Culinary Journey to La Rioja & Basque Country, Spain
Check back soon for 2014 tour dates
I spent a month in Spain two years ago. I’d been to Spain before but this time it was different. I was teaching a course in Seville and then during my last week I went up north to La Rioja, the wine growing region, and fell absolutely in love. I have some really special friends, Angel and Maryann, who own one of the top Rioja restaurants and they planned the most fabulous week for me. It all started out at Gran Hotel Domine, across from the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. They arranged a suite for me which looked out at the museum which is spectacular. That was just the beginning! My friends were born and brought up in La Rioja and since they are in the restaurant business and everyone passes through their restaurant, they know everyone, all the best places to eat, stay, and of course the best wines to drink. Everything was absolutely first class. We stayed at Hospedería Señorío de Casalarreina for a week and it was like going home every night. We visited Roda and Muga wineries, probably two of the very best Rioja wineries, ate tapas in the Basque seaside town of San Sebastián and ate at one of the finest three-star restaurants in the world, the magnificent Arzak. We visited the brand new over-the-top billion dollar Bodegas Dinastía Vivanco Museum of Wine Culture and cooked in my friend Angel’s restaurant, La Vieja Bodega. It was one of the most memorable trips ever.
Join me for an incredible week of cooking, wine tasting, and exploring La Rioja, San Sebastián and the Basque Country - viva España!
Classes
Our week will include hands-on cooking classes at my friend's fantastic restaurant where I will teach you some of my favorite Spanish recipes such as Gazpacho Andaluz, Fideus Pasta with Garlic Prawns and Allioli, Chicken Escabechado, Albondigas or Tiny Spiced Meatballs with Tomatoes, a Traditional Paella with Chicken, Shellfish and Chorizo, Patatas Bravas with Spicy Tomato Sauce, Chorizo and Cheese Puffs, Flan de Manzana, Citrus and Cinnamon Crema Catalana, and of course, a seasonal Sangria, just to name a few!
Read more about La Rioja as a food and wine destination in this wonderful article that appeared in Bon Appétit magazine.
Accommodations
Our home for the week is the beautiful Hospedería Señorío de Casalarreina in the town of Casalarreina. Situated in the eastern part of the Rioja, Hospedería Señorío de Casalarreina is a completely restored monastery in
the heart of the Rioja region that dates back to 1711 when it formed part of
the Dominicans’ Our Lady of Piety retreat. In addition to all of the modern amenities, including free wi-fi, the hotel maintains its original decorative elements
including 'trampantojos' - wonderful mural paintings on doors and on the walls.The village of Casalarreina
is in a wonderful position to take full advantage of the region’s
vineries as well as easy access to stunning countryside.
Day Trips
Excursions during the week will include a tour of Laguardia, a walled medieval city and the gateway to experiencing La Rioja wine region, a visit to Bodegas Dinastía Vivanco, a winery estate boasting the most extraordinary wine museum in the world – the Museum of Wine Culture. It holds thousands of wine artifacts including Egyptian friezes, original artwork from Picasso and a Bacchus' Garden', where 220 different vine varieties are being grown. We will also spend a full-day in the seaside town of San Sebastián in the Basque Country, visit a very special olive oil producer, visit numerous bodegas (wineries and wine bars), enjoy tapas hopping and of course some shopping!
Trip Details
Group meeting point in Bilbao for pick-up and drop-off is: Gran Hotel Domine located across the street from the Guggenheim Museum.
Questions? Contact us.
