La Rioja Wine Tours Weekend

Arrive to Bilbao airport, a beautiful, white geometric structure designed by famous Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. You will be collected by luxury Mercedes and your elegant driver guide. You have an exciting day ahead! A phenomenal lunch will be waiting for you at the mythical gourmet Etxebarri restaurant in a pretty hamlet south of Bilbao. Chef Bitor (Basque for Victor) Arguinzoniz is known as Spain´s best “Grill Master Extraordinaire” and indeed, all of the dishes here are cooked to perfection over the open fire. Specialties include grilled mushrooms with a mushroom “cappuccino”, on an eggplant and potato confit; cod broiled over an evergreen oak fired grill; and grilled oysters!

You´ll have a VIP chef´s welcome, and a tasting menu prepared for you on the spot with the chef based on your preferences. Fine wines will accompany the lunch today, for example from the Murrieta estate. After lunch, drive south to the Rioja wine region, stopping outside Briones for a visit to Europe´s largest and most impressive wine museum, Dinastia Vivanco. Spend an hour or two exploring this fascinating museum´s many displays such as the glass blowing and cork making exhibitions. The lovely village of Briones is up next and you can see their marvellous Baroque church and pretty main square where the annual medieval wine festival is held. Before arriving to your hotel, you will have a unique wine cave visit where a charming family still make wines in the ancient Riojano tradition. Finally, in the early evening, you will check into your luxurious hotel where dinner will be on your own. Bienvenidos a La Rioja!

Overnight:

5* Luxury hotel, Rioja

Meals Included in Price:

Gourmet Tasting Lunch with wine pairings, Welcome bottle of wine in room on first night

Transfers:

Bilbao airport- Vizcaya- El Ciego

This morning you will see the darling little wine hamlet of Samaniego, with its noble mansions, country church and stunning setting. Your first wine tour of the day is to our favorite boutique cellar, Remirez de Ganuza. The winemaker himself will take you on a vineyard tour first, to learn all about Rioja´s native grape varietals and the style of viticulture they use. Carry on to a tour of the winery and a private VIP tasting of the best wines including various Reserva wines and the flagship Trasnocho.

Lunch is next and will be in Logroño, one of the bigger towns in Rioja. You´ll eat at a stylish, contemporary restaurant La Galeria, and have a four course excellent lunch. Dishes might include roast baby lamb stuffed with truffles, Jabugo ham croquettes, and a warm homemade Tatin with fresh mint ice cream. After lunch, head to the second winery of the day to the Chateau style Marqués de Vargas. This prestigious winery only makes Reserva quality wines, and is a nice contrast to the cellars you have seen so far.

You´ll have a private VIP tour and tasting, before travelling on to the hill-topped village of Laguardia. Once a best kept secret, Laguardia has finally begun to receive foreign visitors as the word has spread how cute this little hamlet is! You will see for yourself and enjoy some free time here to take the beautiful walk along the ancient walls, check out some of its wine and gourmet shops, have an aperitif in the main plaza, etc. From the panoramic lookout point in Laguardia you can see Santiago Calatrava´s Ysios winery below in the valley and vineyards panning out for miles in all directions. In the early evening, your driver will take you back to the hotel to freshen up before dinner. Tonight you will dine at another of our favorites, a Riojan gem in the captivating village of San Vicente de la Sonsierra. Enjoy a tasting menu paired with sublime wines.

Overnight:

5* Luxury hotel, Rioja

Meals Included in Price:

Full Breakfast, Gourmet Lunch with wine, Gourmet Dinner with wine

Transfers:

El Ciego- Samaniego- Logroño- Laguardia- San Vicente de la Sonsierra- hotel

The top wine estates of Haro are on the itinerary today. Begin with a visit to the Ramon Bilbao winery, founded in 1924.This estate produces the cult wine “Mirto”, which you will taste after a private tour. Your last winery of this wine tasting weekend will be at Roda, one of our all-time favorites in Spain. This newish company (only created in the late 1980´s) makes fresh, modern style Rioja wines. Roda I and Roda II are consistent award winners, as well as their elite small production Cirsión wine. The winery is sleek and fashionable and you´ll have a private tour with the winemaker.

Lunch will follow in Haro at the delightful Las Duelas, whose consulting chef is Michelin starred Pedro Subijana (of 3 Michelin starred Akelarre, in San Sebastian). A tasting menu paired with fine wines will be organized for you in their atmospheric dining room. Bilbao is next, and after a long, convivial lunch you will sit back and enjoy the drive back to the Basque Country. Arrive to your hotel and check in. Your design hotel is located just opposite the Guggenheim and you will have views of it from your junior suite. At your leisure, cross the street for a visit to this spectacular museum, a giant titanium ripple of undulating waves, designed to resemble a fish. Your driver will give you the tickets for you to enjoy the museum visit on your own. The night is yours to dine in at the hotel´s highly recommended restaurant, or perhaps have some Basque “Tapas” and “Pintxos” in the historic Plaza Nueva.

Overnight:

5* Design hotel, Bilbao

Meals Included in Price:

Full breakfast, Gourmet Lunch with wines

Transfers:

El Ciego- Haro- Bilbao

Based on when your departure flight is, your driver will take you to the airport. We hope you have enjoyed this luxurious food and wine weekend in La Rioja!

Meals Included in Price:

Full breakfast/ Early bird breakfast

Transfers:

Bilbao hotel- airport

What's Included:

• Accommodation for 3 nights in luxury 5* Design Hotels
• Private Airport Transfers and all transfers as per the itinerary by luxury Mercedes E and English speaking chauffeur
• Bottle of Spanish wine in your room upon arrival
• 3 Full breakfasts
• Three lunches with wine including one extraordinary lunch at Etxebarri
• One Gourmet Dinner in Rioja with wine pairings
• 5 Professional and VIP Wine Tasting Presentations with Winemakers/Owners/top staff in Rioja, various sized estates
• Tastings of Cru Wines and Personalized Wine Sheets
• Visit the Guggenheim Museum and Dinastia Vivanco Wine Museum
• 1 keepsake itinerary with maps and ample information on Spain, food and wine, and all locations visited
• Gourmet Gift
• All Local Taxes

What's Not Included:

• Flights
• Meals and Drinks not Specified
• Personal Expenses such as Telephone, Minibar, etc
• Tips and Gratuities (Guides, Restaurants, etc)
• Travel Insurance (Strongly recommended)
• Cancellation Insurance

Prices:

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

• Final price depends on chosen style of accommodation and dining. Please contact us with your group size (minimum 2 guests, no maximum group size), travel dates and preferences and we will send you custom pricing.
• Discounts available for larger groups
• Please note that our tours are available upon demand for PRIVATE GROUPS and are not scheduled tours for mixed groups.

More Information on Luxury La Rioja Wine Tours Weekend:

If you are interested in this package, contact us today for more information. This tour can also be adapted for bigger groups with a substantial discount. All of our 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 Italy, Ireland, Portugal and Spain.

Email us at: info@cellartours.com