SPAIN

Rioja Reserve: Wine, Villages & Culinary Delights

Experience the ultimate Rioja wine tour on this unforgettable 7-day journey through one of the most celebrated wine regions in Spain. Designed for wine lovers and culinary travelers, this immersive Rioja, Spain wine tour combines world-class wineries, historic villages, and exceptional gastronomy. Staying in the vibrant capital of Logroño, you’ll enjoy evenings exploring its legendary tapas scene, where Rioja wines and local specialties come together in one of the best food destinations in Spain.

Each day of this wine tour in Rioja includes visits to two carefully selected wineries, offering exclusive tastings and insider access to the winemaking traditions that have made Rioja famous worldwide. Our focus is on the prestigious Rioja Alavesa wine region, known for producing some of the most elegant and age-worthy wines in Spain. With its limestone-rich soils, high-altitude vineyards, and ideal climate, Rioja Alavesa produces some of Spain’s most refined premium Tempranillo wines, celebrated for their balance, structure, and finesse.

Beyond the vineyards, this Rioja wine and food tour explores the region’s most beautiful villages, including Haro, the historic wine capital of Rioja, Laguardia and Briones, medieval hilltop villages surrounded by vineyards; and San Vicente de la Sonsierra, known for its breathtaking vineyard views and deep winemaking heritage.

From historic wineries to authentic Spanish cuisine and picturesque villages, this 7-day Rioja wine tour offers the perfect blend of wine education, culture, and relaxation in Spain’s most iconic wine region.

2027 Dates

April 19-26, 2027

Sample Itinerary:

Day 1- Bilbao to Logrono

Your Rioja journey begins with a group pick-up at the Bilbao-Abando railway station, where we’ll gather before making our way south into Spain’s celebrated wine country. The scenic drive to Logroño takes just over an hour, crossing through rolling hills and vineyard landscapes that offer the first glimpse of the region we’ll call home for the week.

Upon arrival, we’ll check into our hotel and settle into the vibrant capital of Rioja, a city renowned for its food culture, wine bars, and lively atmosphere. Our hotel is just on the edge of the historical center, close to cafes and tapas bars. Later in the afternoon, we’ll take you on an introductory walking tour of Logroño, exploring its historic center, charming plazas, and important landmarks while getting acquainted with the city’s rich culinary traditions.

As evening falls, we’ll gather for our first tapas experience, immersing ourselves in one of Spain’s most beloved dining rituals. Wandering through the famous streets of Calle Laurel and San Agustín, you’ll sample local specialties paired with Rioja wines, setting the tone for the extraordinary week of wine, food, and culture ahead.

Day 2 – Winery Architecture

Today’s journey blends exceptional winemaking with some of the most striking winery architecture in Rioja. Our morning begins at Bodegas Ysios, an architectural masterpiece set against the dramatic backdrop of the Sierra Cantabria. We will sample wines in their barrel room tasting bar that beautifully express the terroir of Rioja Alavesa.

From there, we ascend to the medieval hilltop village of Laguardia, where ancient stone walls, historic churches, and winding cobblestone streets invite exploration at your own pace. Later, we’ll gather for a leisurely tapas lunch paired with local wines before continuing through Rioja’s vineyard-covered countryside to the legendary Marqués de Riscal. There, we’ll tour their celebrated City of Wine and enjoy a tasting of their distinguished wines. Once we return to Logroño, the evening is yours to enjoy at leisure.

Day 3 – San Vicente de la Sonsierra

Perched high above the Ebro Valley, San Vicente de la Sonsierra offers some of the most breathtaking panoramic views in Rioja—alongside some of its most compelling wines. Today, we’ll immerse ourselves in this remarkable village and its surrounding vineyards, beginning with a morning visit to a carefully selected winery where we’ll enjoy a guided tasting that captures the character and elegance of the region.

Our lunch today will be at Casa Toni, a celebrated Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant known for its thoughtful interpretation of Riojan cuisine. In the afternoon, we continue to a second winery, set among the hills with sweeping views across the valley, for another intimate tasting experience. By late afternoon, we return to Logroño, leaving the evening open to relax or explore the city’s vibrant culinary scene.

Day 4- Haro

Haro is the Wine Capital of the Rioja Region and a place where centuries of winemaking tradition converge with vibrant local culture. Its concentration of historic wineries makes it one of the most compelling destinations for wine lovers, while the town itself offers a charm and character all its own. With so much to discover, we will return to Haro twice during our journey.

Today begins with a visit to one of Rioja’s original wineries, founded in the 1800s, where we will delve into its storied history and trace the evolution of winemaking over the past 150 years. Following our tour, we’ll enjoy a private tasting in a specially selected setting.

Our second winery offers a more relaxed experience, where each guest may select two wines of their choice to enjoy in the tasting bar. Afterwards, we’ll gather for lunch at a local restaurant showcasing the rich culinary traditions of Rioja. Before returning to Logroño in the mid-afternoon, there will be time to wander Haro’s historic streets and soak in the rhythm of this iconic wine town.

Day 5- Briones and the Vivanco Museum

Today begins with a visit to the renowned Vivanco Museum of Wine Culture, widely regarded as one of the most important wine museums in the world. Through its extraordinary collection of ancient winemaking tools, art, and historical exhibits, the museum offers a fascinating journey through the story of wine across centuries and civilizations, illuminating Rioja’s place within this enduring global tradition. (You don’t want to miss Level 4!)

Following our exploration of the museum, we will enjoy a tasting of the elegant wines at Bodegas Vivanco and wander through their Jardín de Baco (Garden of Bacchus) with views of Briones.

Afterwards, we’ll make our way into the hilltop village of Briones, one of the region’s most picturesque medieval towns, for a relaxed tapas lunch. Surrounded by centuries-old stone buildings and sweeping views, Briones offers the perfect setting to savor the flavors of Rioja while soaking in the timeless beauty of this historic village.

Day 6- The Best Expressions of Alavesa

Today, we venture deeper into Rioja’s countryside to discover two exceptional wineries that embody a more intimate and artisanal approach to winemaking. Both estates are known for their gravity-fed production methods, a traditional technique that allows the wine to move naturally through each stage of vinification with minimal intervention, preserving purity, texture, and expression of terroir. These wineries also maintain close relationships with the region’s small, independent growers—families who have cultivated these vineyards for generations—offering a deeper connection to the land and the people behind each bottle.

Through these visits, we’ll gain insight into a side of Rioja that is both innovative and deeply rooted in tradition, where meticulous craftsmanship and respect for the vineyard remain at the center of every wine. Along the way, the rolling vineyard landscapes and quiet beauty of the countryside provide the perfect backdrop for a day dedicated to understanding Rioja at its most authentic.

Day 7- Second Day in Haro

There is simply too much to discover in Haro to experience in a single day, which is why we return once more to Rioja’s celebrated wine capital. Our day begins with visits to two distinguished wineries, where we’ll enjoy tastings that further reveal the depth, diversity, and tradition of this remarkable region.

Afterwards, the remainder of the day is yours to explore Haro at your own pace—a town where wine is woven into every corner of daily life. Stroll through its historic streets, visit local wine bars, and seek out the sculptures and murals that pay tribute to the generations of winemakers who shaped Rioja’s legacy. At midday, we’ll gather for lunch in the heart of town, dining alongside locals and savoring the authentic flavors of Riojan cuisine.

Back in Logroño, you are welcome to join us for an evening tapas crawl through Calle Laurel and Sn Augustin. By now, the ritual of ordering tapas and Rioja will feel like second nature, and you may even have discovered a few favorite bars to share with the group. (Dinner and tapas are not included.)

Day 8- Leave Logrono

Today we return to Bilbao, with drop-off at the city’s main train station, offering an easy connection for your onward travels. Guests are welcome to return to Bilbao with the group, whether to continue exploring the Basque Country or to catch flights and rail connections home.

For those wishing to extend their time in Spain, Logroño also serves as a convenient rail hub with direct connections to some of Northern Spain’s most captivating destinations. From here, you may continue to Burgos for its magnificent Gothic cathedral, Pamplona for its rich history and lively plazas, San Sebastián for world-renowned cuisine and coastal beauty, or Madrid, Spain’s vibrant capital. Whether your journey ends here or continues onward, Rioja offers the perfect gateway to further discover the culture, cuisine, and landscapes of Spain.

What our Rioja Reserve: Wine, Villages & Culinary Delights includes:

Hotel for 7 nights in Logroño
10 wineries, including Ysios and Marques de Riscal
Entrance to Vivanco Museum
Visit Haro, Laguardia, Briones, and San Vicente de la Sonsierra
Two dinners: one at a restaurant, and one night of tapas on Calle Laurel
6 lunches
Transportation to/from Bilbao

Cost of the Tour

This is a small group tour of 6-8 people max.
The cost of this week-long tour is USD $4800 / EUR $4150 per person based on double occupancy.
Single supplement is an additional USD $250 / EUR $220.
A deposit of $600 USD/EUR per person is due before December 31, 2026 to secure your spot on the tour.

The remaining balance can be paid in monthly payments. Final payment due February 18, 2027.

Payments will be made through Zelle (USA) or PayPal. Fill out the contact form below, and we will send you the payment details.

Check out our FAQ page for culture and cancellation policies.