubs is able to offer visitors a chance to experience one of the country’s oldest wine regions with a special package offering reds, whites … and greens.
Dating back to 1912, Real Club de Golf El Prat is one of the most renowned clubs in Spain and was granted ‘Real’ or royal status, by King Alonso XIII after his visit.
Real Club de Golf El Prat – 12th
El Prat is listed 16th in Golf World magazine’s coveted ‘Top 100 Resorts in Continental Europe 2018′ rankings. The renowned club has hosted the Spanish Open on 10 occasions, from 1956 up to 2015.
It has played host to more than 250 top-level national and international championships, including European Tour events, with top stars of the calibre with Sergio Garcia, Miguel Ángel Jiménez, José María Olazábal and Tommy Fleetwood taking part.
The club has hosted some of the biggest names in golf, with Spanish legends Severiano Ballesteros and José Maria Olazábal, eight-time Major winner Tom Watson and European Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjørn among its roll call of previous winners, while Masters champion Sergio Garcia and Pablo Larrazábal are both members.
The current 45 holes were designed by Greg Norman over an exciting mix of five highly acclaimed loops: Abajo, Arriba, Piscina, Bosque and Valles. The Pink ‘Open’ course – ranked the fourth best in Spain by Golf Digest magazine – comprises the Arriba and Bosque nines, while the Yellow Course is made up of Piscina and Abajo.
Real Club de Golf El Prat, located just outside the cosmopolitan city of Barcelona, has partnered with boutique travel agency Winenium, to offer an exclusive and intimate experience based around the golf club and the culture of the local vineyards and wines.
Enjoy some wine after your round of golf
The DO Alella wine region dates back to 100BCE and has been producing wine since Roman times. As well as being one of the oldest wine regions in Spain, it is also one of the smallest.
At the award-winning, family-run Alta Alella winery – located within a Natural Park 45 minutes from the city – visitors have the opportunity to taste six organic wines which are feature at Michelin-starred restaurants.
The packages, which start at €390 per person (approx.. $450. US), include private round-trip transfers, nine holes of golf at El Prat with buggy, a private guided visit to the winery with an English-speaking guide, wine tasting and a wine-pairing session with a specially designed gourmet tapas lunch.
Marcello Della Vecchia, director of sales and marketing at El Prat, said: “It is always our aim to make a visit to El Prat special and memorable, and this exclusive wine package is sure to be appreciated by the connoisseur. The six wines are exceptional and available in Michelin-starred restaurants and the tapas are selected specifically – but it’s up to the individual to pair the dish and glass.
“And with transport provided all day, visitors can rest assured they can enjoy the wine safely.”
Stay-and-play packages for visitors to El Prat can now be booked at three-, four- and five-star hotels in and around Barcelona.
Five-star options include The Serras, a luxurious boutique hotel, the Majestic Hotel & Spa, and the Gran Hotel La Florida Hotel, while the equally popular Hotel Sant Cugat offers a four-star alternative – all within easy reach of the golf club and city centre. Meanwhile, the contemporary three-star Aparthotel Attica21 Vallés is just a five-minute shuttle ride from the clubhouse at El Prat and affords a resort feel to the venue.
To discover more about the Winenium Golf & Wine package at El Prat, visit www.winenium.com or email info@winenium.com
