After a morning pick-up in Valladolid, we head to our first winery in Ribera del Duero, Abadia Retuerta, mavericks who grow varietals like syrah and petit verdot and make mouth-watering single-vineyard cru tempranillo wines. We’ll visit a wine museum at the Emina winery, then get better acquainted with tempranillo at the Finca Villacreces winery. Then we go to our hotel in Peñafiel, an old monastery, and visit the castle of Peñafiel. Dinner in town introduces such Spanish dishes as pimientos relleno (stuffed red peppers), white asparagus tips, artichokes with jamon (a special Iberian ham), and grilled lamb. D

Day 2 – Ribera to Rioja

Before leaving the Ribera del Duero zone, we’ll visit Pesquera, a pioneering estate that’s been a critical darling among wine authorities, with good reason. Then it’s on to Rioja and Briones, a charming old city on the River Ebro. Here we’ll visit Miguel Merino, a boutique producer (the smallest in Rioja). We’ll then settle into our hotel, a beautifully renovated convent in the town of Haro. B, D

Day 3 – Modern Rioja

Today features the new generation of Rioja winemakers. There’s no better place to start than Roda. This top-notch winery cultivates 28 small vineyard plots. We’ll visit their experimental vineyards planted with tempranillo clones, then taste their prized portfolio—beautiful wines that combine finesse and intensity. After lunch, we’ll head to the tiny town of Samaniego (pop. 400) to visit another member of the Spanish New Wave: Remirez de Ganuza. Dinner is at La Vieja Bodega, a countryside restaurant that’s a favorite among local winemakers. B, D

Day 4 – Rioja’s Architectural Flourish

Founded in 1862, Marchese de Riscal was the first winery to bottle Rioja for commercial sale and is key in the history of Rioja wine. Today it’s just as famous for its modern architecture designed by Frank Gehry. After lunch, we head to Contino, the winery that established the “chateaux” concept in Rioja in the 1970s. Situated in a unique microclimate on a bend in the Ebro River, this is one of the few wineries that also produces a pure Graciano. After a stroll through the vineyards to see a Roman bridge over the river, we’ll taste their mouth-watering wines. B

Day 5 – Historic Rioja & Bilbao

At Lopez di Heredia, we’ll finally encounter the “historic” style of Rioja—one meant for decades of aging, with a sherry-like oxidation. Then, it’s on to the port city of Bilbao, about an hour north of Rioja. Long a sleepy port town, it underwent a wholesale revitalization after the construction of the Frank Gehry–designed Guggenhem Museum. In Bilbao, there will be time on your own for lunch and sightseeing. Afterwards, we head to Burgos, a city with a beautiful historic center and one of Spain’s largest medieval cathedrals, a UNESCO World Heritage site. B, D

Day 6 - Hasta Luego!

We depart immediately after breakfast to drive back to Madrid and say adios! Drop-off is at the Madrid airport, which is connected to the city by subway.

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