Wines of Rioja & Northern Spain

A FIVE NIGHT HOLIDAY | 16 OCTOBER 2023

A superb wine tour through Rioja and Old Castile to discover some of Spain’s greatest vineyards and enjoy the legendary hospitality of the bodegas. We will travel through the Basque Country, La Rioja and Castile, visiting both famous and lesser-known producers as well as fascinating historic cities, charming hill towns, and spectacular countryside.

Hotel Eguren Ugarte

the itinerary

DAY On arrival we transfer to the 4* Hotel Eguren Ugarte where we 1 shall stay for the first three nights. You are free to explore for the rest of the afternoon before we meet this evening for an introductory talk and wine-tasting with Tim Clarke, followed by dinner. This morning we head for Haro, wine capital of La Rioja. Here, in the area of historic bodegas close to the railway that linked Rioja with the outside world, our first visit is to a traditional winery. Lunchtime is free in the hill town of Haro. Today is devoted to exploring the vineyards of Rioja Alavesa. Highlights will include the innovative Viña Ijalba, who pioneered the revival of Rioja’s classic grape Graciano, the state of the art Viña Real winery and lunch at the farmhouse of Contino, the oldest ‘single estate’ Rioja bodega, one of the most attractive wines and most idyllic places in Rioja. We then visit the Rioja Wine Museum which has its own winery and a permanent exhibition exploring the history of winetasting in the region. Today we head for Old Castile and the historic city of Burgos where we visit the magnificent cathedral and stop for lunch. We continue to Peñafiel in the Duoro valley, where we stay for two nights at the 4* Hotel Convento las Claras.

DAY 5

Ribera del Duero has risen to challenge Rioja as the top region in Spain for red wine. The cold nights and hot days here give intense uplifted aroma, power and elegance to the wines. We will visit several great cellars here. Our first appointment is at Aalto where the great wines don’t come by accident but from extreme care, old vines and the vast experience of winemaker Mariano García. We taste the spectacular wines of Abadia Retuerta over lunch. This evening, our visit to Bodegas Alejandro Fernández will be a highlight of the tour. They make the great ‘Pesquera,’ Condado de Haza and other superb wines that we enjoy over dinner. On our final day we travel south through the high plains of Castile. We’ll stop for a tasting at an excellent producer of Rueda white wines, before arriving in Segovia, famous for its Roman aqueduct and eccentric ‘Alcázar.’ We will enjoy a traditional lunch before we drive to Madrid airport for the flight back to London – alternatively, ask about extending your stay with a couple of nights in the Spanish capital.

DAY 6

TOUR INFORMATION

DEPARTURE DATE & PRICES

DATE PRICE SINGLE SUPP 16 October £2,597 £276

Our prices are per person, based on the shared occupancy of a twin/double room. Supplement for single occupancy as shown.

FLIGHT DETAILS

Flights with Vueling and British Airways: Depart London Gatwick 08.30, arrive Bilbao 11.30 Depart Madrid 18.40, arrive London Gatwick 20.00 Flight times subject to change – regional departures and business class supplement available on request.

WHAT WE INCLUDE

• Return flights • Five nights’ accommodation with breakfast • Four lunches and three dinners • All sightseeing, entrance fees and gratuities • The services of the Kirker Tour Lecturer, Tim Clarke