An Introduction to Spanish Wines – The Ultimate Wine Experience
Travel through the Rioja, Ribera del Duero, & Toledo
For Tour Dates Please See Our Tour Calendar
Join Spain Adventures on the perfect tour for people who want to experience Spanish wine and the culinary richness of the Spanish culture. All of the accommodations are small country inns that capture the flavor and charm of the wine regions. Included are VIP visits to wineries in three main regions of Spanish wines: Ribera del Duero, Rioja and Toledo and an extensive introduction to the excellent Spanish gastronomy. We will also take you through the history and art of Spain, from the Roman Aqueduct in Segovia to castles, monasteries, cathedrals, including the gothic cathedral of Burgos, one of the most beautiful in Spain. While Rioja represents the traditional Spanish wines, the Ribera del Duero produces the more contemporary wines that are considered to be innovative and new. In Toledo the capital of Castilla-La Mancha called the imperial city; you will find an emerging wine region which is starting to produce high quality wines in Spain.
These three regions are located in the heart of Spain, a trip to the countryside with small and medium size towns along the three greatest rivers of the country, Ebro, Duero and Tajo.
Accommodations:
Our evenings in the Rioja and in Ribera del Duero are spent in charming Inns nestled in the vineyards and among the winemakers themselves. Several evenings include “catas” which are the traditional Spanish wine tastings. Our Hotel in Madrid is in the center of the city with access to all shopping, museums and the heart beat of this magical city.
Day 1: Segovia and Ribera de Duero
Morning. Shuttle from your hotel to Segovia with an orientation to the city. Here we have an amazing opportunity to see Segovia in a Hot Air Balloon. There is nothing more exciting or romantic than to see this glorious city by balloon.
We arrive in Segovia declared World Heritage by UNESCO, where we will admire the 2000 years old Roman Aqueduct (best preserved in the world), the astonishing castle (Alcazar), the cathedral and the old quarters. Lunch in a famous asador (restaurant specialized in roasting meat) of Segovia with the opportunity to try the renowned tender suckling pig.
After lunch shuttle to Ribera de Duero. After check in, we will visit a family-owned winery that has cellars from the 16th century. Taste the different wines produced enjoying the company of one of the winemakers.
Spanish style dinner, with tapas where you get to sample many different Spanish dishes, or try the Spanish version of a barbecue, chuletada (dry grape vine branches, sarmiento , are used to roast different types of meat).
Night in Ribera de Duero
Day 2: Ribera de Duero.
After breakfast we will visit two of the most representative wineries of Riberadel Duero, stopping along the way to take in the scenery this beautiful region provides.
Lunch is on your own. Visit the town of Peñafiel, and its magnificent castle from the 11th century, which now houses the wine museum.
This afternoon is free for you to relax in the hotel or walk in the vineyards before enjoying a magnificent gourmet dinner accompanied by more wines from Ribera de Duero.
Tonight we feast on the traditional and well known roasted lamb of Ribera, the perfect pairing to the Ribera wines.
Night in Ribera de Duero
Day 3: Burgos and Rioja.
Shuttle to Burgos where we visit the stunning cathedral with our art historian. Construction on the cathedral began in the 13th century and was completed in the 15th and 16th centuries. The cathedral sums up Gothic architecture in all its glory with a unique collection of the tombs of the legendary El Cid and his wife Ximena among others. It has been also declared World Heritage monument by UNESCO. Lunch is on your own.
We continue our trip north to the Rioja. We check in to our lovely inn and are greeted by our hosts and prepare for an elegant wine tasting and dinner in a traditional winery, where we begin to become acquainted with the wonderful wine and culinary treasures of the Rioja.
Night in Rioja.
Day 4: Rioja Alta.
After breakfast we visit a traditional winery with wine tasting in Haro and some nearby villages. The tradition of Rioja is very well represented by these centenary wineries where the bottles from the time of their founders are kept in their cemeteries.
A short ride to San Millán de la Cogolla (10th century village), where we will visit the Human Heritage monastery complex of Suso and Yuso were the Spanish language (castellano) was born and where the first words in Spanish are kept. Lunch on your own.
After lunch we tour Santo Domingo de la Calzada, a small picturesque medieval town very important for the pilgrims in their way to Santiago. We take a stroll through the arcade streets to admire the stone mansions with their coats of arms. The cathedral is famous because of its beauty and its legend of the “Cock and Hen”. Santo Domingo de la Calzada, que canto la gallina después de asada. Ask us to tell you the legend!
Prepare for a gastronomic event at the inn this evening where a number of Riojan wines will be paired with delicious dishes.
Night in Rioja
Day 5: Rioja Alavesa – Madrid.
Guided tour in the medieval walled village of Laguardia (13th century), capital of La Rioja Alavesa. Right beneath the cobbled stoned streets of this walled town are many, many subterranean bodegas, and we will have the opportunity to visit one of them. In the town itself there are many historic monuments and sites, such as the Gothic facade of Santa Maria de los Reyes church from the 14th century.
Visit two exceptional bodegas with wine tasting included. One of them is part of the new Riojan wineries that have ventured in the production of what is called “wines of high expression” or “wines of author”. The result is outstanding! The other bodega combines tradition with the new tendencies in the Rioja, with remarkable result. Pick any one of the restaurants in the town for a memorable lunch.
We meet again after lunch and head back to Madrid to begin our next stage of the wine journey!
Spend some time in the outdoor café of our hotel, just relaxing and watching Madrid walk by!
Dinner is on your own this evening
Night in Madrid
Day 6: Toledo.
Travel to Toledo to visit to a very special bodega just 40 minutes away from Madrid. The visit will also include a “cata” and a great Spain Adventures picnic Toledo style.
After lunch we have a guided visit of Toledo, the imperial city, the city of the three cultures, Christian, Jewish and Islamic, rich with history, tradition and art. Before driving back to Madrid we’ll stop in for a drink at El Parador de Toledo, the best place in the city for a spectacular view of the town.
We meet one more time for our farewell dinner in a typical “sidrería” or cider restaurant, where we will enjoy this famous and delicious drink from the north of Spain
Night in Madrid
Day 7: End of our services.
Breakfast and transfer to the airport if needed.
