8 Day Spanish Wine Discovery

Welcome to Madrid! On arrival, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your accommodation to check in.

Madrid

Between the glory of the Royal Palace and masterpieces at the Prado and Reina Sofia museums, Madrid is home to plenty of stunning attractions, but the true magic lies in the people and the colorful lives they create for themselves among the hustle and bustle. The capital city of Spain is a vibrant and cosmopolitan destination, home to some of the world's most famous art museums, world class architecture, passionate sport fans and and an undeniable culinary scene. Lose yourself in a long lunch with new Madrileño friends on a terrace, or chat with vendors as you pick up fresh produce at the open market before you prepare a meal with a local chef. To know Madrid and its surroundings, all you need is a curious mind, adventurous spirit, good walking shoes, and great friends to show you the way.

Day at Leisure

Enjoy a day at leisure in Madrid to explore at your own pace. We will be on hand to provide suggestions to make the most of your day.

Madrid Wine and Tapas Tour

This evening, meet your local guide at your accommodations and set out for a private guided tapas tour of Madrid for dinner.

There are two “Madrids”: the one you can’t help but see, and the one you need a local person to show you. We’d like to invite you to enjoy the experience of “ir de tapas”, as madrileños do. You will discover hidden spots, even in the very heart of Madrid, each of which has something special to offer, be it a typical dish, a specific type of wine or its atmosphere. Get into the swing of things: go to a bar, enjoy your wine and
your tapas, and once you’ve finished, move on to the next venue. It’s as simple as that!

Your local guide will take you to the best tapas bars the capital has to offer where you can enjoy delicious wine and food. From traditional to creative tapas in the best neighborhoods, your appetite for food and culture will surely be satiated.

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

Ribera del Duero is one of Spain’s world renown wine regions and is situated along the banks of the Duero River on the country’s northern plateau. Wine has been produced in the region for thousands of years, but, viticulture as we know it today, was brought to the region by French Benedictine monks from Cluny, in Burgundy, during the XII century.

The Ribera del Duero region stretches across four provinces: Burgos, Segovia, Soria, and Valladolid. Its climate is characterized by long, hot summers and cold winters, with significant temperature fluctuations between day and night, which are ideal for growing grapes. Ribera del Duero today produces high-quality red wines made primarily from the Tempranillo grapes, locally known as Tinto Fino or Tinta del País.

Ribera del Duero Discovery

Your guide will meet you at the hotel this morning to explore some local wineries.

Today you will be brought to two domains 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. Alternatively, visit the town of Peñaranda protected by the medieval castle with the Palace of Zúñiga y Avellaneda from the 16th century, or the monastery of Silos where the monks still sing the Gregorian chants.

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 such as Portia winery 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 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.

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

Located in northern Spain, along the Ebro River, La Rioja is one of the most prestigious and well-known of all the Spanish wine regions. It is divided into three sub-regions: Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Baja with the most famous bodegas located in Alta and Alavesa.? Rioja is known for its red wines made primarily from the Tempranillo grape, which is often blended with Garnacha, Mazuelo, and Graciano grapes.

Rioja appeals, not just for producing some of the finest wines in Spain, but also for the contrast between traditional and modern wineries that can be found here. You can visit an historic bodega built on a farm that was part of a medieval monastery and still makes its wine in the most traditional way, then continue on to another that employs state of the art wine technology in a building that is a work of modern art in itself.

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.

After your tour, you will be transferred to your accommodation in San Sebastian by private transfer.

San Sebastian

San Sebastian, also known as Donostia in the Basque language, it is a sophisticated city arched around one of the finest urban beaches in the world, La Concha, so named for its resemblance to the shape of a scallop shell. Framed by golden beaches and lush hillsides, San Sebastián has undeniable allure, from its grand architecture to its venerable dining scene. Renowned for its Basque cuisine it boasts the second most Michelin stars per capita in the world, behind only Kyoto, Japan. The best way to see San Sebastián is to walk around: wander along seaside promenades or take one of the pathways that lead up the hill to Monte Igeldo for a wonderful vantage point for enjoying views over the city.

San Sebastian at Leisure

Today is yours to explore San Sebastian as you please. Visit one of the three beaches of the city and relax on the beautiful shorelines, or enjoy a stroll along the gorgeous promenade to have a look at the local shops. You could also take the antique funicular railway up to Monte Igueldo on the west side of town for an amazing panoramic view of the area. If you want to go even higher, climb up to the 16th century El Torreon tower for a 360 degree view and breathtaking photos.

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.

After checking out of your accommodation, meet your private driver who will transfer you the train station in Pamplona (~4hr drive) to catch your connecting train to Barcelona.