The Best Wine Route in Spain: 10-Day Discovery

This tour combines wine, gastronomy, history, and culture, visiting some of the great renown appellations of origin in Spain, such as the Rías Baixas, with its famous Albariños; Ribeiro, the Ribeira Sacra, with its “Heroic Viticulture,” canyons and impressive landscapes, Valdeorras, Bierzo, Tierra de León, Cigales, world-renown Ribera de Duero and Rioja, as well as Arlanza, Navarra and Txakoli. 

The route goes along the fabulous N-120 Route and besides wine, it offers, "The Camino", Gaudí buildings, Roman World Heritage sites, monuments, and the excellent gastronomy of the different regions.

This route is the most complete wine tourism route in Spain and probably, one of the best in the world.

Itinerary:

Day 1: From Bilbao to Pamplona

Start the tour with a brief tour of the city of Bilbao, from where you continue to Guetaria to visit one of its interesting wineries where the famous Txakoli is made. Later you’ll enjoy its wonderful fish in this well-known fishing port, after which, you will start the journey towards Navarre, but not before making a stop at the spectacular viewpoint of the Nervión River, a detour that you will surely appreciate.

Next,  head to Pamplona where you will be spending the night and visit the old part of town, well known for the running of the bulls, while enjoying a tapas dinner combined with the local wines.

Day 2: From Pamplona to Logroño

After visiting the old town of the city of Pamplona, famous for its San Fermín bull runs, with its stories and anecdotes, eat in a typical cider house where you can enjoy its relaxed and friendly atmosphere, and then leave the city towards Logroño.

On the way, you’ll be making a couple of stops to visit wineries of the D.O. Navarre. Continue towards Logroño following the Camino de Santiago, with stops at some of its most interesting points.

Check-in Logroño, rest and later take a tour of its famous Laurel street and enjoy its Rioja wines and great tapas. 

Day 3: From Logroño to Laguardia (La Rioja)

Tour the old town of Logroño, discover its cathedral and then explore the most famous wine region of Spain for its Rioja wines, visiting some of its most spectacular and traditional wineries such as Marqués de Riscal or Viña Tondonia in Haro.

Enjoy a delicious lunch in Haro, and then continue the tour towards Laguardia, a beautiful medieval walled town perched on a hill, with spectacular views of the surroundings including the Sierra Cantabra. 

You will be staying in a charming hotel in the town and visit the church of Sta. María de Los Reyes with its spectacular polychrome pórtico. You will have dinner in one of the many cave wineries that are located underneath the town.

Day 4: From Laguardia to Burgos

Today you will head towards Castilian lands following the N-120 to Burgos, passing and stopping in Santo Domingo de la Calzada, where you will visit its wonderful cathedral, also on the Camino de Santiago. 

The tour today will be a bit more historical, with visits to Covarrubias, Santo Domingo de Silos, and a movie location, the Sad Hill cemetery, the filming set of a famous western. 

Later you will visit a winery of the D.O. Arlanza in Lerma, and also have lunch in this pretty town. In the afternoon go to Burgos where you will spend the night and visit its most important monuments, such as San Pedro de Cardeña, the burial place of the Cid. Visit the cathedral and have dinner in a typical Burgos restaurant to enjoy the local gastronomy.

Day 5: From Burgos to León through the Ribera del Duero

Today you will turn south to visit another important wine region in Spain, La Ribera del Duero. Visit an important winery in the area, in Peñafiel, where you can admire its wonderful castle. Continue towards another wine area such as Cigales, to eat lunch in a winery cave in the area. 

Later you will discover Frómista, an important place on the Camino where you can contemplate the Canal de Castilla, the most important work of the Spanish Enlightenment era in the XVIII century, in this case, its construction was based on models by Leonardo da Vinci. 

Return to the N-120 route to arrive in the afternoon in León, which in 2018 obtained the title of gastronomic capital of Spain. Spend the night there, and enjoy a walking tour of its streets with buildings such as Gaudí's house of Botines, and visit its cathedral famous for its impressive stained glass windows.

At night you will enjoy tapas in the well-known "humid neighbourhood", filled with bars serving local wines and delicacies.

Day 6: From León to Villafranca del Bierzo

The tour today will first take you to visit the producing area of the wines of the land of León, so you will go to Valdevimbre, a town completely filled with cave wineries, with a few very interesting ones. Visit a winery where you will be shown the elaboration process and have the chance of tasting their wines of the autochthonous varieties, Prieto Picudo and Albarín. 

Later go to Astorga, an important city from Roman times that also has one of the few splendid buildings by Gaudí, the archiepiscopal palace. For lunch, you will head to Castrillo de Los Polvazares, a charming nearby town, and taste a forceful "cocido maragato" before continuing along the Camino de Santiago to reach its highest and emblematic point, the Cruz de Ferro. Follow the "Camino" towards Ponferrada and its Castle, to end the day in Villafranca del Bierzo.

Day 7: From Villafranca del Bierzo to Monforte

Today you will visit two Denominations of Origin, Bierzo, and Valdeorras, starting from Villafranca. Visit a winery in Cacabelos tasting its Mencía and Godello Wines. Discover the most important Roman open-pit gold mine in the world and a World Heritage Site (Las Medulas). Then you will go to the Valdeorras area, also famous for its Mencías and Godellos. 

Next, you will visit one of the most significant wineries and enjoy a meal in the winery, in the company of the winemaker. In the afternoon head to Monforte de Lemos, passing through another landmark of Roman engineering, Montefurado. In Monforte, you will visit its most important monuments and spend the night at its Parador / monastery. For dinner, you will go to an attractive restaurant with dishes from the area.

Day 8: From Monforte to Tuy

Today you'll visit the Ribeira Sacra and its "Heroic Viticulture". Visit some of its wineries and take a catamaran ride through its canyons, to enjoy the beautiful landscapes and views. 

Visit another winery where you will learn about the characteristics of this region from the owner, and enjoy a wine tasting paired with  lunch in the winery while enjoying the views of the vineyards.

Discover the magnificent monastery of Oseira, andlater go to the Ribeiro area for another winery visit and wine tasting. 

Continue to Tuy to spend the night, and have dinner in the beautiful walled, neighboring town of Valença do Minho, in Portugal, just on the other side of the river that gives it its name.

Day 9: From Tuy to Cambados

Today you will begin the journey along the Miño river, the natural border with Portugal, to reach its mouth, visiting a winery of the D.O. Ribeiro, the oldest in Spain and one of the oldest in the world.

Continue towards the Rías Baixas in the Rosal sub-area, where you will visit another cellar and taste the famous Albariño. Visit the Celtic village remains in Mount Sta. Tecla and enjoy the fantastic views of the Atlantic and Portugal that it has to offer.

The route will continue along the coast in this case along the Portuguese Way to Santiago, until you reach Oya, to relax with a wonderful lunch in front of the sea. You will continue north passing and stopping by Bayona, Pontevedra, Combarro to end the day in Cambados where you will spend the night and have dinner based on typical delicacies of the area.

Day 10: From Cambados to Santiago de Compostela

On the last day of the tour you will visit a winery in the Valle del Salnés sub-area where wines are normally made of 100% Albariño grapes, with different elaborations. 

Later you will visit the fishing port of the O Grove to embark on a catamaran to discover the mussel farms and enjoy a mussel tasting paired with local wines. You will also visit the island of La Toja. 

For lunch, go to the island of Arosa to enjoy a meal based on local products in a wonderful environment. After lunch continue towards Santiago, passing through Padrón and arriving in Santiago. Walk down its streets and monuments, and end the night with a nice dinner accompanied by the ritual of the "Queimada". The next day you can request a transfer to the airport if need be.

Please note: The tour can start from either Bilbao or Santiago de Compostela city, at your convenience.