Food & Wine Journey Through Spain: Navarra, Rioja & the Basque Country

The Basque country is remarkably different than the rest of Spain. The locals hold onto their heritage, from language to cuisine, proudly. Bilbao is a modern face on the traditional region yet holds tightly to its historic streets as well. You and your private transfer join up at the airport as your romantic getaway to Spain begins, and you quickly settle into the city surrounded by green hills. The city hums with activity but maintains a relaxed pace that allows locals and visitors to enjoy. The Nervión River runs through the city. The calm current ripples against the risen banks. The mixed aroma of pintxos, smaller plates similar to tapas drifts through the brimming restaurants.

Casco Viejo is the old quarter, filled with atmosphere and boisterous cafes. Independent shops sell quirky and unusual items unique to the city. The heart of the city maintains the seven original streets that Bilbao was founded on dating back to the 15th century. The Gothic Catedral de Santiago was constructed in the 14th century and combines a gothic cloister with stone carvings along the buttresses. The beauty of the cathedral is soft spoken against the backdrop of the historic center. Visit the Guggenheim Museum and find a remarkable structure that breathed life into the once industrial city.

The angled metal façade and elegant windows capture the sun, which allows more natural light to enter the galleries. The museum was constructed in 1997 and does not just display artwork, but is known as a piece of artwork in and of itself. The interior provides a gallery of open space where you can view Jeff Koons’ almost 40-foot tall Highland terrier constructed with thousands of begonias. In the evening, you can find a table waiting for you at Zortziko, a Basque favorite that has more than earned its Michelin Star. The chef is known to bring delicate, modern touches to familiar local dishes. The menu continually changes, which means that your experience will be unique to your visit.

Indulge in a morning around Bilbao’s historic center. The aroma of citrus and the quiet hum of the early daylight bring a pleasant air to the city. Haro is a historic city connected to its heritage in La Rioja. The countryside rolls with hills and opens up to the famous Rioja Valley. The town is known for its relaxed, historic charm and celebrated for its quality wines and wine cellars. The locals are filled with smiles and the old quarter is compact. The alleyways are lined with cobblestones that lead you to hidden cafes, wine bars, and quaint stores.

Rising mountains edge the lush valley. The city holds the “Wine Battle” fiesta every year in June. Santo Tomás Church was inaugurated in the 17th century. The naves are topped with ogive vaults. Thick columns and pillars support pointed arches. The restaurant around Paz Square offer an array of flavors specific to Haro, from succulent snacks to platters of grilled vegetables and meats. As the sun begins to set you can see hot air balloons rising into the layers of light over the citadel. The panoramic view that balloon provides is unparalleled. The sun lingers along the horizon just a bit longer from an aerial view. When the colors of sunset fade the town sparkles with evening light and the surrounding countryside fades into the night.

La Rioja wine region is known for its well-regarded traditions and renowned flavors. The landscape outside of the city is filled with exquisite views of sweeping vineyards and growing foothills. Green prairies turn into craggy mountaintops. After breakfast, your private escort takes away from the township and into the surrounding countryside. Arrive at Dinastia Vivanco, the largest wine museum in the world. The museum is over 43,055 square feet of space, encompassing six rooms, all dedicated to humanity’s relationship with wine. The Garden of Bacchus is a small vineyard where all grape varieties are grown.

The garden helps to explain the difference in grape production but also the flavors that come from the combination of different grapes, terrain, and weather. You stroll through the museum’s open space and find a collection of joyous instruments, from barrels to wine presses, musical instruments to utensils. In the afternoon, you will discover the unique characteristics of the La Rioja on a guided visit to a local winery around Labastida. Castillo Labastida is known for its Madurado. The mountainside peaks and falls around the vineyard. The shade provides a cool respite from the sun.  The Tempranillo has a mixture of fruit flavors and a short, peppery finish.

The sun rises over the mountaintops and washes the countryside with light. The church bells peel. The bells set the soundtrack for a modern world inhabiting an historic town. After breakfast, you once again depart from Haro, this time waving goodbye to the old church and hidden restaurants. You find yourself wandering around the countryside. Your view fills with far-reaching vineyards. The vines run up from the ground and cover the low-lying foothills. Finca Valpiedra is located alongside the River Ebro. The river’s quiet current cools the soft breeze.

Their estate dates back to 1994 and is known for its artisanal selection of wines taken exclusively from the estate’s vineyard. Sample the local flavors and find the choice of wines unlike any of the surrounding vineyards, ranging from fruity to earthy, light to rich. In the afternoon, you will arrive in Logrono, a city whose history dates back to the Romans. The medieval architecture stands alongside the River Ebro. The streets are narrow and provide hidden niches to discover. The entire city is a monument to the region’s lush history.

Strolling around the old quarter will take you to over 50 tapas restaurants in a four block radius. The exhibits at Museo de la Rioja provide insight into the preferred grape that has given namesake to the region. The 13th-century Church of Saint Bartolomé displays remarkable porticos with receding borders. Meander through the traditional market or linger in the traditional cafes hidden in the heart of the city. You could even partake in a meal at Los Agustinos, a 14th-century monastery with traditional Riojan stew and roasts.

Exploring the countryside around La Rioja offers spectacular views and unparalleled experiences of limestone mountains and medieval towns. After breakfast, you journey once more through the landscape and enjoy a wine tasting before following your private guide on a tour of the exceptional hillside towns. The Cantabrian Mountains watch over the meandering landscape. Their snowcapped peaks look like clouds against the horizon. The village of Laguardia takes you back in time, located on a rocky hilltop. The old quarter emanates a meandering aroma of historic stone. Flowers and bougainvillea decorate small balconies.

The lower foothills are covered with vineyards. The 13th-century walls and old quarter inhabit the historic culture and continue to provide insight into the past as the city moves forward. The ancient cellars provide fabulous refuge for wine storage and tremendous ambiance during a tasting. Your guide takes you through some of family-owned bodegas, down the stone stairwells and into the brick-paved cellars. The cool air provides a perfect temperature to keep and age wines. When you taste the Rioja, try to notice how the subtle differences in flavor when you sip the wine in the rocky alcove.

The mountains and hills are bright with sunlight when you venture out of Logrono after breakfast. The serene quiet of the landscape is soothing. The aromas of the verdant and rocky foothills sweep through the countryside. After you visit a collection of manors that have mastered the art of wine making in the Basque region, you will arrive in Puente la Reina. The medieval bridge dominates the edge of town with six magnificent arches. The river has a calm current the brushes past the ancient edifice and reflects the arches in the water’s surface.

The town sits quietly along the riverbanks. Puente la Reina is a prominent stop on the Camino de Santiago, a walkway for hundreds of thousands of pilgrims a year that stretches nearly 500 miles. The cobblestone streets are quaint, and the Knights Templars erected the Romanesque Church of the Crucifix. The church dates back to the 12th century, and the original Gothic crucifixes are mounted on the interior walls. The octagonal tower casts a shadow over the lush trees. The interior is sparse and atmospheric. The scent of frankincense drifts from the altar and candles flicker from the votive. Continue onward to San Sebastian, the seaside city where you can feel the subtle breeze drift off of the water.

San Sebastian is city brimming with flavors. The restaurants are like the night sky - filled with Michelin stars, and the pintxo culture is unrivaled. The old town of Parte Vieja contains the densest population of pintxo bars. The Centro Romantico maintains a charming layer of 19th-century buildings that reach from Playa de la Concha to the Urumea River. The day is yours to explore the wonders of the city. It is easy to fall in love with the history, beaches, and flavors that you imbibe while exploring the quaint streets. The succulent aroma of simmering seafood practically surrounds you.

The San Telmo Museum reopened in 2011 and combines tradition with modernity. Set within a 16th century Dominican convent, the exterior walls are vibrant with vegetation and holes that provide interior and exterior light. A massive colonnade with pillared arches looks into the interior courtyard. Frescoes by Catalan painters and a virtual tour through the history of the Basque region await you inside. The wispy sound of the sea against the shore is never far away. In the evening, you can dine at Ibia, a subterranean restaurant known for its private ambiance and decadent menu. The clams in garlicky rice are a perfect rustic regional flavor.

The morning ocean air embraces the city. The monolithic outcrop of Monte Igueldo rises from the sea. The aromas of the San Sebastian begin early, drifting through the streets and enticing the locals to come out and dine. After breakfast, your private transport will escort you to the airport for your flight home. You have traveled across the celebrated Basque region in search of unique tastes, from wine to cuisine, and found the famous flavors known to the locals like a treasured secret. Take those secrets with you and savor them.