In conjunction with:
Custom Spanish Wine Tour September 12th – September 18th, 2020
Saturday, September 12th – Arrival into Barcelona Upon ariving in Barcelona airport you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel.
Founded by the Romans, Barcelona is a beautiful Mediterranean city that offers an impressive number of Gothic, Romanesque, Modernist and contemporary monuments. It is a major economic center and one of Europe's largest Mediterranean ports. Particularly renowned are some architectural works by Antoni Gaudí and Lluís Domènech that have been designated by UNESCO “World Heritage Sites”.
Rest and relax after your journey as you settle into your new surroundings or set out to explore the city at your leisure.
This evening, we will arrange for you a special welcome dinner in Spanish-style at Fonda España in the center of Barcelona. Set out on a wine and tapas discovery – a lively introduction to this vibrant city and its delicious cuisine. Barcelona has the privilege of being surrounded by some of the most interesting wine regions in Spain and of being part of a long, colorful and exciting culinary tradition. Kick off the trip in true Spanish fashion, away from the crowds and with an amazing and plentiful diversity of wine, as well as Catalan and Spanish tapas and gourmet dishes.
Your accommodations for the next 2 nights – Petit Palace Petit Palace Boqueria is a 4-star city center Barcelona hotel in Ciutat Vella, steps from Las Ramblas and Gran Teatre del Liceu. The hotel is next to the Boquería Market in Barcelona perfect for you: discover its incomparable atmosphere.
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Sunday, September 13th – Priorat and Barcelona Today, we have two options for the group to enjoy.
Option – Priorat Wine Touring This morning, you will be met by your private guide. Set out for a day discovery of the wines of the region.
Spend the morning getting to know the incredibly beautiful and rugged Priorat wine region, with it's steep hills covered from top to bottom in craggy vines. We´ll begin with a visit at one of the first and most influential wineries of the modern Priorat renaissance in wine making, Mas Martinet. This also happens to be one for the prettiest vineyards and a fabulous visit.
After this wonderful visit, we will head to one of the main villages of the Priorat, Gratallops. This tiny town is at the forefront of wine production in the area. We will head straight to Clos Figueres, a winery, restaurant and inn run by Christopher Cannan and his family. Christopher, who is as talented as her is charming, started his wine making operation in collaboration with Rene Barbier, one of the regions most famous wine makers. Their wines are produced from old vines, without watering the vines and without using insecticides or any other synthetic products.
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While there, you'll enjoy a fantastic, traditional lunch in the charming winery. Each dish will be paired with one of their wines, getting to taste their full range. Following lunch, we will head to the little town of Porrera and meet with Paco Castillo-Serrano of the family-run Clos Dominic winery to tour their beautiful vineyards and taste their fabulous vintages. This old-vine vineyard (with many vines over 100 years old) was purchased by Paco and his wife, Dominic, in 1998 when they began to fulfill their dream of creating their own wines. To this day, they manage and harvest their vineyards with help only from family and friends. Once we finish our visit and tasting with Paco, we will head back towards Barcelona.
Time permitting and if of interest, we can visit the ruins of Scala Dei, a medieval monastery, along the way. The prior of Scala Dei ruled as a feudal lord over seven villages in the area, which gave rise to the name of the Priorat wine region. Here, we will also visit a local olive oil producer where we can sample their production.
Option – City Tour of Barcelona Cosmopolitan cities, like Barcelona, shine with colorful mosaic-embellished buildings and ancient cathedrals, and sleepy beach towns look like they’ve been pulled from a painting. Spain is blessed with many natural wonders, but the crowning jewel must be the splendid Mediterranean coast. Starting just north of Barcelona and stretching all the way down through Murcia, the Mediterranean region has a different air than the rest of Spain.
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The enchanting capital of Spain’s Catalonia region, is known for its art and architecture. This morning, with your guide, you will visit the infamous Sagrada Familia, with its fantastical architecture as designed by the famous Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí. Throughout the morning, you’ll also have the opportunity to explore the various neighborhoods of the colorful city from the Gothic quarter to the lively Las Ramblas and Paseo de Gracia.
For lunch, your guide will take you to one of our favourite restaurants in the city to enjoy the traditional dish, paella, by the seaside. The rest of the afternoon will be yours to enjoy and explore at your leisure with your new-found knowledge.
Dinner at your leisure this evening and overnight at your accommodations.
Monday, September 14th – Barcelona to La Rioja Today, after checking out, your private driver will bring you to the station to board your train headed towards Logroño. The ride is ~4.5 hrs.
Logroño is a city rich in history and traditions which have been preserved since the Middle Ages. The Pilgrim's Route to Santiago de Compostela made this one of the most important towns on the route, leaving an interesting monumental legacy closely linked to the traditional passing of the pilgrims.
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Arriving into the city, you will be met by your guide as we set out for a tapas tour to enjoy lunch today.
After your delightful lunch experience, depart with your guide towards your accommodations in La Rioja.
En-route, we will visit a producer such as Artadi for a tasting. The man behind this transformation is Juan Carlos López de Lacalle, a highly respected personality in the world of Spanish wine. His obsession with quality led him to explore the potential of terroir and to vinify separately the old cooperative vineyards based on their soils, aspects and altitudes. The winery owns 85 hectares of vineyards entirely devoted to Tempranillo for the reds.
Your guide will bring you to your accommodations for check in at the conclusion of the day.
Enjoy dinner at your leisure this evening and overnight at your accommodations.
Your accommodations for the next 2 nights – Palacio Tondón The Ebro river becomes tortuous as it runs through Briñas, a little gem located in La Rioja which dates back to the Roman period. Narrow streets dotted with stately homes, including this 16th century palace with views of the Tondón vineyards, from which it takes its name. Palacio Tondón is a unique architectural complex surrounded by vineyards and mountains where tradition and history are combined with innovation and sustainability.
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Tuesday, September 15th – La Rioja Wine Touring Today you will be met by your guide who will take you to visit two Rioja wineries for tours and tastings.
Some of the wineries we will consider today include: Valenciso Winery - A small family winery making only reserve wines. After fifteen years of shared work in a prestigious and centenarian cellar of Rioja with strong international presence. Tempranillo grapes from old vineyards with low yields, new barriques - predominantly French oak - having one third renewed annually, cork "flor" quality - the highest level - and a long savoir faire marked by fondness and dedication only applicable to small cuvées.
Bodegas Muga - Located in Haro, Bodegas Muga is not only one of the best wineries in La Rioja, but it’s also one of the very few still making its own barrels, and which keeps in their cemeteries, bottles from the time of their founders.
Baigorri Winery – This modern winery sits atop the hillside giving stunning views of the vineyards. Designed by the architect Inaki Azpiazu, Bodegas Baigorri is seven stories deep. The building was designed to blend into the natural environment, as well as to facilitate its unique method of wine- making – using only gravity to move the grapes.
Enjoy a traditional Riojan lunch in a winery today. Typical Riojan dishes are potatoes or bean soup with chorizo (paprika sausage), roasted lamb chops where sarmientos (dry grape vine branches) are used to roast the meat giving it a unique and delicious flavor, meat stew cooked with wine, cod with peppers and tomatoes and many more.
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After lunch visit the Wine Culture Museum Dinastia Vivanco in Briones. The museum is situated in the heart of the vineyards adjacent to the Bodega in Briones, a unique and historic location in the Rioja Alta, on the outskirts of Sierra Cantabria. This is one of the largest wine museums in the world and the town of Briones has amazing views.
You will be taken back to your hotel as your tour concludes.
Dinner at leisure and overnight at your accommodation.
Wednesday, September 16th – La Rioja to Ribera del Duero This morning, after checking out, you will set out with your guide from Ribera to Rioja, stopping in Burgos en route.
Ribera del Duero is one of Spain’s world renown wine regions. It is situated on the country’s northern plateau, two hours north of Madrid, along the Duero River. Wine has been produced in the region for thousands of years, but, viticulture as we know it today, was brought to the region by French Benedictine monks from Cluny, in Burgundy, during the XII century. Ribera del Duero wines today are enjoying great popularity, thanks mostly to the great efforts of experienced growers and wine makers from the area.
Along the way, stop to explore the Cathedral in Burgos. The cathedral of Burgos, begun in the 13th century and completed in the 15th and 16th centuries. Our Lady of Burgos sums up Gothic architecture in all its beauty with a unique collection of reredos, tombs, choir, stalls, stained glass, etc. It has been also declared World Heritage monument by UNESCO.
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Lunch will be the typical meal from Ribera, roasted lamb in a wood fired oven with Ribera del Duero wines, at either a winery or authentic restaurant.
Along the way, we will stop at a winery such as Valsotillo winery. This is a traditional family winery with subterranean cellars from the XVII century. The owners will show you the winery and accompany you during the wine tasting. Ismael Arroyo is the founder of the winery. He is most well known for the name of his wines Valsotillo, a striking Tempranillo. This small winery is one of the most attractive in the region because it holds an impressive 17th century year old gallery dug in the mountain, which is currently used as excellent aging cellars.
In the late afternoon, your guide will deliver you to your hotel for check-in.
Your accommodations for tonight – Monasterio Santa Maria de Valbuena Hotel & Spa This Hotel and SPA is the newest 5-star hotel in Ribera del Duero. It is located in the Golden mile, in the heart of Ribera del Duero and in one the best-preserved Cistercian monastery of the 12th century in Europe. The rooms respect the old cells of the monks. It has a large thermal pool, contrast water circuit, an outside pool and offers complete spa services.
Thursday, September 17th – Ribera to Madrid Upon checking out, you will be joined by your private guide who will be ready to bring you on the road towards Madrid.
Begin this morning with a tour and tasting at a winery in Ribera del Duero such as Valsotillo winery. This is a traditional family winery with subterranean cellars from the XVII century. The owners will show you the winery and accompany you during the wine tasting. Ismael Arroyo is the
Into The Vineyard – www.IntoTheVineyard.com Email: [email protected] Toll Free: 1 855 848 3899 Suite 200 - 1807 Maritime Mews. Vancouver, Canada, V6H 3W7 9
founder of the winery. He is most well known for the name of his wines Valsotillo, a striking Tempranillo. This small winery is one of the most attractive in the region because it holds an impressive 17th century year old gallery dug in the mountain, which is currently used as excellent aging cellars.
Next, enjoy a visit to the millenary town of Segovia, declared World Heritage by UNESCO, where you will admire the two-thousand-year-old roman aqueduct (best preserved in the world), the astonishing castle (Alcazar), the cathedral and the old quarters.
The aqueduct declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985. Is thought to have been built, from the second half of the first century to the early 2nd century CE under the Emperors Vespasian and Trajan in order to carry the water of the River Acebeda to the city. There is no mortar or cement between the 20,400 blocks of stone, which remain standing solidly in a perfect balance of forces.
Standing between the confluence of the Eresma and Clamores rivers is the Alcazar, the first documented record of the fortress dates back to Christian writings in the 12th century. In the 13th century, the building took on an air of Gothic elegance thanks to the Spanish architects working for John II and Henry IV.
Stop for lunch in one of the best asadores (restaurant specialized in roasting meat) of Segovia where you can try the famous tender suckling pig, the traditional dish in Segovia.
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After your visit, continue on to your hotel in Madrid to check in.
Between the glory of the Royal Palace and masterpieces at the Prado and Reina Sofia museums, Madrid is home to plenty of stunning attractions, but the true magic lies in the people and the colorful lives they create for themselves among the hustle and bustle.
This evening join a small group tapas tour for dinner. Tapas are small dishes or cuisine in miniature, also called pintxos in the Basque country, although pintxos are really food in a pincho or stick. This typical Spanish tradition has crossed all borders and it is now known all over the world. Here you can find some of the most diverse tapas in Spain, from traditional dishes to creative pieces of art on your plate or stick. Our local guides will take you to the best bars in the city.
Overnight at accommodation.
Your accommodations for tonight – Hotel Catalonia Atocha Located in the center of Madrid, a few meters from the Paseo del Prado and the Atocha Station, the gateway to Madrid of High Speed (AVE) trains, the Catalonia Atocha Hotel benefits from a strategic situation; a step away from the main museums and tourist attractions of the capital and in an area of great commercial and leisure activity.
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Friday, September 18th – Departure This morning, you will be met and transferred to Madrid Airport to catch your departing flight.
Buen Viaje!
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TERMS AND CONDITIONS
INCLUSIONS: • Bespoke organization of the tour • Bilingual guide with expert regional knowledge • Regional restaurant recommendations and reservations upon request • Private transfer from Barcelona airport to local accommodations • Welcome dinner in Barcelona • 2 nights in Barcelona at Petit Palace Hotel – Standard Double Rooms, breakfast included • Option for either Priorat wine day, wine tastings and lunch included or option for private walking tour of Barcelona, entrances and lunch included • Private transfer from local accommodations to train station • Comfort Class train tickets from Barcelona to Logroño • Private tapas tour lunch in Logroño • Private transfer from Logroño to La Rioja, en route wine tasting included • 2 nights accommodation in Rioja at Palacio Tondón – Standard Double Rooms, breakfast included • Full day private wine touring of La Rioja with wine tastings, lunch, and entrance to Museum Dinastia Vivanco included • Private transfer from Rioja to Ribera with enroute touring – wine tastings, lunch, entrance fees included • 1 night accommodation in Ribera at Monasterio Santa Maria de Valbuena – Standard Double Rooms, breakfast included • Private transfer from Ribera to Madrid with enroute visit to Segovia – wine tasting, entrances and lunch included • Dinner tapas tour in Madrid • 1 night accommodation in Madrid at Hotel Catalonia Atocha – Standard Double Rooms, breakfast included
Into The Vineyard – www.IntoTheVineyard.com Email: [email protected] Toll Free: 1 855 848 3899 Suite 200 - 1807 Maritime Mews. Vancouver, Canada, V6H 3W7 13
EXCLUSIONS: • International and domestic airfare • Any entrance tickets not mentioned in the inclusions • All meals and beverages if not mentioned in the inclusions • Gratuity (at your discretion) • Travel Insurance • Items of a Personal Nature
ITINERARY PRICING $2,980 USD per person based on 16 people double occupancy
$2,875 USD per person based on 18 people double occupancy
$2,795 USD per person based on 20+ people double occupancy
Single Supplement: $385 USD per person
No rooms or excursions have been held at the moment. Availability and price are guaranteed at time of booking.
A non-refundable deposit of $1000 per person is required at time of booking Full payment due 90 days prior to travel and is non-refundable.
Unless otherwise specified, no insurance is included in the prices we offer. Into the Vineyard suggests that you purchase travel insurance, against the following risks. Personal Injury, trip Cancellation, trip interruption, repatriation and loss of luggage. For a travel insurance quote, click HERE or on the image below.
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As far as possible, Into the Vineyard will satisfy amendment requests. If these requests concern an extension of the stay, an increased number of persons, or the purchase of additional services, these amendments will be charged in addition to the original price. For any other amendment, a fee per person will be charged.
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If you have not obtained satisfaction, please send your complaint through registered mail, and join all written evidence within 15 days after the end of your trip. The length of our investigation will determine the delay in our response to your complaint.
Into the Vineyard shall not be held liable for any inconvenience due to Loss/theft of plane tickets at the customs or check-in, non-presentation, or presentation of documents (ID card, passport, visa, vaccination certificate, etc.) which have expired or have an insufficient period of validity or do not conform to the indications on the back. In case of a failed check-in, there will be no refund of the package fare.
Unexpected incidents due to a third party: wars, political upheavals, strikes external to Into The Vineyard, technical hitches external to Into The Vineyard, congestions on the roads or in the air space, hijacking, bankrupt of a service provider, bad weather, delays, engine failures, thefts of luggage or other goods. No refund of any kind will be made because of delays and itinerary changes due to the incidents mentioned above – e.g. change in the length of the tour initially planned or of a connection. Possible additional expenses (taxes, hotel, parking) will be payable by the customer.
Cancellations imposed by circumstances of the greatest importance and/or linked to the customer’s safety, and/or on the command of an enforcing authority. Into The Vineyard reserves the right to modify planned dates/times/itineraries if the customer’s safety cannot be ensured. The customer cannot claim any refund.
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Services that will not be used (transfers and excursions) will not be refunded. Services that are voluntarily modified on the spot are subject to our service providers’ conditions: additional services that entail an extra cost will have to be paid directly by the customer and will not entail Into the Vineyard liability.
UNFORSEEN CIRCUMSTANCES Trip costs do not include items not specified in the itinerary. Although Into the Vineyard will make every effort to adhere to this itinerary, on rare occasions it may be necessary to make an adjustment to these arrangements. Should such adjustment be necessary, a substitute will be offered when and where possible. If war or terrorist activities threatened or actual, civil unrest, closures of airports or seaports, industrial action threatened or any other event outside the control of Into the Vineyard which causes either delays or extends the holiday or compels a change in the holiday arrangements.
Into the Vineyard reserves the right to substitute hotels or services of equal or greater quality Into the Vineyard cannot accept liability for any resulting loss, damage or expense and any refund will be subject to deduction of reasonable expenses.
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Into The Vineyard – www.IntoTheVineyard.com Email: [email protected] Toll Free: 1 855 848 3899 Suite 200 - 1807 Maritime Mews. Vancouver, Canada, V6H 3W7 16