Immerse yourself in modern and traditional winemaking practices in Ribera del Duero; Castilla y Leon's shining star denomination.
We'll show you three wineries ranging from large to small to bring you closer to the wine and the winemakers. On the trip you'll learn about the denomination and its history, the life-cycle of the vine, and winemaking practices accompanied by barrel and traditional tastings, allowing you to taste wine in its vinification process and once completed.
Your guide holds the Spanish Wine Scholar certification, certified by WSET, and a native English who speaks Spanish.
We organise either a traditional lunch or picnic between the vines in idyllic surroundings.
This is a complete day with approximately 2 hours of travel each way so please plan your evening accordingly to allow for potential traffic delays.
Posted By : Eric_W
What a great day heading to wine country from Madrid! Michael was super knowledgable and we had an amazing time visiting 3 different wineries. Each one was unique and my group was able to really learn about the process. Michael was a fantastic guide and took us to great spots. Lunch was really yummy as well.
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Posted On : 2024-02-20 16:29:04 
Posted By : Traveling_More
I met Michael through a professional wine organization we are both members of. I was eager to see the wine regions near Madrid and decided to visit Ribera Del Duero. Once you get out of Madrid, the drive to Ribera Del Duero was beautiful - many mountains and dramatic skylines.
We visited Virtus Bodegas y Viñedos first. It is a lovely property surrounded by hills and vineyards, while Peñafiel Castle serves as a focal point in the surrounding landscape. The enologist, Paqui, greeted us and then showed us and then walked us through her process of making wine. She was very patient while Michael translated her Spanish explanations to English and was open to specific questions about the wines. Although Virtus primarily makes Tempranillo wine, they also make an indigenous grape - Albillo Mayor- into an elegant white wine.
After the tour we were led through a tasting of two tintos and the Albillo Mayor. Tasting the reds (Tempranillo) side by side allowed us to taste the aging characteristics from a young to an older wine. The wines are available for purchase, so I suggest saving room in your luggage for several bottles!
Next we went to a less traditional wine operation just a short drive away. There we met Jorge, who represents the third generation of family winemakers. The family owns vines within Ribera del Duero. Jorge makes wine in a traditional manner, relying less on technology and more on taste and feel. He is a very generous and passionate winemaker. We tasted samples directly from the barrel. I found the wines to be very expressive and impressive. One of my favorites (they were all good though) was blended with a small percentage of white grapes. After the barrel samples Jorge led us into a cave where he presented a sample of his bottled wine.
Our tour ended with a drive through local vineyards, but not before having a traditional lamb dinner at one of Michael’s favorite restaurants in Peñafiel (this was a self-pay experience and not included in the tour price). We also took a short stroll to see the above-ground chimneys that are part of a system of underground caves.
Whether you are a wine enthusiast, professional, or a curious traveler, contact Michael for a wine tasting that is outside of the norm. He is a certified expert in Spanish wines and his enthusiasm will leave you wanting to visit other wine regions in Spain!
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Posted On : 2023-11-28 18:23:41 
Posted By : E3681FVms
An unforgettable visit. We went with a group of American friends and Michael organized the entire plan for us from the moment we left Madrid, all the details. All the explanations were very clear and enjoyable, we learned a lot about Spanish wines and enjoyed a wonderful tasting and tasting. I would repeat again.
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Posted On : 2023-11-06 06:59:31
Posted By : D9130YTtamarap
Unbeatable experience with the best guide. Michael organized a weekend for all our family and we really enjoyed it! He brought us to very nice places and we tasted amazing wines! Thanks!
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Posted On : 2023-10-26 15:40:06
Posted By : SilviaM2385
We chose this tour as we wanted to visit wineries “off the beaten track”.
We had the chance to visit 3 very different locations each with their own charm, loved to get to see how process, space and produce can be so unique.
It was a beautiful day enjoying nature, food and excellent wines. Michael, our guide was great!
Totally recommend it if you are looking for an authentic experience,
Pick up, lunch reservations and overall experience was great.
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Posted On : 2023-10-25 16:46:31
Posted By : EmilioBex
We had an amazing day in Ribera del Duero. Michael is a really good guide; during the tour, we visited 3 different wineries and had lunch in a local restaurant. He is very passionate about his work and I would definitely recommend him!
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Posted On : 2023-10-25 16:22:56
Posted By : manolomanjon
Was great to did this tour with Michael! He is passioned about the wine. Apart from that, his knowledge is huge and he made us feel as wine experts!! I did several tours like this in the past, but this is definitely the recommendable one!
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Posted On : 2023-10-25 16:12:10
Posted By : silviasU4398KP
Michael helped me organise the best trip for my boyfriend’s birthday. We were a group of 8 and he took care of everything, from wineries to local restaurants. Food, wines and tapas were DELICIOUS and we couldn’t have asked for a better guide, Michael is experience and fun!In our group we had wine tasting experiences before but we all agreed that this one was the best! We would definitely repeat!!
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Posted On : 2023-10-25 12:46:51
Posted By : jacobod786
I will start by saying I have done this type of wine tours few times in the past but never as good as this one. Michael passion is tangible!
We visited very nice wineries and also restaurants for lunch. Tried the best wine and food of the region. We will repeat for sure!
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Posted On : 2023-10-24 02:23:34
Posted By : giuliglobetrotter
I spent a weekend in Madrid with some friends, and we decided to book a day tour in the Ribera del Duero. We couldn't have picked a better experience! Michael is an excellent host and a true wine expert. He's not just a guide but also a wonderful person to spend the day with. He took us to three different wineries in the Peñafiel area. Each winery offered a unique experience, from the well-known ones to hidden gems with a local touch. Even though some tours were in Spanish, Michael effectively conveyed the entire experience, helping us immerse ourselves in the culture, connect with the people and places. In between winery visits, he also took us to a local restaurant to try the traditional cuisine. It was delicious and really authentic! I highly recommend him and his tours, and I can't wait to return and try the others.
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Posted On : 2023-10-22 14:48:15
