FOOD & WINE IN THE BASQUE COUNTRY

Before the activity arranged for today Jon took the group through an amazing city tour visiting the main spots in town including Mount Igueldo and the old quarter. A ver special cooking class was organized, far from the touristy ones you can find yourself. A chef, that had worked in michelin starred restaurants, took them to the market for a market stroll. The chef told them what to buy and why to choose one fish and not other one before taking them to a private gastronomic club, where only members can enter. Then he made a show cooking (any one willing to cook could also do it) while they enjoyed a glass or two of fine wine. When the food was ready they all seated around a table to taste the food as we spanish people do, chatting each other enjoying some more fine wine.

My good partner in the Basque country and his wife Jani took them in a private tour to the prestigious Rioja wine area. They were taken to 2 different special wineries (one was the largest underground cellar existing in Spain) and visited one but tasted different wines in both and walked through the vineyards where they had arranged a small aperitif of spanish food. Then they were taken to take pictures of the exteriors of modernist wineries, some of them designed by prestigious architects such as Frank Gehry, the Marques de Riscal and the Ysios wineries. Later they were taken to have a special meal of local food at a local restaurant. Before going back to San Sebastian they were taken to Laguardia, a small village of the area, to have a short guided walking tour of its medieval old quarter.

Jon and Jani took the group to visit a sheep farm in the countryside and learnt how to produce the local idiazabal cheese that is used in the best michelin restaurants. They spent some time with the sheeps and saw all the process before tasting the wonderful cheese with some wine. Later they were taken to a local winery in the slopes of a hill facing the ocean where they vineyards produce a local grape that has as a result the local white wine, txacoli. The views from there are extraordinaire and the wine makes them even better. After the visit to the winery they were taken to Getaria to have a short guided walking tour through its medieval old quarter and its wonderful beach since it is a coastal village of the Basque coast. To finish they were taken to a local restaurant, a grill, where the best fishes and shellfish of the area (also great meats if you are not a fish lover) are grilled. For diner they had arranged a gorgeous diner at a michelin starred restaurant with great views over the city.

Today the group was taken to Biarritz and some of the most beautiful coastal villages of the french Basque Coast including Hendaia, Saint Jean de Luz and Hondarribia. The traditional buildings called “caserios” and the lovely beaches and coastal paths around delighted the group. Of course they were taken to a great local restaurant for lunch.

Private transfer to Bilbao along the coast visiting small villages like Zarautz and San Juan de Gaztelugatxe. Evening private guided walking tour though Bilbao.

They had tickets for the Guggenheim arranged with a guide to go along with them inside the museum. After having lunch and having spare time for themselves they finished the day in a michelin starred restaurant for diner.

After breakfast they were taken in private transfers to the airport to fly back to Madrid. Back in Madrid Pascual, their chauffeur, took them to their 4* hotel located beside the Plaza del Sol square but far enough not to listen the noise. Their rooms with balcony had views to the great streets of Madrid. As special good bye diner I had arranged a special diner at Casa Lucio, one of the most traditional restaurants in Madrid. Their "a la carte" selections including fantastic wines was the perfect icing on the cake to their fantastic wine and food trip through the Basque Country and Madrid.

Pascual, my partner for private transfers in Madrid, picked them up at their hotel and took them to the airport, to different terminals and times. End of trip

BILBAO: 5* hotel in the city center. Accommodated in double superior rooms, they were able reach the Guggenheim museum in about 5 minutes.

MADRID: 4* hotel located beside the Plaza del Sol square but far enough not to listen the noise. Their rooms with balcony had views to the lively streets of Madrid.

San Sebastián private city tour. Special cooking class in private gastronomic club.

Special private tour to the prestigious Rioja wine area with wineries visits, wine tasting, vineyards walk and guided tour through medieval Laguardia.

Private tour to a local txacoli winery and a local cheese factory and farm and guided tour through medieval Getaria. Diner at a michelin starred restaurant.

Private tour to Biarritz and the French Basque Coast.

Private transfer to Bilbao along the coast visiting small villages and San Juan de Gaztelugatxe. Evening private guided walking tour though Bilbao.

Private guided walking tour in the Guggenheim museum. Diner at a michelin starred restaurant.

Private transfers to Bilbao airport and accommodation in Madrid and Special "a la carte" good bye dinner in a traditional restaurant in Madrid.