Terra Dominicata - Hotel & Winery

"A visit to Terra Dominicata, one of only five 3-Key hotels in Spain, does not begin like that of any other 3-Key hotel I’ve visited as an Inspector. This is not La Reserve in Paris, or Casa Cipriani in New York. I’m not ushered into a Hausmannian palace or greeted by a liveried doorman. After arriving here — in the midst of the mountainous Catalonian countryside a twisting two hour drive from Barcelona — I’m sat down, softened up with a cocktail, and told everything I cannot do. To say it’s a unique introduction to a hotel of this caliber is an understatement. In one of two main hotel buildings, both restored, centuries-old farmhouses that were once ancillary to the 12th-century monastery up the road, I’m told not to overuse my shower in order to save water. I’m told that lighting is kept sparse at night so as not to perturb the animals that live in the surrounding natural park and to preserve the starry skies. I’m told that my room has no television and only essentials — but that I’m welcome to trade in one of my own books for a new one from the estate’s massive collection." - The MICHELIN Guide

"A tad more expensive than the rest of entries on this list, Terra Dominicata is nonetheless incredibly affordable for a vaunted Three Key property. Located in the Montsant Natural Park in the province of Tarragona, its buildings are the rehabilitated farm structures of a 12th century monastery. Today, it’s a true haven of peace for nature lovers and oenophiles. The estate has its own winery and a spa — the latter immersed in the olive forest that surrounds the beautifully restored spaces." - The MICHELIN Guide

"In the 12th century, in the foothills of the mountains two hours west of Barcelona, a group of Carthusian monks established a monastery and a farm, growing grapes, olives, and other fruits. The location is a jaw-dropper — and it’s today’s hotel guests who reap the benefits, as the old monastery, now thoroughly updated, is now open to travelers in the form of Terra Dominicata - Hotel & Winery. The style is upscale modern elegance, and the rooms retain more than a little bit of rustic character, from the beamed ceilings to the hardwood floors to the occasional original stone wall." - The MICHELIN Guide

"In the 12th century, in the foothills of the mountains two hours west of Barcelona, a group of Carthusian monks established a monastery and a farm, growing grapes, olives, and other fruits. The location is a jaw-dropper — and it’s today’s hotel guests who reap the benefits, as the old monastery, now thoroughly updated, is now open to travelers in the form of Terra Dominicata - Hotel & Winery. The merest glance inside reveals that this is a considerably swankier establishment than it would have been in its monastery days. The style is upscale modern elegance, and the rooms retain more than a little bit of rustic character, from the beamed ceilings to the hardwood floors to the occasional original stone wall." - The MICHELIN Guide

"An on-site winery, vineyard picnics, and barrel-shaped spa cabins quench guests’ love of wine, and of luxury—this former monastery has a holier than thou attitude to all things indulgent and delicious. You’re only two hours’ drive from Barcelona, but it feels like another world. The hotel’s low-lying pink buildings, barely touched since their 12 th -century incarnation, hunker down in front of the wild, rocky, Mars-like mountains of Priorat. It’s incredible that a landscape that appears so barren can produce some of the most appreciated red wines in the world. With that in mind, the adults-only crowd is certainly here to get their lips dirty. It’s also a place for catching up on simple pleasures—a wine-fueled game of cards, say, or a few laps in the ultra-private, slope-flanked pool. Terra Dominicata is a spot to unwind in, and to be seen in, so the look is outdoorsy—but make it fashion." - Gemma Askham,Jessica Benavides Canepa