Taste Amontillado Sherry in the shadows of historic Moorish Palaces
Seville, the aristocratic and graceful southern Spanish city, has inspired travelers for centuries. Its beauty and charm come from a mixture of many things; its legacy of exquisite Moorish and Christian architecture, the myths of Carmen and Don Juan, flamenco music, its incomparable fiestas, the brilliant sunshine, its inhabitants who love to eat and drink, and who live life to the fullest. On this wine tour in Seville, you will enjoy a tantalizing mix of art, history, sightseeing, and of course some fabulous food and wine. You’ll tour Seville by romantic horse-drawn carriage, seeing the Cigar Factory where Bizet’s mythical Carmen was set, and pass through the Maria Louisa gardens and the Plaza de España (where you can see exquisite tile work and neo-Mudejar brickwork on all of the buildings in the square.)
With a private art guide, you’ll explore the magnificent Cathedral and orange garden, the Real Alcazar (Arabic palaces and gardens) and the captivating Casa de Pilatos. This is a wine tasting tour after all and we will organize a luxurious chauffeured excursion to Jerez de la Frontera for you, visiting top wineries like Sandeman, Lustau, tasting rare Sherries and brandies. Try the light and airy Fino, the nutty Amontillado and dry Palo Cortado, the golden Oloroso, and of course you’ll have to taste the rich, concentrated Pedro Ximenez. Savor delicious “tapas” like olives marinated in Spanish Olive Oil and garlic, farmhouse cheeses, acorn-fed cured Bellota Ham, crunchy shrimp crèpes, grilled baby squid, Saffron infused “albondigas” (meatballs), delicately smoked cod and some other more creative surprises. This special tour of Seville and Jerez is a superb tour for food and wine lovers looking for a short, luxurious stay in Southern Spain. Contact us for more info!
Seville Food & Wine Tour Highlights:
- VIP Winery visits in Jerez (Sherry)
- Fabulous Spanish Food and Wine
- Private Guided Tour of Seville
- Romantic Horse Drawn Carriage
- Chauffeured Mercedes
Below is a suggested Itinerary for your private Seville Food & Wine Tour
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Seville
Privately Guided Tour of Seville & Dinner Paired with Wine
Reales Alcazares - 5* Luxury Hotel, Seville
- Welcome dinner paired with wines, Bottle of Spanish wine in room
- Luxury Mercedes
Arrive in Seville’s train station or airport and your private chauffeur and luxury Mercedes will be waiting. Head first to your historic, pretty hotel to drop off your luggage and rendezvous with your art guide in the lobby of the hotel. Your driver will drop you and your guide off at the gorgeous Cathedral where you will enjoy an entertaining visit full of anecdotes. Ask your guide about the hanging crocodile! From the cathedral (called “La Giralda”) you’ll enjoy a guided visit to the Reales Alcazares, just next door. This beautiful property with extensive gardens houses the wonderful 9th century Moorish Palaces built for the Emir, Abderraman II. You’ll see intricately carved arches, hand painted tiles with Arabic calligraphy and spectacular gardens. Breathe in the jasmine and orange blossoms!
Next up is a visit to the enchanting Casa de Pilatos, one of Seville’s finest palaces built by The First Marquis of Tarifa in the late 1400s, to resemble Pontius Pilate’s residence in Jerusalem. The palace is owned now by the Duke of Medinaceli and is the most beautiful private residence in Seville, which is luckily open to the public. You’ll see beautiful Roman busts, an interesting fusion of Renaissance and Mudejar architectural styles and a collection of family paintings including ones of Barbara de Braganza who once lived there. At sunset, your guide will take you to your private horse-drawn carriage where you can sit back and relax and admire Seville from up high.
Tonight you will have a welcome dinner at the quaint Taberna del Alabardero. A chef’s tasting menu paired with excellent Spanish wines (a white wine from Galicia´s Rias Baixas and a stunning red wine from the Canary Islands!) will be waiting for you. Enjoy, and welcome to beautiful Seville!
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Seville – Jerez de la Frontera- Seville
Wine Tasting at Lustau & Fernando de Castilla
Lustau Sherry Bodega, Jerez - 5* Luxury Hotel, Seville
- Full breakfast, Lunch paired with wines, 2 VIP winery visits and Tastings
- Luxury Mercedes
Today you will head to the wine country for a convivial day of wine tasting and gourmet dining. Your driver will take you about an hour south to the ancient town of Jerez de la Frontera. Similar to Oporto, where the port lodges are right in the city, while the vineyards are in the countryside, Jerez has numerous “Bodegas” right in the historic center. The wine appellation is Jerez/ Xérèz/ Sherry y Manzanilla de Sanlúcar- the longest name of any wine region in Spain! Begin your day with a VIP visit to a top cellar such as Lustau. Founded in 1896, Lustau has one of the most beautiful bodegas in Jerez. You´ll taste some of their best wines such as Puerto Fino, Reserva Los Arcos Amontillado and the outrageously good Emperatriz Eugenia Oloroso.
Carry on to your second winery of the day, Fernando de Castilla. This is a MAJOR treat for wine lovers and you will enjoy a VIP tour of the historic cellar followed by a special tasting of their mythical sherry wines and brandies. This is an exceptional tour and if you are not already a Sherry lover before the tour, you will be a Sherry convert by the end! After a full morning of wine tasting and merriment, you will be famished and we will have a fantastic lunch waiting for you at la Mesa Redonda, our top restaurant choice in Jerez. Chef José Romero Valdespino is known for his love of cooking with the wines of Jerez and you will enjoy a special chef’s menu created just for you based on your preferences. Seafood is his strong point and he uses many ancient Jerez recipes rooted in Arabic tradition (Jerez was under Moorish domination from the 8th century AD for 500 years).
After a fantastic lunch, stretch your legs and take a walk around the historic quarter of Jerez. For such a small town, Jerez has quite a few places of interest including the Moorish Alcazar, the lovely Cathedral, the Flamenco museum, the Andalusian Horse Foundation, and a wine museum. Enjoy some free time and at your leisure return to Seville. Tonight is yours to dine on your own. You could go for tapas in the authentic Triana neighborhood or in the prettier (but more touristy) Santa Cruz quarter. For a more fine dining experience, you could try Egaña Oriza. Seville is at its most romantic at night and we suggest an after dinner stroll around the cathedral, with its dramatic lighting.
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Seville
Depart Seville
Plaza de Espana - None
- Full breakfast
- Luxury Mercedes
This morning your driver will take you to the airport or Ave train station to drop you off for your departure. We hope you have had a marvelous time on this wine tour in Seville and Jerez and we look forward to seeing you again!