Wine Tours Overview
Come discover unspoiled Spain and Portugal!
Cellar Tours brings small groups on luxury gourmet wine tours,
through some of the most scenic, breathtaking and romantic
landscapes imaginable. Because of the unique and tragic history
in Spain and Portugal respectively, the majority of the Iberian
peninsula remains surprisingly free of commercialization.
Most of the tourism is concentrated on the "costas"
(the beaches), and the interior is fantastically free of the
crowds you would expect with such a awesome range of historical
architecture and untouched nature. Spain and Portugal are
graced with lonely, spectacular, hilltop castles; Baroque
and Romanesque churches; centuries old wineries and cellars,
crowned by "Masias", stone villas and country manors;
Phoenician towns; Gothic Cathedrals; Roman aqueducts, amphitheatres
and bridges; olive groves; Arab observatories and villages;
fortresses and moats; medieval hamlets; and Bourbon and Flemish
reminders. Saffron, almonds, and lemon coat the Iberian countryside.
Spain and Portugal have the highest amount of Unesco World
Heritage sites in Europe.
Spain's "Culinary Revolution", as many wine and
food critics coin it, is the most exciting, this side of the
Atlantic. Acclaimed chefs like Ferran Adriá (El Bulli,
in Catalunya), renowned architects like Santiago Calatrava
(Ysios winery in La Rioja, Aquarium in Valencia, Zubizuri
bridge in Bilbao), reminiscent of Los Angeles' own Frank Gehry,
and dynamic wine makers like Alvaro Palacios (from a famous
Rioja family, known worldwide and of his own merit, for his
stunning Priorat wines) are all part of Spain's burgeoning
new confident self.
Our tours whisk you away to: historic, exceptional wineries
where you have the opportunity to visit the old cellars and
taste the wines; to memorable, gourmet meals at a variety
of special locations (from Michelin starred, Haute-Cuisine
in chic restaurants, to inventive regional cuisine in rustic
surroundings); and to fascinating, worthwhile cultural excursions.
Throughout the various trips, we travel through diverse landscapes,
from fertile valleys, alpine mountain passes, soft and hilly
areas similar to Tuscany, to the stark contrast of arid, salmon
colored hills dotted with Arab fortresses. We move at a comfortable
pace, no 7am wakeup calls. Our wine tours are designed to
balance an interesting itinerary, with personal time for our
guests. We believe it is also a pleasure to discover some
things on your own!
Sample Luxury
Wine Tours
Luxury Wine Tour of Piedmont & Tuscany
“This tour is the
Italian vacation of a lifetime! You will indulge in Private
Wine Tasting Tours of Tuscany, Piedmont and Franciacorta;
visit Castles and
Historic Wineries; try your hand at Tuscan cooking
in a Cooking Class in a
private villa in Florence; enjoy a Cheese Making Visit
and other unique
"Foodie" Experiences; Walking Tours of the Art
Cities and Idyllic Italian
Villages. ”
Luxury
Food and Wine Weekends in Venice
"Private tours for food
and wine lovers that include: Private Cooking Classes
in a Historic Palazzo, a Gourmet Walking Tour of Venice, an
Aperitif in
Ancient Venetian Bacaro and accommodation in a Luxuriously
Converted
Monastery on Private Island...."
Lisbon to Douro Valley
VIP Private Wine Tour
"Luxurious short
tour, designed for wine lovers, who want to see the best
that Lisbon and Porto have to offer. You will enjoy a
Mercedes chauffeured
tour of Central and Northern Portugals loveliest cities
and wine country.
Highlights include the Port Lodges, a Private River Cruise
on the Douro... "
Culinary Vacation
in Lisbon & Wine Country
"Gourmet food
and wine tour of Portugal, combining a city break in
Lisbon
with various wine tastings and a private cooking class
in a medieval village
in the glorious Alentejo region. Highlights include
the stunning countryside
of Alentejo (full of cork trees, perfectly preserved
castles and
fortresses), the marvellous towns of Evora and Sintra
and fantastic food and
wine enroute..."
Classic Rioja and Ribera
del Duero Wine Tour
"Perfect
for wine enthusiasts.
This wine tour of Spain's famous wine regions of Rioja
and Ribera del Duero
is perfect for enthusiasts who want to see where the
magic of wine begins-
in the vines! Vineyard walks, VIP winery visits to top
estates, lunches at
cozy, historic "Asadores" in wine country,
charming accommodation and much
more... "
Barcelona Wine Tour
Weekend, Penedes
"Deluxe weekend
by luxury Mercedes to wine estates in the Penedes and
Emporda, gastronomic walking tour and city break to
Barcelona and plush 17th
century villa hotel in the Costa Brava"
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