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Everything revolves around wine in La Rioja. Time stops and silence reigns in the cellars, just like in a cathedral.
VIEW THE PHOTOS
YOUR ITINERARY
Day 1: USA / Spain
- Overnight flight to Madrid.
Day 2: Madrid
- Upon arrival at the Madrid airport, meet your Imagine Tour Manager who will remain with you throughout your stay.
- Transfer to your hotel for check-in and to freshen up.
- Head on a guided walking tour through the old Madrid: Plaza de España, Gran Vía, Puerta del Sol and Calle de Alcalá.
- Dinner at a local restaurant in the center of Madrid.
- Return to your hotel for overnight accommodation.
Day 3: Madrid
- Breakfast at your hotel.
- Today, you will go on a guided visit of the El Prado Museum to admire the most internationally renowned Spanish painters: Velázquez and Goya.
- At lunch time, take a “Tapas Tour,” including the Museum of Ham and Gourmet Experience, where you will enjoy the best “tortilla española” in the city and taste the wines of Madrid.
- Free time to enjoy some typical “chocolate con churros” and shopping.
- Tonight for dinner, enjoy an authentic “cocido madrileño” at the restaurant La Bola.
- Return to your hotel for overnight accommodation in Madrid.
Day 4: Madrid - La Rioja Alavesa - Laguardia
- Breakfast at your hotel.
- Start the morning with a guided visit of the Thyssen Museum to marvel at the works of the greatest European impressionist painters.
- Then, stroll down through the Parque del Buen Retiro.
- Eat like a local in a neighborhood market. Take your pick between the Mercado de San Anton or the San Miguel Market.
- After lunch, board your private motorcoach to the province of La Rioja (4 h.) The enclave of vineyards of La Rioja is splendid and depending on the time of year, their crops will present a violet or yellow color, fused with the green of nature.
- Upon arrival at La Rioja, check-in to your hotel in Laguardia to rest and freshen up.
- Later, walk through the village of Laguardia. Its wall, about 2 meters high, surrounds the village and its narrow streets with stone buildings give it a special charm.
- Dinner at a local restaurant with “lamb chops with vine shoots.” The lamb baked with vine branches is typical of the area of Rioja and Navarra.
Day 5: La Rioja Alavesa - Laguardia y Elciego
- After breakfast at your hotel, depart by private motorcoach to Ysios winery. Located in El Ciego-Alava, this winery was designed by the famous Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. Tour the winery and pleasure your palate with your first wine tasting.
- Later, visit the Bodega Artadi, a reference in the region that boasts one of the few wines in the world awarded 100 points by the American wine critic Robert Parker. Take advantage of the rare opportunity to taste an authentic “vino de pago,” wine classified by its individual vineyard, rather than its region.
- Have lunch at the Bodegas Artadi.
- In the afternoon, head to the Hotel and Winery Marqués de Riscal, located in El Ciego. This hotel winery was designed by the famous architect Frank Gheri and it is a true visual attraction.
- Enjoy the hotel´s relaxing atmosphere focused on wine. If you´re ready to try something new, take a dip in one of the hotels wine baths.
- Tonight´s dinner at the Marqués de Riscal will be paired with wines from Rioja. Renowned not only for the quality of its strains, but also their expertise and experience in the elaboration, Rioja is one of the most popular and well-known wine regions in the world.
- Overnight accommodation in El Ciego.
Day 6: La Rioja - Haro - Villabuena de Alava - Elciego
- After breakfast at your hotel, depart by your private motorcoach to the town of Haro.
- Visit the Ramón Bilbao Winery, named the best Spanish wine by the International Wine & Spirits Competition in 2014. You´ll taste “Mirto,” its flagship wine, and enjoy a very special view over their vineyards.
- Lunch at a local restaurant.
- In the afternoon, visit the López Heredia Viña Tondonia Winery. Founded in 1877, it is one of the oldest wineries in La Rioja and famed for having one of the best preserved collections of old Spanish wines.
- Take a tour of the Vivanco Museum of Wine Culture. With more than 4,000 m2 of exhibition space, this museum provides a universal view of the role that wine has played throughout history and its importance across cultures and countries.
- Later, transfer to the village of Villabuena de Alava. With 48 wineries and a population of less than 500, you´ll see how winemaking runs in the veins of nearly everyone that calls this place home.
- Dinner at the Restaurant Hotel Viura where you´ll experience the sensational pairing of local dishes with the best wines of the region.
- Return to your hotel for overnight accommodation in El Ciego.
Day 7: La Rioja - San Vicente de la Sonsierra - Ezcaray - El Ciego
- After breakfast at your hotel, depart by private motorcoach to San Vicente de la Sonsierra.
- Visit the Bodegas Contador, where you will taste wines of Benjamin Romeo, one of the most innovative and award-winning winemakers in the region.
- Lunch at the winery.
- In the afternoon, visit the vineyards of the Sierra Cantabria Winery and sample the wines produced by Eguren, one of the most important families of winemakers in Spain.
- Later, transfer to the municipality of Ezcaray.
- Free time to stroll through the winding streets and arcaded squares of Ezcaray. Stop by Santa Maria La Mayora to admire the beautiful church altarpiece.
- Dinner at the Echaurren restaurant, one of the most famous of La Rioja, where the seasonal menu changes every few weeks.
- Return to your hotel for overnight accommodation in El Ciego.
Day 8: La Rioja - Madrid
- After breakfast at your hotel, return by private motorcoach to Madrid (4 hours).
- Check into your hotel in Madrid to rest and relax a bit.
- Free time for lunch and last minute shopping.
- In the afternoon, visit the Royal Palace, the largest royal palace in Europe and former residence of the Spanish kings.
- Dinner at La Bola, a real madrileño cuisine restaurant.
- Return to your hotel for overnight accommodation in Madrid.
Day 9: Madrid / USA
- After breakfast, transfer by private motorcoach to the airport for your return flight home.
- Buen viaje and hasta luego!
