About this tour
A 90-minute hands-on class where you learn to sabrage — slicing open a bottle of cava with a machete using the traditional French technique. Set in Barcelona, you'll start with the history and safety fundamentals, watch a live demo, then each participant sabers their own bottle of ecological cava from a local Penedès winery. Afterwards, you'll gather in a speakeasy-style setting to drink what you've opened and enjoy cheese, olives and bread.
Highlights
- Each participant sabers their own bottle of cava with a machete
- Ecological, biodynamic, vegan cava from a Penedès winery included
- Learn the history and technique of champagne sabrage
- Post-sabrage speakeasy with snacks and reception cava
- Small group instruction with live demonstration
- Local manchego cheese, olives, crisps and bread provided
What to expect
You'll begin with a brief history of champagne sabrage and how it's practised in Barcelona today. The instructor will walk through the technique step-by-step, covering safety controls and proper form. You'll then watch a live demonstration with cava poured as samples.
Next, it's your turn: each participant gets a bottle and learns the motion needed to cleanly slice the top off. After everyone has had a go, you'll move to the speakeasy area to relax, drink from your sabraged bottles (or fresh pours if yours didn't open), and eat from a spread of local cheese, olives, crisps, oil and bread.
What travellers say
- Hands-on — you actually sabrage your own bottle, not just watch
- Quality cava included; sourced from local biodynamic winery
- Social speakeasy setup with snacks makes it a proper event
- Combines novelty with genuine technique and history
- Limited date availability; runs on alternate days, needs confirmation
- Not accessible to pregnant travellers or those with heart conditions
- Machete handling may intimidate complete beginners despite instruction
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
This suits anyone curious about a novelty party technique and happy to handle a machete under instruction — no prior experience needed. It's not suitable for pregnant travellers or those with cardiovascular concerns. The activity involves sharp tools and alcohol, so it's physically active and requires coordination and focus. Group size isn't specified, so check when booking. The class runs on alternating days with another class, so your preferred date may not be available; contact the organiser to confirm. Public transport is nearby. Infants and small children can come in a pram or stroller, though whether they can actively participate isn't clear.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BookNow summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.