Luxury Wine Tour of Gourmet Basque Country, Navarre & La Rioja

Luxury Wine Tour of Gourmet Basque Country, Navarre & La Rioja:

Highlights:

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If you are a lover of fine food and wine, and if you prefer small, charming villages to big hectic cities, then this is the tour for you. This extremely special Food & Wine Vacation through Spain's picturesque regions of Basque Country, Navarra, and La Rioja, is truly a gourmet journey to remember. You will taste delicious wines in the best cellars of the region, dine at one of the top gourmet restaurants in the world, and travel through pine forested hills to visit some of Spain's most charming medieval villages. This is "Green Spain", whose landscape is the polar opposite to the arid lands further south. Here, you have light luxuriant rain, velvety mountains, atmospheric villages and gorgeous drives.

Your wine tour begins when your bilingual chauffeur guide (Mercedes or similar) meets you in Bilbao, where you will then have an aperitif and discus the upcoming tour. First port of call: Laguardia. Laguardia is a delightful wine town (capital of Rioja Alavesa) located at the top of a hill overlooking vineyards, surrounded by a medieval wall. It is similar to a Tuscan hilltop village. After a few fascinating winery visits and tastings over the next few days, you'll continue on to Navarra to Olite, a lovely historic village. Olite, a town founded by the Romans, and later used as a Royal residence for the Kings of Navarre is untouched and a pleasure to visit with its narrow, cobblestoned streets, leading up to the lovely castle.

You’ll be driven along Spain's picturesque northern Atlantic coast, to Hondarribia, a historic town overlooking the River Bidasoa and protected from invading French forces in the past by its 15th century walls. You'll have time to visit the seafront cafés and the beautiful Baroque Church. Your guide will treat you to an aperitif at the stunning 10th century castle, now a Parador. The beautiful city of San Sebastian will offer you incredible views and cuisine, such as a meal at Akelarre, arguably amongst the best Michelin starred restaurants in town. Your last adventure on this unforgettable tour will be a visit to Frank Gehry's groundbreaking Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao before transferring you to the airport or your next port of call. This will conclude your gourmet tour of Spain's northern Basque Country, La Rioja and Navarre. This is a superb tour for food and wine lovers looking for a relaxing and elegant vacation.

- Upon arrival in Bilbao, your personal driver guide will greet you at the airport and transfer you to downtown Bilbao.

- Enjoy an aperitif and some free time in this evolving city before continuing on your scenic drive to lovely La Rioja wine country.

- Stop off in one of the charming towns along the way to enjoy a traditional Riojan lunch complete with wine.

- Following lunch,transfer to Laguardia, the most picturesque medieval town in La Rioja, to check into your 4* hotel , featuring fine rustic furniture in a warm and inviting atmosphere.

- After delighting in some complementary wine found in your room, you'll have time to go for a relaxing walk around the town, taking in the panoramic views, the pretty streets lined with small mansions, etc

- Free evening to dine on your own in Laguardia

Overnight:

4* Charming hotel in medieval village

Meals Included in Price:

Aperitif (cava/wine) in Bilbao, Gourmet Lunch with wines

Transfers:

Bilbao - Rioja wine country - Laguardia

- Full breakfast at your charming rustic hotel

- This morning, your driver guide will greet you at your hotel and escort you to two contrasting yet equally prestigious wineries in the region.

- First stop is a VIP visit and professional wine tasting to a top modern Rioja estate such as Finca Valpiedra. Finca Valpiedra is famous for its “Pago”, single vineyard wines. The tasting room overlooks the sparkling Ebro river and you’ll enjoy some great views.

- Second, enjoy a VIP winery visit to an estate such as Miguel Merino, a quaint family owned winery famed for its high end wines and its charismatic owner who will personally guide you on your visit and wine tasting.

- Lunch will be in the picture- perfect town of Briones where you will enjoy the local specialty , roast lamb with sumptuous red wine.

- Following lunch enjoy a tour of Briones including its stunning cathedral and 18th century Italian organ and incredibly preserved 16th century hymn books. Afternoon at leisure: free time to rest, shop or an opportunity to visit nearby villages

- Dinner on your own tonight, to discover your own little gourmet corner.

Overnight:

4* Charming hotel in medieval village

Meals Included in Price:

Full breakfast, Gourmet lunch with wine, all wine tasting

Transfers:

Laguardia- Logroño - Fuenmayor - Laguardia

- Full breakfast at your charming rustic hotel

- Following check out, transfer to breathtaking Navarre.

- Throughout history Navarre has maintained its own identity, despite the various different peoples which have passed through its lands, over the centuries.

- Enjoy a visit to the magnificent castle in the idyllic village of Olite. This incredible castle has weathered the passing of time and the battles of man better than any other. Although restored in modern times, many of its original towers and walls survive today to form one of the most extensive and picturesque complexes of Spanish military architecture.

- Enjoy a visit on your own to this historical masterpiece to be followed by a relaxing gourmet lunch with wine at the equally historic and lovely Parador.

- Afterwards transfer to the wonderful aristocratic seaside town of San Sebastian, Spain's "Gourmet Mecca"

- Check in to your elegant 5* hotel boasting amazing river views and enjoy a free evening on your own in this fantastic city!

Overnight:

5* Luxury Hotel, San Sebastian

Meals Included in Price:

Full breakfast, Gourmet Lunch with wine at Parador

Transfers:

Laguardia - Olite - San Sebastian

- Full breakfast at your luxury hotel

- Free day to discover San Sebastian on your own.

- Perhaps you might want to relax on the beach, at the nearby La Perla Spa or take in some local museums.

- Highlights of San Sebastian include: The Old Quarter; the center of nightlife in San Sebastian, situated between the Bay and the River Urume. The Plaza De La Constitución , a beautiful square which once was home to a bullring. Now you can see the orange and blue shutters and the numbered balconies, which used to surround the ring. Beside the plaza is the stunning Santa Maria del Coro, a Baroque church and the Palacio del Mar, an aquarium designed by Juan Carlos Guerra, with a unique Basque architectural design opened in 1828 as headquarters to the Guipuzcoa Oceanographic Society.

- In the evening you are free to enjoy dinner on your own in the best Michelin starred restaurants such as Berasetegui or Arzak .

Overnight:

5* Luxury Hotel with river views, San Sebastian

Meals Included in Price:

Full breakfast

Transfers:

-

- Full breakfast at your luxury hotel

- Today your driver guide will escort you on a short drive from San Sebastian to the next visit: Hondarribia, one of the cutest villages in Spain, featuring a lovely port

- Your guide will give you a walking tour of this coastal town right on the French border, followed by a wonderful lunch

- Coffee or digestives will be enjoyed in a 10th century castle, now the Parador (historic hotel)

- After lunch, you will have your chauffeur guide at your service to either explore more beautiful towns on the Basque coast, or to return to San Sebastian (full of great shops and art galleries).

- Dinner on your own

- Overnight in San Sebastian

Overnight:

5* Luxury hotel with river views,San Sebastian

Meals Included in Price:

Full breakfast, gourmet lunch with wine

Transfers:

San Sebastian - Hondarribia - San Sebastian

- Full breakfast at your luxury hotel

- This morning you will enjoy a visit to a unique "Txakoli" winery in the beautiful coastal village of Zarrautx.

- Experience regional wine tasting at a beautiful, tiny family owned winery followed by lunch in a wonderful little port, Getaria (where many Basque explorers sailed from in the 1500's to North America)

- Lunch will be grilled seafood, the specialty of the village, served with either Basque Cider or Txakoli wines, and other local dishes

- Tonight you will enjoy creative Basque cuisine at its best: a Gourmet Tasting Dinner complete with wine pairings at "Akelarre", 3 Michelin starred culinary heaven

- Overnight in San Sebastian

Overnight:

5* Luxury hotel with river views, San Sebastian

Meals Included in Price:

Full breakfast, Lunch with wine, Michelin starred Feast with wine at Akelarre- Deluxe Tasting Menu

Transfers:

San Sebastian- Zarrautx- Getaria- San Sebastian

- Full breakfast at your luxury hotel

- Check out and transfer to Bilbao

- Free time to visit the stunning Guggenheim Museum, designed by Frank Gehry, on your own

- American Architect Frank Gehry's mind-boggling titanium masterpiece was "born" in 1991, when the local council negotiated with the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation to create an architectural masterpiece that would both raise the prestige of the foundation and bring visitors to the rather industrial city of Bilbao. The building was finally completed in 1997. Within a year, the dazzling museum had attracted over a million visitors. It is simply one of the most fascinating buildings in terms of architecture in Europe, and a delight to visit.

- Lunch will follow at the Museum's trendy restaurant or time permitting in the old town, in a wonderful family run restaurant we recommend.

- Transfer to airport or your hotel in Bilbao, if staying on

- End of Services

Meals Included in Price:

Full breakfast, Lunch with wine

Transfers:

San Sebastian - Bilbao

What's Included:

What's Not Included:

Please Note:

Prices:

This is a SAMPLE TOUR ITINERARY. Please note that our chauffeured luxury tours have the following starting prices:

More Information on this Luxury Gourmet Wine Tour of Basque Country, Navarre & La Rioja in Spain:

If you are interested in this Luxury Food & Wine Vacation, contact us today for pricing (which depends on group size and specific requirements). All tours are available year round upon request for your private group of minimum 2 people. If you would like us to customize a luxury gourmet tour for you, contact us with your requirements, and we can send you a free itinerary and quote with no obligations. We organize cooking packages and wine tours from 1 day, to weekends to longer food and wine discoveries throughout Spain, Portugal & Italy.

Email us at: info@cellartours.com