Ribera del Duero Private Wine Tour

Arrive at Madrid airport, and your elegant chauffeur guide will be waiting for you to sweep you away to the wine country. The drive is just over 2 hours, so sit back and rest. You have a full day ahead! Arrive at the first wine estate, such as Emilio Moro, known for making elegant, refined wines.

After a short winery tour, you will have a private tasting of all the flagship wines, such as Finca Resalso, Emilio Moro, and Malleolus, plus an exceptional cru like Malleolus de Sanchomartín. On the way to lunch, stop at Peñafiel Castle, a medieval fortress with 10th-century origins, declared a national monument in 1917. This is a great photo op, and the hilltop location offers impressive, sweeping views over the vineyard-covered valley below.

Enjoy a winery lunch paired with Arzuaga wines. With views of the vineyards, tuck into delicacies like wild boar carpaccio, piquillo peppers stuffed with seafood, and the mythical “Chuletillas de Cordero lechal a la parrilla” (grilled baby lamb chops) – all served with Arzuaga estate wines.

Your last stop of the day is a ton of fun at the elegant Finca Villacreces winery. Your hosts will welcome you on an easy, panoramic E-Bike tour through their picturesque vineyards bordering the Vega Sicilia estate, weather and season permitting. This is the “Golden Mile” of Ribera del Duero, and the property is beautiful, with a holm oak forest on site. After a spin through the vineyards, you will visit the stylish barrel cellars and conclude with a private tasting of their range of exclusive wines, including a top Reserva.

Your magnificent hotel awaits at the luxurious Castilla Termal Monasterio de Valbuena. Set in a restored 12th-century monastery in a vineyard, this hotel also features a fantastic thermal spa, and the pool circuit is always sublime before dinner. You will enjoy great views of the historic courtyard and monastery facade, plus a very comfortable, stylish room.

Dinner is on your own at their gastronomic restaurant or cozy, vaulted wine bar. Welcome to the wonderful wine region of Ribera del Duero!

Begin the day with a private tour and tasting at the renowned estate Viñedos Alonso del Yerro. Their gorgeous Santa Marta property features impeccable vineyards, beautiful cellars adorned with luxury Loewe scarves, and a Provençal-style home. Taste the bold, rich flavors of the Tinto Fino grape, famous in Ribera del Duero for its deep red hues and intense berry notes. Enjoy a rare owner-led tour and savor their acclaimed wines, including María from the Santa Marta estate and Paydos from Toro, made from hand-harvested Tinta de Toro and limited to a production of only 5,000 bottles.

After a terrific morning, continue with a charming and intimate experience at Áster. Owned by the historic Rioja winery, Rioja Alta, Áster is their French chateau-style Ribera property. Rioja Alta began investing and experimenting in Ribera del Duero in the 1980s, when Ribera was still an emerging source of high-end wines. After years of searching for the perfect location for their Ribera winery, they found a magnificent spot with old vines (Finca El Otero), and 2000 marked the first vintage of their delicious Áster wine. The winery is situated in an extremely picturesque corner of Ribera, an oasis of lavender and rosemary surrounded by a sea of vines.

On a private guided tour, you’ll visit the pristine grounds, enjoy a vineyard walk (weather permitting), see the cutting-edge cellar, and then sit down to a convivial VIP private lunch overlooking the barrels. You’ll enjoy a variety of appetizers and roast lamb for lunch, along with their two flagship reds made in situ and their fresh Albariño white from Galicia.

In the late afternoon, head west to Valladolid, the capital of Castilla y León. The historic heart of Valladolid is one of Spain’s finest, yet many foreign visitors know little about it. With a private guide, enjoy an hour-and-a-half “best of” walking tour that will include the wonderful Pasaje Gutiérrez (a shopping arcade dating to the 1880s, reminiscent of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan and the Galeries Saint-Hubert in Brussels); the 13th-century Gothic gem of San Pablo; and the marvelous Patio del Colegio de San Gregorio (featured in the 1955 Orson Welles film “Mr. Arkadin”). You will see the house where Christopher Columbus lived (and died) and trace the footsteps of other famous inhabitants and visitors, from Cervantes to King Philip II.

You might like to enjoy an aperitif in one of Valladolid’s atmospheric squares before arriving at your hotel in the late evening. Check out your personalized keepsake itinerary for nearby dining options, or enjoy the onsite restaurant or the gastro bar.

Your next fabulous day is going to commence at the contemporary Dominio de Cair winery, with its state-of-the-art cellar shaped like a giant wine barrel. This prestigious cellar belongs to the famous Luis Cañas Rioja wine company and is one of our favorites in the region. The hospitality here is top-class, and on a private tour, with a glass of wine in hand, you’ll explore the facilities and barrel cellar, which is accessed by a fun spiral staircase (or elevator) before getting settled into your cozy outdoor perch overlooking the vines, where you will be treated to a super-premium tasting. Try wines like their limited-edition Finca Las Matillas, their signature Tierras de Cair Reserva, and single-estate pago wines Cruz del Pendón and delicious Pendón de La Aguilera.

Then, hit the wine road for another great experience at Territorio Luthier. This impressive wine estate makes top-class, delicious wines in the heart of Ribera del Duero. They produce limited super-premium, numbered bottles, including Lara O Crianza, Hispania de Luthier Reserva, Territorio Luthier Reserva, and LUTHIER Gran Reserva. The owner herself, Cristina, will host you; you’ll enjoy a private lunch of Spanish paella and various tapas, all paired with their select wines.

After the visit and wine tasting, stretch your legs on a stroll through the nearby village of Peñaranda de Duero. This graceful, tiny village has been named a “Conjunto Histórico-Artístico,” a legal declaration that the Ministry of Culture in Spain regulates and protects its historical-artistic monuments. It is a quaint little medieval village worth seeing, especially given its proximity. Grab your phone camera and enjoy some free time here to explore the pretty main square with its timber-beamed houses and the 15th-century castle. On the way back to your hotel this early evening, you could stop in Aranda de Duero’s historic center for a quick look at the Santa María la Real church; it is an extraordinary and unusually grand monument for such a small town.

Free evening at your romantic spa hotel; you may choose to enjoy a spa circuit and the pool.

The smooth, concentrated, velvety, and very delicious wines of Valduero are first on today’s itinerary. These elite wines rank among the best in Spain and are highly sought after by collectors. You’re in for an extensive and entertaining visit at this esteemed bodega.

Founded in 1984, Valduero was one of the early wineries of the Ribera del Duero DO. Its underground galleries contain around 3,000 barrels, with some stone galleries dating to the 18th century. The winery also features an on-site art foundation and a private barrel club, whose members include Michelin-starred chefs like Martín Berasategui and Elena Arzak, authors Mario Vargas Llosa and Ken Follett, football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, Spanish industrialist Jorge Calvo, and movie director Isabel Coixet, among others. Enjoy a private tour and high-end tasting, including Valduero 1 Cepa, Valduero Reserva – 2 Cotas, and Valduero 6 Años, paired with artisan cheese and local charcuterie.

Drive north to Burgos, where El Cid and his wife Doña Jimena are buried beneath the crossing of the Gothic Cathedral. First on the agenda is lunch at restaurante Ojeda, a feast for the senses. Savor the tender, flavorful roast lamb in an atmosphere brimming with local charm. Each bite, paired with the prestigious Vega Sicilia Valbuena, brings Ribera’s rich culinary tradition to your palate.

After lunch, wander through Burgos’ old town and visit the Gothic Cathedral.

In the afternoon, visit the Valsotillo property on your way to your hotel. Run by the Arroyo family, Bodegas Ismael Arroyo is behind Valsotillo, a Tempranillo known for its ripe berry notes, complexity, and elegant finish. Located in Sotillo de la Ribera, a small wine village in Burgos province, the winery is one of the region’s most respected and helped establish the DO. Although the winery was founded in 1979, winemaking is a longstanding Arroyo family tradition. Their wines mature in an awe-inspiring 16th-century cellar, with almost half a kilometer of hand-carved subterranean galleries. This ‘cathedral of wine’ provides naturally cool, stable conditions for maturing the wines. Tour the caves and sample some of their top wines, including the Gran Reserva.

Finally, unwind at your hotel. Spend an hour or two enjoying its inviting amenities.

Head to your final port of call, Madrid, but first: one last tasting and a wine-soaked lunch at the mythical José María in Segovia. Begin with a visit to Renacimiento, the bijou cellar owned by Bodegas Familia Matarromera. The cellar is set in a 16th-century noble house that belonged to the Marquis of Olivares and, later, to the Jesuit order. The main wine made here is called Rento, based on a historic Castilian word for the rent of vineyards paid to the local aristocracy. It’s a lovely setting to taste great wines like Finca Las Marcas, Matarromera Prestigio, Picón de Zurita, Rento, and Matarromera Pago de las Solanas.

By late morning, you’ll likely be ready for lunch, and the next stop is in the majestic city of Segovia. This is one of the most beautiful cities in Castile, most famous for its Disneyesque Alcázar.

Segovia is also home to José María, arguably Spain’s best Asador (restaurant specializing in roast and grilled meats). The star dish is the “cochinillo,” or roast suckling pig. Lunch at José María’s is a hoot! They’ll put together a delicious multi-course feast, with highlights like their iconic suckling pig and sautéed boletus. The wines served here are from their family’s estates, Pago de Carraovejas in Ribera del Duero and Ossian in Segovia. The owner is a real character; his staff are seasoned, loyal employees. This is good old-fashioned Spanish hospitality at its best and a family-run gem. Before entering the dining room, enjoy an aperitif at the busy, atmospheric bar, a local favorite.

After lunch, you’ll have free time to explore Segovia on your own. Don’t miss the Alcázar. The optional climb to the Tower of Juan II involves 152 steps on a narrow spiral staircase, but the views from the top are superb. Madrid is just over an hour’s drive away, and your chauffeur will drop you off at your next destination (we can certainly add a few days of fun sightseeing and food and wine experiences in Madrid, too).

We hope you have an unforgettable time on this upscale wine tour of Ribera del Duero!