Spanish Culinary, Wine & Cultural Tours
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Food & Wine Tours
Gourmet Tour on the Border of Spain & France
Itinerary | Features | Prices | Travel Options
Highlights of your unforgettable visit include:
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Accommodations in three luxury 4-star hotels, including a downtown Barcelona palace, an authentic converted Spanish castle in the countryside and an old monastery turned into a cosy hotel
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Gourmet cooking lessons with Spanish chefs to include 3-course meals and a market shopping experience in Spain´s famous market, La Boqueria
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Guided tours of Gaudi's architecture, the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona, both French and Spanish castles, a medieval French town, and a charming Spanish seaside town
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Multiple day visits to exceptional Spanish and French wineries including tours of the cellars and vineyards, and complete with wine tastings
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Tastings of exquisite gourmet Spanish foods including ham, cheese, olives, wines, dried fruits, nuts and chocolate
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Fine dining for both lunch and dinner consisting of local products paired with extraordinary wines
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Your stay begins with airport pickup and check-in to your new home for the next 3 nights - an authentic Spanish medieval castle, an architectural jewel that was built eight centuries ago. This hotel offers all of todays luxuries while still maintaining the old world and grandeur of a castle. Unwind from your long overnight journey by exploring the hundred-year-old forest and a splendid olive orchard surrounding the hotel, overlooking the hills of the picturesque Emporda countryside. This leisurely evening will be spent getting acquainted with the grounds of the castle and enjoying all the amenities of your fairy tale residence before enjoying a romantic welcome dinner by candlelight.
A visit to an excellent vineyard in Peralada with a long tradition of wine making, beginning in the 14th century by monks, is the first activity of the day. On your private visit to the vineyard you will learn from a wine expert of the unique factors of the Catalonia geography that contribute to the development of these wines, and then taste a variety cavas, whites and reds, in the cellar. The famous Spanish surrealistic painter Salvador Dali often was seen drinking their cava and popularized it all over Europe. This new popularization of the “Spanish champagne” increased awareness of the drink and eventually led to conflict over the name with France. Finally the name was changed to “cava” rather than Spanish champagne, as before! After a few tastings, you will head across the lane to a 13th century Romanesque castle to see both an ancient wine press and current wine making facilities.
Lunch today is in a cozy stone restaurant, which once served as a rectory in the 14th century. Here you will enjoy a delicious lunch, before a short drive to Figueres where you will view the masterpieces of Dali in his museum. The great artist purchased the museum building and he personally oversaw the reconstruction and renovation of his own museum, which is a rarity. Now restored in a style appealing to Dali, it is home to some of his greatest works of surrealism, and also where his grave lies.
This evening you will be the guest of a local Catalan chef at his cooking school. You will join him for a night of traditional Spanish tapas seafood paella, Catalan creme ,
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!
This morning after breakfast you will embark on a day trip into the vineyards of Southern France. On a picturesque drive through vineyards and with views of the sea, you will make your way to the neighboring French town of Colliure. On the drive there you will see a stately French chateau (castle) appear on the horizon, which is our first visit of the morning. This chateau enjoys the Mediterranean climate and is situated in the foothills of the Pyrenees Mountains, in a mosaic of fertile soils nurturing the surrounding vineyards. The vineyards of the chateau consist mostly of Syrah and Grenache Blanc grape varieties, as well as Muscat variety and Grenache noir used for sweet natural wines. From the patio of the chateau, you will admire the fine location of the vineyard, between the sea and the mountains, and appreciate its calm beauty while tasting the chateau’s wines. After your tastings, we will finish our drive throughout Colluire. You will have ample time to explore the castle and town. After our full morning of vineyards and castles, we will provide you with plenty of suggestions of nearby fine French dining restaurants, for a traditional lunch! Upon returning to your luxury hotel from the day trip to France, surely you will enjoy some time to relax in this exquisite hotel; perhaps a cocktail on the terrace, a long walk on the pristine grounds, or whatever else you may wish! And then, we must bid farewell to your fairy-tale castle, and say hello to the chic and bustling, Barcelona!
Today you will transfer to your 4-star hotel in Barcelona. It was formerly the residence of a wealthy Duke and is deep-seated in the city's history. After settling in, you will be free to explore Barcelona and the famous Gothic Quarter as you wish! Our guide is at your disposal. We have many suggestions of activities in the city depending on your tastes. Perhaps in the evening you would like the guide to escort you to an illuminated night view of Sagrada Familia and recommend a fine dining venue nearby? The choices are all yours.
After breakfast this morning, you will embark on a gourmet walking tour through the city. The first stop is La Boqueria, Spain’s most important market because it offers the freshest and most diverse selection of produce from all over Europe. Next you will move into the Gothic Quarter, which is the heart of Barcelona and home to an abundance of tucked away cafes and shops. On your journey, you will familiarize yourself with the authentic gourmet foods in Catalonia. You will taste fresh Spanish cheeses at a charming local cheese shop paired with wine, and stop for refreshment at the oldest venue in Barcelona for dried nuts and fruits, and see the preparation process firsthand. You will visit a delicious traditional delicatessen and sample Spain's famous hams, cold meats and sausages, all provided by local farmers. The meats will be complemented by fine Penedes and Priorat wines, including ecological varieties from nearby Barcelona vineyards. With this combination, you will be enjoying the afternoon in authentic Spanish style! The walking tour will also pass by a few architectural feats as well, including the Gothic Santa Maria Church. And to round out our tasting day of Barcelona's best, we will finish off with dessert at the oldest venue for the best “chocolate and churros” the city has to offer.
After your tasting lunch, you will head up the Passeig de Gracia for a walking tour of the fanciful works of Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi. The tour starts with the “Passage of Discord” to view 3 famous façades, notably Gaudi’s Casa Batllo. Throughout Gaudi’s work, you will see much of his architectural inspiration came from his experiences in nature. Afterward, you will head to the rooftop of Gaudi's architectural masterpiece, La Pedrera for a bird’s eye view of Barcelona and a glimpse of cathedral Sagrada Familia in the distance. This evening you are free to discover the nightlife and enjoy the city sights. Of course your guide is ready with plenty of suggestions, or is happy to join you out in the city to further explore any area you wish.
This morning your venture will take you to Codorniu, a cava cellar known worldwide and one of the most important vineyards in the Penedes Region. The modernist style cellar was designed by the famous architect Puig i Cadafalch at the turn of the 20th century. The top-quality sparkling Spanish wines were made there using the traditional method of making Champagne but with a blend of the classic Penedes regional grape varieties of Macabeo, Xarel·lo, Parellada. You will enjoy the beautiful gardens and grounds, as well as the extensive underground stone cellars and several private tastings!
For lunch, you will travel to a nearby resort town on the seashore, SitgesSitges. At every turn, you are afforded picturesque views of the Mediterranean and the town abounds with colonial style houses fashioned for the local aristocracy of the 18th and 19th centuries. This town served as a haven for modernist painters and, with its accessibility to Barcelona, is still a popular and fashionable weekend escape from the city life. Here you will enjoy an authentic Spanish meal at a restaurant in Sitges with local seafood paired with wine. Imagine beginning the meal with a clam sauté, and for the main course, a typical dish from Catalonia, such as a seafood suquet, which includes rock fish, clams, king prawns, potatoes, garlic, and parsley. This dish is made casserole-style, and “suquet” means juice, because the seafood releases its own juices to perfectly flavor the dish. After lunch and a little walking around the town's seaside castle, relax with a glass of chardonnay as you take in the Mediterranean from a terrace view.
This evening you will move to a 4-star luxurious hotel next door to the town's castle! You will be free to get settled in at the hotel and to explore this charming town.
Robert Parker awarded one of his highest ratings to the family-owned wine cellar you will visit this morning in the Priorat, and he also regards it as one of his favorite vineyards in the world. Perhaps this will be one of your favorites as well after the vineyard owner personally shows you his fields and you see firsthand the vines in this fertile land that are the starting point for world class wine. The main varieties of grapes in the Priorat area are the grenache and the carinyena, which combine to give the wine the notable taste of strength and expression of fruit associated with the Priorat region.
Your gracious hosts at the vineyard and cellars also own a small restaurant in the heart of the nearby village. Your tour will move to the restaurant for a delicious meal abounding in local cuisine paired with the vineyard's finest wines. This evening you are free to explore as you wish and, of course, your guide and chauffeur will be there to help make your last night on the border between France and Spain an unforgettable one!
Your tour concludes with a lovely breakfast at the wine spa hotel, followed by a transfer to Barcelona for your departure.
We hope you join us for this unforgettable experience!
Your Gourmet Tour on the Border of Spain & France includes:top
- English speaking expert culinary guide/chauffeur at your entire disposal
- All transfers
- Accommodations for 3 nights in an authentic 13 century Spanish castle converted into 4-star luxury hotel (double occupancy)
- Accommodations for 2 nights in a luxurious 4-star palace hotel in Barcelona Gothic Quarter (double occupancy)
- Accommodations for 2 nights in a luxurious 4-star hotel in the wine region (double occupancy)
- 7 full breakfasts
- All the culinary, cultural visits and tastings indicated in the itinerary
- 1 tapas lunch
- 2 private cooking classes followed by meals (lunch or dinner)
- 3 lunches including wine in local restaurants
- 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 Gourmet Tour on the Border of Spain & France does not include:
- Flights
- Meals and Drinks not Specified
- Personal Expenses such as Telephone, Minibar, etc
- Tips and Gratuities (Restaurants, etc)
- Cancellation Insurance
Gourmet Tour on the Border of Spain & France dates:
Available upon request all year round.
Gourmet Tour on the Border of Spain & France 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
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