Wine Holidays

La Rioja, Spain 6 days

We’ve been running this immensely successful tour for the past eleven years. We are happy to make revisions for private groups which have , maybe, visited some of the bodegas we feature.
If you are new to Rioja then you’ll like the friendly atmosphere of the region which is typically Spanish and quite un-touristy. At the bodegas you’ll have the opportunity to sample, and buy at very advantageous prices, some really excellent wines from famous and less well known producers. Good food is a very important part of this tour and if you’ve always thought of Spanish cuisine as paella and tortillas you’re in for a very pleasant surprise.
We sail from Plymouth to Santander at 1600 and after sailing, Stephen will be presenting a tutored tasting of the wines we will meet in Spain followed by dinner in the ship’s main restaurant.
Reaching Santander at 1230 on the second day, we drive southwards and into La Rioja for our first tasting at the quite unique and ultra modern wine museum/educational complex of Dinastia Vivanco at Briones. We then continue into the city to check into the old style *** Hotel Marques de Vallejo which is situated in the old quarter, a stone’s throw from the cathedral and conveniently near to all shops and banks and the main square. This comfortable hotel has been re-modelled and re-furbished and is ideal for our purpose. We stay here for three nights. Dinner tonight is at an excellent restaurant near the hotel.
On Tuesday we drive to Haro for a visit to the fabled R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia, one of the oldest bodegas in Haro, The family - controlled wines made here are steeped in tradition and history. From here we now drive to Bodegas Remelluri , an historic monastic estate,just outside the town where we inspect their museum and operation then have a lengthy lunch overlooking the vineyards.Even many years later people still go into raptures about their visit here!

In the late afternoon we visit the charming hilltop town of Laguardia on the way back to Logroño where you can catch up with your shopping. In the evening Stephen will show you the famous street of tapas bars, Calle Laurel.
We set off on Wednesday and drive to Bodegas Corral at Fuenmayor. Now we continue to Haro to visit the small, family operated but high quality winery of Bodegas Martinez Lacuesta. After our tasting here we cross Haro to Cassalareina for a leisurely lunch at La Vieja Bodega, another outstanding gastronomic discovery off the beaten track. We then return to the hotel for our final night at Logroño and a last chance to enjoy the delights of Calle Laurel.
We leave early after breakfast on Thursday and drive to Northern Spain's major city,Bilbao and park outside the impressive Guggenheim Museum of Modern Art sitting on the banks of the Ria de Bilbao. Entrance to the exhibition is included . In the early afternoon we drive to Santander to catch the 1530 sailing to England.We have a final get together over dinner on board.The ship docks in Plymouth at 0930 and after disembarkation the coach returns to the original pick up points.

The cost includes: Ferry crossing with 2-berth cabin each way; all travel by executive coach; three nights’ accommodation in 3* hotel with buffet breakfast; one dinner near the hotel; two lunches; excursions and visits as described; tasting and two dinners on board; services of Stephen Barrett as Tour Manager.

Departure dates

Please note:
Single supplement (inc cabin) £90

Online Booking click here

Pick up points Bath-Bristol-Taunton-Exeter-Newton Abbot-Plymouth