Spanish Culinary, Wine & Cultural Tours
|
|
|
Wine Tours
The Luxury Wineries Tour ; experience Northern Spain wine region
Itinerary | Features | Prices | Travel Options
Highlights of your unforgettable visit include:
-
Accommodations in a 5-star luxury wine spa situated at the foot of the Montserrat Mountains and a 4-star charming fairytale Castle hotel in the heart of the Emporda region
-
Visits to five fine wineries including a tour of cellars and vineyards, and complete with wine tasting
-
Excursions to two medieval villages and brief visit to the oldest rice mill in Europe
-
Guided tours of the Dali museum, and a 13th century castle
-
Fine lunch and dinner experiences throughout the tour at a variety of authentic Catalan venues
-
A gourmet cooking lesson with a Spanish chef and a 3-course dinner with wine
|
|
You will start your vacation with airport collection and chauffeured transport to a
luxurious 5-star wine spa just outside Barcelona in the Penedés region lying at the foot of the Montserrat Mountains. The wine spa, a former villa residence dating back to the 16th century, provides an exceptional combination of modern luxurious accommodations, splendid natural beauty from the surrounding mountains and vineyards and pampering treatments, to make for an unforgettable stay. This evening we suggest an informal dinner at one of the wine spa's dining rooms, located above an old cellar from the days of the villa. The night provides the opportunity to get acquainted with this little slice of heaven.
After breakfast, a representative of Gourmand Breaks will meet you at the hotel to discuss your personalized itinerary for the rest of your tour. You will receive a booklet version of your itinerary details and plenty of suggestions for restaurants and free time activities. Your chauffeur will then take you to visit the nearby Priorat vineyards. The wines of this region are unique for their great expression of fruit and all of the vineyards are planted on mountain terraces or on a steep incline. This particular family-owned wine cellar was awarded one of the highest ratings by world famous wine critic Robert Parker. You will take a morning stroll with the vineyard owner through his fields, seeing firsthand the starting point for world class wine. Then you will enjoy the personalized tasting of their top vintages.
A delicious lunch paired with the best Priorat wines at a local restaurant in the nearby village will rejuvenate you for the afternoon’s ventures. Awaiting you is a vineyard, which has more than a 1,000 year-old wine making tradition dating back to the Carthusian monks! This site, situated at the foot of the Montsant mountain range, is where the Priorat region’s winemaking tradition originated. Relax and enjoy sipping one of the slow fermented and long matured fine wines in the scenic countryside village.
After these tastings, if you are feeling up to it, there is an optional trip to the Mediterranean seaside city of Tarragona where we can recommend several restaurants for dinner. This ancient city dates back to 218 B.C. when the Romans arrived and, for a time, was home to Emperor Augustus in the 1st century B.C. The entire city is a grand museum where you will be able to follow the footsteps of the past through the theater, the coliseum and the ancient city walls, all overlooking the pristine waters of the Mediterranean.
After breakfast, your chauffeur will take you to visit a cava cellar known worldwide as one of the most important vineyards in the Penedés region. The modernist style cellar was designed by the famous architect Puig i Cadafalch at the turn of the 20th century. These top quality sparkling Spanish wines are made using traditional Champagne-making methods, but with a blend of the classic Penedes region grape varieties of Macabeo, Xarel•lo and Parellada. You will enjoy the beautiful gardens and extensive undergrounds stone cellars and several private tastings!
For lunch you will be treated to a spectacular dining experience in a converted wine cellar in the capital of cava, Sant Sadurni de Anoia. Here you will enjoy a traditional Catalan Cuisine with a modern twist. Wine and cava are prominent thorough. Not only are each of the dining rooms decorated according to wine themes, but additionally cava and wine are incorporated into the dishes themselves. Enjoy delicious local cuisine with superior presentation, accompanied with fine wines from the surrounding vineyards. And remember to save room for dessert, as their XXI century Catalan Crème is unforgettable as well!
After lunch, you will visit an exceptional vineyard situated in the heart of the Penedés wine region. In this off the beaten path cellar, they specialize in biodynamic wines and you will be amazed how the "intervention" of bees, sheep, and lunar phases can help to create outstanding wines. The grapes in this vineyard are all hand picked to ensure harvest at the ideal time for each vine. Additionally, the vineyard owners make their own olive oil, and they will explain the process and properties of this "liquid gold" and invite you for some tasting.
After trying the finest wines of the region, you have the afternoon free to relax with the activities of your choosing, at the hotel or in the surrounding area. We suggest a walk around the picturesque vineyards surrounding the expansive hotel property and taking advantage of the relaxing spa circuit overlooking the Montserrat mountains.
This morning will start with a transfer to an authentic Spanish medieval castle, an architectural jewel that was built eight centuries ago. Later in the evening you will have time to get acquainted with the grounds of the castle, explore the hundred-year-old forest and a splendid olive orchard surrounding the hotel, overlooking the hills of the picturesque Emporda countryside. After you are settled in, you will spend the morning in romantic and picturesque Pals - one of the best-preserved medieval villages in all of Spain! As you walk through the narrow village streets, city walls, towers and churches, you will feel as though you have walked back in time. The stone archways, cobblestone streets, and wrought balconies adorned with flowers create a welcoming feel in this Romanesque village.
In the surrounding area are rich rice fields where the peasants tended to the key ingredient of their paella. You will take a brief tour of the oldest rice mill in all of Europe before visiting a lovely restaurant that dates back to the 14th century and is famous for its rice. Situated in the center of this medieval village, the restaurant gives you the perfect opportunity to enjoy a seafood paella coupled with excellent wine in an authentic Catalan setting!
After a day of immersion in medieval history, you have a free afternoon with time to unwind at your fairytale castle hotel. Perhaps you will drink tea on the terrace, walk the surrounding landscape of the hotel, or take a swim in the pool. For dinner tonight, we suggest trying the exceptional dining at the hotel’s restaurant. In an inviting and airy setting, with large windows and breezy terraces, you will enjoy traditional and seasonal cuisine in a lovely setting.
Today is a free day for you to explore the area. Your chauffeur is at your disposal during the day. We suggest a visit to a seaside town, like Calella de Palafrugell or Cadaqués, and spending the day exploring the coves, sunny walkways or one of their many fashionable boutiques. Or perhaps you prefer to spend the afternoon discovering the ancient Greek ruins in nearby Empuries, then taking in the view from a Mediterranean terrace with a seafood paella and wine! The list goes on in this area rich with historical, cultural and culinary activities.
A visit to an excellent vineyard with a long tradition of wine making, beginning in the 14th century by Carmelite monks, is the first activity of the day. Your visit will start with a stroll along the beautiful vineyards, where our expert will show you the local vine and soil types and describe the unique factors of Catalan geography contributing to the development of Emporda wines. You will visit the cellar and learn about the wine making techinques; afterwards you will cross the lane to a 13th century Romanesque Castle, which is home to an ancient wine press and current wine making facilities. The Gran Claustre cava or Grand Cloister cava, which is the finest cava available at this vineyard, is a cava that is still fermented with the same process and in the same location in which the Carmelite monks of the 14th century used to prepare it in their monastery. This cava was selected in a blind tasting between the world’s finest champagnes to be served at the wedding in 2004 of the Spanish Prince Felipe. You will finish your visit with a tasting of their best cavas and wines, including of course, the Gran Claustre.
For lunch, you will be the special guest of a local Catalan chef at his modern, but still cozy, cooking school, just 15 min. drive from Perelada. You and a representative of Gourmand Breaks who will translate, will join him for an afternoon of modern tapas, inspired by Dali, paella and wine in Catalan style! You will have the opportunity to participate in the chef’s preparations or, if you prefer, you can sit back with a glass of wine and enjoy his cooking from aperitif to dessert. Our chef appears frequently on local TV and has a charming personality, so feel free to ask him everything you would like to know about the Spanish cuisine!
Following lunch, we will see Dali's museum in Figueres. The great artist personally oversaw its reconstruction and renovation and it is home to some of his greatest surrealistic works. It is a very interactvive museum and with Dali's personality and fondness for "off the wall" art, it is an absolute must-see. And also, take into account the rarity of Dali building his own museum for his own works of art! The north wind that blows through this town typically has greater amounts of oxygen in it and is called “tramuntana”. After visiting Dali’s museum, you will have to decide for yourself if the “tramuntana” brings out the “creativity” in its recipients!
Our tour concludes with a lovely breakfast at your hotel, followed by a transfer to Barcelona for your departure. Thank you for joining us for this unforgettable experience!
Your The Luxury Wineries Tour includes:top
- Accommodations for 3 nights in a 5-star luxury wine spa (double occupancy)
- Accommodations for 3 nights in a 4-star authentic Spanish medieval castle hotel (double occupancy)
- 6 full breakfasts
- Assistance of Gourmand Breaks' expert Licensed Local Official Guide and Gourmand Breaks Chauffuer (depending on the travel option chosen), as indicated in the itinerary.
- All the excursions and tastings indicated in the itinerary
- 3 lunches including wine in local restaurants
- 1 private cooking class followed by a delicious lunch with wine
- Online Personal Travel Webpage including daily itinerary, general local information, details of places of interest, suggestions for restaurant reservations, and your free time, etc.
- Customized Travel Journal, including the information from your Personal Travel Webpage, which you can take with you to use as a reference throughout your tour
- Travel Insurance
Your The Luxury Wineries Tour does not include:
- Flights
- Meals and Drinks not Specified
- Personal Expenses such as Telephone, Minibar, etc
- Tips and Gratuities (Restaurants, etc)
- Cancellation Insurance
The Luxury Wineries Tour dates:
Available upon request all year round.
The Luxury Wineries Tour Prices:
Please note our tours are available for PRIVATE GROUPS ONLY and are not scheduled tours for mixed groups.
The tour price varies depending on the Travel Option you choose. Please click on the option which suits you best in order to request a quotation.
In order to find out more about Gourmand Breaks' Travel Options, please Click Here
|
|
|
|
