The Ultimate Food and Wine Tour of Spain 10 Days
"Discover the most acclaimed itinerary by our previous travellers from all our food and wine tours of Spain. Duing this trip, you will be treated to first-class service and accommodations. At the same time, you will get a real sense of the local lifestyle. This includes amenities like access to concierge services around-the-clock and travelling in a classy Mercedes or luxury mini-bus with your group only. Quality hotels and authentic local experiences combine to produce an idyllic vacation. Your travel will be filled with the sights of picturesque vistas, vivid images of local architecture and memories of the most exquisite gastronomic flavors. It has never been easier to assure a memorable, first-class vacation"
THE TOUR AT A GLANCE
Enjoy "best steak in the world" in a farm house hidden in the back roads of Northern Spain
Picture yourself discovering the secrets of Spain's world-famous wine region "Ribera del Duero"
Be amazed by the beauty of one of the best Cathedrals in the world in León
Discover the authentic "Jamón Ibérico" hand carved by knife by a professional.
Sleep in style at a 12th century medieval abbey turned world-class hotel surrounded by vineyards
Brush shoulders with the locals to savour "pintxos", the Basque version of Spanish tapas
Savour delicious fresh food at traditional local restaurants
Unveil the beauty of the most elegant town in the Cantabrian Coast
Relax in style in a waterfront castle with direct access to the beach
Day 1
- Panoramic drive through the vineyards of the Golden Mile of Ribera del Duero, where one of the best wines in the world are produced
All the food and wine tours of Spain should start here...
Upon arrival to Madrid airport you will be welcomed by your guide and escorted to a private vehicle. Then you will enjoy a scenic drive to the Spanish countryside across Spain’s world-famous wine region Ribera del Duero.
At the heart of Ribera del Duero in the Golden Mile of this wine region where some of the best wines in the world are produced, you will sleep in one the best-preserved Cistercian monasteries of the 12th century in Europe. The whole property is a Spanish dream with clean stone walls, French oak floors and Berber rugs throughout, the effect is warm and inviting despite the scale of the property. This is one of the most unique hotels in all our food and wine tours of Spain.
Enjoy the rest of the evening at your own leisure. For dinner you will savour local specialities at the hotel's à-la-carte restaurant paired with local wines from their extensive wine list.
Day 2
- A 4x4 drive through "Ribera del Duero"vineyards & a picnic with local products surrounded by ancient vines
- A visit to a traditional "asador" to savour roasted lamb slow cooked over an open fire
- A panoramic drive up to Peñafiel's castle with commanding views over the vineyards of Ribera del Duero
After a full delicious breakfast your guide and driver will pick you up from the hotel for day of exploring Ribera del Duero.
Enjoy breath-taking views as we drive through the vineyards of Ribera del Duero, discover its world-famous wineries along the "Golden Mile" of this wine region where some of the best wines in the world are produced.
You will visit Abadia Retuerta, a hidden gem for a wine lover among the string of exclusive wine estates found along the Duero river that crosses Northern Spain.
A visit to Abadía Retuerta is more than just a winery tour: you’ll immediately realise that you are in a very special place: an estate steeped in history, a unique terroir, which has been carefully cherished over the years... you will go for a 4×4 private tour of the estate and the vineyards. After a lovely ride through the vines you will learn how wines are produced inside the winery followed by a guided wine tasting of Abadia Retuerta's famous wines.
After the visit, you will be driven to Peñafiel, the heart of this wine region. You will visit Peñafiel’s castle, at the top of a hill and with commanding views over the vineyards, is a must when visiting this region. Your gastronomic journey begins with an opportunity to sample the signature dish of the Ribera del Duero region, roast lamb slow-cooked using a centuries old technique, the local name is “Lechazo”. A selection of a-la-carte starters of local specialities will complement this fantastic meal. Of course, your meal would not be complete with an accompanying red wine from the region.
Day 3
- A private visit to an artisan cheesemaker followed by a guided tasting of some of Spain's moste delicious cheeses
- A private tasting of the best "Jamón Ibérico de Bellota" hand carved by knife by a professional, a highlight available only in our food and wine tours of Spain
After a sumptuous breakfast it’s time to say goodbye to Ribera del Duero, your guide will help you with the hotel’s checking out and your luggage will be loaded to your private vehicle.
Enjoy a scenic drive through the Spanish countryside. We will stop for a visit to traditional cheese-maker where you will learn how cheeses are made the Spanish traditional way. These artisan cheese-makers have been making world-acclaimed cheeses for decades. You will enjoy a cheese tasting guided by the artisan cheese maker.
After that, you will be driven to a hidden gem, a traditional restaurant in a small village on the back roads of Spain where you will enjoy traditional food as its best. With a 3-course a-la-carte menu you will be delighted by authentic slow food.
After the meal, an after a short drive, you will arrive to your next stop, León, Spain’s Gastronomy Capital 2018, a lively historic town and an important milestone along the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route. This charming town is also a "must" stop on all our food and wine tours of Spain.
You will check for two nights in a stylish boutique hotel just metres away from Gaudí’s “Casa Botines” and León’s spectacular Gothic Cathedral, one of the greatest Cathedrals in Europe.
For dinner, you will be part of a unique and highly personal experience: a Jamón Ibérico private tasting hand carved by knife in front of you by a Master Ham Carver.
You will learn how to distinguish all the different types of Hams in Spain and you will taste Jamon Ibérico directly from the knife of a qualified professional. Every paper-thin slice of this delicacy has a unique flavour you will have the chance to enjoy as they melt in your mouth.
Day 4
- A private guided tour of León's amazing Gothic Cathedral and city centre
- A delicious tapas bar crawl in León's old town
Today, you will enjoy a relaxing stroll around Leon’s city centre and a guided tour of Leon’s Gothic Cathedral, a masterpiece dated from the 13th century that will take your breath away. You’ll be transported back in time inside a magical place where you will be touched by the beauty of the sunlight crashing through one of the finest stained-glass windows in the world.
Enjoy this spectacular display of light and colours with the company of hundreds of pilgrims that arrive to this place every day after walking along the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route.
The world-famous architect Antoni Gaudí designed one of the few works he made outside Barcelona in this town, the impressive palace called “Casa Botines”, an architectural masterpiece at the centre of this charming town in Northern Spain.
What's a food and wine tour of Spain without tapas? Just a regular tour. That's why you are in León, probably the best Spanish town to enjoy a tapas bar crawl.
For lunch, you will dive into this amazing town in Northern Spain to discover the biggest concentration of bars in the country where you will enjoy creative and delicious tapas paired with Spanish wines from Rioja and Ribera del Duero world leading wine regions.
Brush shoulders with the locals to find the best bites in town for a culinary adventure you will treasure forever. We will visit small and lively bars that serve everything from crispy-on-the-outside-fluffy-on-the-inside patatas bravas, to perfect ham and cheese croquettes, to the most flavoursome chorizo you’ve ever tasted.
You will enjoy the rest of the afternoon at your leisure. For dinner, you will be escorted to a traditional family-run restaurant in the "Barrio Húmedo", León's lively old town.
Day 5
- A private visit to El Capricho Farm-house to learn how oxen are raised to produce the best meat in the world
- A three-night stay in a waterfront palace hotel at one of the most beautiful beaches in Northern Spain
After a sumptuous breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up to drive you to your next destination. Your journey will start with a trip along a beautiful stretch of land in North-western Spain in a small village called Jimenez de Jamuz.
Your next stop will be Bodega El Capricho, a family-run farm house and grill restaurant acclaimed by the international press like Time, the Guardian, Stern or New York Times be the best place in the world to eat the perfect steak. This is the ultimate food and wine tour of Spain because you visit places like this in the middle of nowhere, so please keep on reading :)...
The film Steak Revolution proclaimed the “Galician Blond” steak from Bodega El Capricho as the best in the world. This will be the most intense meat experience of your life in a remote village on the back roads of Northern Spain
El Capricho’s owner José Gordón raises his own oxen from different Iberian native breeds in a piece of land where you can touch these enormous animals with up to seven feet tall, 1.400 kgs and up to 15 years old. Then the meat is dry-aged in temperature-controlled refrigerators to enhance its flavours up to 180 days.
After a visit to the farm to admire the oxen you will immerse yourself into an unforgettable experience of intense flavours at the restaurant, placed in a cave used hundreds of years ago as a wine cellar.
After the feast, you can take a Spanish “siesta” while you will be driving north to Asturias, your home for the next three days.
You will check in a unique hotel in the Spanish coast, situated in the middle of the seafront with views to the Cantabrian sea, with direct access to Santa Marina beach and surrounded by the breath-taking sea and mountain landscapes.
Day 6
- A scenic drive up to "Covadonga Lakes" following the route of the bicycle race "La Vuelta"
- A gourmet picnic surrounded by impressive peaks
After a reinvigorating sleep, a delicious breakfast will be waiting for you to recharge your batteries. You will probably may be in a mood to enjoy an early morning stroll on the beach before surfers arrive to this stunning town.
After that, you will start the day with a drive through a scenic road from the beach up to the mountains to "Covadonga Lakes", one of the most beautiful spots in "Picos de Europa". The road ascending to the lakes is a popular climb in professional road bicycle racing, and the most important climb in the Spanish multi-stage bicycle race "La Vuelta".
You will enjoy jaw-dropping views along the way. The "Covadonga Lakes" is a postcard-perfect valley with two glacial lakes. Goats, sheep, and cows roam freely around the lakes.
The view from this point is probably one of the most outstanding views of a mountain range in the world, dusted with snow on their peaks.
With such a beautiful backdrop, you will enjoy a gourmet picnic with ham, cheese, homemade bread and wine surrounded by magnificent mountains. An unforgettable experience for a nature lover.
You will descend down into the valley in search of ‘Pitu de Caleya’, free-range chicken. But this isn’t just any free-range chicken; it is the most delicious in Northern Spain. Far from prying eyes is a restaurant that few outsiders know about. Here you will sample its mouth-watering signature dish, free-range chicken rice as well as some local specialities. This is comfort food at its best, a unique experience only available in our bespoke food and wine tours of Spain.
After lunch, you will be driven back to the hotel to relax for the rest of the afternoon by the beach.
For dinner, you will be escorted to one of the best restaurants in town, a place specialised in making probably the most delicious "Paella" (Spain's iconic dish) in the region.
Day 7
- A visit to the local fishing port to see the fishermen arrive with the catch of the day. An exclusive experience only available during our food and wine tours of Spain
- A traditional cider bar dinner with delicious local food & cider
After a delicious breakfast and an early morning dive into the sea, you will be driven to one of the most picturesque coastal villages in Spain, Lastres.
Perched by the cliffs you will discover Lastres’ postcard-perfect lighthouse. Waiting quayside at Lastres’ fishing port, you will meet the fishermen as they arrive with their catch of the day.
You will learn how fishermen live in this region bringing the best fish and seafood to the local restaurants. You will have the opportunity to sample this sparkling-fresh produce in a local restaurant in this picturesque village.
After lunch, you will have the rest of the afternoon at your own leisure at your hotel by the beach.
Cider is the traditional drink of Asturias in Northern Spain, and it is an important part of the social life. For dinner, you will be escorted to a local cider bar and you will learn how to pour it like the locals do from a great height to allow the cider to breathe.
You will enjoy local tapas and plenty of cider during an unforgettable meal which will be the cherry on the cake for a full day of gastronomic experiences.
Day 8
- A visit to the world-famous Guggenheim Museum, a destination in itself
- A delicious traditional Basque menu at a local restaurant where you will savour world-famous "txuletón" or Basque steak
It’s time to say goodbye to Ribadesella and after your breakfast your guide and driver will help you checking out the hotel.
You will be transferred to Bilbao, the heart of the Basque Country, a paradise for foodies. All our food and wine tours of Spain will start or end here. You will discover why after a few hours in the region.
Discover Bilbao, a vibrant city where traditions and cutting-edge architecture live in perfect harmony.
You will enjoy a driving tour of the city as we arrive to the city centre. From there you will enjoy a walking tour of the historic centre as you sample the traditional “pintxos” in a “pintxos bar crawl”. “Pintxos” are the Basque version of the Spanish Tapas.
You will enjoy a bar crawl to the most unique local bars to sample these delicacies. After lunch, you will be transferred to your hotel, an impressive design hotel just in front of Bilbao’s landmark: the Guggenheim Museum.
After checking in and with some time to relax in your room, you will be guided to the Guggenheim Museum for a visit to this spectacular exhibition centre.
For dinner you will enjoy a traditional a-la-carte Basque restaurant where you can sample one of the Basque specialities: the Txuletón or “grilled steak”. You will sample another local food like ham "croquetas" or cod Basque style.
Day 9
- A guided visit to San Sebastian central farmers market where you will feel the freshness of the local produce at every corner
- A guided walking tour of San Sebastian historic city centre
- A truly traditional Basque Experience : eating "pintxos" in local bars escorted by your guide
After a sumptuous breakfast with views over the Guggenheim museum, your driver and your guide will pick you up from the hotel and you will enjoy a full day in San Sebastian, the pearl of the Cantabrian sea, an elegant coastal town with influences of the French Riviera and the place where all our food and wine tours of Spain start or end. Let us show you why...
As soon as you arrive, you will enjoy a walking tour of the most interesting spots starting with the central farmers market where you can feel the freshness of the produce they sell in a lively market where locals gather every day to buy local food. This is slow food at its best.
For lunch, you will be guided to the most interesting spots to sample “pintxos” during a pintxos bar crawl. You will taste innovative pintxos made with local ingredients as well as the most traditional bites.
After lunch you will enjoy the rest of the afternoon at your own leisure. Recommendations will be provided for you to enjoy the most interesting spots of this town.
You will be driven back to Bilbao in the evening for a farewell dinner in some of the best restaurants in the Basque Country.
Day 10
It’s time to say goodbye to your food and wine tour of Spain. At the designated time, you will be driven to the airport on time to take your flight home. Enjoy your last day in the Basque Country at your own leisure. It’s time to do some shopping to take home 
- go bespoke
Dates
This is a Private Tour available all-year-round
Group size
2- 12 people (Private Tour: only you & your group travelling together)
Starting Point
Madrid's airport
Ending Point
Bilbao's airport
What’s included? Everything you need. Plus everything you'd
want. Plus a few things you never knew you wanted until you got them.
In a word: everything. In eighty words? A private chauffeur tour guided by an English-speaking local guide, an interesting, fun and like-minded travel companion; authentic and innovative local cuisine; world-class local wines; wine tastings; all victuals and libations; all the endorphins you can handle; new insight; a feeling of total freedom. In short: an extraordinary, hassle-free journey of discovery. Travel at your own pace: Our tailor-made holidays are very flexible, allowing you to start road journeys or sightseeing when you choose – within reason.
- All hotel accommodation
- 2 nights -- RIBERA DEL DUERO - Hotel & Spa Monasterio Valbuena 5*
- 2 nights -- LEÓN -- NH Collection Plaza Mayor 4*
- 3 nights -- RIBADESELLA -- Hotel Villa Rosario 4*
- 2 nights -- BILBAO -- Hotel Gran Domine 5*
- Daily breakfast at all the hotels.
- All meals at Michelin-starred, signature and traditional restaurants and all other meals as indicated à-la-carte (8 lunches & 9 dinners) with wines and drinks included à-la-carte (no fixed menus, you may choose from each restaurant's public menu what you want to taste)
- All transportation from airport pickup to drop-off in a chauffeured air-conditioned brand-new vehicle: Mercedes Class E, V or luxury minibus. Your safety and comfort are paramount. You will enjoy touring Northern Spain in safety, comfort and style.
- English speaking guide during the whole trip. Translator services and assistance at restaurants, hotels & experiences. We will break the language barrier for you so you can get the most out of your experiences during your trip.
- All the experiences, visits and activities included in the itinerary.
- 24h concierge service during the whole trip.
- All baggage transportation.
- All gratuities for baggage, porters and hotel service.
- All currently applicable taxes.
What’s not included?
- International Flights
- Medical Travel Insurance
- Personal expenses
What to expect
- A laid-back pace with free time to relax
- Plenty of scrumptious local food and wine as well as time to really appreciate the dining experience
