Rueda - Ribera del Duero Wines and Castles (8 days)
Rueda & Ribera del Duero: Wines and Castles along the Duero river
Wine and history
A wine route through history. Travel back in time through the ancient kingdoms of Castile and Leon, tasting wines with a history that dates as far back as the 12th century.
Understand the secret of wine making in Castile and Leon. Behind this truly authentic region in the very heart of old Spain, centuries of rich history have seen this dry yet fertile flatland shine through its majestic castles, the namesake of the region. These castles are too frequently overviewed by the usual mass tourism routes. This time they are the primary feature of our tour, along with the wineries. This region is the proud home of the iconic Rueda, Ribera del Duero or Cigales wines, some of which have received awards at renowned international competitions. Take this opportunity to explore this authentic region of Spain with a wine discovery programme at the center of a scenic landscape graced by castles and Medieval monasteries.
Wine in an historical setting
Day 1: Madrid – Cuéllar – Peñafiel
Departing from Madrid
Visit of the medieval castle of Cuéllar
Trip to Peñafiel,
Accommodation: Peñafiel
Day 2: Peñafiel – Tordesillas – Rueda - Castle of La Mota in Medina del Campo– Peñafiel
Visit the historical town of Tordesillas (King Philip the Handsome and Juana la Loca, 15-16th century)
Visit to the archive of Simancas (optional)
Rueda: Visit of a modern winery and vineyards. Wine tasting session
Visit of Castle of La Mota
Accommodation: Peñafiel
Day 3: Peñafiel – Gumiel del Mercado – Peñafiel
Visit a huge Finca with wine cellars – wine tasting and lunch
Accommodation: Peñafiel
Day 4: Peñafiel – Curiel – Peñafiel
Peñafiel: Visit the Castle + Wine museum
Bodega visit in Curiel
Accommodation: Peñafiel
Day 5: Peñafiel -Valbuena de Duero – Segovia
Visit of a traditional Bodega in Valbuena de Duero, walk in the vineyards. Wine tasting
Valbuena –San Bernardo, visit of the Cistercian Monastery of Santa María de Valbuena
Accommodation: Segovia
Day 6: Segovia – Turégano –Sepúlveda – Pedraza – Segovia
Turégano castle: visit the castle ruins, wander through the small town
The sublime Sepúlveda castle: tour + lunch
The magnificent Pedraza castle
Dinner and accommodation in Segovia
Day 7: Segovia – La Granja
Visit Segovia. Roman aqueduct and the Alcázar
Lunch: A must-try, the typical ‘cochinillo asado’ (roast suckling pig) Ribera de Duero wine
Afternoon: Visit La Granja de San Ildefonso, Royal Castle (17-18th century)
A beautiful example of French gardens, fountains and decor
Dinner and accommodation in Segovia
Day 8: Segovia - El Escorial– Madrid
Return to Madrid or Madrid Barajas Airport
Optional visit of Real Monasterio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial (Residence of King Philip II)
In Peñafiel, the heart of the Ribera del Duero Region, we have selected a 4 star complex in an ancient convent, with views of the Medieval castle. The hotel offers comfortable rooms, spa and sauna, as well as a restaurant that features both a traditional and avant-garde menu.
An alternative accommodation is a Posada, an historic place where you feel transported back to the Middle ages and taking part of an ancient rural way of life. Nevertheless, you will also enjoy all the modern comforts and amenities of our era.
You can also opt for a Spa hotel, where you can enjoy a vinotherapy treatment in combination with wellness treatments and relaxation sessions.
In Segovia, your accommodation is arranged in the town centre, in a sumptuous small hotel, unless you prefer a less urban environment, in a small village, in harmony with the slow travel principles. We always meet your expectations of high quality lodging.
From € 1780 per person
Price inclusive:
- Mainland transportation to all places with private bus
- Expert English-speaking local guide
- Welcome drink with tapas
- Entry fees to wineries, performance and as per the itinerary
- 6 dinners as per the itinerary
- Between 3-5 wines for each tasting sessions
- All the scheduled meals of a half board program
- Accommodation in shared room
- Buffet breakfast daily
- All local taxes and tips
NOT included in the price:
- Airfares (Airline tickets) to/from the pick-up or drop-off locations
- Transfers from/to the airport for those arriving out of schedule
- Meals, services not specified as per itinerary
- Personal expenses, such as laundry, telecommunications, mini bar, spa treatments
- Wellness treatment & Spa sessions
- Travel insurance
- Lodging before or after the trip
> Single room supplement: 190 €
All prices advertized or quoted are expressed in euro (€) and are per person, based on shared room.
The advertized price on the webpage is only indicative. It is calculated on an average party size (5-6 pers), qualitative hotels out of peak season, and no extras.
It takes a bit of customization to include the holidays request and nature of the group before coming up with a tour proposal that meets your interests and expectations. The price quoted to you can be adjusted upwards to reflect possible increases in transportation costs (including fuel), government taxes (including VAT). On any specific tour, a constituted group of 5 travelers (or more) means a different quote per person than 2 travelers, as we've elaborated the tour package on an average group size of 6 (guided) and 4 (self drive).
The information you provide us through the Get a Quote or Booking Form is important for us as it containts useful elements such as period of the year, accommodation type, group or party size, if all participants will share room or not. These points are essential to us to complete the quote in line with your budget. When we are asked to adjust itinerary or arrange tours in special periods of the year, prices can go slightly down or up, we try to moderate the price fluctuation by entering into agreements with our service providers. The accommodation availability is the main factor that can affect the advertized price of the original program.
We ask for clarity in order to streamline the communication: your group should be represented by one spokesperson. This one-to-one dialogue has many advantages over a one-to-many communication. Communication is more direct, misunderstandings are easily avoided.
Check here the easy steps of the booking process.
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- Full bodied red wines with history in a Medieval environment
- Cigales rosé wines, such a surprise!
- Rueda, the place to be for the white wine lover
- Castles and churches in the authentic Spain, unknown by mass tourism
- Surprising combination of Medieval towns and modern wineries
- Vast and deserted but fertile Castilian flatland
- Rural and sometimes backward villages in old Castile inland.
- Freezing winter cold and blazing sun in summertime
Inland Spain has hot summers and cold winters. Therefor we recommend visits in spring or autumn, but any time of the year we accompany you.
The world of wine is a vast one and investing time in it, at your own pace, is a hugely rewarding journey. My interest in wine started like an affair with tiny thin bubbles, with the likes of Champagne and Cava. It meant the world to me.
And this was only the beginning of further deepening and reading on all wine related topics.
Swirling the glass ostentatiously and trying to talk in expert like jargon was not mush for me, so I've learned directly from the producers around me in the first place. I like to go off the beaten path, keeping away from the snobby style.
I've grabbed the wine culture in serenpidity, going for entertaining learning through the people behind winemaking. There a lots of accidental occurences that proved best learning experiences ever. I will push all of you for a stroll in the vineyards as the natural initiation to wines.
I like to see myself as an insider when it comes to Spain and Portugal, as I feel very close to the many wine regions, wineries and some exceptional people. I will enthusiastically lead your group on more than 15 different destinations.
Client Testimonials
8 days - Rueda - Ribera del Duero Wines and Castles
from €1.780 pp
Places of interest
- Castle & wine museum in Peñafiel
- Castles of Cuellar, La Mota, Turégano and Pedraza
- Cistercian Monastery of Valbuena de Duero (12th century)
- Segovia, la Granja and Alcázar
- El Escorial, the Monastery-palace of King Philip II of Spain (16th century)
- Hand picked traditional and modern wineries