Exclusive Rioja and Ribera del Duero wine tours

At a glance

Trip Summary

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. 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. 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 of the Rioja.  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. The winery 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 12^th 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. 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 at Alonso del Yerro a family owned vineyard producing a small selection of delicious wines. Here, you will enjoy a tour of the estate followed by a tasting of some of the estate’s wines. You will the be taken to Bodega Pesquera where you will enjoy a tasting session of the wines produced at the estate. The winery is a pioneer in Tempranillo winemaking methods and is well established locally as a driving force for the recognition of the D.O Ribera del Duero. 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. Ending the day in true style, you will then be welcomed as the guest of the Bodegas Protos. Protos, meaning first in Greek, is a constantly growing estate. The visit will conclude with a tasting session of their wines.

After breakfast and check out on day five, you will be taken back to Bilbao airport.

Outline Itinerary

Day Two

• After breakfast, you will be met at the hotel by an English-speaking driver/guide, who will accompany you throughout the day on a private basis.
• Your first visit will be the Bodegas Tobelos, a renowned winery set in a minimalist and innovative building, for a tour of the estate followed by a tasting of their wines.
• You will then be taken to the prestigious Ysios winery for a tour of the vineyards and wine-making facilities. The tour will conclude with two tastings and some nibbles.
• For lunch, you will be taken to the unique Baigorri winery for a guided tour of the estate followed by a delicious wine tasting meal served in the glass-fronted restaurant.
• You will then have some time to relax at the hotel before the next activity.
• In the evening, you will have a tasting session with tapas before being taken to Logroño for free time to participate in the famous tapas run.
• You will be taken back to the hotel at the end of the evening.

Day Three

• After, breakfast check out of the hotel.
• Your guide will return and accompany you on a second day of tours.
• In the morning, a tour and tastings will be arranged for you at a traditional family-run Bodega.
• Next stop will be the remarkable Bodegas Portia, where you will be taken on a guided tour of the estate followed by a tasting session and lunch.
• You will be taken to the 5* Abadia Retuerta in the afternoon.
• Check into your Classic room.
• After settling in, make your way to the winery and enjoy a vineyard tour by 4×4, a guided tour of the wine-making facilities, a visit to the Abbey as well as a tasting session of two wines.
• In the evening, an eight course wine tasting dinner will be served at the Abadia’s Michelin-starred restaurant.

Day Four

• After breakfast, your guide will take you to Alonso del Yerro for a tour of the Bodega followed by a tasting session of their wines.
• You will then be taken to the renowned Bodega Pesquera where you will taste some of their wines.
• A traditional lunch will be served in an authentic Spanish restaurant.
• After lunch you will be taken to the impressive Bodega Protos estate.
• The evening will be free for you to do as you please.

Final Day

• After a leisurely breakfast, check out of the hotel.
• You will be transferred back to Bilbao in a chauffeured vehicle.

(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.

Package Prices

• These prices are per person and based on two people travelling together and sharing a twin or double room.
• These are realistic guide prices, based on travel in standard season (usually April to the end of October). Considerable discounts often apply for travel out of season (usually November to the end of March) or if there are more than two of you travelling together. Please let us know your preferred travel dates for a definitive price.
• Although we propose specific hotels as part of our standard packages, we enjoy excellent relationships and preferential rates at the majority of the hotels in each of our featured destinations. Therefore if you would prefer to stay in a different hotel, this can be arranged. Please contact us for the relevant supplements/discounts.
• Other room grades are available at most of the hotels that we work with. Just let us know which hotel you prefer and we will send you the relevant supplements for the various room grades.
• Single supplements and extra night prices are available upon request.

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