A winery in the Penedes wine region of Catalonia founded in 1963 by Jean Leon, a Spanish emigrant who had made his fortune in Hollywood running the celebrity restaurant La Scala in Beverly Hills. Leon returned to Spain and planted Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay vines in the Penedes hills -- a radical act at a time when the region was dominated by indigenous white grape varieties destined for cava production -- creating what became Spain's first estate-bottled varietal wines from international grape varieties. The winery's celebrity connections are central to its identity: Leon's Hollywood restaurant counted James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, and the Reagans among its regulars, and this glamorous backstory has been woven into the winery's brand narrative. Historical photographs and memorabilia from the La Scala years are displayed alongside the winemaking facilities, creating a visitor experience that blends wine education with twentieth-century Hollywood social history. The vineyards occupy south-facing slopes in the Alt Penedes at altitudes between 250 and 350 metres, producing Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Chardonnay wines that reflect the Mediterranean-continental climate of interior Catalonia. Now owned by the Torres wine group, the winery maintains Jean Leon as a distinct label with its own identity, winemaking team, and visitor programme separate from the larger Torres operation. Visits include guided tours of the vineyards, the ageing cellar with its French oak barrels, and the bottling line, followed by a tasting of current vintages. The winery is located near Torrelavit, approximately 50 kilometres west of Barcelona, accessible by car via the AP-7 motorway. The surrounding Penedes landscape of rolling vineyard hills provides a scenic context for the visit.

Type: Winery/Brewery/Distillery

Address: Torrelavit, Penedes, Barcelona, Spain, 08775

Website: https://www.jeanleon.com/

Opening Date: 01/01/1963