Hosted by Peter Blattmann

Tour Leader : Credited by media as having created Canada’s Premier wine & food event, the Fairmont Banff Springs International Wine & Food Festival, now in it’s twelfth year, Peter Blattmann is one of the most highly regarded professionals in the hospitality industry. Most recently Peter has joined George Schwarz of the Post Hotel Lake Louise to introduce the “Lake Louise Wine Summit” in May of 2004, which promises to become one of the most prestigious annual gourmet events worldwide. Peter has won several awards during his career, including the acclaimed Chevalier de L’Ordre du Merite Agricole from France’s Minister of Agriculture. Peter is currently affiliated with Wine Educators USA, International Association of Cooking Professionals, and International Wine and Food Society. His monthly column in Avenue Media Magazine focuses on the basic food & wine pairing principles.

Tour Coordinators : “A Different Spain”, a tour company based in the San Francisco Bay area and Spain, specializing in custom designed travel throughout the Iberian Peninsula, together with Peter Blattmann & Associates International Hospitality Services & Consulting.

- Itinerary -

DAY 1

Hotel: Hotel Arzuaga*****
Meals: Lunch, tapas dinner.
Events: Wine, olive oil, jamon Serrano, cheese and sherry tasting in the Peñafiel castle with Don Oscar

Our personal guide, one of the owners of “A Different Spain” will greet the incoming passengers early on Sunday morning at Barajas International Airport and rendezvous with those who are already in Madrid at our meeting location, Hotel Palacio Santo Mauro*****. In addition Oscar Hernando Torrego will accompany us throughout our travels from this point, for the next couple of days, as the group’s personal expert on the cuisine and wines of Spain. He is the owner, head Chef and Sommelier of the Casa Silvano/Restaurante Maracaibo in Segovia, and is one of only a handful of master Chefs in Spain to have formal training as a Sommelier. He’ll be facilitating all our culinary experiences, personally matching wines with food at our meals and answering any and all questions the group may have. We’ll drive towards the Ribera del Duero region and have our first lunch together at the Bodega Arzuaga Estate, after check-in and some time for rest, we’ll drive to the town of Peñafiel, center of the Ribera del Duero region. Here, we’ll convene in the town’s impressive castle, part of which has been converted into a wine museum. In the museum’s professionally equipped tasting rooms, Don Oscar will lead us on an introductory tasting of Ribera del Duero wines, together with a tasting of various Spanish cheeses (Manchego, Idiazabal and mountain cheeses), jamon Serrano, olive oil and Sherry wines. Following our tastings, we’ll return to the Arzuaga estate for overnight.

DAY 2

Hotel: Parador de Santo Domingo de la Calzada****
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Events: Vega Sicilia, Pesquera and Condado de Haza visits with lunch, walking tour of Santo Domingo, pimiento del piquillo tasting and dinner at Campillo vineyard.

Alejandro Fernández opens the gate to Condado de Haza

After breakfast, we’ll depart for wine tastings at Vega Sicilia and Pesquera, the region’s most acclaimed bodegas. Lunch will be specially prepared for us at the Condado de Haza vineyard (owned by Pesquera).

Vega Sicilia

Following lunch, we’ll depart for Santo Domingo de la Calzada, in the heart of La Rioja We’ll be met by a local guide for a walk through the charming town including a visit to the Cathedral. Dinner this evening will be specially prepared for us at bodega Campillo overlooking the vineyards, preceded by an introductory tasting of the wines of La Rioja, paired with a tasting of Pimientos del Piquillo, led by Don Oscar.

DAY 3

Hotel: Hotel du Palais*****
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Events: Artadi and Marqués de Cáceres visits with lunch

Winemaker Juan Carlos Lopez de Lacalle of Artadi

Following breakfast, we’ll depart for two vineyard visits. The first, Bodega Artadi, produces some of the most acclaimed Rioja wines and is considered one of the finest bodegas in the region. Then we will visit Marqués de Cáceres followed by lunch on the grounds of the bodega. Afterwards, we’ll continue on to San Sebastián , where we’ll check-in to our hotel. The rest of the day will be free to explore the beautiful city, shopping and to have dinner at leisure.

DAY 4

Hotel: Hotel du Palais*****
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Tapas dinner.
Events: Cooking class and lunch at Mugaritz, * Michelin Restaurant with Andoni Aduriz, City tour of San Sebastián

Andoni Luis Aduriz in his herb garden

After breakfast, we’ll meet with Spanish star chef Andoni Aduriz of the incomparable Mugaritz, *Michelin restaurant. Don Andoni, the winner of the 2002 “National Prize of Gastronomy”, will lead you in a hands-on cooking class, teaching the secrets of nouveau Basque cuisine, followed by lunch. Then we’ll go on a walking tour of the city, with a local art and architecture specialist.

Typical Tapas Bar in San Sebastian

After the tour we’ll be at the shopping district to visit San Sebastian’s most sophisticated boutiques. After time for a siesta we’ll spend some time strolling around some of the best Basque’s tapas bars in San Sebastian.

DAY 5

Hotel: Hotel du Palais*****
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Events: Tour of La Brecha market with Pello Amiano (Sociedad Gastronómica de San Sebastián), cooking demonstration and lunch. Optional Guggenheim Museum of Modern Art tour

Cooking demonstration at "Sociedad Gastronomica" in San Sebástian

After breakfast, we’ll be met by Don Pello Amiano of the Sociedad Gastronómica de San Sebastián. Don Pello will lead us in a hands-on tour of the colorful La Brecha market, where we’ll meet some of the local vendors and learn the secrets of Basque ingredient choice. After having made our purchases, we’ll accompany Don Pello to the Sociedad kitchens, where he’ll demonstrate for us how to prepare a traditional Basque banquet, which we’ll then indulge in ourselves. After lunch, time for a siesta and leisurely exploration of the town, its beaches and sophisticated boutiques. Alternatively the group may chose an optional guided tour (not included in package) of the Guggenheim Museum of Modern Art. Dinner this evening is at the group’s leisure.

DAY 6

Hotel: Hotel Claris*****
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Events: Freixenet and Miguel Torres visits with lunch

Group enjoying brunch at Freixenet

After an early breakfast, we’re off for a morning flight to Barcelona. Upon arrival, we’ll travel a few miles down to the Penedés region where we’ll indulge in a cava tasting at the premiere bodega in the region, Freixenet.

Miguel Torres of Torres winery in Penedes

DAY 7

Hotel: Hotel Claris***** Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Events: La Boquería market visit, Cooking demonstration and lunch at Mey Hofmann, City tour of Barcelona

Daily catch at Boqueria Market in Barcelona

Mey Hofmann Cooking School in Barcelona

After breakfast, we’ll be met by the director of Mey Hofmann for a visit of the Boqueria market, touted as Europe’s finest collection of produce vendors in a single market, followed by a cooking demonstration and lunch at Mey Hofmann.

Group with Chefs at "Espai Sucre" dessert "only" restaurant in Barcelona

Continuing our culinary exploration we’ll experience a dessert demonstration & tasting at Espai Sucre, renowned as one of the world’s most specialized restaurants, serving desserts only. Then we’ll meet with an art and architecture specialist to encounter the charms of Spain’s most cosmopolitan city.

Group with Chef at award-winning "Gaig" Restaurant in Barcelona

We we’ll leave you in the shopping district to visit Barcelonas most sophisticated boutiques. For our farewell dinner this evening we’ll treat ourselves to a specially prepared tasting menu with superb wines at one of Barcelonas finest restaurants, at Gaig.

DAY 8

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, we’ll bid each other a warm “hasta luego” and transfer to the airport for flights to Canada.

This tour includes :

• Guest Chefs and Teachers:
• Don Oscar Hernando Torrego (Casa Silvano/Restaurante Maracaibo);
• Don Andoni Anduriz (Mugaritz),
• Don Pello Amiano (Sociedad Gastronómica de San Sebastián);
• Director of Mey Hofmann Cooking School.
• A Different Spain owner/personal guide during the entire trip;
• Oscar Hernando Torrego’s personal culinary services for 2 days;
• Domestic Flight: San Sebastián – Barcelona with extra luggage allowance, up to 50 Kgs per passenger (instead of the regulated domestic flight maximum allowance of 20 Kgs per passenger)
• Land travel by luxury 40-person coach with bathroom, video, stereo, etc;
• 7 nights hotel accommodations in double occupancy with breakfast; Superior sea view rooms at Hotel du Palais and Hotel Claris in Barcelona.
• 7 lunches and 4 dinners with premium wines;
• Wine, cheese, olive oil, jamón and sherry tasting, pimientos del piquillo tasting with Chef Don Oscar
• Hand’s on cooking class with Andoni Anduriz at Mugaritz;
• Market visit and cooking demonstration with Pello Amiano of Sociedad Gastronómica de San Sebastián;
• Market visit of the Boqueria and cooking demonstration at Mey Hofmann
• Wine-tasting at all bodegas on itinerary;
• Guided private walking tours with local guides in Santo Domingo de la Calzada, San Sebastián and Barcelona;
• Entrances to all monuments on the itinerary;
• Luggage handling;
• All taxes;
• All tips.

Tour Cost

Tour cost Estimate:

Double Occupancy: 12,975 C$

Single supplement: 2,700 C$

Tour does not include: Optional visits, passport fees, international airfare and items of a personal nature such as telephone calls,. Laundry, mini bars, excess luggage etc and any other items not specifically stated in the itinerary.

For reservation or more information, contact us!

Hotels for your tour

LA RIBERA DEL DUERO (ARZUAGA ESTATE, PEÑAFIEL)
• Hotel Arzuaga*****
The Hotel Arzuaga is the only five-star hotel in the region and has only 14 rooms. It was opened in 2001, and is located on the estate of the renowned Arzuaga vineyards. The traditional villa-like architecture and excellent staff create an atmosphere of unmatched luxury and privacy in the midst of the Ribera’s rolling vineyards.

LA RIOJA (SANTO DOMINGO DE LA CALZADA)
• Parador de Santo Domingo de la Calzada****
The Parador is the best hotel in the region situated in a stunning 12th century Pilgrim’s Hospice. It has been meticulously restored and decorated and the rooms reflect the charm of the 12th century. It is surrounded by gorgeous grounds.

BARCELONA:
• Hotel Claris*****
The five-star Hotel Claris was built in 1992 keeping the façade of the former Palacio Vedruna. All rooms have been decorated with a mixture of modern contemporary and classic styles, using only the finest quality materials. To complement the sophisticated décor there are over 100 antique kilims, 17th and 18th century English and French furniture, and many Egyptian, Greek and Roman sculptures from the 2nd to 7th centuries.

• Hotel du Palais, Biarritz*****

Dining room, Hotel du Palais, Biarritz

Hotel du Palais, Biarritz

Foyer, Hotel du Palais, Biarritz

Terms and Conditions

View our terms and conditions form here.

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Registration Form : Download registration form here.

For a preliminary program e-mail info@gourmet-experience.com or phone toll free 1-888-682-9297