Rioja Wine Tour

Experience the soul of Spain with our Rioja Wine Tour, where history meets exquisite taste in the heart of this legendary wine country.

May 5-10, 2024

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6 days

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Led by Jonas Tofterup MW

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Tour Overview

Begin your wine tour with two nights in the Basque city San Sebastiàn before heading to the breathtaking vineyards of Spain's most famous wine region. 

The distinctive and storied wines of Rioja are considered by many as Spain’s best. No other region comes close to capturing the true spirit of Tempranillo.

Though rich in history, Rioja is far from being antiquated; this is a dynamic and vibrant wine growing region. Experience Rioja’s evolution firsthand as you enjoy exclusive cellar tastings paired with local cuisine and discover not only the traditional wineries but also the new exciting trends.

Travel with your intimate group and expert guide to see this region for yourself! You will gain a new understanding and appreciation of these graceful and ageworthy wines that represent one of the fine wine world's best kept secrets. 

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What's Included

Join Spanish wine expert Jonas Tofterup Master of Wine, for an immersive experience featuring exclusive tastings, winery visits and outstanding wine-paired meals. 

Instruction throughout by Spanish wine expert and wine educator Jonas Tofterup MW

Professional-level tours and tastings at top-quality wine producers

Services of a tour manager, providing customer service and logistics support

2 nights at 4-star Abba Hotel in San Sebastián, double occupancy

3 nights at 4-star Viura Hotel in Rioja, double occupancy

2 gourmet dinners served with fine wines

4 lunches featuring local cuisine and fine wines

Deluxe, air-conditioned motor coach transportation with bottled water on-board

Masterclass on Rioja wines by your instructor

Price per-person, double occupancy. Download the brochure to get detailed pricing.

Itinerary & Pricing

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Meet Your Expert Guides

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Jonas Tofterup, MW

Your Wine Tour Instructor

Jonas Tofterup MW is the first Danish Master of Wine and one of only seven Masters of Wine currently residing and working in Spain. He holds a Master of Science in Viticulture and Oenology and has worked as a winemaker at a number of wineries – including those in numerous regions around Spain, Stellenbosch, Baden, Rheingau, and Denmark. Jonas is the owner and lead educator at Iberian Wine Academy (IWA), one of Spain’s premier wine schools and a WSG Approved Program Provider. Jonas is a partner at Bodegas Trenza in DO Yecla (Murcia) where he makes wine with his brother, David, as well as being an internationally sought-after speaker and wine judge. He is also the coordinator for the MW second-year seminar which will be taking place at Neustadt in Pfalz, Germany.
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Danny Adler

Your Wine Tour Manager

Assisting the instructor and making sure logistics run smoothly, and that your needs are met, will be Danny Adler.

Danny was born and raised in New York City and has been living and working in Spain in hospitality and travel since 2007. He is captivated by Spanish cuisine, history, and lifestyle. Danny first started as a food and wine guide in Barcelona and then founded his own company focusing on cultural, culinary, and adventure travel in Catalonia. With his deep knowledge of the region, he will be able to assist trip participants with any logistical needs.

We visit estates such as...

What Makes WSG Educational Tours Unique?

Top wine industry professionals and regional experts as instructors

Service of tour manager offering customer service and logistics support during the trip

Professional-level visits with educational objectives

Tastings of dozens of top-quality wines during estate visits and included meals

Opportunity to meet the producers and local specialists

Access to wine estates often closed to the public

Meet a community of fellow wine professionals and serious enthusiasts

Frequently Asked Questions

  • You’ll learn so much more than you would on your own! Internationally renowned instructors are with you at all times throughout the trip, giving fascinating information, making sure you understand the nuances and subtleties of the region and its wines, and responding to all of your questions. 
  • You will have amazing tastings and get access to estates you would not be able to visit on your own.  We have the highest-level contacts in each region. You’ll get to taste fascinating wines at each estate, and you’ll be welcomed as an honored guest. 
  • Your instructor has lived or worked in France, Italy, Spain, or other countries we run tours in, for many years. This has allowed them to cultivate extensive experience and contacts within the region. You’ll get expert information about the wine business there, and an insider’s take on local culture. 
  • You will not have to take chances on hotels or restaurants you don’t know.  With more than a decade of experience in these wine regions, we use our first-hand knowledge to choose the best hotels and restaurants. 
  • Your itinerary makes the most of the limited time you have in the wine region, minimizes driving time, and ensures that you get a thorough overview of the region and its wines. 
  • You don’t have to worry about getting lost (which is easy to do on the backroads of France or Italy!), or about drinking wine at meals. You can just relax, enjoy and learn. 
  • You get the camaraderie and pleasure of exploring the wine region with other like-minded people who are as passionate about wine as you are. 
  • Your instructor and tour manager will translate for the group at all times, so you will have no communication issues, as many winemakers in France, Italy and Spain have limited English. 
Preparing for the trip

Please ask the instructor if there is enough time at the end of the visit for you to make your purchase without impeding the progress and timing of the trip.  Not all estates sell onsite in Bordeaux, for example, very few of the Classified Growth châteaux sell wine at the château (they sell exclusively through wine merchants). It is rare that estates offer international shipping.    

If you would like to purchase wine, we recommend that you ask your government’s customs office for their rules and regulations if you intend to bring wine back into your country, or have wine shipped to you.  

You always have the option of bringing wine home with you in your checked luggage. A specialized wine suitcase is perfect for this. Depending on your home country, this amount will vary. You may have to pay some amount of duty on your wine when you go through customs. Therefore, it's best to check with your local authorities for further information.  

TRANSPORTATION, FOOD & LODGING

We choose 4-star hotels to ensure a high level of comfort, including en-suite bathrooms, WiFi and air conditioning.  It’s very important for the hotels to be well situated in the region, to keep driving time and distance to a minimum. We want to make sure you are as close as possible to the vineyards and other local sites of interest. The hotels we choose also must be large enough to accommodate groups.  

We thoroughly check out each hotel before including it in a trip. In wine regions that are large and spread out, you will only change hotels once or twice during a week-long trip (to keep driving times to a minimum each day), and in other regions, there is only one centrally located hotel.

Organizers & Instructors

Our trip instructors are among the most renowned and respected wine professionals in the wine business. They are also professional wine educators who are absolutely passionate about the region and its wines.  

You can see a full biography of the instructor for each trip on the corresponding page, so you can know exactly with whom you'll be touring and learning.  Most are native English speakers (American or British), and all other instructors speak English fluently. Our instructors have that special combination of high-level wine expertise, personal warmth, friendliness, and excellent leadership skills. They'll accompany you every day, throughout the trip, and will be able to answer all of your questions about the wines of the region you’ll be visiting (and about wine in general).  

Booking a trip

Yes, we strongly encourage you to purchase a very comprehensive travel insurance package once you have paid your deposit for a Study Trip.  Note that many plans require you to purchase the insurance very soon after your deposit payment (some require it within 14 days).  

There are any number of things that can happen that can cause cancellation or interruption of package travel, and travel insurance can help cover the costs you incur as a result.  You can find travel insurers easily and there are sites where you can compare policies (for example, Insure My Trip).  

Be sure to read policies very carefully before you purchase.  Include your airfare, train fare, and any other expenses you will have in addition to the price of the study trip itself.  We highly recommend getting a “cancel for any reason” policy, which offers the best coverage. Travel experts say “if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel,” so don’t skimp on this important coverage!

Have a different question? Feel free to contact us.

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