- Wine Tour Destinations
| Region: | Rioja |
|---|---|
| Type of Tour: | Wine & Beyond |
| Duration: | 5 Days |
| Guide Price: | From £3336 to £3807 per person |
| Number of Meals: | 4 breakfasts + 3 lunches + 2 dinners |
| Number of Winery Visits: | 12 wineries |
| Number of Wines Tasted: | Approximately 24 |
| Tour Transport: | Return transfers to and from Bilbao, a transfer to Ribera del Duero + 3 full days guided and transported tours |
| Dates / Availability: | Available mid-week and weekends throughout the year |
Specially designed for lovers of architecture and wine, our Wine and Architecture package is part of our Wine and Beyond range, offering customers the opportunity to combine a few of the finer things in life. This package is situated in Northern Spain and gives you the chance to witness the most spectacular wineries of the Rioja and Ribera del Duero. Prepare to be dazzled!
Marqués de Riscal is one of the oldest and most traditional of Rioja’s Bodegas. Opening for business in 1860, the winery was most notable for its pioneering nature and innovative, non-conformist practices. Today, this is epitomised by their 21st Century hotel, a masterpiece unveiled in 2006 by designer Frank O. Gehry. Gehry’s architecture is renowned throughout the world, from the Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles to the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris, as well as the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao (another must see whilst in the area). After settling in to your Spa Wing room on day one of the trip, you will be welcomed as guests at the award-winning Marqués de Riscal winery. Here, you will have a fascinating and informative tour of the production process, as well as the barrel room. The tour will conclude with tastings of Marqués de Riscal wines. In the evening, a welcome dinner will be served in the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant.
After breakfast, you will be met at the hotel by a specialist driver/guide, who will accompany you throughout the day on a private basis.
Our Spanish Tour Manager was born and bred in the region and not only will she entertain you throughout the day with fascinating historical and cultural anecdotes, she will also share with you her extensive wine knowledge. You will first visit the Bodega Tobelos. The winery is a true avant-garde building which is in complete contrast with the classic aesthetics its surroundings. Here you will be taken on full tour of facilities. The visit will be followed by a tasting of two of the estate’s sought-after wines. You will then be taken to Ysios, a stunning winery at the foot of the Sierra de Cantabria mountain range. Designed by Santiago Calatrava, the ultra-modern and unique estate is fascinatingly integrated into the landscape. You will firstly walk in the vineyards before being taken on a tour of the wine-making facilities and the cellars. The tour will conclude with two tastings accompanied by some nibbles. You will then enjoy a visit at Baigorri, another breathtaking Bodega which was designed and built by the architect Iñaki Aspiazu. The estate is an architectural reference in the region and a true sight to behold. Here, you will be taken on a guided tour of the estate.
The tour will be followed by a delicious four course tasting lunch, where each course will be paired with the estate’s wines. After returning to the hotel to freshen up and have a siesta, you will be taken for a tasting session of three premium Rioja wines with platters of local tapas. You will then have time to participate in the traditional evening tapas run on the famous Calle Laurel in the town of Logroño.
After breakfast, check out of the hotel and take your luggage with you. Your guide will return on day three and accompany you to a family-run winery to see the region’s wine production on a smaller scale. The second stop will be Bodegas Portia, designed by the famous and prestigious British architect Sir Norman Foster. The winery, a symbol of modernity, resembles a three-pointed star and is surrounded by enchanting vineyards. Here, you will be taken on a guided tour of the estate followed by a tasting session and lunch. Your guide will then escort you to Abadia Retuerta, nestled at the heart of Ribera del Duero. Built within an 12th Century old abbey, Abadia Retuerta is one of the only abbeys to have survived the wave of destruction during the Napoleonic years and is today a Spanish cultural heritage site. The abbey and monasteries have a unique Baroque-Romanesque style, as well as a classic Benedictine layout. After checking into your Classic room at the estate, you will be taken on a tour including a 4×4 ride through the vineyards, a tour of the wine-making facilities, a visit to the Abbey of Santa María de Retuerta as well as a tutored tasting of two wines. In the evening, a mouth-watering eight course wine tasting menu will be served at the Abadia’s Michelin-starred gourmet restaurant.
After breakfast, your guide will return and accompany you on a third day of tours. First stop will be Viña Mayor. Founded in 1986 in the wake of the birth of the official Denominación de Origen Ribera del Duero certification, the estate boasts a worldwide reputation. You will enjoy a tour of the estate followed by a tasting of all the estate’s wines. A three course lunch will then be served in a traditional Spanish restaurant. Each course will be served alongside a local wine, and you will have the opportunity to taste the region’s speciality, “lechazo asada.” This leg of suckling lamb is roasted in a traditional stone oven until deliciously crispy. In the afternoon, you will be welcomed as the guest of the Bodegas Protos. Protos, meaning first in Greek, is a constantly growing estate. The winery was designed by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners and Alonso Balaguer y Arquitectos Asociados. This creative building is built partly underground in order to make the most of the cool temperatures and partly above the ground with a structure which is reminiscent of the vault-shaped wineries. Here, you will be taken on a guided tour of the estate. The visit will conclude with a tasting session of their wines. Ending the day in true style, you will then visit Pago de Carraovejas for a tour and tastings. This estate is characteristic of the region’s ultra-modern and gravity-focused wineries. Occupying more than 26,000 square metres, the estate is flanked by beautiful plazas which offer impressive views across the vineyards.
After breakfast and check out on day five, you will be taken back to Bilbao airport.
Day One
Day Two
Day Three
Day Four
Final Day
(ii) The outline itinerary is indicative and is subject to minor changes depending on supplier availability. Availability cannot be guaranteed until we have received a confirmed booking, together with the deposit payment (or payment in full where the dates of travel are in less than 60 days). If the named accommodation / visits are not available, we will endeavour to find suitable alternatives of a similar grade; this may be subject to a supplement or a rebate depending on the price available.
Just to let you know that we all had a great time over the weekend and the consensus was that another trip is on the must do list!
John - Surrey, UK
| Hotel Name | Room Grade | Star Rating | Duration | Price Per Person | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wine and Architecture Luxury Hotels | Luxury | 5* | 5 Days | £3807 | Book Now |
If you would like to make your Grape Escapes holiday even more special, there are a number of additional activities that we can arrange for you. To complement the experience, these could be arranged to fit in/around your current itinerary or we can arrange additional nights and room upgrades at your hotel, as well as your travel arrangements, a stop-over en route and even a visit to another part of the country! See below for some of the most popular upgrades.
Given the wide range of travel options, the package prices do not include travel. Please see our travel page for detailed information about travelling to Rioja and Ribera del Duero
For more information on our Wine and Beyond tours please see our Wine and Beyond page.
To secure your booking, a deposit of 20% of the booking value is required. Your remaining balance will then be due 60 days before you travel. Please call us on +44 (0) 1920 46 86 66 or e-mail info@grapeescapes.net to request a booking form.
The whole trip was well organised, well executed and great fun. Our tour guide was absolutely superb with a fantastic knowledge of the wine and the La Rioja region, and an obvious passion for the subject matter. On top of that, she was excellent company. In short, I think that the trip was, simply, faultless.
Matthew - London, UK
Short break in Ribera del Duero including full day transported wine tour. Available throughout the year.
Exclusive Rioja and Ribera del Duero wine tours including accommodation in 5* hotels, premium tours and tastings at renowned wineries as well as fine dining
5 days Rioja wine tour and San Sebastian food experience including b&b accommodation in 4* hotels, tours and tastings at premium estates as well as fine dining
Three or four day Rioja wine tours based in the picturesque town of Haro including bed and breakfast accommodation, tours and tastings in great Bodegas as well as meals and activities to experience the region's gastronomy
Whilst staying onsite of a working winery amongst some of the noblest vineyards in Spain, this package provides an in-depth and comprehensive discovery of the world-famous wines of Rioja. The 5* Marqués de Riscal is an iconic architectural masterpiece, offering a truly unique three or four day break.
