Bilbao: first sensations

Arrival in Bilbao. An official guide and a driver will be waiting to transfer you to the hotel in Rioja Alavesa, in the heart of the Basque Country. Bilbao was an old fishing port that, a little over a century ago, became the largest iron and steel producer in Spain. Today it is a modern and dynamic place that has become one of southern Europe’s coolest destinations, with the Guggenheim Museum as its postcard attraction.

It is time to feel for our first sensations on the trip to Rioja Alavesa. After leaving Bilbao, the landscape is decorated with rolling green hills until you reach the wine country. Then we will check in at the accommodation, a 5-star hotel that combines modernity with tradition. A sense of wellbeing pervades everything in here. An omen that something great is about to happen

Rioja Alavesa: art, vineyards and wellbeing 

Who isn’t familiar with the wines of Rioja? More than 500 wineries, which are scattered across the South of the Basque Country (Álava), Navarre and the region of La Rioja, protect the secret of one of the best wines in Europe, known for its superb quality, aroma, balanced composition and bouquet.

The Marqués de Riscal, one of the most iconic wineries, awaits our arrival in the morning. In addition to concealing some of the most prestigious Rioja wines, this location gives visitors a unique opportunity to contemplate a genuine work of art, a true 21st century “Cathedral of Wine” designed by the famous Canadian architect Frank Gehry.

In the afternoon, following a lunch in the winery, nothing could be better than surrounding ourselves with nature on a walk around the vineyards, and then relaxing in a wonderful Spa that will make you believe that Rioja is in fact another word for a divine blessing.

Rioja Alavesa: more stories about wine

After breakfast, the spirit of Rioja wine will return once again to knock on your door and invite you to visit two other wineries that are representative of this wine-producing area in the South of the Basque Country. The first is a family legacy, where values and culture interconnect in a unique and perfect symbiosis with grapes and wine. The second is an estate that produces one of the finest and most elegant wines in the area.

After making these two discoveries, we will have lunch at the Los Arcos restaurant and take a tour of the beautiful medieval town of LaGuardia, a place that has kept the monumental memories of its past almost immaculately preserved. Let us not forget that this was also the birthplace of Félix María de Samaniego, one of the most important authors of fables from Spanish literature.  Does the fable of the hen that laid the golden eggs sound familiar to you?

LaGuardia is home to an incredible popular culture and important wine traditions. So, dining at a small restaurant in this town, with a friendly and talkative owner, promises to be an unforgettable experience.

Logroño y San Sebastián: so close, so far away 

The Rioja Denomination of Origin owes its name to the region of La Rioja, where an important part of this wine is produced. Therefore, a trip to the heart of this land would be incomplete without a visit to the neighbouring Wine Museum, which houses 7,000 years of viticulture history. We should not omit Logrono, La Rioja’s capital, where we will sample its famous gastronomy.

In the afternoon, we will return to the Basque Country, San Sebastian. Logroño and this Basque city are twin towns due to their passion for wine and good food, but they have very different landscapes. While Logroño is a little treasure of the Ebro valley, San Sebastian, by the sea, is the pearl of the Basque Country. And as a perfect illustration of this, there is nothing better than dining in one of its most precious jewels: the Michelin 3-star restaurant of chef Juan Mari Arzak. Is it the best restaurant in the Basque Country? We will wait for you to return with your opinions. Meanwhile, you can check in at the hotel.

Día 5. To Scoff San Sebastián, a gastronomic paradise 

After a buffet-style breakfast, we will take a stroll around San Sebastian to experience its charm: the historic centre, the Urgull and Igueldo mountains, the Miramar Palace and La Concha beach. For years the old Donostia was a summer holiday destination for Spanish royalty, which is why it has become a renowned tourism destination.

However, the secret of San Sebastian is not only its façade, but also its essence. The city, which is deeply rooted in its traditions, is also a reflection of modernity, good taste, and above all, a passion for gastronomy. The various gastronomic societies — private clubs where members and friends meet to cook, eat and socialise around the table — are a good example of this. It is an institution that is unique to this place. And of course, we will grasp the opportunity and the privilege to have lunch in one of them.

As it is impossible to stay hungry in San Sebastian, in the afternoon, we will head out for “pintxos“, a type of tapas that every bar in the old town cooks using the finest local ingredients. They are, of course, always accompanied by a “zurito” (a small beer), or a “txikito” (a small glass of wine).

San Sebastián loves the sea

The Basque people are passionate about the sea. They are brave fishermen and sailors who are constantly dreaming of crossing the waters. They particularly enjoy, in a way what few others do, the fruits of the ocean. Without a doubt, alongside the Japanese, they consume the most fish in their daily diet of any population in the world. This is something that becomes immediately obvious to visitors when they arrive in San Sebastian and its province, Guipúzcoa.

So, there is nothing better than taking a trip inside an anchovy factory, where these tasty little blue fish are stored in salt and olive oil. Or you can enjoy the best fresh fish you will ever taste at the Elcano restaurant (1 Michelin star) in the neighbouring town of Getaria. This family owned restaurant is the best grilled fish restaurant in the Basque Country, as it uses only the best quality raw ingredients.

But before this delicious lunch, we will enjoy two of the sea’s other gifts. First is the Flysch of Zumaya (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), an area which dates to the age of the dinosaurs where sedimentary layers fold dramatically toward the Atlantic Ocean. It is also a location for the world-famous television series “Game of Thrones”.

The second gift is the Txacolí, a unique white wine combined perfectly with fish and cheese. It is made from a local grape (“Hondarribia Zuri”) and has a fresh and fruity bouquet while retaining the salinity of San Sebastián’s beloved sea. We will of course be visiting one of the wineries to make sure that this is true.