Spanish Wines from the Ebro and Duero Valleys

Find and enjoy not only the known wines, but also the new wines of Spain. By visiting wineries and vineyards and with the explanations of the tour guide we will discover grape varieties and learn to interpret labels and vintage charts. Method "Champenoise", "Denominacion de origen", the Ebro valley, Duero River, will not hold their secrets when you
discover this wine route with us.

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1st Day: BARCELONA - ALELLA - BARCELONA
Arrival at Barcelona airport. Welcome of the group and leaving by bus to Alella. During the journey, the group leader will explain the scheduled programme and deliver a briefing about the trip. Alella is a small area close to Barcelona city, on the Mediterranean coast, only few hectares of land constantly fighting against the urban expansion.
Thanks to the Sauló (a sandy and white soil, highly permeable and able to catch and retain the sun light) we obtain a D.O. wine (Denomination of Origin). The most popular wines of this region are the whites, one of them is the Alella, a traditional, light and aromatic wine with smooth taste. To know more about these wines we will visit one regional winery, the Can Magarola, the wine house in Alella and a 13th century Catalan farm. Free time and dinner in Alella. Transfer to the hotel in Barcelona. Accommodation.

2nd Day: VILAFRANCA DEL PENEDÈS- BARCELONA
Breakfast and departure to Vilafranca del Penedès, the capital of the wine-region of Penedès. The Romans mentioned the excellent wines of this land, which preserve the millenary traditions with international success. The farming region is divided into three parts, located between the sea and the mountains. It was in this area where the first Spanish vineyard introduced international varieties like the Chardonnay or the Cabernet Sauvignon.
Here the variety of wines is the largest and most complete in the world. In Vilafranca del Penedès we will visit the Gothic Quarter, the Wine Museum and go to Pacs del Penedès to visit the Torres Winery. Lunch. Continuation to San Sadorni D'Anoia to visit one of the wineries dedicated to the production of sparkling wine (cava), the result of the mixture of three different types of local white grapes: Xarel-lo, Macabeo y Perelada. Return to Barcelona and free time. Transfer to the hotel. Dinner and accommodation.

3rd Day: BARCELONA - BARBASTRO
Breakfast and departure by bus to Barbastro, capital of the Somontano region. The term Somontano means "at the feet of the mountain". We visit here the Complejo de San Julián and Santa Lucía: its wine-shop and the museum are dedicated to the Somontano. In the Renaissance Church of San Julian, we will find the Somontano Interpretation Centre.
After lunch we visit the wineries: Blecua and Enate. Blecua winery produces a wine with a marvellous bouquet, thanks to its selection of vineyards, bunches and oaks.
Enate is a brand new winery dated 21st century, with a great future. We will visit one of these wineries and return to the hotel in Barbastro. Dinner and accommodation.

4th Day: BARBASTRO - OLITE - ESTELLA
Breakfast and departure to Olite. The best-known wines from this D.O. are the rosés and the reds, although they also produce reasonable whites. The main characteristic of these wines is their great variety due to the changes of the climate in all the provinces of Navarre. There are five areas: Baja Montaña, Tierra Estella, Valdizarbe, Ribera Alta and Ribera Baja. We recommend a visit to at least three or four of these areas to appreciate the richness and diversity of these products. Olite is the undisputed capital of the Ribera Alta. There we can visit the Vine-growing and Enology Station of Navarre opened 1980 : its historical and artistic heritage is invaluable. We will stroll through the town to admire the façade of the Church of Santa María la Real and then visit the 15th century Castle of the Kings of Navarre, which today is a Hotel-Parador.
Mr. Ochoa, a local wine-producer of Olite, made a revolutionary change in the wine industry, introducing in Navarra, for the first time new varieties of grapes like the Cabernet-Souvignon, the Merlot and the Chardonnay and obtaining magnificent and delicious wines.
Lunch and departure to Estella, another important wine-producing region located halfway the Pilgrims' route to Santiago de Compostela. There we will visit the 15th century Palace of the Kings of Navarre.
Only few wineries are as impressive as the one we will visit today in the Castillo de Monjardín in Villamayor, with a picturesque façade and a charming interior. Among all wines, the most important is the white Chardonnay. Dinner. Transfer to the hotel in Estella and accommodation.

5th Day: ESTELLA - LAGUARDIA - HARO
Breakfast and departure to Laguardia, the capital of the Rioja Alavesa and one of the most beautiful spots of the region. Sightseeing of the historic town and the Santa María de los Reyes church, with its magnificent polychrome arcade. The region of La Rioja can be divided in three different parts determined by the types of wine: Rioja Alavesa, Rioja Alta and Rioja Baja. There are also different climates on each bank of the Iregua River. However, most wineries of the region offer a mixture of wines obtained from the three regions of La Rioja: reds, rosés and whites of good quality, though the reds are the most popular. We will visit the Wine thematic centre and one of its cellars. Lunch. Early afternoon we continue to Haro, the capital of the Rioja Alta, known for its excellent wines. There we will walk through the historic centre and visit the Enology Station and the Wine Museum of La Rioja, where we will get further information about the wine production. Our visit ends at the winery Paternina. Transfer to the hotel. Dinner and accommodation.

6th Day: HARO - PEÑAFIEL - RUEDA - TORDESILLAS
Breakfast and departure to Peñafiel. In the castle of Peñafiel we will visit the Regional Museum of Wine. In the 12th century the monks of Cluny were already producing the wine of Valbuena de Duero. The high-quality wines of the Ribera del Duero marked a decisive change in the red wines appreciation; the most popular are the wines produced by the Vega Sicilia winery. The 85% of the vineyards are located in Burgos and surrounding areas. The most traditional grape variety is the "Tempranillo" grape (60% of the total vineyards). We will visit Arzuaga Navarro winery in Quintanilla del Onésimo to taste some of its great reds. Lunch. We continue to the Rueda region, where the wines are produced on the fertile left bank of the Duero River and it occupies part of the cities of Valladolid, Ávila and Segovia. The weather is dry and cold. Rueda is the kingdom of one of the best varieties of white grapes in Spain, the Verdejo, introduced by the Mozarabics. The production of white wines is divided into: Rueda superior, Rueda, Espumoso, Dorado Rueda and Pálido Rueda, depending on the percentage of "Verdejo". Our next stop will be in Rueda to visit the Antaño winery and the interesting museum. Departure to Tordesillas. Arrival at the hotel. Dinner and accommodation.

7th Day: TORDESILLAS - TORO- TORDESILLAS
Breakfast and departure to Toro. Sightseeing of the historic town. The first stop is at the Arcade Square and the Colegiata, built in the 12th century and whose western façade is a real masterpiece. Toro has its own variety of grape, "tinta de toro", obtaining the popular strong red wines. We will visit one winery and have lunch.
Early afternoon we continue to Tordesillas to visit a local winery and taste one of its best white wines. We continue to the Monastery of Santa Clara , preserving a beautiful Mudejar building. Transfer to the hotel for Dinner and accommodation.
8th Day: TORDESILLAS - MADRID
Breakfast and departure to Madrid. Arrival at the airport and end of the trip.

8th Day: TORDESILLAS - MADRID
Breakfast and departure to Madrid. Arrival at the airport and end of the trip.