Wine and Gastronomy La Rioja & Ribera del Duero Wine Tour:
The Spanish wine regions of La Rioja and Ribera del Duero are two of the most famous and prestigious wine producing areas in the world. This unique wine tasting journey takes us to private winery visits such as renowned estates as Pesquera and Marques de Riscal, not to mention a host of other smaller, interesting boutique wine producers such as Remirez de Ganuza and O'Fournier.
Wine Enthusiast: Northern Spain emerges as a "global wine power, with its best years ahead."
Our days in the Rioja will immerse you in a unique destination where you’ll sample these complex wines and understand for yourself why they have received such high acclaim from the toughest critics. If you love Spanish wine and want a unique luxury holiday, this is Spain Adventures “Wine Extravaganza”.
Highlights include:
Wine tasting in 15th century caves
Cooking class
Vineyard walks
Private visits with winemakers (if it’s October, you can participate in the harvest)
Memorable meals of the region paired with magical wines, in delightful wine country restaurants and Inns.
La Rioja Wine Valley & Ribera del Duero
9 days/8 nights $4900
| January 20-27 |
| February 9-16 The perfect Valentine! |
| Sept 28-Oct 5 |
| Nov 1-8 | 
Itinerary
This Luxury Spanish Wine Tour begins in Madrid, Europe's best-kept secret. The Bourbon “barrio”, reminiscent of Paris architecturally, is stunning and you will enjoy a walking tour of Madrid's most beautiful sights, sipping wine and enjoying tapas along the way.
Day 1 Arrive Madrid, transfer by coach from the airport to your centrally located hotel in the heart of Madrid. An afternoon at your leisure in Madrid to shop, have lunch, or simply relax. Early evening Walking Tour of Madrid's historic Bourbon and Hapsburg quarters with an art historian, which will include: The Royal Palace and The Puerta del Sol, The gastronomic tour will include: A visit with our wine expert, writer and wine connoisseur and tastings of Champagne (cava) aperitifs, and various wines and tapas dishes. A wonderful assortment of wine by the glass from Rueda, Toro, Penedes and Jerez are part of the tasting this evening.
Day 2 This morning is yours to enjoy the Prado Museum (classic painters such as Velazquez, Goya and El Greco) and the Reina Sofia (Modern painters such as Picasso, Dali and Miro), etc.
In Madrid, don't miss the excellent shopping for shoes, clothes, leather, perfumes, artisan ceramics and glassware, olive wood, and the best gourmet products Spain has to offer (virgin olive oils, wine vinegars, saffron, smoked paprikas, etc)
Day 3 A morning departure from Madrid as we make our way north to the luscious red wine region of Ribera del Duero, where we will spend two wonderful nights at a hotel amid the vines, and take in various VIP winery visits to such famed cellars as Ismael Arroyo (with its 15th century wine caves), La Pesquera, Condado de Haza and Alion (owned by Vega Sicilia). First Winery visit, followed by typical Castilian lunch at a beautiful restaurant overlooking the Duero river, Second VIP winery visit and afternoon to relax at our 5* Wine Hotel (where we will have the option to enjoy vineyard walks before dinner).Dinner on your own at the highly esteemed restaurant at the wine hotel.
Day 4 Ribera del Duero - we'll visit the famed cellars of O” Fournier for a private tour and wine tasting. Before lunch, we'll visit the Ribera del Duero wine museum, located in a stunning castle in the vast plains of Castilla y Leon. The sommelier will lead us through a tasting of various local wines and we'll have free time to enjoy the museum and the views form the castle's ramparts. Lunch will be waiting for us in a medieval village below, in a typical "Asador", with a lunch to include roast lamb, slow cooked in ancient wood-fired ovens, over sarmiento, the dried vines themselves… unforgettable! The late afternoon will include an excursion to a pretty village nearby and we we’ll visit an excavated site of Roman mosaics. Dinner on your own at the hotel or we’ll shuttle you in to the village.
Day 5 We leave Ribera del Duero shortly after breakfast and we’ll head northeast to the hillier, lovely wine region of La Rioja. We will enjoy a visit to a historic winery, to see where Rioja’s quality wine history began. This cellar dates back to the 1860’s, and is French in style (the French lent much influence to Rioja during this period). A private visit followed by wine tasting and tapas (light lunch) will be on today’s menu. After the visit, we’ll continue to the medieval hill top town of Laguardia. This afternoon we participate in a cooking class with a well known Rioja Chef. We’ll prepare some of the most famous dishes of the Rioja. Later we’ll wine and dine in the wine cellar, the feast we prepared.
Day 6 Today is a major wine tasting day, with visits to 2 famous estates- one historic, one modern. The first special winery visit is to Marques de Murrieta a beautiful, historic estate complete with castle. The next winery visit is planned for the lovely modern cellars of Finca Valpiedra. Gourmet lunch in a lovely historic restaurant nearby in Rioja wine country, with vino, of course! Time for a siesta and this evening a trip into Logroño for some of the best Tapas, this region has to offer.
Day 7 The futuristic winery of Ysios, designed by Santiago Calatrava is the first visit today. The winery is tiny and the visit will be short, but you will marvel at his architectural genius and enjoy the views looking back up at Laguardia across the vines. From La Rioja, our wine journey continues on to Navarra, the beautiful aristocratic region just east of la Rioja, which borders France. We will visit the pretty village of Olite, a town famous for its fairy tale castle and its wine. We'll climb the ramparts and turrets of the castle, enjoy an aperitif in a 14th century converted monastery. You’ll have some time on your own to wander the narrow streets, have lunch and shop in the many wine stores. The drive back to La Rioja will take us along the ancient pilgrim roads, and we might even see some pilgrims with their scallop-shelled staffs, making their way for Santiago de Compostela on the legendary Camino de Santiago.
Day 8 Today, we make our way back to Madrid, but first we'll stop in historic Burgos, with its 13th century Gothic Cathedral. Our farewell lunch will be a rustic affair in a beautiful old restaurant with wood burning ovens. We'll visit the lovely "Casco Viejo" of this ancient city, the old stomping grounds of the Templar Knights, and the home of Spain’s favorite son, El Cid before driving south to Madrid.
Day 9 Departures
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