Explore Rioja and Vineyards of North Spain – 8 days

Travel Itinerary Idea

This tour in Rioja is the perfect option if you have a passion about wine and want to know more about the Spanish varietals. Your stay will be marked by visits to wineries accompanied by wine experts, as well as more cultural visits to cities such as Bilbao, San Sebastián and Pamplona. During your stay you will have the opportunity to spend a whole day with an enologist. All visits to the wineries end with the traditional tasting.

Suggested duration: 8 days

Theme: Food & wine

Difficulty : For all public

Visited countries: Spain

Your tailor-made trip

Travelers reviews : 9,5/10

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Day 1 : Bilbao

As you arrive at the airport, you can collect your car rental (category C). It includes unlimited mileage, all risks insurance and additional driver covered.

Today your English-speaking guide will take you to the good spots in the city to taste the best pintxos of the day accompanied by different wines. You’ll go to 3 to 4 establishments while discovering the history of Bilbao.

*Lunch included. The visit starts at 12pm. About 2h tour.

**Good to know: small group 8 people maximum per guide.

Night at the Cosmov Bilbao hotel in standard room (breakfast served at the Guggenheim museum – 5mn on foot).

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Day 2 : Bilbao - Haro

Today you drive about 1h15 from Bilbao to Haro. Enjoy a full day dedicated to the wines of the region, accompanied by an excellent oenologist.

You will start the visit by the magnificent Bilbaínas Winery, located in the heart of Rioja Valley, in the village of Haro. The tour will end of course with the traditional wine tasting.

You will then eat 6 pintxos to regain strength before returning to the conquest of the wine world with the visit of the Vivanco Museum located in the beautiful small village of Briones.

For your information: the Vivanco Museum is a reference in the world of wine because it is considered as the best wine museum in the world.

At the end of this day the wine will have no more secrets for you!

*Included: Tickets to Vivanco museum and Bilbaínas bodega, pintxos and wine tasting

Night at Mercure Carlton Rioja hotel in standard room.

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Day 3 : Bilbao - Logroño

Today you’ll enjoy a 2-hour tour of the world famous Campo Viejo Winery during which you will discover the largest barrel room in the world! A huge production of the Pernod-Ricard group. At the end of the visit you will taste 2 wines.

*Timetable: 10h; 12; 13h; 18h.

When you invite people home, have you ever wondered what wine could pair well with the meat you have just cooked?

Today you will learn how to impress all your guests since the pairing and wine tasting will no longer have secret for you after this wine course with a professional oenologist.

This tasting will take place in Laurel Street, one of the liveliest streets of Logroño.

Night at Mercure Carlton Rioja hotel in standard room.

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Day 4 : Logroño - Elciego Wine Route

It will take you about 40 minutes from Logroño to reach the small town of Cuzcurrita where the Bohedal Bodega is located.

*Information: The winery is a little before the entrance of the town, next to a roundabout.

-Wine tour of Bohedal Vineyard

A very different visit awaits you … as you will meet Leire, the owner of Bohedal Vineyard, in person and he will take you around the property. He inherited from the know-how of his grandparents and his father and will share with you his passion for his activity. A captivating tour filled with emotions that will end on a high with a  wine tasting directly from the barrels, allowing you to see the difference between an aged wine in European oak or American oak. If the weather is good, the visit will be followed by a picnic of excellent local products in the vineyards of the property. And if the weather is not good, the meal will be indoors.

-Wine tour of Marques de Riscal winery

Located in Elciego in the Basque Country, the tour begins in the vineyards of the property from where you can admire the magnificent hotel designed by Frank O.Gehry (Architect of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao). Afterwards, you will visit the facilities on the bodega then you will finish the visit with a tasting of white wine Marqués de Riscal Rueda Verdejo and a glass of red wine Marques de Riscal Reserva, all served with sausage and chorizo de la Rioja.

Night at the Marques de Riscal hotel in standard room.

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Day 5 : El Ciego - Arinzano

It will take you about 50 minutes from Elciego to reach Arínzano. This day at Arinzano Estate will start with a welcome drink.

You will then visit the vineyards in 4X4. On your return, you will enjoy the traditional visit of the cellar and the facilities of the wine estate.

It is the wine tasting that will close your visit but not your day since in the evening an excellent meal awaits you at the domain.

Night at the Arinzano Estate in a standard room, with dinner.

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Day 6 : Arinzano - Pamplona

Today you drive about 30 minutes to reach the capital of Navarre (Pamplona) and take a three-hour guided tour in Pamplona according to your wish.

A detailed account of the history and events that occurred all down the years is provided, especially on the city’s importance in The Middle Ages and its key location on The Road to Santiago and how the flow of pilgrims had a key influence on the formation of the three medieval old quarters which gradually formed into a small city.

It includes a visit of the Chapel of San Fermin or/and of the Cathedral and the Diocesan Museum.

*Cathedral ‘s timetable ( closed on Sunday )

-from mid of March to mid of October: 10.30am-7pm, Monday to Saturday

-from mid of October to mid of March: 10.30am-5pm, Monday to Saturday

 

Night at the Pamplona El Toro hotel in standard room.

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Day 7 : Pamplona - Astigarraga - San sebastian

Today you drive about one hour from Pamplona to Astigarraga.  You can join a shared tour that will delight all your senses, complete visit of a cider house followed by a typical Basque meal.

You will visit all the facilities of the cider house: the orchard, the presses, the cellar and the farm before your tasting of a traditional cider-based menu. All dishes are accompanied by cider.

*Two time schedule possible: 11.30 am (from Tuesday to Sunday) and 06.30pm (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday). 

In the afternoon you can do a half day tour with your English-speaking guide to discover San Sebastian through its history and gastronomy. Basque cookery has international prestige thanks to its raw materials and the wonderful skill of its chefs, who have both traditional and imaginative menu.

*One pintxo and one drink + entrance fee to the Basilica Santa Maria included.

Night at the Sagarlore hotel in standard room.

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Day 8 : Astigarraga - Plentzia Bay - Bilbao Airport

After one hour and a half drive from Astigarraga to Plentzia, get ready for a unique and incredible experience.

You will go by boat to Plentzia Bay to taste wine that has aged in an underwater cellar located just below your feet. Enjoy 2 wine tasting served with a traditional Pintxos.

*Duration: 3 hours

Your last half an hour’s drive will take you from Plentzia to Bilbao Airport to board your flight home. Drop off the car at the airport.

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