Itinerary Spain & Southwest France

Basque Country, Bordeaux Culinary & Wine Experience 

September 7-16, 2019

10 days/ 9 nights

https://internationalculinarytours.com/basque-bordeaux/#moreinfo

Saturday, Sept. 7:

Arrive on respective flights from Spain.  Check-in followed by Welcome Pintxos walkabout (tapas tour) of Old City of Bilbao at 5 pm.

Overnight: Bilbao

Evening: Pintxos walkabout

Included:  Dinner/drinks, includes wine

Sunday, Sept. 8:

Begin your day with a visit the Guggenheim Museum, a contemporary museum by Frank Gehry, with our private guide. Enjoy not only the inside exhibitions but the structure of the museum and outside installations as well. Continue on to La Rioja region with lunch stop and one winery tour.

Evening:  Dinner with wine at hotel 

Included:  Breakfast, picnic lunch/drinks, dinner

Overnight: La Rioja region

Monday, Sept. 9:

After breakfast, enjoy touring the La Rioja region, first stopping at the town of Haro.  Here we will visit and have tastings at both the world renown wineries of Roda and Tondaria. Compare and contrast these traditional wineries with Baigorri, an ultra-modern winery where we will stop for a tour and lunch.

Evening:  Pixtos walking tour of San Sebastian

Included:  Breakfast, lunch, winery visits with tastings, Pixtos dinner

Overnight: San Sebastian

Tuesday, Sept. 10:

Experience being a “Basque Chef” today by starting the morning with a tour of the Central Market in San Sebastian with our private chef, shopping for our cooking class.  Our class will be held in a private studio with our chef.  Enjoy local drinks, wine pairings with the lunch you have prepared.

Evening:  At your leisure

Included:  Breakfast, cooking class with lunch/drinks

Overnight:  San Sebastian

Wednesday, Sept. 11:

Begin the morning with a stop at a Txakoli winery cascading down to the ocean.  Enjoy tastings and snacks.  Continue on to the beautiful fishing village of Getaria and enjoy a picnic along the St. James Camino Path.

Return late afternoon and relax prior to dinner.  Dinner will be at a Gastronomic club in San Sebastian, formally men-only clubs and now open to female memberships.  Participate with our private chef in preparing regional specialties for our evening feast.

Evening:  Gastronomic club dinner

Included:  Breakfast, picnic lunch/drinks, dinner with drinks, wine

Overnight:  San Sebastian

Thursday, Sept. 12:

After breakfast, we will transfer by private van to Bordeaux at 7:30 am.  Enjoy a morning break in the beautiful seaside village of Biarritz on our way to Bordeaux.  Arrive at Chateau Carbonnieux, a beautiful 13th century historical winery in the Pessac-Leognan region of Graves. Meet our host and sommelier and enjoy lunch with wine at the estate. Continue on after lunch for second winery visit prior to arriving in Bordeaux.  Visit to the Wine Museum prior to checking in to our hotel in Bordeaux. 

Evening:  Dinner in Bordeaux

Included:  Breakfast, lunch/tastings & dinner/drinks

Overnight:  Bordeaux

Friday, Sept.  Sept. 13:

Start the morning with a pleasant drive from Bordeaux to Saint Emilion, a historic city surrounded by vineyards and a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1999.  Enjoy a walking tour of the town followed by VIP winery visits and tastings.  Afterward we will have a multi course lunch with wine. In late afternoon, transfer to Chateau Ladausse in Monflanquin, France. 

Included:  Breakfast, lunch, wine tastings, dinner with wine

Evening:  Dinner at Chateau Ladausse

Overnight:  Overnight in Monflanquin

Saturday, Sept. 14:

After breakfast, enjoy a full day tour of the Castles of the Dordogne including the famous Chateau des Milandes, former home of the Jazz entertainer Josephine Baker.   Continue on to visit the one of the prettiest villages of France, La Roque Gageac .  Enjoy a picnic afterward before visiting another castle, Chateau de Beynac time permitting.  Return to Chateau Ladausse  for our evening cooking class, dinner and wine atelier.

Included:  Breakfast, picnic lunch, cooking class, dinner with wine pairings

Evening:  Dinner at Chateau Ladausse

Overnight:  Chateau Ladausse

Sunday, Sept. 15:

Leisurely morning includes a visit to Issigeac Sunday market to purchase specialties for our picnic.  Time allotted to enjoy shopping in this charming, medieval village. Afterward, we will take what we have purchased to Chateau de Biron, dating back to the 13th century and enjoy our picnic lunch with wine below the Castle ramparts 

Afterward, return to Chateau Ladausse with time to relax in the afternoon prior to our farewell dinner.

Included:  Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner with wine pairings

Evening:  Dinner at Chateau Ladausse

Overnight:  Chateau Ladausse

Monday, Sept. 16:

Transfer to Bordeaux for flights or TGV to Paris.

Included:  Breakfast

Tour Includes:

9 nights hotel accommodations including 4 star hotels and Chateau Ladausse (5 nights Spain, 4 nights France)

Daily buffet breakfas 

8 dinners/ 8 lunches

Private professional guides and transportation

All entrance fees, tastings, cooking classes as listed

Transfers as listed

Not Included:

International airfar 

Airport transfers unless specified

Gratuities for guides, baggage handlers, drivers, housekeepers

Personal purchases

Deposit and Final payment:

Deposit required to secure booking $895 per person. Remaining balance will be due 75 days prior to trip start date.

Visir website to view more about this tour, and to reserve you space for this incredible, intimate food and wine experience! Space is limited.

SPAIN & SOUTHWEST FRANCE
Culinary, Cooking and Wine Appreciation
10 DAYS / 9 NIGHTS

Travel Insurance, optional: (recommended options)

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