Wine Delights Tour of Spain and Portugal

Porto has a sense of history and modernity alike at the edge of the Douro River. The charismatic city will captivate you with delicious cuisine and rich wine. The nuances of local life revolve around the distinctive neighborhoods that possess vibrant street art, stamp on the skyline with bell towers and beaux-arts facades, or fill with the aromas of spices. Land at Porto’s international airport and be greeted by a private driver that will transfer you into the city. You will have the remainder of the day to relax, where you can find Sao Bento and the 20,000 tiles decorating the walls.

Your guide will meet you at the hotel in the morning and escort you through the city on a private tour. You will uncover the layers of history as you find remnants of Roman, Medieval, and Almadas history. After discovering the grandeur beneath the 246-foot tall Torre dos Clerigos, you will pass the diversity of Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque facades 18th-century Igreja de Sao Francisco. In the afternoon, your guide will take you into the cellar of a winery to learn the origins of Portuguese winemaking by sampling a tawny Port known for fruity aromas with hints of nutty spices.

You will make your way into the Douro Valley with your private driver in the morning. The historic wineries across the valley date back to the 17th century. Each wine absorbs the personality of the region and its micro-climate stemming from the Touriga Nacional grape. You will visit a selection of wineries in the valley and find a variety of flavors, bodies, and layers. After a cooking class that reveals the traditional regional ingredients, such as olives, almonds, and mushrooms, you will indulge in the dark cherry, plum, and dark chocolate flavors of a vintage Port.

On the way to Ribeira Sacra, you will stop in the city of Orense. You can wander the labyrinthine streets of the historic quarter where the aromas of typical tapas emanate from the hidden restaurants. The Cathedral de San Martino has a mixture of  Romanesque and Gothic features that date back to the 12th century. Thermal baths decorate the riverside, and the beguiling Old Bridge combines Roman and medieval engineering. You can bask in the tremendous flavors of Galician octopus, sweetbread empanadas, and steaks made from Galicia-bred beef. You will continue to your luxury hotel located in a refurbished 6th-century monastery.

The splendor of Ribeira Sacra will dazzle as you set out on a private tour of the region’s select wineries. Remnants of medieval monasteries rise along the Sacred Riverbank and alongside winding trails and blanketing vineyards. The mixture of hanging wineries and dramatic cliffs soaring over the stoic waters create a majestic ambiance. You will sample some of the best wines of the Galicia region. You can find distinct varietals known for unforgettable notes, such as raspberry and plum flavors with a jammy finish or nectarine aromas that lead to tastes of appel and minerals.

History comes alive in the network of arcaded streets, stone architecture, and renowned Catedral. Pilgrims cross Spain each year to reach the city’s millennium’s worth of unforgettable history. The sounds of bagpipes fill the plazas, and restaurants exude the aromas of jammy wine and braised octopus. Your tour of the city will reflect the marvelous history and captivating culture of the city, imbued with the surviving legends and architecture of St. James Cathedral. The jumble of spires that create the structure date back to the 11th century with over 200 Romanesque sculptures highlighting the masterful design.

Your private transfer will escort you from your hotel to the Santiago de Compostela Airport for your brief flight to Bilbao. The remarkable Basque city celebrates culinary traditions and a commitment to the arts. Tree-lined pathways, a lumbering funicular, and a charming riverside promenade reveal the city’s charm that leads to dramatic coastal cliffs and radiant beaches. The Guggenheim Museum sits along the Nervion River with a sheer facade that reflects the surrounding beauty of the water. Your tour will highlight the aesthetic of modern artists with works by the likes of Warhol, Rothko, and Chillida.

La Rioja’s ochre-colored soil will contrast the vast blue skies of the wine region. The majority of the vineyards will spread from the banks of the Ebro River. You will reach the town of Laguardia to find a preserved medieval fortress perched on the rugged hilltop. The historic quarter will immerse you in the region’s traditions, including wine production amid the surrounding vineyards. The polychrome paintings adorning the Portico of Santa Maria de los Reyes will represent the long arch of history in the town before you sample a selection of local wines.

San Sebastian is a unique city that combines the allure of pristine beaches with the promise of unforgettable cuisine. The aromas of grilled prawns dressed in citrus will fill the historic lanes while the Atlantic Ocean laps at the gold sands of Concha Beach. Your private guide will lead you through the city for a mouthwatering food tour tasting the city’s famous pintxos, small plates for which the region is known. The customary dishes will quickly immerse you in the local culture as you taste delicious salt cod, rich foie gras, or savory idiazabal cheese.

You will continue to Barcelona by train, where you can settle into the comforts of your luxury hotel. The enchanting seaside city represents history and culture crowned by the Sagrada Familia. Your wine expert will meet you at the hotel and lead you on a carefully curated wine tour. You can wander through the narrow lanes of the Gothic District to find a private cellar where you will taste three Spanish wines. With each wine, you will learn more about wine culture in Barcelona as you discover notes of honey, white fruits, and fennel.

Your guide will lead you into the plains outside of Barcelona to find some of Spain’s most notable wines. The town of Vilafranca del Penedes glows with a mixture of medieval and Modernista architecture, while restaurants impress visitors with mouthwatering cuisine and wines. You will discover two vineyards that produce popular wines with dynamic flavors, including cava. One winery dates back to the mid-16th century and makes a Brut cava with notes of citrus and yellow flowers. You can continue to a celebrated spa to enjoy a relaxing treatment inspired by the local ancient Roman history.

The active life of Las Ramblas will return in the morning as the vendors to La Boqueria Market return to their stalls. The origins of the marketplace date back to the 13th century. The famous market will fill with the aromas of blistered peppers and croquettes, fresh strawberries, and savory eggplant. Palm trees fringe the boulevard as the sounds of the Fountain of the Three Graces features a candelabra designed by Antoni Gaudi. After breakfast, your private transfer will meet you in the hotel lobby and escort you to Barcelona’s El Prat airport for your flight home.