France's Famous Wine Regions and Northern Spain 2010
September 5 - September 14, 2010
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Madrid and Wine Country of Northern Spain
September 14 – 20, 2010
Spain is seriously exciting for food and wine lovers. Basque country is the gourmet epicenter of Spain, with many Michelin starred restaurants and of course its famous tapas bars. We will visit the top wineries in the region, explore its medieval villages and dine in royal residences.
We will start our journey in fabulous San Sebastian on the coast of Spain. San Sebastian is a city known for its esteemed restaurants, world-class casino, and Zubieta Race Track. The winding coast is lined with small fishing villages, beaches, cliffs, and rocky coves. Our home base will be the amazing Hotel Maria Cristina - home to the stars during their world-famous film festival.
As a result of an astonishing 18 Michelin stars bestowed upon San Sebastian restaurants, culinary aficionados congregate here to sample distinctive Basque cuisine. We will enjoy a unique cooking experience and special meal by one of the most famous chefs in Spain and a visit by one of the regions top winemakers. We will tour the city and enjoy the nightlife.
Our first stop will be Frank Gehry's groundbreaking Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao – one of the most famous modern architecture sites in the world.
From Bilbao, we will head off to our wine tour of Northern Spain and take in two of Spain's most picturesque regions - Ribera del Duero and La Rioja.
Our stay in Rioja will be at another Frank Gehry creation – one of the most unique properties in the world, Hotel Marquis de Riscal. We will visit and dine with some of the top wineries in the region, and to meet one of Spain’s most revered winemakers Alejandro Fernández at Tinto Pesquera. After a decadent lunch we will head south to one of the most exciting cities in Spain – Madrid.
Street life is the trademark of 21st century Madrid, be it in the cobbled streets of old Madrid or in the sleek new districts. Here you will find some of the best art museums in the world, royal architecture, delicious food, thrilling nightlife, top-end shopping and round-the-clock friendly, lively and warm atmosphere.
Our home base will be the famous Palacio del Retiro in the heart of historical Madrid. We will enjoy our grand finale dinner in one of the city’s most famous restaurants with rare wines not-to-be missed.
Travelers will have option of heading home from Madrid or travelling on to Barcelona, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The unique Hotel Casa Fuster will be your home while you explore the city.
