Northern Spain Private Food & Wine Tour

Today you will fly into Madrid, one of Europe’s most beautiful and exciting cities. Your elegant, friendly chauffeur will be waiting for you in the airport arrivals hall and will take you to your delightful small hotel. We’ll arrange early check-in and a luxurious welcome breakfast (served until 11) so you can ease into this dream vacation at a relaxed pace.

The day is yours to catch up on jet lag or hit the ground running, as you prefer. Madrid is a wonderful, clean, and safe city, bursting with world-class art museums and incredible wining and dining opportunities. Not to mention the shopping on offer here, including antiques, ceramics, exquisite “Made in Spain shoes and clothing, gourmet goodies… Welcome to Madrid!

You will appreciate the late start today, giving you time to relax over a second or third coffee, sleep in, or head out for a relaxed walk to Madrid’s majestic “Retiro” park, akin to New York’s Central Park. In the late morning, your private, specialized food guide will meet you in the hotel lobby. Tantalize your senses today on an elegant food and wine walking tour. You will visit iconic food markets, frequented by the city’s best chefs, where you can try premium foods like Cantabrian anchovies and the “Rolls Royce of ham”, acorn-fed Iberico Bellota Ham. Indulge in “solera” vermut, Madrid’s quintessential aperitif, and soak up the lively atmosphere.

Admire the pretty, centennial tapas bars and swirl delicious Spanish wine in cozy taverns while your guide introduces you to Spanish food culture. This is also a fun way to get oriented in Madrid´s historic center. After lunch, the afternoon is yours to enjoy at your leisure. If you love art, don’t miss the magnificent Prado Museum. For dinner tonight, you could book Saddle, one of our favorite laid-back Michelin-starred eateries in town, or check out a Flamenco show with dinner, such as at the Corral de la Moreria, where they get the best dancers in town.

From Madrid, you’ll begin your Northern Spain journey today. This evening, you’ll head to the distinguished Ribera del Duero wine region. But first, you will break up the drive to see Spain’s most enchanting, fairy-tale castle in Segovia. This incredible town is rightly famous for the “Alcázar” palace, the ancient Roman aqueduct, and its collection of UNESCO heritage monuments, such as the cathedral, Jewish quarter, and a smattering of Romanesque chapels. However, for food lovers, Segovia is on the map for an even more important reason- cochinillo! This is its famous, mouthwatering suckling-pig delicacy, which you’ll find on the menu in virtually every restaurant in the old town.

After a private guided tour of Segovia with your expert local guide, you will sit down at the best venue in town for cochinillo- Restaurante José María. The cuisine here is to die for, classic Castilian cooking prepared with modern flair. Lunch will be paired with first-class wines from José María’s family estate: Pago de Carraovejas and Ossian. You may want to enjoy free time in Segovia after lunch to visit the cute shops.

Finally, after a great day, you will continue north to your wine hotel, set in a 12th-century converted monastery overlooking vineyards. If you enjoy thermal waters and spa time, an excellent spa is right at the hotel. You have arrived in “Tinto fino” wine country!

Ribera del Duero is one of Spain’s most famous regions for high-end red wines. We’ve selected two of our absolute top-choice properties to show you the crème de la crème of Ribera today. Your first exclusive experience will be at Dominio de Cair. This stylish estate, owned by Luis Cañas (of Rioja wine royalty), produces smooth, concentrated, velvety, and extremely delicious wines. We would sum up Dominio de Cair as: great people, great wines, and great hospitality. Visit their modern, cutting-edge estate and taste five of their best wines (including Pendón de La Aguilera and Cruz del Pendón) on a private VIP tour.

The day only gets better with your next private experience at Territorio Luthier, where the owner will welcome you personally. This boutique winery, located outside Aranda de Duero, makes age-worthy wines that appear on Spain’s best restaurant lists. Kick off the tour with a glass of chilled white Albillo as you explore the property. Lunch will be arranged just for you and hosted by the owner, Cristina. Try their range of top wines such as Hispania and Territorio Luthier Reserva, while savoring Spanish paella or a succulent meat dish, depending on the season. On the way back to your hotel this afternoon, your driver can make a photo stop for you if you like (vineyards, a crusader castle…) or you can head straight back to your luxurious hotel for some spa time or free time to relax. There are dining options onsite.

After a terrific breakfast, meet your driver and carry on north to the one and only Rioja wine country, home to some of Spain’s best wines and wine country scenery. Today, you’ll visit one of the most iconic and special places in the Northern Spain winelands: Barrio de la Estación. Located on the outskirts of the town of Haro in the Rioja Alta appellation, this is “wine Mecca” for Rioja lovers.

When phylloxera devastated French vineyards in the 1860s, French merchants came to Rioja to source wine, and they built warehouses near the railway station. The “barrio” (neighborhood) is a historic cluster of renowned wineries built in the late 19th century after the railway arrived. The strategic position here between France and Spain’s industrial Basque Country made Haro an important wine-trading hub. Although none of these original French cellars remain, Spanish wineries soon followed, creating the district that exists today.

You will see names like López de Heredia, CVNE (Cune), Gómez Cruzado, La Rioja Alta, Bodegas Bilbaínas and Muga. The last winery on the street is one of the best wineries in Spain, in our view, and the one you will be visiting- Roda. Always a highlight for our guests, Bodegas Roda makes great wines (and excellent olive oil at their mill in Mallorca), but superb hospitality sets it apart. Before you tour the wine caves and modern cellar, you will be taken into their vineyards, where a table will be set up for you to sip wine and graze on gourmet nibbles while taking in the peaceful views. Terrific experience.

At this stage, you will be ready for a proper lunch, and we have a treat in store. A phenomenal tasting menu lunch awaits at the refined Lumbre restaurant. This will be a leisurely affair, so take your time and savor the good life. After an extended Spanish wine-soaked lunch, your driver can take you for some photo stops if you like, or you can head straight to your lovely hotel. Located in the heart of historic Haro, you can walk to wine bars and restaurants in the evenings, and we will make suggestions.

Spend the late morning at one of our favorite wine estates, Finca Valpiedra. We have worked with this distinctive Cru wine estate for more than two decades, and they remain a favorite partner. The property belongs to a branch of the Martínez Bujanda family, whose winemaking history in Rioja dates back to the late 1800’s. The Finca Valpiedra winery was created in the 1990’s following the classic Bordeaux château model, in which the winery’s single vineyard surrounds the winery itself, and the wines are made exclusively from grapes grown on the estate. Finca Valpiedra has the honor of being a part of the prestigious Grandes Pagos de España, an association focused on distinctive single-estate vineyards. Our clients love the dramatic views of the Ebro River below, the fun 4X4 jeep trip through the vines, and, of course, the fabulous wine made here.

The scenery only gets better, and your stellar lunch will be at Rioja’s finest restaurant, Venta Moncalvillo. It’s hard to believe that in the microscopic hamlet of Daroca in the lush mountains of the Riojan countryside, you will find a two-Michelin-starred restaurant. This is destination dining at its finest! Brothers Carlos and Ignacio Echapresto have created a culinary empire with a down-to-earth ethos rooted in respect for local sourcing and seasonality. The restaurant has its own biodynamic farm and edible forest, and the cuisine is described as skilled and precise, but not overly complicated for its own sake. It’s just a gorgeous place, and your lunch will be one to remember.

Drop-off in Haro will be in the early evening. While you can walk to a wide array of restaurants and tapas bars right from your hotel, we don’t think you will be terribly hungry tonight. Relax and enjoy your sumptuous Baroque palatial hotel.

The most picturesque village in the entire Rioja region is on the itinerary this morning- medieval Laguardia. This hamlet has major wow factor. This morning, one of Rioja’s most famous sommeliers, Mikel Ruiz de Viñaspre, will host you. Mikel will first take you on a short stroll through the village to give you background on the wide network of wine caves beneath the streets and on winemaking in the area. Continue to his 15th-century family home, one of the oldest in Laguardia, for a highly entertaining tasting of both small-batch and hallmark Riojan wines. Mikel has his own wine cave, which you will also visit. This is such a great way to spend a morning in Rioja!

After the tasting, you will have free time to enjoy Laguardia on your own. There are many photo opportunities, as well as some great little gourmet shops. In the valley below and the surrounding countryside, your driver can take you to interesting architectural landmarks for photos, such as the Ysios winery (designed by Santiago Calatrava) and an ancient Neolithic dolmen.

Then head back to Haro for lunch, just a short walk from your hotel. Miguel Caño, a native of Haro, runs this fabulous gastro gem. He honed his chef skills at Mugaritz in the Basque Country before coming home to create this unique restaurant, set in a 16th-century palace in the old town near the cathedral. What makes Nublo different from other Michelin-starred restaurants is that they cook everything over fire. Pure and simple fire. They use Holm oak and grapevines to create smoky, charred, slow-cooked dishes that will delight your taste buds. The chef’s tasting menu with wine pairings will be organized for you so you can experience his best offerings. The late afternoon and evening are free at leisure in Haro.

Before heading further north to the coast, you will have one last premium wine experience in the sublime Rioja wine country. You will enjoy a lovely private tour and tasting at Valenciso. This pristine modern estate produces dynamo wines and sits just outside medieval Ollauri. The welcome here is marvelous, and we love that the fine wines here are made using organic viticulture. Valenciso is said to be “the most modern of the classics, and the most classic of the modern.” This refers to their use of concrete fermentation tanks (like Petrus and Vega Sicilia), followed by barrel aging in French oak, which combined help create unbelievably fresh, complex, and sophisticated wines. You will be pampered with a private tasting of their top range of wines, with gourmet goodies and views over the vines.

On your way to the Basque Coast, make a deviation into the Idiazábal cheese country! Eneko, owner of Quesería Ondarre, will be waiting for you at his quaint dairy located in an idyllic green valley. Eneko is a celebrity in the cheese world who comes from a multi-generational cheese family. He speaks fluent English and has such a lovely manner. You will love your visit here and your time with him, not to mention the amazing cheese. Ondarre controls the entire production chain, from flock management (feeding, calving, milking, etc.) to cheesemaking, as well as legal and marketing. This is authentic artisan cheese with the P.D.O. Idiazábal appellation. You will meet the adorable Latxa sheep, learn about the process, and, of course, finish with a tasting of the cheese alongside local wine and Basque cider.

Next up: San Sebastian. This stunning seaside town is called the jewel of the Basque coast, and that it is. Before your driver drops you off at your luxury Belle Epoque hotel, you will drive into the hills above the town to take in the stunning views over the Bay of Biscay. The late afternoon then is yours until dinnertime. Tonight you will meet your food guide for the ultimate Basque Experience – a major highlight of the trip- a super tasty pintxos tour. This is a ton of fun! Welcome to Spain’s most incredible food city!

San Sebastian is so lovely, and our guests always tell us that they would have loved to spend more time here, so we are listening 🙂 The morning is yours to enjoy on your own. You can enjoy a thalassotherapy dip at the Perla spa, take a beach walk or stroll, or relax over a coffee and a book.

Your driver will pick you up at lunchtime to take you into the lush hills of San Sebastian. An absolute feast awaits you at Three Michelin-starred Akelarre. This is one of Europe’s finest restaurants, founded by chef Pedro Subijana in the 1970’s when he co-founded the “New Basque Cuisine” movement alongside Juan Mari Arzak. Pedro earned his first star in the late 70s, a second star in the early 80s, and has maintained three stars since 2007!

Beyond the unforgettable creative cuisine, top-class service, and luxurious experience, the stunning ocean views seal the deal. This is the best of the best! Indulge in a chef’s tasting menu with high-level wine pairings, then head outside to the deck for a cocktail, where you can smell the salt in the air and hear the sea’s thunder. Your driver will bring you back to the hotel, and the evening is yours in San Sebastian.

Take a break from scheduled appointments and included meals today and enjoy free time with your driver exploring the ravishing French Basque coast. It’s only a half hour to the border, and your driver will show you wonderful coastal towns like Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Guéthary, and elegant Biarritz, a 19th-century haven for Europe’s aristocrats and celebrities. We recommend the Jules Verne-themed Aquarium de Biarritz, the lighthouse, and the boutiques and food stalls around Les Halles. In Saint-Jean-de-Luz, the fishing port is authentic and postcard-perfect.

All the villages are close together and easy to visit, and the scenery is mesmerizing. Your driver knows all the good photo spots, and this is a super fun excursion from Spain. We will reserve a table for you at one of our fave spots on the coast, like Txamara, a special place our guests always ask how we found. Then, in the early evening, arrive back at your hotel, and the evening is free with our many suggestions.

Enjoy the ocean drive to the Txakoli winelands this morning. Txakoli is one of the world’s great novelty wines. Produced along the beautiful Basque coast, Txakoli winemakers fight the elements (salty sea air, chilly temperatures, Atlantic winds) to make these zippy white wines that supply bars across San Sebastian. Txakoli is a genuine Basque specialty, produced under three appellations, and the Basque Country remains the best place to discover it. Tapas Bars and restaurants in San Sebastian, Bilbao, Getxo, Hondarribia, etc., will always have Txakoli on hand, but finding it in Madrid or Barcelona is difficult.

Txakoli is almost always white, made with the unusual “Hondarribi Zuri” grape. Tiny amounts of red Txakoli are made with the “Hondarribi Beltza” grape (“Beltza” means “Black” in Euskera, the Basque Language). Txakoli is considered a “Vino de Aguja”, meaning there is a slight fizz to it, not quite sparkling but a bit effervescent. The Txakoli wines are very high in acidity and low in alcohol. They pair perfectly with the array of “Tapas” and “Pintxos” in Basque bars, as strong flavors (sardines, artichokes, garlic, vinegar, etc.) can be disastrous with other wines. On a private tour, you will visit a small, family-run estate and taste an array of their Txakolis and delicious Basque goodies.

Then transfer to the nearby village of Getaria, where Elkano hailed from (he completed the first circumnavigation of the globe after Magellan’s death). Stroll around the charming port and head up for lunch. Lunch is at Elkano, considered the best fish restaurant in Northern Spain. They grill Atlantic turbot outside on “parillas” throughout the village. The fish is unbelievably fresh here. While they hold a Michelin star, the atmosphere is casual and relaxed; it’s all about the fish. After lunch, you can enjoy a stroll around the cute fishermen´s port itself, which has a beautiful historic church and a fashion museum dedicated to Balenciaga, who was from here. Your driver will then drop you back at your hotel in San Sebastián. Free evening.

San Sebastian is the ultimate food destination in Spain; we would even dare say in Europe. And apart from dining out, it is fascinating to meet the chefs and enjoy the cuisine “behind the scenes”. Today, you will have the opportunity to experience an afternoon in the life of a Basque Chef. Your private chef will meet you in the hotel lobby, and you will have a friendly chat while strolling to the famous La Bretxa food market. You will learn what chefs look for when buying produce, and you will shop together for the ingredients for your cooking class. Select the menu together while you shop, based on your dietary preferences and what is best and freshest today.

Savor a few treats in the market, and you might like to pick up some gourmet gifts. Vermut (Spanish vermouth), saffron, olive oil, and Marcona almonds make great gifts and pack easily in your suitcase. Carry on to your chef’s culinary studio right next to the market. Over the next few hours, you can either join in hands-on or sit back and sip wine as your chef shows you how to assemble your Basque pintxos and lunch dishes. Then you’ll all sit down and enjoy the meal together, with plenty of good wine, of course.

This is the perfect activity for your last day in San Sebastian, and after lunch, your driver will take you to downtown Bilbao for the last leg of this trip. Check in to your five-star ultra-modern hotel, right across the street from the Guggenheim Museum, which you can visit this afternoon. We’ll suggest dinner tonight. Bilbao is another amazing food lovers city!

In the late morning, your driver will meet you and take you across the river for a private wine tasting at Gastronomia Bilbao. Located right across the river from the Guggenheim, this gorgeous venue is Bilbao’s gourmet wine hub, with various rooms available for wine tastings, cooking classes, and more. With your own private sommelier, you will enjoy an educational but fun tasting of five lovely Spanish wines. These will be from regions not featured in this trip, such as Priorat, Toro, Galicia, Sherry, and Cava. And in Spain, you never drink on an empty stomach, so you’ll enjoy delicious accompanying tapas.

For the rest of the afternoon, we suggest a panoramic drive to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, on the dramatic Western Basque coast. This area was the filming location for “Dragonstone” in the Game of Thrones television series. The name literally means ” castle rock” in Basque. This is one of the most striking views on the Basque Coast! For the full experience, take the 241 stone steps along the zigzag walkway to the little island. You will be rewarded with impressive views and a little extra good luck, as legend has it that when you reach the church on top of the island, you should ring its bell 3 times and make a wish. You can also take in the views from the top, without the walk. In the early evening, you will arrive back in Bilbao. For dinner, we suggest a tapas crawl in the pretty Plaza Nueva.

Your driver will take you to the airport in Bilbao with plenty of time to check in.

We hope you had an unforgettable time on this tour of Northern Spain’s coast and wine country.

If you would like to extend your tour of Spain, then you could enjoy our Madrid tour as a pre-tour extension to this program. And/or, why not visit southern Spain too for a fully immersive tour of Spain?