wine tour in Spain

 

Day 1

Madrid
Arrival at the airport and transfer to hotel.

 

Day 2

Madrid – Peñafiel (190km/2h30min)
Today continue to Ribera del Duero. Arrival in Peñafiel in Ribera del Duero. Fortified in 1307, the town of Peñafiel was once a commercial and historic centre of the first order. Its famous castle, declared to be a National Monument in 1917, sits on a hill. It is a very well-preserved fortress, which has a length of more than 200 metres and is built in the shape of ship. The first winery visit will be the famed cellar. It includes a visit to the vineyards, the winery and the  12th century abbey, topped off by a commented tasting of their wines at the monastery refectory. The second winery visit will be a winery where their wines are made exclusively from the difficult, quick-maturing Tempranillo variety, of which they are considered the masters. Their world-famous Tinto Pesquera is aged a minimum of 18 months in oak, with selected Reservas and Grandes Reservas remaining in barrel for 24 months and longer. Overnight.

 

Day 3

Peñafiel – Laguardia (240km/3h30min)
Drive from Peñafiel to Laguardia, in the Rioja Alavesa.  Laguardia is one of the most perfectly preserved medieval villages in Spain. The underground of this village is crossed by the wine cellars of "Caves"(Cuevas) excavated under the houses and streets at about 6 metres deep. The town still has its original medieval layout with a good number of fortified towers still surviving. Your first visit is to a new-wave winery followed by a wine tasting.

 

Day 4

Laguardia – Bilbao (111km/1h20min)
Guided Visit to Laguardia´s “jewel of the crown”,  the church of Santa María de los Reyes which has an extraordinary polychromatic portico, the finest in Spain. Guided Visit to a 2nd cellar in Laguardia, followed by a wine tasting. This winery stands out among the underground cellars, and elaborates its wines in a traditional way, for the pleasure of its visitors. Continue to Bilbao. Bilbao is famous for its great Guggeheim Museum. The building is the work of architect Frank Gehry and is an architectural masterpiece in its own right. This great titanium, stone and glass sculpture houses nineteen galleries spread over three levels around a vast central atrium. Built with the aim of diversifying Bilbao's activities beyond its traditional industrial base, the museum now attracts many visitors who come to enjoy the fabulous modern and contemporary art collections . Overnight in Bilbao.

 

Day 5

Bilbao – Barcelona (606km/7h)
Today travel to Barcelona - without doubt one of Europe’s most exciting cities. Barcelona is a place of extraordinary architectural dazzle, achieved by what has been called both Catalan Art Nouveau and Modernisme, by architects Gaudi, Domenech i Montaner and Puig Cadafalch. Monumental sculptures by local masters like Joan Miró adorn public spaces and museums house extraordinary treasures ranging from works of the ancient Romans to those of Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí. Barcelona city is further enhanced by brightly coloured outdoor markets, a magnificent Mediterranean port where yachts sway peacefully, and a plentiful array of stylish restaurants. Needless to say, the nightlife is splendid. Overnight.

 

Day 6

Barcelona – Penedés (98km/1h30min) – Barcelona
Your sommelier guide will pick you up for a visit to the wine region of Penedés. Visit  one of Spain's leading organic wine producers since 1979. Second visit to a cellar that has recently attained the greatest acknowledgement for Cava (Spanish Champagne). Their range of wines reflect the dual personality of a winery attuned both to the most dyed-in-the-wool traditionalism and the most daring avant-garde. Return to Barcelona. Have some free time. Overnight.

 

Day 7

Barcelona
Transfer to the airport.