6 Day Wine and Gastronomy Tour of Northern Spain
We are offering the best experience focus on Wine & Gastronomy of Northern Spain partnering with local tour guides in order to show these regions combining history, be...
Day-by-day estate-visit plans for Ribera del Duero: weekend, first-timer and deep-cellar editions.
Day-by-day plans
Classic Golden Mile Weekend
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Day 1
- Morning
- Arrive in Valladolid or Aranda de Duero and drive to Quintanilla de Onesimo. Visit Vega Sicilia (booking essential months in advance) for the classic cellar tour. Taste current Valbuena 5 and, if available, a Unico.
- Afternoon
- Continue to Pago de los Capellanes in Pedrosa de Duero and Bodegas Alion (Vega Sicilia's second estate). Drive to Peñafiel and check in to a hotel with views of the hilltop castle.
- Evening
- Walk the old town of Peñafiel. Evening tapa and wine at Agora de Protos wine bar (Calle Bodegas Protos, Peñafiel).
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Day 2
- Morning
- Morning visit to Bodegas Protos beneath Peñafiel castle, including the Richard Rogers-designed contemporary winery. Tour the underground cellars and taste the Crianza and Reserva range.
- Afternoon
- Visit Bodegas Tinto Pesquera (Familia Fernandez Rivera) - the bodega that launched Ribera's modern era. Continue along the N-122 east toward Aranda de Duero.
- Evening
- Explore Aranda's underground bodega network via the Las Caballerizas or Las Animas municipal cellars (book through the tourist office). Evening wine and tapas at El Lagar de Isilla bar.
Aranda Underground Bodegas and Lechazo Weekend
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Day 1
- Morning
- Arrive in Aranda de Duero and check into a central hotel. Morning visit to CIAVIN (Plaza Mayor) for the virtual reality tour of the 136-strong underground bodega network.
- Afternoon
- Guided tour of the Las Caballerizas municipal underground cellar (book via tourist office, 947 510 476) or visit the dramatised historical tour at the Bodega Don Carlos (15th century). Browse wine at the Vinoteca El Lagar.
- Evening
- Join the evening paseo on Calle Isilla. Wine and cecina tapa at El Lagar de Isilla bar-restaurant.
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Day 2
- Morning
- Drive west along the N-122 to visit two or three village bodegas (Gumiel de Mercado area, Burgos sub-zone) for morning cellar tastings.
- Afternoon
- Return to Aranda for the afternoon session at the Fiesta de las Penas if visiting during September festival period. Otherwise, visit the Gothic collegiate church of Santa Maria la Real (15th century) and the central market.
- Evening
- Evening drinks at El Somatén tapas bar or Bar La Raspa.
Madrid to Ribera del Duero to Rioja (4-Day Circuit)
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Day 1
- Morning
- Depart Madrid north on the A-1 motorway, arriving in Aranda de Duero after 1 hour 45 minutes. Check in and explore the underground bodegas on foot.
- Afternoon
- Drive the Ruta del Vino east toward Peñafiel. Afternoon visit to Bodegas Protos.
- Evening
- Sunset views of Peñafiel castle from the Duero valley. Wine and tapa on the main square.
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Day 2
- Morning
- Drive the Golden Mile from Peñafiel west through Quintanilla de Onesimo. Morning visit to an estate on this stretch (Arzuaga Navarro, Finca Villacreces, or similar - booking required).
- Afternoon
- Drive north from Valladolid or the Duero corridor toward Burgos (1 hour). Brief stop at the Gothic cathedral.
- Evening
- Continue north to Rioja - the Haro or Laguardia area (1 hour from Burgos). Check in.
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Day 3
- Morning
- Full Rioja day: morning tasting at a classic Rioja estate (Muga, Lopez de Heredia, CVNE) in Haro.
- Afternoon
- Visit the Marques de Riscal hotel and winery (Frank Gehry architecture) or the Dinastia Vivanco Museum of Wine Culture.
- Evening
- Evening pintxos in Logrono on Calle Laurel (pintxos capital of Rioja).
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Day 4
- Morning
- Drive south toward Madrid via Burgos and Aranda. Morning stop at one more Ribera del Duero estate on the return to highlight the contrast between the two appellations.
- Afternoon
- Return to Madrid by mid-afternoon via A-1.
- Evening
- Evening in Madrid.
Soria Old-Vine Discovery (3 Days)
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Day 1
- Morning
- Drive from Aranda de Duero east along the N-122, following the Duero river into the Soria sub-zone. Arrive at Dominio de Atauta (book in advance via rutadelvinoriberadelduero.es) for a cellar tour and old-vine parcela walk.
- Afternoon
- Continue to the village of Atauta. Walk the vine parcelas in the late afternoon; the landscape of ungrafted bush vines at 1,000 metres is unlike any other in Spain.
- Evening
- Drive to Soria city (40 minutes east of Atauta). Check in.
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Day 2
- Morning
- Morning in Soria: visit the Numancia archaeological site (Celtiberian settlement, 2nd century BCE) and the medieval city centre with Romanesque churches.
- Afternoon
- Drive west through the Duero corridor exploring the Burgos sub-zone. Visit one of the Gumiel de Mercado or La Horra area bodegas (Bodegas Valduero, Cillar de Silos - booking required).
- Evening
- Arrive in Aranda de Duero for the evening.
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Day 3
- Morning
- Morning at leisure in Aranda. Underground bodega tour via the tourist office if not already done.
- Afternoon
- Drive back to Madrid or Valladolid.
Harvest Week in Ribera del Duero (5 Days)
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Day 1
- Morning
- Fly into Madrid. Drive north to Valladolid (1 hour 45 minutes). Check in and explore the city centre.
- Afternoon
- Drive the 45 minutes into the Golden Mile western end - Quintanilla de Onesimo area. Walk vineyard rows with ripe grapes hanging.
- Evening
- Return to Valladolid for the evening.
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Day 2
- Morning
- Early start for Vega Sicilia harvest tour (booking essential, months in advance). Understand the blending philosophy and timing decisions at the founding 1864 cellar.
- Afternoon
- Continue to Pago de Carraovejas for afternoon tasting.
- Evening
- Check in at Peñafiel area hotel or estate.
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Day 3
- Morning
- Drive to Peñafiel: Bodegas Protos morning cellar visit including fermentation tanks in action during harvest week.
- Afternoon
- Drive east along the N-122 toward Aranda de Duero. Check in and explore the underground bodega network.
- Evening
- Tapas and wine at El Lagar de Isilla.
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Day 4
- Morning
- Drive east to the Soria sub-zone. Morning visit to Dominio de Atauta - the most atmospheric estate during harvest as ancient vines are hand-picked by small crews.
- Afternoon
- Continue to Soria city. Walk the Numancia archaeological site and the medieval Romanesque corridor.
- Evening
- Return to Aranda for the evening.
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Day 5
- Morning
- Final morning at leisure in Aranda. Wine shop for bottles to take home.
- Afternoon
- Drive to Madrid (1 hour 45 minutes) for evening flight.
Book wine experiences in Ribera del Duero
Day Trip: Wine Tasting in Ribera del Duero from Madrid (by High-Speed Train)
If you are spending some days in Madrid and you are a wine lover, you cannot miss Ribera del Duero! Take the train in Madrid and travel to Valladolid station, where y...
Exclusive tour: Ribera del Duero "like a native", with lamb in a wood oven
In our "like a native" experience we take care of visiting very special and exclusive wineries that you cannot find on your own, and we always try to offer the most lo...
Itineraries in Ribera del Duero, FAQ
When is the best time to visit Ribera del Duero for wine?
Peak wine-travel season in Ribera del Duero is spring through autumn, with harvest the standout window.
Do I need an appointment to taste at Ribera del Duero estates?
classified-growth and grand-cru estates require booking days to weeks ahead; smaller family domaines often take walk-ins midweek.
What hours do Ribera del Duero cellars and tasting rooms keep?
most estates open 10:00 to 17:00 by appointment, often closed Sunday and Monday.
How does tipping work at Ribera del Duero tastings?
tipping is not expected at tastings; buying a bottle from the cellar door is the customary thank-you.
What is the one wine to try in Ribera del Duero?
Ask the next local you meet what they would order. Ribera del Duero rewards trust.