The 9 Best Natural Wine Bars in Barcelona, 2020

Barcelona is Spain’s natural wine capital. It’s not surprising, since Catalonia produces most of the country’s innovative natural wine. It’s even less surprising since Barcelona always seems to be on the cutting edge of new trends in everything edible and drinkable!

And natural wine is definitely the wine trend of the moment! Proponents loudly proclaim its virtues; from its unfiltered flavours to its nonexistent hangovers. I’m a fan, for the same reason I love making my own sourdough from organic flour. Things that are grown better, taste better. Things that are hand-made, taste better. And things that are made better and grown better? Sign me up.

Want to drink wine and feel good while doing it? These natural wine bars in Barcelona are for you. But you might be asking, what makes a wine natural?

What are Natural Wines?

Simply put, natural wines are wines that are made…well, naturally.

That raises an obvious question: what are unnatural wines? I think it’s fair to say that most people have a certain image in their mind when thinking about where their wine comes from. Tuscan hillsides, purple grapes being trampled by weather-worn, hairy feet—something between booze and art.

But the truth might surprise you.

Most wine is more Big Mac than farmers market. More science lab than rural French village. I’m talking about vineyards full of pesticides, herbicides, and artificial fertilisers—and a winery with more machines than people.

Natural wines, however, get rid of all that.

As natural wine guru Alice Feiring writes in her book Natural Wine for The People; “you farm your grapes organically. Then, once the grapes are harvested and you start the wine-making process, you don’t add anything foreign or remove anything from the wine, nor do you shape it with machines. This is natural wine.”

Sure, critics say that all wine is unnatural, since it involves human interference. Grapes that are left to ferment on the ground after they fall from the vine might turn into wine by themselves, but they’ll turn to vinegar even quicker. These people say that all wine needs humans to intervene somewhere along the line to make wine, so calling any wine “natural” is a contradiction.

But remember that the natural wine mantra is nothing added, nothing taken away. No chemicals or additives in the winery or the vineyard, and no filtering or fining that robs the wine of its innate character. A wine that speaks of where it comes from, the plant it grew on, and the people who made it.

That sounds pretty natural to me.

Where to Drink Natural Wine in Barcelona

Now that you’re sold on natural wine, where should you drink it?

Barcelona is one Europe’s natural wine capitals. Along with Paris, London, and Copenhagen, this is something of a pilgrimage destination among like-wine-minded converts. Even if you’ve never heard of natural wine before now, why not check it out the next time you’re in town?

Here are (in particular order) my picks for the best natural wine bars in Barcelona.

El Born Neighbourhood

Bar Brutal

Don’t let the name fool you. In Spanish, brutal means “really freaking amazing”, just like the wines here! Bar Brutal isn’t just the home of Barcelona’s avant-garde wine scene, it’s also home to some of the trendiest artists, models, and chefs in town.

The bar also shares its name with Brutal!!!; a loosely affiliated group of European natural winemakers. Almost anyone can make wine under the Brutal!!! label, as long as it’s zero/zero with no added sulfites. Most of these wines are sold by the glass at Bar Brutal.

Address: Carrer de la Princesa, 14.

L’Anima del Vi

When it opened in 2010, L’Anima del Vi was Barcelona’s first natural wine bar. You’ll find wines from Spain, France, Italy, and Portugal, including some big names in the raw wine scene.

It’s a small bar, but if it’s full you can always just go around the corner and grab a spot at the larger Bar Brutal!

Address: Carrer dels Vigatans, 8.

Gracia Neighbourhood

Viblioteca

If you follow my Instagram, you know I love a good pun. So the name of Viblioteca (a play on vin (wine) and biblioteca (library)) is enough to get in me in the door by itself. Lucky for normal other people, the wine is great too.

There are loads of bottles on offer, although not all of them are natural wines, so be sure to check. And don’t miss the 50 kinds of cheese available to sample as well!

Address: Carrer de les Guilleries, 10.

Bar Salvatge

Named after the Catalan word for “wild”, Bar Salvatge is the place to go for natural wine in Barcelona’s trendy Gracia neighbourhood. There are close to a dozen rotating barrels of wine on tap here, so you are guaranteed something new and fresh.

Address: Carrer de Verdi, 50.

Eixample Neighbourhood

This neighbourhood is a great eixample of the gems to be found outside the busy centre of Barcelona. (See, what did I tell you about living puns).

Bar Torpedo

Celebrity restaurateur Rafa Peña opened Bar Torpedo in 2019. There’s a laid-back feel here, with vintage decor making you want to sink right into your faux-leather seat.

Address: Carrer d’Aribau, 143.

Gresca

Another one of Rafa Peña’s Eixample establishments, Gresca is the place for local hipsters. The open kitchen, an erratic, international wine list, and modern twists on Catalan classic dishes makes this natural wine bar a no-brainer.

Address: Carrer de Provença, 230.

Sant Gervasi Neighbourhood

Monocrom

Brother and sister duo Xavi and Janina Rutia run Monocrom, a quiet and unassuming natural wine bar in Barcelona’s off-the-beaten track Sant Gervasi neighbourhood.

Great wine, tasty tapas, and one of Barcelona’s best pas amb tomàquet.

Address: Plaça de Cardona, 4.

Barceloneta Neighbourhood

Somorrostro

Restaurante Somorrostro is all about the “biodynamic revolution”. The food here is all sourced from local and eco-friendly agriculture, so it’s no surprise that the wine list is all-natural.

Address: Carrer de Sant Carles, 11.

Poble Sec Neighbourhood

Celler Cal Marino

The up-and-coming Poble Sec neighbourhood’s natural wine hub is Celler Cal Marino. This is a temple of Spanish wine. You’ll find a good array of local Catalan wines, alongside interesting bottles from the Balearic Isles and the Canary Islands (my favourite Spanish wine region).

Address: Carrer de Margarit, 54.

Read More about Wine in Barcelona

Thanks for checking out my guide to the best natural wine bars in Barcelona! If you want to read more about Spanish wine in Catalonia, head to my local guides to Priorat wines and Cava.