11 Day Luxury Spain Exploration

Introduction to Madrid

Meet your local guide today, an expert of the city, to explore the central medieval district of Madrid and gain an understanding of the city's history and key monuments. Your expert guide will trace the trajectory of the Spanish monarchy through to French occupation, Civil War, and dictatorship in the 20th century, starting with the city’s Moorish roots. Much of the walking tour will focus on the medieval core of the city near Plaza Mayor, which has remained remarkably unchanged since the period of the Habsburg dynastic rule.

As you wander through the streets, you also discuss topics ranging from the regional cuisine, local craftsmanship, and the cultural life of Madrilenos. Duck into the market to learn about Jamon Iberico and the timing of meals, or pop into one of the most traditional and popular chocolate cafes in the city. Continuing on, stop in Puerta del Sol where the uprising against the French in 1808 took place and where the terror attacks of 2004 are commemorated, allowing your guide to explain the pattern of strife and conflict that have shaped Madrid and Spanish history.

Madrid to Ribera del Duero

This morning after breakfast, check out of your hotel and gather your belongings. Your guide will collect you from the hotel and you will set off towards Ribera del Duero.

Along the way, begin the day with a visit to the millenary city of Segovia. The city is famous for its historical buildings and for three main landmarks: its magnificent Roman aqueduct, its cathedral, one of the last Gothic temples to be built in Europe, and the Alcazar castle, which was an influence for Walt Disney's Cinderella Castle.

The aqueduct declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985. Is thought to have been built, from the second half of the first century to the early 2nd century CE under the Emperors Vespasian and Trajan in order to carry the water of the River Acebeda to the city. This impressive work of engineering, still in excellent condition. There is no mortar or cement between the 20,400 blocks of stone, which remain standing sol idly in a perfect balance of forces.

Standing between the confluence of the Eresma and Clamores rivers is the Alcazar, the first documented record of the fortress dates back to Christian writings in the 12th century. In the 13th century, the building took on an air of Gothic elegance thanks to the Spanish architects working for John II and Henry IV.

For lunch, you will be welcomed in one of the best asadores restaurants in the city, where you will taste the famous local dish of tender suckling pig.

Afterwards, continue your journey through the fantastic landscapes as you continue to Ribera de Duero.

This afternoon enjoy a wonderful visit to a winery in Ribera del Duero and have your first introduction to these amazing wines.

At the end of the afternoon, you will be brought to your hotel for check-in.

Ribera del Duero Discovery

After enjoying breakfast this morning, meet your guide at your accomodation and set out together to explore the Ribera del Duero region.

Throughout the day, you will be welcomed to two bodegas to discover the wines of Ribera. Some of our favorite producers we will consider for todays tastings include:
• Bodegas Territorio Luthier - A family run estate founded in 2007. Today they are elaborating some of the most interesting wines with the variety 100% Tempranillo with some plots of vines older than 60 years. They produce very particular wines as Hispania, which ages just in Spanish oak, Crianza or Lara O Pro, consider one of the best wines of Spain elaborated with Tempranillo. Its owners Cristina and Fernando will be delighted to accompany you on a visit throughout the winery to bring you the magic of their most special wines.
• Tinto Pesquera - A pioneer in Tempranillo winemaking methods. In 1972, Alejandro Fernández and his wife Esperanza licensed their bodega in Pesquera and was the beginning of establishing Ribera del Duero as one of Spain’s top wine regions.
• Valsotillo Winery - This is a traditional family winery with subterranean cellars from the XVII century. Founder Ismael Arroyo is a well known figure in the region for his striking Tempranillo. This small winery is one of the most attractive in the region because it holds an impressive 17th century year old gallery dug in the mountain, which is currently used as excellent aging cellar. Often the owners will be there to welcome you and show you the winery or accompany you during the wine tasting.

Enjoy a traditional lunch with roast lamb paired with wines in a restaurant or set in a winery.

This afternoon visit one of the medieval villages in Ribera del Duero, such as Peñafiel, its castle and the Plaza Del Coso. Peñafiel Castle was built in the 15th century by don Pedro Girón, master of the Calatrava Order. It is made of Campaspero stone in the German Gothic style however it is unusual among the castles in the Valladolid area, due to the architect's need to adapt the structure to the land.

After your lovely day of tasting Ribera wines, return to your hotel and enjoy the evening at leisure.

Ribera del Duero to Rioja

This morning, after checking out of your accommodation, meet your guide and depart together towards Rioja.

Along the way, stop to explore Burgos, the provincial capital of Castile and León. The city is famous for its intact medieval architecture with the most recognizable landmark being the Gothic Cathedral of St. Mary, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Work began on the Cathedral in 1221 and continued until 1795. Boasting no fewer than 38 altarpieces, countless chapels, ornate religious imagery, and of course, being the final resting place of the legendary El Cïd, the cathedral is outstanding for the elegance and harmony of its architecture.

After your visit, you will be welcomed to a bodega or a traditional restaurant in the area for a tapas lunch to be served with wine.

Continue the drive to Rioja this afternoon and, on arrival, you will be welcomed for your first tastings of Rioja wines.

We will consider an estate such as Valenciso Winery, a small family winery making only reserve wines. After fifteen years of shared work in a prestigious and centenarian cellar of Rioja with strong international presence. Tempranillo grapes from old vineyards with low yields, new barriques - predominantly French oak - having one third renewed annually, cork "flor" quality - the highest level - and a long savoir faire marked by fondness and dedication only applicable to small cuvées.

Alternatively you may visit the Culture of Wine Museum, Dinastía Vivanco in Briones, a unique and historic location in the Rioja Alta. Situated in the heart of the vineyards adjacent to their Bodega, this is one of the largest wine museums in the world and has amazing views of the town of Briones

Afterwards, you will be transferred to your hotel in Rioja for check-in, settling into your new surroundings.

La Rioja Wine Discovery

Today, meet your local guide at your hotel and together depart for a day exploring La Rioja.

This morning you will be welcomed for a visit and tasting at a local producer such as Muga, one of the classical wineries of Rioja. The Muga family has been making their wines since 1932. They are located in the old station district on the outskirts of Haro - the historical site of the most prestigious bodegas in La Rioja. They follow traditional methods, using oak through and through, carrying out the entire process, including the aging and fermentation stages in oak. The excellence and high quality of their wines are rewarded by recognition and prestige in the most demanding markets both nationally and internationally.

Continue to an estate such as Amaren, meaning "of the mother" in Basque. The first wine under this label appeared in 1995 as a tribute to Ángeles, mother of winemaker Juan Luis Cañas. This was the beginning of what in 2016 became a whole winery, Bodegas Amaren. The estate is comprised of some of Rioja Alavesa’s best and highest altitude vineyards, where the soil is poor and produces small bunches, perfect for making highly concentrated Rioja wines. The vineyard-zone stretches over an area of 65 hectares, where ancient vine plants of 35 to 110 years old are cultivated.

A traditional Riojan lunch, either at a winery or in a local restaurant, will give you more opportunities to taste the wonderful Riojan wines. Typical Riojan dishes include potatoes or bean soup with chorizo (paprika sausage), roasted lamb chops where sarmientos (dry grape vine branches) are used to roast the meat giving it a unique and delicious flavor, meat stew cooked with wine, cod with peppers and tomatoes and many more.

This afternoon, visit a third producer or alternatively visit the medieval village of Laguardia, encircled by 13th-century walls. Under the stone paved streets and homes of Laguardia, it is full of old subterranean bodegas, and over them there are many historic monuments and sites, like the Gothic facade of Santa Maria de los Reyes church from the 14th century.

Your guide will return you to the hotel after your final visit.

Further Exploration of La Rioja Wines

Today with your knowledgable guide, further explore Rioja, its wineries and cuisine, and famous towns such as Haro.

Your first visit of the day will be at a winery such as Valenciso Winery, a small family winery making only reserve wines. After fifteen years of shared work in a prestigious and centenarian cellar of Rioja with strong international presence. Tempranillo grapes from old vineyards with low yields, new barriques - predominantly French oak - having one third renewed annually, cork "flor" quality - the highest level - and a long savoir faire marked by fondness and dedication only applicable to small cuvées.

Alternatively we may consider Remirez de Ganuza for todays first tasting. The traditional architecture of the winery complete with an interior made of hundred-year-old oak beams contrasts with pioneering and innovative modern methods.

After your morning tasting, there will be time for lunch in a traditional Riojan restaurant or winery.

This afternoon your next visit will be at one of our preferred producers, such as Baigorri winery. A total contrast – strikingly modern and high-tech, Baigorri is built on 7 levels into a terraced hillside to take advantage of gravity flow to move their wines. This project is the fruit of years of hard work by Jesus Baigorri and Iñaki Aspizu, an architect whose work is an architectonic reference point thanks to the emblematic nature of his constructions enjoy a tasting and if there is interest a facility visit.

Afterwards you will visit Artadi vineyards, or similar, which is one of the most well regarded in the Rioja. Artadi wines are refined and simple in structure. They are made solely from traditional Rioja grape varieties such as Tempranillo and Viura. Production from older vines is controlled very closely and the winemaking traditions themselves combine with innovative techniques to enhance marketing and operation capabilities. The wines themselves share a deep essence full of fruit but with a perfect acid and tannin balance.

Your guide will return you to your accommodation in the early evening.

Today, you will be picked up at your accommodation in Rioja and transferred to your accommodation in San Sebastian. After checking in, enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure settling in to your new surroundings.

Walking tour with Pinxtos Dinner

This evening, meet your private guide and together set out to indulge in the delicious specialty small dishes known as pintxos. Pintxos is the word used in the north for tapas and translates roughly as 'stick', so traditionally the food is on a stick or skewer. This typical Spanish tradition has crossed all borders and it is now known all over the world, with San Sebastian being one of the most famous places in Spain for pintxos or tapas. Here you can find the most diverse tapas in Spain, from traditional dishes to creative pieces of art on a plate or stick.

During your evening, enjoy a walking tour of the historical Old Part of San Sebastian, where your local guide will discuss the history of the town and region and take you to the best bars in the city to discover the miniature delicacies.

Rowan - After checking out of your accommodation, meet your private driver who will transfer you to the airport for your departing flight.

Bilbao Uncovered

Today, Meet your private driver-guide and together make your way to the town of Bilbao.

Arriving into Bilbao, take your pre-arranged tickets and enjoy the opportunity to visit the Guggenheim museum at your own pace at. Frank Gehry's spectacular twisting titanium-clad modern art museum is perhaps the most celebrated building of the 1990s. The graceful, sensuous curves, evocative of the ships that used to be ubiquitous along the docks of Bilbao, are covered in titanium squares, which resemble the scales of a fish and shimmer in the sunlight. In keeping with the maritime theme, appropriate for the setting, the skylights of the largest gallery (formerly known as the Fish gallery) are designed to look like the fins of fish. Many parts of the building are purely decorative, and don't serve any purpose.

The permanent collection has some interesting works but the museum also always hosts at least one interesting temporary exhibit, frequently comprised of masterpieces from the other Guggenheim collections.

Stop and enjoy lunch after your visit at the Bistro Guggenheim. Following lunch, take a walk along the river to the old part of own and through the estuary and parks.

Time permitting, we will drive to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, the Dragon Sone in the Game of Thrones, for a visit. Here you can climb to the small church in the rock and visit other towns that dot the Basque coast.

You will be returned to your hotel in at the end of the day

San Sebastian Cooking Lesson

This morning, enjoy a private cooking class in San Sebastian culminating in a lunch based on your creations accompanied by local wine. You can choose between a traditional Basque cooking class or opt to create bite size morsels known as tapas/pintxos.

Start the experience with a visit to the market with your guide/chef, where you will learn about the most typical Spanish products including Iberico ham, olive oil and cheese. With shopping bags full with fresh produce, return to the kitchen to begin your hands-on cooking class. Your chef will teach you the tricks of Basque cooking and let you in on some local secrets to create the world-famous Spanish tapas/pintxos.

Sit down together and enjoy a well-deserved lunch accompanied by wine.

After checking out of your accommodation, meet your private driver who will transfer you to Bilbao airport for your departing flight.