Golf & Wine: the Costa Brava, between the Mediterranean and the vineyards of Empordà

Between the foothills of the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean lies the Empordà wine region, one of Spain’s oldest wine-producing areas. Here, the vineyards benefit from a unique terroir shaped by schist soils, a Mediterranean climate and the famous Tramontane, a powerful wind that contributes to the quality of the grapes and gives the wines their distinctive character.
The DO Empordà appellation produces a wide variety of red, white and rosé wines, as well as sparkling wines and naturally sweet wines. Traditional grape varieties such as Garnacha (Grenache) and Carignan (Samsó) play a central role, often blended with international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot. White wines, made notably from Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris, Macabeo and Xarel·lo, offer beautiful freshness and a distinctly Mediterranean character.
Wine tourism is particularly well developed thanks to the Empordà Wine Route, which invites visitors to discover wineries, cellars and vineyard landscapes stretching between Figueres, Peralada and the Mediterranean coast.

Peralada, a benchmark for Empordà wines

It is impossible to talk about Costa Brava wines without mentioning Peralada, one of Catalonia’s most iconic wine estates. Its winemaking tradition dates back to the Middle Ages, and Peralada Castle has carried on this heritage for more than a century. Today, the estate is renowned for its high-quality wines and its spectacular contemporary winery, designed with a sustainable approach and perfectly integrated into the landscape. Visits offer the opportunity to discover the cellars, the wine museum and taste the estate’s different wines, making Peralada an unmissable stop on the Empordà Wine Route.

To make the most of the wines of Empordà, why not explore the Costa Brava by following some of its finest golf courses? From the north, near the French border, all the way to Girona, the courses unfold through wonderfully varied landscapes, among vineyards, pine forests, mountains and the Mediterranean.

Just a few kilometres from the French border, Golf Club Peralada is the first stop on this golfing journey through the vineyards of Empordà. Located just a stone’s throw from the famous castle and its wineries, this gently undulating 18-hole course blends harmoniously into the landscape. Dotted with numerous lakes, streams and lush vegetation, it is suitable for both beginners and experienced golfers. EMAS-certified and recognised by IAGTO, the estate also features a compact 9-hole Pitch & Putt course, driving range, putting greens, practice area, academy, pro shop and restaurant.

To extend the experience, Peralada Wine Spa & Golf welcomes guests to an elegant hotel with 54 rooms and 10 suites, offering beautiful views over the golf course, the medieval village of Peralada and the Pyrenees. Its Wine Spa, gastronomic facilities and outdoor swimming pool make it an ideal destination for a getaway centred around golf, wine and relaxation.

Around twenty kilometres further south-west, at the foot of the Pyrenees and just ten minutes from Figueres, Torremirona Golf Club offers a change of scenery. Its 18-hole course combines wide fairways, lakes and large undulating greens in a peaceful setting surrounded by mountains.
The experience continues naturally at Hôtel TorreMirona Golf & Spa, located right by the first tee. With its comfortable rooms, panoramic El Canigó restaurant, 3,600 m² Dubhé Spa, outdoor pool and terrace overlooking the golf course and the Pyrenees, the resort is an ideal stopover.

Heading back towards the coast, around thirty kilometres from Torremirona, Empordà Golf offers two 18-hole courses designed by renowned architect Robert von Hagge.
The Empordà Dunes course, inspired by Scottish links, winds its way through natural dunes, lakes and wide fairways swept by sea breezes. More Mediterranean in character, Empordà Forest runs through a vast pine forest, where narrower fairways and greens protected by numerous bunkers require precision and strategy.
The resort also features a large driving range, an academy, a pro shop and an elegant Club House, where the Entrecamps restaurant showcases local produce. For accommodation, Le Domaine d’Empordà offers 86 contemporary rooms overlooking the courses, complemented by the Terra Fonda restaurant, located within the hotel.

Around ten kilometres further south, discover Golf de Pals, the first golf course created on the Costa Brava. Designed by British architect F.W. Hawtree, it lies in the heart of a vast pine forest overlooking the Mediterranean. Open for more than fifty years, it made history by hosting the 1972 Spanish Open, one of the founding tournaments of the European Tour.
Since 2023, the estate has also been home to Golf Serres de Pals, a 9-hole Par 36 course suitable for golfers of all levels. Surrounded by rice fields, vineyards and the characteristic landscapes of Empordà, it offers a peaceful setting with beautiful views of Montgrí Castle and the medieval village of Pals.

For a stay right by the fairways, Domaine de Pals offers 58 fully equipped apartments, ideally located between the golf course, the beach and the Basses d’en Coll nature reserve. The perfect base for enjoying the Costa Brava through golf, nature and water activities.

Around thirty kilometres further south, on the hills above Platja d’Aro, Golf d'Aro Mas Nou overlooks the entire Catalan coast. Its undulating course combines climbs, descents and technical holes while offering exceptional views over the Mediterranean, the Pyrenees and the Montseny Massif.
At the heart of the estate, Mas Nou Hapimag Residence charms visitors with its typically Catalan architecture and natural surroundings in the Gavarres Park. After a round of golf, guests can enjoy a relaxing massage or simply savour a glass of wine on the panoramic terrace overlooking the coast.

Just ten kilometres away, Golf Costa Brava, in Santa Cristina d’Aro, offers a course steeped in history. Its 27-hole complex combines the Green Course, the historic layout inaugurated when the club was founded, with the Red Course, expanded in 2014 with nine new holes designed by Jorge Soler Peix.
Set among pine forests, open fairways, six lakes and fast, undulating greens, each course offers a different challenge. The welcoming Club House, housed in a building dating back to 1816, features a restaurant with a terrace serving Catalan and international cuisine overlooking the course.

To extend your stay, partner hotels Eden Roc Hotel & Spa and Park Hotel San Jorge offer beautiful views over the Mediterranean, just minutes from the fairways.

The journey comes to an end in the countryside around Girona, around forty kilometres from Golf Costa Brava, with the prestigious Camiral Golf & Wellness (formerly PGA Catalunya). Considered one of Europe’s finest golf resorts, it is home to two internationally renowned courses: the Stadium Course, regularly ranked among the best in Europe, and the Tour Course, more accessible but equally challenging.

Set to host the 2031 Ryder Cup, a first for Spain, Camiral confirms its status as a must-visit destination for golf enthusiasts.Its five-star hotel, with contemporary architecture perfectly integrated into the surrounding natural landscape, completes this high-end experience by combining exceptional accommodation, gastronomy, wellness and world-class golf.

From a wine tasting in the cellars of Peralada to a stroll through the medieval villages of the hinterland and a round on one of the region’s seven Golfy courses, each day reveals a new facet of this captivating destination.