Wine Tours · Tour
Rioja Full-Day Wine Tour from San Sebastian: Small Wineries and Laguardia
Ratings collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
San SebastianThis full day in the Rioja wine region starts with a hotel pickup in San Sebastian and a 90-minute drive south. The focus is on the people behind the bottles. The stops are very small wineries, some with medieval cellars and some newer and more polished, and at several of them the grower or winemaker pours the wine personally. The day moves from classic Riojas to newer styles. Along the way you taste at family bodegas in Haro and Laguardia, stop at the Marqués de Riscal and Ysios buildings to look at their architecture, and sit down to lunch in a local restaurant in Laguardia. Aging has changed too. Oak, stainless steel and concrete are no longer the only options, and some producers have gone back to clay, ceramic and cement eggs. Your guide can explain the difference and help you buy bottles aged that way. The route can be tailored, so ask if you would rather visit another of the classic Rioja wineries.
What's included
- Private transportation
- Light local food lunch in a restaurant
- Local Expert Tour Guide
- Air-conditioned vehicle
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- 2 more tastings in 2 wineries (3 wines in each winery)
- Wine tasting 1 (4 exclusive wines)
Itinerary
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Donostia - San Sebastian
Pickup at your hotel in San Sebastian in an air-conditioned, heated vehicle. If you are staying in another city, tell the operator in advance. The drive to Rioja takes about 90 minutes, and the landscape changes gradually along the way.
Bodegas y Vinedos Gomez Cruzado
Five wines and local olive oil are tasted here, mixing classic and newer styles of Rioja. Bottles can be shipped home. Haro was one of the first towns in Spain with electric light, thanks to its wine trade, and a walk through the neighborhood passes the oldest wineries. The visit can be swapped for another classic bodega on request.
Bodegas Hermanos Pecina S.l
A tasting of three wines (Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva) with a local Riojan appetizer. White wines are available for those who prefer them.
Bodegas Marques de Riscal
A viewpoint among the vineyards looks over the Marqués de Riscal winery, designed by Canadian architect Frank O. Gehry. Its shapes are bold but sit comfortably in the landscape. Founded in 1858, Riscal is one of the oldest wineries in Rioja and was among the first to age wine in oak barrels, at the end of the 19th century. Another classic winery can be visited instead.
Bodegas Ysios
A stop outside this boutique winery to see the modern building designed by Santiago Calatrava, set against the Sierra de Cantabria.
Bodegas Carlos San Pedro Perez de Vinaspre
A short visit, then a tasting of three wines in an underground cave. Some bodegas in medieval Laguardia still age their wines below ground in the traditional way, and this is a chance to see those cellars and taste what comes out of them.
Laguardia
Lunch in a local restaurant, then a short walk. Laguardia sits on a hilltop and is the capital of Rioja Alavesa. Founded in the 10th century to defend the Kingdom of Navarre, it keeps its medieval layout almost intact. The fortified churches of San Juan Bautista and Santa María de los Reyes are here. The streets are pedestrian because more than 300 tunnels run underneath, and the guide explains their origin and how they are used today.
Not included
- Any extra item not specified above
- Tips
Good to know
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Up to 7 travelers per booking.
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
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- Guiding available in: en, es.
Reviews
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Ratings collected by Viator, Tripadvisor and Civitatis