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Day
1
Board flight to Spain.
Days 2-3
Laguardia-La Rioja
We meet in Bilbao, then travel the short distance
to the picturesque town of Laquardia. From this
scenic base, we:
- visit the
Rioja Wine Museum in Haro.
- lunch in a
wood-beamed 17th-century wine
bodega.
- stroll
(cars are banned) through the medieval town of
Laguardia, tunneled below with more than 250
wine cellars.
- walk in
the footsteps of the Santiago-bound
pilgrims.
- visit a
private bodega where careful hand selections of
the grapes is one of the hallmarks of their
complex and elegant wines.
- visit
(beginning in 2006) the newly constructed Bodega
of Marques de Riscal, designed by Frank Gehry,
known also for the Guggenheim Museum in
Bilbao.
Days
4-6
Navarre-San Sebastián
We enjoy a drive through Navarre, crossing the
paths of pilgrims bound for Santiago, while en
route to enchanting San Sebastián, a famous
beach resort and world-renowned food capital.
Highlights:
15th-century bodega of the famous Chivite
family in its 11th generation of wine makers.
La Brecha market, with stalls devoted to the
bounty of the sea and the land.
dining at the world-famous Arzak, crowned by
critics as Spain's best restaurant
a private, by-invitation-only gastronomy society
dining event. An Ochote, an eight-voice male Basque
choir, sings selected songs for each course of the
meal.
a visit to the Chillida Leku, a beautifully
restored 16th-century farmhouse containing the
works of the internationally famous sculptor,
Eduardo Chillida.
Days 7-8
Guernica-Bakio-Bilbao
Guernica. Famous for its "Tree of Guernica", the
Basque symbol for heritage, law and freedom. The
village, site of the first Nazi saturation bombing,
also inspired Picasso's controversial masterpiece
of the same name.
We travel along the coast, stopping along the
way:
to view the sculptural monuments by Henry Moore and
Eduardo Chillida in Guernica.
at Bakio, known for its delicious red peppers and
fruity young wine called Txakoli.
to visit a Txakoli bodega.
at the Riverside Market, which boasts large
varieties of seafood, and stall after stall filled
with produce, cheeses and nuts.
indulging in a fabulous and memorable farewell
banquet at Zortziko, an elegant,
turn-of-the-century restaurant. Before our meal,
Chef Daniel Garcia, who is famous for combining
classical dishes and innovative touches, will host
a private cooking demonstration as a grand culinary
finale.
We also explore the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. The
physical structure itself is an artistic wonder,
not to mention the impressive collection of modern
art we find inside.
Day 9
Board your transatlantic flight for home.
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Wine & Gastronomy - 7
nights