Howard's Spanish Wine Tour 2024
14 Night Small Group Wine and Culinary Tour in Spain
September 8-23, 2024
Day-By-Day
Sun Bird Travel 239-430-2000 Howard Friedman 240-401-9342
THE TOUR IS DESIGNED FOR 20-24 PEOPLE
SEPTEMBER 8th (Sunday) – Depart USA
SEPTEMBER 9th (Monday) - Arrive Santiago de Compostela. Transfer to Hotel NH Collection will be arranged for those who arrive on the early flight (9AM) from Madrid. The rest of the day is at leisure.
OVERNIGHT HOTEL NH COLLECTION, SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
LUNCH AND DINNER ON YOUR OWN
SEPTEMBER 10th (Tuesday) after breakfast, we will visit the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela that has been the final destination for travelers on “The Way of the Cross” for centuries. It is without doubt breathtaking in its size, its architecture and glorious artwork. Your ticket and guided tour are included. There will be plenty of time for lunch before we depart for O Rosal and a tasting and tour at Altos de Torona, a truly exceptional producer of the Albariño, Paloma de Plata. We will taste a selection of their wines at their hilltop vineyard pavilion and enjoy a wonderful array of tapas. Later we will journey to the Parador of Baiona where we will enjoy a cocktail hour and wonderful dinner together. The Parador is located on its own peninsula and just a short walk from town and is one of the finest in all of Spain.
LUNCH ON YOUR OWN – WINE AT COCKTAIL HOUR AND DINNER ARE INCLUDED
OVERNIGHT THE PARADOR IN BAIONA
Views from the Parador in Baiona “Bateas” in O Grove
SEPTEMBER 11th (Wednesday) – After breakfast we have a short ride through the lovely countryside around the Galician estuaries to O Grove. A chartered boat will then take us for a visit to one of the bateas (barges) anchored in the river. You won’t believe the size of the freshly harvested mussels that we will have as an appetizer. Upon returning to the dock, we will drive to Restaurant Yayo Daporta, a Michelin starred restaurant in Cambados, for a sumptuous multi-course lunch paired with the sommelier’s choice of regional wines.Yayo’s sister, Esther, will lead us in a tasting of wines prior to lunch.
After lunch we will return to the Parador. Later in the afternoon you may want to take a walk into town where you will find some lovely shops and fine seaside dining if you’re still hungry!
MICHELIN STARRED LUNCH WITH WINE PAIRINGS INCLUDED
DINNER ON YOUR OWN, ACCOMMODATIONS AT THE PARADOR IN BAIONA
SEPTEMBER 12th (Thursday) After breakfast we will depart for Leon, but along the way we will stop for a winery tour, tasting and delicious lunch at Bodegas Do Campo in Ribadavia.
During your tour, you will see some exquisite architecture, beautiful landscapes and fine art. You will come away with a deep regard for Spain’s culture and an in-depth knowledge of the wines of Northern Spain, but the visit to Bodegas DoCampo, I think, will be one of your most memorable experiences. The Docampo family has updated a 400 year old farmhouse across from the winery, and it is here that we will enjoy our tasting and lunch.
Depending on the weather, you may have the experience of seeing the white grapes Godello, Treixadura, and Torontes being sorted and gently sent along their way to becoming wine.
The growing region here is Ribeiro and the delicate flavors of these wonderful grapes are kept fresh and bright through cold fermentation and stainless steel finishing. The winery also makes a delightfully soft, vibrantly fruity red wine that also is finished in stainless steel.
Lunch will include some very special dishes for which Galicia is most famous and the table will overflow with wonderful aromas and sumptuous food and wine.Scenes below from our lunch and winery visit to Bodegas Do Campo
After lunch the road will take us through some of Spain’s most glorious scenery as we travel through the wine growing region of Ribera Sacra finishing in the D.O. of Bierzo in Castilla y Leon
The valley of the River Sil Conde de Luna Hotel, Leon
We will be staying at the wonderful Conde de Luna in the heart of Leon and close to the cathedral.
WINE TASTING AND LUNCH ARE INCLUDED - DINNER ON YOUR OWN
ACCOMODATIONS AT THE CONDE DE LUNA, LEON
SEPTEMBER 13th (Friday) Today we will enjoy a tasting and vineyard visit at Casar de Burbiain Carracedelo, Bierzo. The Menciaand Godello wines made here are some of the best in the entire region because the vineyards from which they come were so meticulously chosen by Isidro Bello’s grandfather. Some of the root stock of these vines is over 100 years old. There is great power in them and even the Penin Guide which is Spain’s most prestigious wine publication has given them extremely high praise. The winery is small and “work a day” but the tractor ride to the vineyards will give you a unique perspective on why the quality is so high.
Burbia’s hilltop vineyards of Mencia Isidro & his father discuss the vintage
Our vineyard visit will be followed by an alfresco lunch at the winery along with a tasting of many of Isidro’s beautifully executed wines.
After lunch we will continue our journey east through Cantabria backto Leon
Once the center of a great kingdom, Leon is today a uniquely Spanish town with one of the most exquisite cathedrals in all of Spain.It’s astounding array of stained glass windows dates from the 13th century and soars to over 100 feet. The vibrant colors have survived 8 centuries! One of Gaudi’s earliest buildings is located here. After the cathedral visit, stroll through the city enjoying the tradition of the Spanish custom of the paseo.
The magnificent Leon cathedral and it’s 800-year-old-stained glass windows
WINE TASTING AND LUNCH ARE INCLUDED - DINNER ON YOUR OWN
ACCOMMODATIONS AT THE CONDE DE LUNA HOTEL, LEON
SEPTEMBER 14th (Saturday)
As we thought about the length of the drive we came upon the idea of an interim stop in Asturias: Spain’s province with world famous cider. We will be stopping in the lovely seaside town of Ribadasella at one of their famous cider cafes for a unique cider tasting and a bit of pintxos before traveling on to Santillana del Mar, a lovely, historic village whose name derives from the Romanesque style Santa Juliana Collegiate Church around which the village grew. It’s quaint cobblestone streets lined with delightful cafes and artisan shops are a delight. There will be time for lunch so make sure you enjoy some wonderful seafood at our stop here in Cantabria before traveling further along Spain’s north coast to our final destination of Bilbao.
WELCOME TO THE BASQUE COUNTRY
The quality and style of Spanish kitchens where young chefs prepare groundbreaking menus is extraordinary, and in Bilbao and San Sebastian you will find some of the finest cuisine in the country. Dining on your own in this city can include some of the most exquisitely prepared dishes in Michelin “starred” restaurants that you will ever experience or simple “pintxos” at a more moderate price. The restaurant in the Guggenheim itself, Nerua, is a one-star Michelin restaurant. There are 3 Michelin starred restaurants in or nearby that are in the world’s top 10.
Bermeo, a short bus ride from Bilbao - A traditional Basque town
The Museum and the iconic Puppy by Jeff Koons
The Guggenheim Museum and it’s companion bridge structure
Instantly hailed as the most important structure of its time and “…a magnificent example of the most ground breaking architecture to have come out of the 20thCentury. It is an innovatively designed architectural landmark that creates a seductive backdrop for the exhibition of modern art.
Richard Sara’s incredible “The Matter of Time” at the Guggenheim
Spacious room at the Silken Gran Domine hotel in Bilbao
At the Silken Gran Domine, one of the finest hotels in the Basque country, you will enjoy luxuriously modern accommodations directly across the street from the Guggenheim and just a short walk along the river to many fine shops and superb restaurants in the old town. It is ranked #1 on Trip Advisor’s hotels in Bilbao.
LUNCH AND DINNER ON YOUR OWN
ACCOMMODATIONS AT THE SILKEN GRAN DOMINE IN BILBAO
SEPTEMBER 15th (Sunday) – After breakfast this morning, we will enjoy a guided tour of the Guggenheim.
LUNCH AND DINNER ON YOUR OWN
ACCOMMODATIONS AT THE SILKEN GRAN DOMINE
Silken Gran Domine’s roof top breakfast setting
We will have some wonderful breakfasts during our tour but, the setting – on one of the top floors of the hotel – is gorgeous!
SEPTEMBER 16th (Monday) - After breakfast you will be able to don your “chef’s hat” as we travel to MIMO Restaurant in San Sebastian for a Tapas preparation class that will include a delicious lunch at the conclusion of the lesson.
Dedicated Pintxos “Chefs” at MIMO at the Maria Cristina Hotel cooking class in San Sebastian.
After lunch there will be plenty of time to stroll through San Sebastian before we travel back to Bilbao
LUNCH AT MIMO IS PROVIDED, DINNER IS ON YOUR OWN
ACCOMMODATIONS AT THE SILKEN GRAN DOMINE IN BILBAO
SEPTEMBER 17th (Tuesday)
A short drive from Bilbao will bring us to Bodega Katxiña in the Getariaka sub-region of Txakoli. This amazing, south facing winery at the center of 8 hectares of vineyards is set on a hillside leading down to the Oria River. It was started only a few years ago and its wines have already been recognized as some of the best produced in the region.
The only grape grown here is Hondarrabi Zuri a white grape that was brought to this region from the northeast of Europe during the middle-ages. Other producers in this region use other grapes in a blend to give nuances to the wine, but Katxiña uses only this one grape. The secret to the wonderfully well balanced wine comes from the different vineyard styles and hillside locations that add subtle character that makes this wine so enjoyable. Only one wine is produced here, and it is 100% Hondarrabi Zuri.
Like many other wineries in this region, there is a restaurant at the winery with upscale Basque cooking. At Katxiña, their restaurant was named to the list of “The Best Luxury Grill Restaurants in the World”!!! We will enjoy a superb multi course lunch after our visit to the winery.
Hillside vineyards at Katxiña Harvested Hondarrabi Zuri grapes
A lovely setting for winery functions and for our tasting and exquisite lunch.
WINE TASTING INCLUDED
LUNCH AT THE WORLD FAMOUS KATXIÑA GRILL
DINNER ON YOUR OWN
ACCOMMODATIONS AT HOTEL DE MERCURE CARLTON LA RIOJA, LOGROÑO
WELCOME TO LA RIOJA
SEPTEMBER 18th (Wednesday) – After breakfast we will have only a short ride to the world famous Bodega and vineyards of Lopez de Heredia Viña Tondoniain Haro where we will enjoy a tour of the winery, and wine tasting.
At Lopez de Heredia we hope you will learn a great deal not only about the winery and its fabulous wines but about making of Rioja wines of superior quality. Over 145 years of history have made the Bodega and its wines world famous. You will taste a selected group of gorgeous wines as well as take a guided tour of the many winery buildings.
After our visit, we will travel to Nalda and visit with Palacios Vinos de Finca, for a unique opportunity to taste wines from vines cultivated in the new and the old way and then taste the wines done in the same contrasting ways. As part of the portfolio of wines represented here, we will taste Proelio (Rioja), Nivarius (Rioja Blanco), and TRUS (Ribera del Duero).
The wines of Bodegas Proelio follow three basic principles: The varieties we use to elaborate our wines; the use of our own vineyards at an altitude of almost 800 meters; and their north facing orientation. This is our way to guarantee the varietal character of the grape, its freshness and acidity. These 3 conditions also characterize our wines and sum up our philosophy and understanding of their elaboration. Nine different vineyard sites are the heart of what makes Proelio special. Each is dedicated to varieties which will benefit most from the differences in soil. Proelio’s wines are “grown” in the face of adversity. They are the result of the work and the effort required by high altitude vineyards. “That’s where our distinctive character lies."
There will be time to enjoy lunch and a stroll through the lovely walled village of Laguardia before we head back to the hotel.
The walled village of Laguardia in Rioja Alavesa
WINE TASTING INCLUDED WITH TAPAS - LUNCH AND DINNER ON YOUR OWN
ACCOMMODATIONS AT HOTEL DE MERCURE CARLTON LA RIOJA
SEPTEMBER 19th (Thursday) After breakfast we will travel to Bodegas Valduero for a tour of the cellars, a wine tasting and lunch. A multi-course gourmet lunch will be served with meticulously paired wines. These wines have often received 90 points or higher from Robert Parker, and your tasting and vineyard tour will be guided by Yolanda Valduero, the winemaker and daughter of the winery owner, and/or the export manager.
CAROLINA AND YOLANDA AT THE VALDUERO WINERY
In past years, our lunch at Bodegas Valduero was one of the highlights of the trip. The whole range of their wines were opened and paired with an incredible multi-course lunch served at the winery. The guests enjoyed the wines so much that they ordered several cases of wine which they purchased when they returned to the U.S. In fact, there is a very special barrel program that you will learn about. At an elevation of over 2800 feet, Burgos is situated at a crossroad along the Camino de Santiago, the historic “Way of the Cross”. The cathedral in Burgos was begun in 1226 and not finished until 1493! It has been declared a “World Heritage Site” by UNESCO and is one of the most extraordinary in all of Spain. In its treasure room can be found a 15th century monstrance that is said to be gilded with gold brought from the New World by Columbus. Here you will also find the tomb of El Cid, Spain’s greatest national hero.
We will stay at the magnificent Palacio de Burgos, a restored 16th century monastery. It’s elegantly appointed rooms are only a 2-minute walk from the historic center of the city.
A WINE TASTING AND FABULOUS LUNCH PAIRED WITH VALDUERO WINES ARE INCLUDED
DINNER ON YOUR OWN
ACCOMMODATIONS AT THE NH COLLECTION PALACIO DE BURGOS
SEPTEMBER 20th (Friday) After breakfast we will travel to Pedrosa de Duero for a tour of the fabulous cellars of Pago de los Capellanes and a tasting of their very special and highly rated wines from Ribera del Duero and now, some delicious Godello white wine from Valdeorras.
In the 14th century, a chaplainry existed in the village of Pedrosa de Duero just 1 mile away. The villagers donated small parcels of land to the chaplains for their work and,
over time, these holdings became quite large. About 500 years later these lands were given back to the village, but they retained the name “Land of the Chaplains”. The present owner, Paco Rodero, purchased the lands from the village and built a magnificent winery using the finest equipment and the most perfect cooperage to make some of Ribera del Duero’s finest wines.
THE CELLARS AT PAGO DE LOS CAPELLANES
These wines have consistently received extraordinarily high praise from the world’s wine press and in the past have been among those wines on the Wine Spectator Magazine’s “Top 100” list. In 2012 and again in 2016 this winery was “Winery of the year” for Wine & Spirits Magazine. Afterwards we will return to Burgos where you will be free to enjoy more of the city’s charm.
Pago de los Capellanes has only produced red wines for its entire history, but just recently a winery was purchased, and vineyards developed to produce white wines called “O LUAR DO SIL” They are made with Godello grapes developed both in stainless steel and French oak barrels. You will enjoy these wines at the tasting in the winery.
We will then travel back to Burgos to enjoy the rest of the day on your own or take a fascinating visit to the cathedral where your entrance fees have already been paid.
WINE TASTING INCLUDED –LUNCH AND DINNER ON YOUR OWN
HOTEL NH-PALACIO DE LA MERCED, BURGOS
SEPTEMBER 21st (Saturday)
Spanish red wines have dominated the country’s presence in the U.S. market for many years, but lately new winemaking techniques and resurrection of indigenous clones long absent from producer’s references have markedly changed that view of the Spanish wine industry. It is an interesting footnote to the production of white wine in the D.O. of Rueda that it was with the dedication of the director of Marques de Rascal and his work with a French Oenologist, Emile Reynaud that the production of high-quality wine from Verdejo – Rueda’s principle grape – began.
At Bodega Javier Sanz, this dedication to the extraordinary quality of wine that could be produced in Rueda from modern viticulture practices is its mantra. Painstaking work in the vineyards to ensure the best quality grapes and the inclination to intervene as little as possible in the natural winemaking process have assured the production of Verdejo with the delicate, crisp gooseberry flavors for which it is famous.
Javier Sanz has dedicated his winery to the production of wines from pre-philloxera vines and the recovery of varieties that have almost become extinct. His Malcorta wines are the culmination of this effort and represent a style of Rueda white wine that - but for his interest - would have disappeared.
A fabulous visit to the original, 19th century winery has been arranged with a tasting of the superb quality Rueda produced there. We will visit the vineyards which are the very special heritage of Javier Sanz’ wines and we will enjoy a tapas with our tasting at the winery.
After our visit we will travel on to Madrid. We will stop in Segovia on the way.
WINE TASTING WITH LIGHT TAPAS INCLUDED – LUNCH AND DINNER ON YOUR OWN
ACCOMMODATIONS AT THE WELLINGTON HOTEL MADRID
SEPTEMBER 22nd (Sunday)
Free day in Madrid.
The Wellington is by any standard a remarkable hotel. This elegant 5 star hotel in the heart of the sophisticated Salamanca shopping area of Madrid exemplifies the ability to frame uniquely modern dining experiences with the highest of old world excellence of service and elegance of setting. Enjoy lunch, dinner, an evening cocktail or even a relaxing swim on the Wellington Terrace. The Kabuki Wellington offers the best sushi in Madrid and is the proud recipient of a Michelin star. The Goizeko Wellington is the result of “a culinary union between Jose Santos and Chef Abel Maretlloti and serves innovative and seasonal Basque Haute Cuisine.”
LUNCH AND DINNER ON YOUR OWN
ACCOMODATIONS AT THE WELLINGTON HOTEL, MADRID
SEPTEMBER 23rd (Monday) - Make arrangements for your flight home, or extend your stay.
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A perfect middle stop before traveling on to Santillana del Mar, a lovely, historic village whose name derives from the Romanesque style Santa Juliana Collegiate Church around which the village grew. It’s quaint cobblestone streets lined with delightful cafes and artisan shops are a delight.
Ribadasella, Asturias Santillana del Mar
There will be time for lunch so make sure you enjoy some wonderful seafood at our stop here in Cantabria before traveling further along Spain’s north coast to our final destination of Bilbao.
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