Self Drive Andalusia (5 days)
A wine road trip in the Andalusian style
Discovering much more than sweet wines
This tour is designed so it brings the traveler a fresher perspective to a few Andalusian wines that are only crossing national borders.
Visitors will discover that the region has a long history of making famous wines.
Sherry wines: at the end of this self-drive tour, you will be able to name and identify the numerous styles in between dry and sweet 'PX' or Pedro Ximenez. You will also have a much better understanding of the vinification process behind the manzanilla and fino. The 'soleras' aging sytem, under flor, from the indigenous Palomino Fino grape. Manzanilla, however, is produced only in Sanlucar and due to the town's coastal location and climatic conditions the wines take on a slightly different character. All of the three towns produce sherries with their own certain nuances. The coastal town of Sanlucar de Barrameda is famous for its manzanilla – and is the only town of the three that is permitted to make and label this particular wine.
For those traveling on a quest for a special sherry, this experience of enjoying the sherry to its full potential will be possible with the perfect match of food. Since no wines are more versatile than a fino sherry with tasty food, you will praise Southern Spain for bringing so many choice of tapas.
Sierra de Málaga wines: the inland side of the region is not easily accessible due to a rough landscape where elevations above 1000m account for almost 15% of all the territory. Around the mid 1980s, there were only eleven wineries under its Denominacion de Origen (DO). While the Sierra de Málaga has known ups and downs since the 60s, it wasn't particularly known for fine wines until recently. Today, Málaga boasts around 45 DO wineries. The vineyard parcels are small comparatively with other vine-regions, but the variety of climates and soils authorizes a great diversity of wines, from the traditional sweet Málaga wines to succulent red and white wines, sweet and dry. This quality has been determinant for the regained fame of the region.
Crossing Andalusia
Day 1: Málaga – Setenil de las bodegas – Arriate – Ronda
The journey starts in Málaga, then continues to Ardales, Setenil de las Bodegas, Arriate and Ronda
Setenil de las Bodegas is a picturesque small village on the way down to Ronda.
Arriate, another typical town. A place where to stroll down the narrow streets.
Tour of a family bodega. This bodega is a small modern building. There is an excellent production of wines from the DO Ronda that is definitely worth a visit.
The founders are the next generation of winemakers; they are restoring some vines as part of a huge undertaking.
Miguel, the owner will happily accompany your group.
Ronda
This small town of Moorish origins is best explored on foot, as the centre is full of narrow cobbled streets.
For dinner: a tapas route or a real Spanish “cena” of Mediterranean cuisine
If you go for a dinner, we will pick a highly recommended restaurant for you
Accommodation in Ronda
Day 2: Ronda
Breakfast buffet
Morning: Tour of a family bodega with a recent history, a small family winery
Afternoon: Visit a Bodega Finca. Our local guide, Victoria will prepare your picnic.
The finca covers 200 hectares on terraced lands with elevations ranging between 650 - 940 metres.
After visiting the vineyards and the 'finca', you will be accompanied into the modern winery.
Tapas route or dinner in Ronda
Accommodation in Ronda
Day 3: Ronda – Arcos de la Frontera – Jerez de la Frontera
Arcos de la Frontera, one of the most beautiful towns in this region.
Pass the Jerez Circuit, one of the most famous Moto GP World Championship circuits.
Top riders travel to this place in early May each year to compete in the annual Moto GP World Championship series.
The small historic town is better discovered on foot
For the late afternoon and evening we suggest a visit to the Hammam or Arabic baths. The traditional Hammam, or Oriental steam bath, has long played a part in the cultural and social life of eastern cities. Entering the Hammam is akin to a journey: winding corridors twist and turn until, suddenly, you enter the heart of Hammam, a haven of space, warmth and comfort. You might be enticed to have a massage to recover from your day. After the bath, you can have dinner on the roof-top terrace.
Jerez offers a wealth of tapas bars, where you can order several small dishes or dine in one of its multiple restaurants.
Accommodation in Jerez de la Frontera
Day 4: Jerez de la Frontera
Morning: visit of the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art (start at 10:00)
Exhibition “How the Andalusian horses dance”.
Lunch in a tapas bar
Afternoon: Visit of a well-known bodega, whose estates produce a great variety of Sherry wines.
This place has a tasting session that includes various types of Sherry, ranging from dry to sweet wines.
Evening: Flamenco show. An amazing spectacle, a manifestation of passionate Andalusian pride infused with artful seduction.
Accommodation in Jerez de la Frontera.
Day 5: The Sherry Triangle: Jerez – Sanlúcar de Barrameda – El Puerto de Santa María
We leave Jerez de la Frontera and head towards Sanlúcar de Barrameda
Tour of a larger Bodega
Lunch: typical and traditional Andalusian Restaurant
Afternoon: En route from Sanlúcar de Barrameda to Puerto de Santa María.
Tour of Bodega almost at the beach
Late afternoon: Freetime - walk on the beach
Dinner and accommodation
Accommodation in El Puerto de Santa María
Day 6: End of tour
The accommodation has been carefully hand-picked for you. For your comfort, we provide you with all the vouchers and information you need (maps, detailed information about the places to visit...). If for some reason your arrival at your hotel is delayed, we will notify them for you, if you wish.
About your Accommodation
You may notice that we make no mention of particular details regarding the full accommodation options in the accommodation itinerary section of our site. Why not? Simply because we work with a network of accommodation partners, and with a range of prices and categories of accommodation, from rural cottages to small luxury hotels.
Accommodation in Ronda
This is a luxurious boutique hotel, situated conveniently in the very town centre, near the Puente Nuevo bridge.
The location is incredible, with unmatched views overlooking the Tajo de Ronda, flowing at the bottom of a ravine 110 meters deep . The hotel is restored in a modern design style. Tangible amenities like swimming pool.
There are three bridges in Ronda: El puente Romano, also known as the Puente San Miguel, Puente Viejo, also known as the Puente Árabe or Arab Bridge and Puente Nuevo, a.k.a. the new Bridge, span the canyon.
Did you know that the great novelists Ernest Hemingway and Orson Welles had numerous stays in Ronda as part-time residents. They took their inspiration in the city's exceptional beauty and location.
Accommodation in Jerez de la Frontera
Your lodging is in an exclusive 19th century palace, now transformed into a luxury hotel, located in the heart of the historic quarter.
Accommodation in El Puerto de Santa María
You will stay in a Palace hotel from the 18th century, in the centre of El Puerto de Santa María. Saunda, indoor pool and a Jacuzzi.
Price inclusive:
•Comprehensive maps and information pack
•Holiday pack included
•Any date year-round
•Accommodation in high standard hotel or rural cottage
•Half board: all breakfasts and dinners
•3 to 5 wines will be offered for tasting in each winery visited
(*dinners are not included on last day of the tour)
Price exclusive of:
• Car rental
• Airport transfer
•Luggage transfer
•Spa and/or treatment
•All types of personal expenses
Note: a guide can be hired on a daily basis)
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.
- Ronda and its modern furnished Parador with panoramic view.
- Get yourself a fresh drink or enjoy lunch in the Parador of Arcos de la Frontera which overlooks the Guadalete River with a spectacular panoramic view.
- Setenil: buy local sweets or have a drink and tapas in one of the many terraces along the river.
This andalusian self-drive tour can be organised at any time throughout year at your convenience.
Helena Staels
With a long experience in language tourism and translation, I have dived into the Slowwines wine travel project, as a founding partner. Although I was born and raised in Belgium, Spain became my adoptive country a long time ago and that is why its genuine culture and unwritten codes have no longer secrets for me.
My interest in wine brought me to undertake extra education in Burgundy.
Each acre of vineyard leads to a human story or personal experience worth sharing. I have personally visited all of the Slowwines wineries to design the most enjoyable wine routes, lead private tours and tasting sessions. There are lots of shared moments, with winemakers and with our visitors coming from all over the world, with diverse backgrounds and interests. I am always looking forward to visiting and sharing the next winery or cellar of the Peninsula, as this revives a never ending discovery of Iberian wines.
Client Testimonials
5 days - Self Drive Andalusia
from €1.240 pp
Places of interest
- White washed villages of Andalusia
- Historical town of Ronda
- The Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art Foundation
- Typical cathedral-like sherry bodegas, referred as to by the locals for their hight vaults
- Explore centuries of Arab & Mudejar influences
- Taste the cultural flavours of Jerez's tapas