Spanish Culinary, Wine & Cultural Tours
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Wine Tours
The Luxury Wineries Tour ; experience Northern Spain wine region
Itinerary | Features | Prices | Travel Options
Highlights of your unforgettable visit include:
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Accommodations in a 4-star charming Spanish villa surrounded by vineyards and a 5-star luxury wine spa situated at the foot of the Montserrat Mountains
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Visits to five fine wineries including a tour of cellars and vineyards, and complete with wine tasting
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Excursions to two medieval villages and brief visit to the oldest rice mill in Europe
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Guided tours of the Dali museum, and a 13th century castle
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Fine lunch and dinner experiences throughout the tour at a variety of authentic Catalan venues
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A gourmet cooking lesson with a Spanish chef and a 3-course dinner with wine
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You will start your vacation with airport pickup and chauffeured transport to
luxurious 5-star wine spa just outside of 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. You will share a welcome cocktail with your guide where you will receive an itinerary of your personalized tour, a map, and plenty of suggestions of restaurants and activities for free time. 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.
This morning you will 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.
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 the Scala Dei vineyard, which has more than a 1,000 year-old wine making tradition dating back to the Carthusian monks! 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 for 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, you will visit Codorniu, 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 grounds as well as the extensive underground stone cellars and several private tastings!
For lunch you will visit a small charming restaurant nestled in the foothills, providing splendid views of the famous Montserrat Mountains on your drive there. Enjoy delicious local dishes with exceptional presentation and fine wines from the surrounding vineyards, in a formal dining room setting. We certainly suggest dessert and coffee from this restaurant.
After lunch, you will visit a superior vineyard situated in the rocky terrain of the Penedés wine region, which is covered in aromatic shrubs and low bushes. The grapes in this vineyard are all hand picked to ensure harvest at the ideal time for each vine.
After trying the finest wines of the region, you have the afternoon free to relax with the activities of your choosing, either at the hotel or in the surrounding areas. We suggest visiting the nearby Mediterranean beach, exploring the town or nearby castle, or maybe playing a round of golf!
This morning will start with a transfer to a charming Spanish villa, restored from the 18th century and converted into a luxury 5-star hotel, situated in the heart of the Costa Brava’s beautiful landscape. 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 relaxing countryside hotel. Perhaps you will drink tea on the terrace, walk the surrounding landscape of the hotel, indulge in a luxury spa treatment or massage, or take a swim at the indoor 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. Both your guide and chauffeur are at your disposal. 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.
This morning, after breakfast at your hotel, you will visit an excellent vineyard with a long tradition of wine making, beginning in the 14th century by Carmelite monks. You will taste a variety of cavas, whites, and reds in the cellar, then learn to note the balanced coupage of Xarel.lo, Macabeu and Parellada grapes in the finest cavas. This cellar is home to the cava that was selected in a blind tasting between the world’s finest champagnes to be served at the wedding of the Spanish Prince. After a few tastings, you will cross the lane to a 13th century Romanesque Castle, which is home to an ancient wine press as well as 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 abounding with local produce, before you view the masterpieces of Dali in his museum. The great artist purchased the museum building and personally oversaw its reconstruction and renovation. Now restored in a style appealing to Dali, it is home to some of his greatest works of surrealism.
This evening, you will be the guest of a local Catalan chef as he invites you into his cooking school. You will join him for a night of tapas, fine wine, and traditional seafood paella 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 artful work. Dinner will surely be completed with Catalan creme or another local favorite.
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
- English speaking expert culinary guide/chauffeur at your entire disposal
- All transfers
- Accommodations for 3 nights in a 4-star authentic Spanish Villa (double occupancy)
- Accommodations for 3 nights in a 5-star luxury wine spa (double occupancy)
- 6 full breakfasts
- All the excursions and tastings indicated in the itinerary
- 4 lunches including wine in local restaurants
- 1 private cooking classes followed by meals (lunch or dinner)
- 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:
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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