SPANISH WINE EXPERIENCE TOUR - RIOJA, RIBERA, TOLEDO - 6 nights

SUMMARY: This tour is perfect for people who want to experience Spanish wine and Spanish culture. The lodging would be in small places with special charm and flavor. It includes visits to wineries in three main regions of Spanish wines: Ribera de Duero, Rioja and Toledo and an extensive introduction to the excellent Spanish gastronomy. The tour 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 tradition in Spanish wines, the wines produced in Ribera del Duero are the modern wines that are considered the Spanish wine revolution. But both regions produce some of the finest in Spain. In Toledo you can find some of the most innovative 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.

.LODGING: The lodging in Rioja and Ribera will be in small towns, home of winemakers, away from the crowded touristy places, and in a centrally located hotel in Madrid.

Day 1: Segovia and Ribera de Duero. Night in Ribera de DueroAcueducto de Segovia

  • Morning. Pick up from the hotel and introduction to the tour starting the drive to Ribera del Duero
  • Start the drive towards the millenary town of 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 one of the best asadores (restaurant specialized in roasting meat) of Segovia with the opportunity to tray the famous tender suckling pig.
  • After lunch drive to our headquarters in Ribera de Duero. There, after checking in our hotel, 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 owners.
  • Spanish style dinner, with tapas o raciones (like appetizers), so you can try a lot of Spanish dishes, or the Spanish version of a barbecue and a picnic, chuletada (sarmientos, dry grape vine branches, are used to roast different types of meat). Tapas are small dishes that you have in bars or casual restaurants instead of a formal meal

Day 2: Ribera de Duero. Night in Ribera de Duero

  • After breakfast we will visit two of the most representative wineries of Ribera de Duero, admiring in the way this beautiful rural region.
  • Lunch on your own. Visit the town of Peñafiel, and its magnificent castle from the 11th century, home of a newly opened wine museum.
  • Relax for some time in the hotel before enjoying a magnificent gourmet dinner accompanied by more wines from Ribera de Duero where you will try the traditional and famous roasted lamb of Ribera, perfect companion of the Ribera wine

Day 3: Burgos and Rioja. Night in Rioja.

  • Drive to Burgos and visit its cathedral, begun in the 13th century and completed in the 15th and 16th centuries. Our Lady of Burgos sums up Gothic architecture in all its beauty with a unique collection of reredos, tombs, choir, stalls, stained glass, etc. It has been also declared World Heritage monument by UNESCO. Lunch on your own.
  • Continue our trip north to Rioja. After arrival and checking in our hotel we will get ready for some wine tasting and dinner in a traditional winery, where we will start getting acquaintance with the Riojan wines and traditional Riojan food.

Day 4: Rioja Alta. Night in Rioja.

  • Visit to a traditional winery with wine tasting in Haro or nearby villages. The tradition of Rioja is very well represented by these centenary wineries, that keep in their cemeteries bottles from the time of their founders.
  • Short drive 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. We can have lunch right in the Hostería of the Monastery or in another top class restaurant.
  • Tour of Santo Domingo de la Calzada, a small picturesque medieval town very important for the pilgrims in their way to Santiago. Just 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".
  • Some rest in the hotel before a gastronomic dinner experience in the hotel where a number of Riojan wines will be paired with delicious dishes.

Day 5: Rioja Alavesa - Madrid. Night in Madrid

  • Guided tour in the medieval walled village of Laguardia (13th century), capital of La Rioja Alavesa. 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.
  • Visit two beautiful bodegas with wine tasting included. One of them is part of the new Riojan wineries that have bet for the production of what is called wines of high expression or wines of author. The result is outstanding!. The other one combines perfectly tradition with the new tendencies in Rioja, with remarkable result. Typical Riojan lunch in bodega or nearby premium restaurant. After lunch we'll start the drive back to Madrid.
  • Hotel check and dinner on your own.

Day 6: Toledo. Night in Madrid.

  • Travel to Toledo to visit to a very special bodega 45 minutes away from Toledo. The visit will also include a cata or tasting of all the different wines produced there. Typical field lunch.
  • Guided visit of Toledo, the imperial city, the city of the three cultures, Christian, Jewish and Islamic, full of history, tradition and art. Declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Before driving back to Madrid we'll stop in for a refreshing drink in El Parador of Toledo, a place that offer one of the most wonderful views of the town.
  • Farewell dinner in a typical sidrería or cider restaurant, where we will enjoy this famous and delicious drink from the north of Spain

Day 7: End of our services. Breakfast and transfer to the airport if needed.

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