Galicia Private Food & Wine Tour

Today, our friendly, elegant English-speaking chauffeur will pick you up at Santiago de Compostela airport (or Oporto airport). Let the adventure begin! You will head to the darling coastal resort village of Baiona in Pontevedra province. Drop off your luggage at your spectacularly located Parador hotel in the Castillo de Monterreal, a 12th-century fort with spectacular bay views. Check in to your room and freshen up before heading to lunch just a few miles down the shoreline at restaurante Rocamar.

Rocamar has been on the culinary scene in the region for 50 years and has a reputation for the freshest seafood from the Galician waters. Get ready for some awe-inspiring ocean views from your table and a succulent seafood feast. The specialty here is ultra-fresh shellfish, and you will begin with a platter of lobster, spider crab, and scallops, served with Albariño Filaboa. Next, move on to grilled monkfish, with a vibrant red like Carmelo Rodero from Ribera del Duero, as this is such a delicious “meaty” fish. Finally, finish with local, handmade cheese and quince perfection!

The rest of the afternoon is yours at leisure in Baiona to enjoy the picturesque walks along the fortress walls of your hotel, the old town, the appealing beaches, the nautical shops and wine bars, and the pretty marina. Here, you will find a life-size replica of the “La Pinta Caravel,” one of three ships Columbus took on his first voyage to America. It was here to Baiona that this ship, captained by Martín Alonso Pinzón, returned to after the journey with the news of the discoveries.

Free evening to dine at your hotel, which has a great restaurant, or in the fishing port. Check your Cellar Tours keepsake itinerary for helpful restaurant suggestions, or ask the hotel concierge to make a reservation.

Today, you will taste some of the best white wines of the trip and some of the best in Spain. Your journey takes you south of Baiona, past the mystical Royal Monastery of Santa Maria de Oia (where you will have a quick photo stop right over the sea), and into lush, vine-covered hills. Quinta Couselo is the first wine estate this morning, a boutique gem, one of our absolute favorites.

The vines on this estate were first cultivated by the Cistercian monks of the aforementioned monastery in the 12th century. The wines here benefit greatly from a unique micro-climate influenced by the Atlantic Ocean and the canopy of hundred-year-old pine trees of the Serra do Argallo. Your private guide will lead you on a short vineyard tour explaining the microclimate and Atlantic influences and the winery’s history. Next, you will enjoy a VIP tasting on the roof of the winery (weather permitting), sampling the full range of their outstanding wines (from this estate and their sister estates, Pazo Casanova in Ribeiro and Fraga do Corvo in Monterrei) on a private tour with an alfresco tasting on their deck overlooking the valley.

Your next winery is Terras Gauda, about a 15-minute transfer, is a high-end Albariño estate known for its distinctive hand-wrapped bottles. The operation here is much grander, offering a nice contrast. Again, you will get some fresh air and visit the vines by 4X4, learning all about the terroir that contributes to making these wines unique. After a tour of the winery and cellars, finish with a private tasting in their professional tasting room with the best wines of their Terras Gauda and Abadia de San Campio lines. Our favorite is the black label (Terras Gauda Etiqueta Negra) oak-aged beauty, a blend of 70% Albariño, 20% Caiño, and 10% Loureiro. Amazing wine!

After a fantastic morning in the wine country, you will be ready for lunch, which we have planned for you in Vigo. Chef Rafa Centeno, a self-taught chef, is at the helm of Michelin-starred Maruja Limon, across from the Royal Yacht Club of Vigo. The cuisine and setting are fun, creative, and fashionable. You’ll sit down to a relaxed chef’s tasting menu with wine pairings. You can expect delightful dishes such as Iceberg lettuce, anchovy, and piparra (a type of Basque chili pepper); Scallop in a Green Pepper Sauce and Chickpea Salad; Beef Tartare, Cured cow’s Cheese, and Watercress; Grilled Tuna, Fermented Soy, Peanut, and Chili; Grilled cod and Padrón pepper emulsion; Chestnut-fed pork, Sweet and Sour Glaze, Goat Yogurt, and Cucumber.

You might like a digestive stroll around the marina afterward before returning to Baiona for your last evening.

Travel north-east today to the Ribeiro wine appellation, to the family-run Valdavia estate dating back to the 12th century when it belonged to San Clodio del Ribeiro D’Avia monastery. Visit the 900-year-old cellar on a private tour and taste their contemporary Cuñas Davia range of fine wines (young white, barrel-fermented white, and an exciting red) in their bright and airy stone-tasting room with miniature tapas.

Continue to Bodegas Casal de Armán in the photogenic Avia Valley. The estate encompasses an excellent winery, charming inn, and fine restaurant and offers unspoiled views over the bucolic countryside. As always with Cellar Tours, your visit will be private, tailored to your wine knowledge and interest, culminating in tasting their best wines.

Enjoy a wonderful lunch at their Sábrego restaurant, named after the characteristic decomposed granite found in the vineyard soils of Ribeiro. The dining room is beautiful, with hardwood floors, wooden beams, wine bottle chandeliers, and cozy stone walls decorated with large golden mirrors and wine collections. A sumptuous lunch presented with flair awaits! Depending on the season, this could be slow-cooked wild boar with chestnuts, tender lamb shoulder, lobster rice, Lourenzá white beans with hake, and many more delicious dishes paired with estate bottlings.

After lunch, stroll around the nearby medieval hamlet of Ribadavia, whose Jewish quarter is one of the most important in Northern Spain. In the Middle Ages, the wine trade of Ribeiro was controlled by the local Jewish community, who are also credited with perfecting the terracing and irrigation systems in the vineyards. Today, it is a preserved little hamlet famous for its medieval festival and Jewish heritage. You can visit the Jewish bakery, grab a coffee or glass of wine, and get some atmospheric photos.

Then, in the early evening, carry on to your next exceptional hotel- Parador de Santo Estevo, a converted monastery set in a deep green valley in the Nogueira de Ramuín chestnut forest. Free evening to dine onsite, relax in their little spa, go for a mountain walk, etc.

While Galicia is most famous internationally for its white wines, especially Albariño, it is also home to some fascinating red wines. Ribera Sacra is where you will find Galicia’s best reds, made primarily with the Mencía grape and other permitted varietals like Tempranillo (Spain’s noble red grape), Brancellao, Caiño Tinto, Merenzao, and Sousón. Generally, the reds are lighter and more delicate than other Spanish red wine regions like Rioja or Ribera del Duero.

However, there are some excellent full-bodied, oak-aged reds here too. And while not as famous as the reds here, many delicious white wines are also made in this region. Your day begins at the exceptional Abadía da Cova (Adegas Moure) winery, spectacularly perched overlooking the Miño River and its terraced vines. The views are breathtaking! You will start the visit by relaxing in their vineyards and sipping their charming Rosado Caiño wine on the river-view deck. Check out their winery and distillery before taking a private tasting of 7 highly-rated red and white wines (92+ Wine Spectator points).

After a terrific start, the day continues improving with a scenic drive to one of our favorite wineries in Galicia- Adega Algueira. Their handsome stone manor houses a fine wine estate and restaurant, surrounded by their immaculate, terraced vines and a garden. Fernando Algueira is the brilliant owner and winemaker of this leading Ribera Sacra winery. His passion project began in 1979 when he started to recover abandoned historic vineyards and the ancient stone terraces on his property that spill down at an 85-degree angle to the Sil River.

Winemaking is called heroic in this region for a reason! Fernando’s dedication, talent, and patience have resulted in fantastic wines you can taste today. His red wines are superb, made with Mencia, Caiño, and Souón grapes cultivated in slate and shale-rich soils here, and the white wines are also a revelation. Anadelia, their oak-aged white made with Godello and Treixadura, is one of Spain’s best white wines.

Fernando will talk you through his wines on a private, ample, professional tasting following a vineyard tour. Then, you can sit back and savor them with a traditional Galician lunch at their bright, sunlit restaurant with relaxing green views of the garden’s lush trees. Try mouthwatering local dishes like giant mussels from Rias Baixas. Octopus served “á feira” style (with Spanish paprika, sea salt, and olive oil), wild mushroom croquettes, lacón ham, and “Volandeiras” (queen scallops cooked in Godello wine, garlic, and parsley)- all served with estate wines, naturally.

You will have a happy tummy and a smile as your chauffeur takes you on a panoramic drive back to the hotel this afternoon. The rest of the afternoon and evening is leisurely for a hike, spa, or chillaxing.

You can’t leave the Ribera Sacra before experiencing the stunning views of the terraced vineyards from the river itself, and today we have an exceptional morning planned. First, you will travel to the Embarcadero de Os Chancís and board a private Catamaran to sail through the Cañón del Sil. This dramatic gorge (river canyon), close to where the Sil and Miño rivers meet, offers lovely, life-affirming landscapes.

The vineyard-covered hills on either side of the widening and meandering river valley reach 1,500 feet in some parts! This is one of Galicia’s most magical locations. Recline, take in the views as they drift past, and enjoy your onboard wine tasting of great Ribera Sacra wines, lifting the spirits even more.

At the Embarcadero bar Os Chancís, you can relish the views one last time over a coffee or snack before continuing to Santiago de Compostela, your next base. It is a two-hour drive, so after the wine tasting this morning, you might like to shut your eyes for a siesta. Your chauffeur will take you to the hotel ‘A Quinta da Auga‘ for check-in, and then you will have a few free hours to have lunch on your own, with our recommendations (and reservation, if you like).

In the late afternoon, your local private guide, specializing in art and architecture, will meet you in the hotel to take you on a fascinating walking tour through this spellbinding medieval town. On this fascinating walk, you will hear legends and anecdotes about saints and sinners, Romans and Celts, pirates and Templar knights, and more. Named after the Apostle Saint James (Santiago), this is one of the world’s most important towns of Christendom, and you will see exquisite squares and religious architecture as a testament.

After free time to freshen up, dinner tonight will be organized for you at Michelin-starred A Tafona. One of Spain’s most famous female chefs, Lucia Freitas, cooks colorful and inspired market-led dishes in a charming stone townhouse. Savor her tasting menu with Spanish wine pairings. This is a food highlight of the trip!

We have saved the best for last- some of the trip’s loveliest wineries, viewpoints, and wines. First, you will drive south to the Rias Baixas, specifically to Val do Salnés, considered the birthplace of Albariño! Rías Baixas means “Lower Rias” and is a reference to four river estuaries in southwest Galicia – the Ría de Arousa, Ría de Muros y Noia, the Ría de Vigo, and the Ría de Pontevedra. This region is a dreamy coastal paradise for seafood lovers (the mix of freshwater and saltwater means the area is teaming with a broad range of shellfish and fish), and of course, for the beautiful white Albariño wines, which nearly taste of the salty sea air.

Your first stop today is at one of the most eye-catching wine estates in northern Spain- Pazo Baión (owned by the Condes de Albarei group). The regal Pazo Baión property is extensive and encompasses the historic winery, a 15th-century castle (Pazo), and a noble dovecote (a sign of prestige). Admire the manicured gardens, orange trees, camellias, hydrangeas, banana trees, wisteria-covered patios, a palm tree grove, and 30 hectares of tidy vineyards, including precious, old vine albariño.

This is one of Galicia’s most distinctive and majestic wine estates, and you will have an unforgettable morning here. After touring the impeccable grounds and new state-of-the-art winery, you will have an idyllic tasting on a gentle hill overlooking the castle, under centuries-old trees with panoramic views of the whole estate. Don’t forget the camera! You will try 6 of their best wines in this extraordinary alfresco tasting.

Switch gears and head to ultra-modern Martin Codax next, the most famous Albariño sold outside of Spain. The story behind the name and branding of this winery (founded in the 1980s) is excellent. Martin Codax was the most renowned Gallego troubadour, a medieval lyrical poet. His poems, written in ancient Galician/Portuguese, were an ode to love (like all troubadours) and Galicia’s Atlantic coastline and the sea. This winery chose this as the theme and inspiration for the bottle labels and branding, including their flagship Albariño bottle, which features an excerpt from one of these medieval poems in the original script.

Your visit starts with a welcome aperitif overlooking the water and nearby Cambados. Then, on a private tour, you will quickly look at the winery and its small interactive wine museum before the main highlight- a professional tasting of their best wines paired with Galician cheese. Facing the alluring coast in a trendy, nautical-themed tasting area with your sommelier, you will remember this tasting forever.

Leaving the comfy tasting area with those views will be challenging, but lunch awaits! In the quaint hamlet of nearby Cambados, your last meal of the trip is next at one of our favorite wine country spots in Galicia- Taberna do Trasno. In a reserved private corner of this Bib Gourmand-awarded restaurant, you will indulge in a convivial and very relaxed lunch; this is the life! The cuisine is Basque and Gallego fusion and market-fresh, with many daily specials. They have a fantastic wood-fired grill, and the Galician beef here is top-class. You will have a three-course lunch with stellar wine pairings; all served in an exclusive private area overlooking the enchanting cobblestoned street.

Before heading back to Santiago, you will have some free time to take a digestive walk around Cambados (there are great little wine shops here). Then, one last stop is in the heart of historic Cambados- Palacio Fefinanes. This is a short but worthwhile visit to see their tiny, ancient cellars and beautiful palace and to sit under their historic wine barriques while sipping this super high-end Albariño.

Tonight, you have a free evening at leisure to enjoy Santiago on your own, so it is beautifully lit up at night.

Today marks the finale of your wine-tasting journey through the enchanting landscapes and vineyards of Galicia. As you prepare to depart, your chauffeur will be at your service to escort you to your next destination—the airport or another luxurious hotel or town of your choosing. We trust that your time with us has been exceptional, and it was our pleasure to curate this VIP adventure for you. We raise a final glass to your health and happiness and look forward to the day our paths cross again. Safe travels and cheers!