Spain, France and Italy are paradise for truffle and mushroom lovers in winter, when prestigious white and black truffle festivals and lively wild mushroom markets abound! Piedmont’s legendary white Alba truffles, the iconic Périgord black diamonds or the amazing array of wild mushrooms in Catalonia are best enjoyed at source at these authentic local truffle and mushroom feasts!

Typical fresh black truffle and wild mushroom pasta in Italy

Freshly picked Catalan wild mushrooms

Both truffles and mushrooms love the dark and damp, though there are many differences between these beloved fungi.

Truffles are a tuber, which is a type of subterranean fungus, so do come from the same kingdom as the venerable mushroom. Unlike mushrooms (of which most tend to resemble an umbrella in shape), truffles, whether of the black or white variety; look similar to a misshapen potato in size and form.

Truffles are only found growing underground beside the root systems of oak or hazelnut trees, preferring precise conditions of moist, warm days and cooler nights, which the heavily wooded areas of France’s Provence and Dordogne, Italy’s Piedmont and Spain’s Aragon, provide.

In season, we have many harvest festivals celebrating truffles & mushrooms here in Spain, France & Italy. Perhaps the most prestigious one is the International Alba White Truffle Festival in Piedmont, that takes place from October through to November. From there, you can travel to Tuscany where in November you can taste more exquisite white truffle at the San Miniato Truffle Fair. In France the black truffle is the star of the show. The best black truffle festivals are in January, the Sarlat Truffle Festival in Dordogne and Sorges Truffle Festival in Provence being the most important. For an unforgettable truffle experience, join us on a private gourmet truffle and mushroom hunting tour, where you will not only experience the lively truffle markets, truffle and mushroom cooking demonstrations and other gastronomic events, but also hunt for these delicacies yourself! Funnily enough, the completely unknown area of Teruel in Spain not only produces some of the best black truffles in the world, but also is thought to produce the largest quantity! Away from the international buzz, this is the perfect place to feast on truffles at excellent local restaurants without the exorbitant price tag.

White and black truffles once they have been dug out from the earth… they taste much better than they look!

While in Spain truffle-hunting, why not feast on wild mushrooms as well? The Catalan region at the foot of the Pyrenees provide excellent conditions for mushroom hunting and is well known among European mushroom lovers. If you would like to experience mushroom picking in Spain, join us for a Mushroom Hunting Getaway Tour, immersing yourself in its damp, woodland world. Feel underfoot the crush of fallen leaves and the scent of rain and earth as our expert mushroom hunting guide takes you to his secret spots to pick some tasty and nutrient-rich fungi.

Two truffles hunters hard at work in the forest close to Alba, Piedmont

Some glorious Spanish chanterelles ripe for picking…

In terms of cuisine, the humble and versatile mushroom is widely used in Spain in meaty stews, creates a rich risotto with arborio rice and white wine in Italy, or pan fried with garlic and herbs as an accompaniment in France: really, the choices are many!

When you taste the flavour of truffles, they are best enjoyed fresh and of course, uncooked. Come and enjoy the truffle season with us, feasting on freshly harvested aromatic thinly sliced truffle atop pasta or polenta in Italy, on an omelette in France or atop a hearty filet in Spain.

When it comes to ‘hunting’ both types of fungi, experience and knowledge of the best spots is crucial and our guides are true experts. Then for mushroom hunting a good set of eyes is enough, whereas finding truffles requires the expertise of a trained dog as well; to lead you to this culinary gold, and then for the ‘hunter’ to dig them out.

Either way, truffle & mushroom hunting in Spain, France & Italy is a fun and very authentic experience, so come on board and let us organise the perfect truffle and/or mushroom hunting getaway tour for you!

Italian wild mushroom risotto with pangratatto

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The 2020 Michelin Guide to Spain & Portugal,  awarding the coveted Michelin stars, was presented last night from the beautiful Lope de Vega Theatre in Seville, with a dinner served by the Spanish chef Angel León, owner of the Michelin 3 star Aponiente. Oh what a night!! We are excited to report that the Spanish restaurant Cenador de Amos, in the beautiful Cantabrian countryside, has been awarded their third Michelin star, so Spain maintains 11 three Michelin star restaurants, despite the closure of Dani Garcia’s establishment. In Portugal, our belowed Casa de Chá da Boa Nova, the fantastic restaurant close to Porto run by our favourite Portuguese chef, Rui Paula, was awarded their second Michelin star!

So, for 2020 in Spain there are now total 11 restaurants with 3 Michelin stars, 29 restaurants with 2 Michelin stars and as many as 174 with 1 Michelin star! In Portugal, there are total of 29 restaurants with Michelin stars in 2020, 7 with 2 Michelin stars, one of them new, as well as 4 new Michelin one star restaurants, although no new three Michelin stars this year.

Below is a list of all Michelin 3* Restaurants in the 2020 Michelin Guide to Spain & Portugal, by region:

Jesus Sanchez: now with 3 Michelin stars

Cantabria Michelin 3* Restaurants:

El Cenador de Amós (Villaverde de Pontones) – a new addition to the Michelin guide of Spain & Portugal Michelin, this fantastic restaurant is located in a beautiful typically northern Spanish casona.  Run by the talented chef Jesús Sanchez, it won its third Michelin star for “its tireless search for the emotive experience of food, and the sensory details that leave you remembering a culinary experience”.

Catalonia Michelin 3* Restaurants:

Àbac (Barcelona)

El Celler de Can Roca (Girona)

Lasarte (Barcelona)

Madrid Michelin 3* Restaurants:

Diverxo (Madrid)

Rui Paula

Valencia Michelin 3* Restaurants:

Quique Dacosta (Dénia, Alicante)

Basque Country Michelin 3* Restaurants:

Akelarre (Guipúzcoa)

Arzak (Guipúzcoa)

Azurmendi (Larrabetzu, Vizcaya)

Martín Berasategui (Guipúzcoa)

Andalucía Michelin 3* Restaurants:

Aponiente (Cádiz)

Aside from the usual red Michelin stars, the Michelin guide has awarded for the first time their Sustainability Award, which was given to Angel Leon, for “constantly defending the sea”. The chef of Aponiente, the only restaurant with three Michelin stars in Andalucia, thanked the guide for finally recognizing the region’s cuisine.

All 29 Michelin starred Restaurants in Portugal in the 2020 Michelin Guide to Spain & Portugal:

1. Casa da Chá da Boa Nova, Leça de Palmeira, 2 Michelin stars (New)
2. The Yeatman, Vila Nova de Gaia, 2 Michelin stars
3. Ocean, Porches, 2 Michelin stars
4. Vila Joya, Albufeira, 2 Michelin stars
5. Belcanto, Lisboa, 2 Michelin stars
6. Alma, Lisboa, 2 Michelin stars
7. Il Gallo d’Oro, Funchal, (Madeira) 2 Michelin stars
8. Epur, Lisboa, 1 Michelin star (New)
9. Fifty Seconds, Lisboa, 1 Michelin star (New)
10. Mesa de Lemos, Quinta de Lemos, 1 Michelin star (New)
11. Vistas, Faro, 1 Michelin star (New)
12. Gusto, Almancil de Faro, 1 Michelin star
13. A cozinha, Guimaraes, 1 Michelin star
14. GPousada, Bragança, 1 Michelin star
15. Midori, Sintra, 1 Michelin star
16. Antiqvvm, Porto, 1 Michelin star
17. Lab by Sergi Arola, Sintra, 1 Michelin star
18. L’And Vineyards, Montemor-o-Novo, 1 Michelin star
19. Loco, Lisboa, 1 Michelin star
20. William, Funchal, 1 Michelin star
21. São Gabriel, Almancil, 1 Michelin star
22. Henrique Leis, Vale Formoso (Almancil), 1 Michelin star
23. Bon Bon, Carvoeiro, 1 Michelin star
24. Willie’s, Vilamoura (Quarteira), 1 Michelin star
25. Largo do Paço, Amarante, 1 Michelin star
26. Pedro Lemos, Foz do Douro (Porto), 1 Michelin star
27. Fortaleza do Guincho, Praia do Guincho (Cascais), 1 Michelin star
28. Eleven, Lisboa, 1 Michelin star
29. Feitoria, Lisboa, 1 Michelin star

In the Michelin Guide Spain & Portugal Bib Gourmand category (the best price-quality relationship) there are as many as 267 restaurants to be found in 2020! In the “Michelin dish” category ( quality dishes recommended by Michelin guide) there is an amazing number of 837 restaurants! So come and join us on a fantastic food and wine tour along the Michelin restaurant route through Spain and Portugal and experience these Southern European culinary jewels for yourself!

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Spain, the largest producer of olive oil in the world, with the impressive average of 44% of the world’s supply of olive oil each year, is paradise for us olive oil lovers!  Over 250 varieties of olive trees in Spain produce twice as much olive oil as Italy and four times as much as Greece! The olive oil harvest time, from early November till mid January, with many olive oil festivals all over the country, is a perfect opportunity for an authentic Spanish food and wine tour! On your foodie trip with us you can visit charming local olive oil artisans, participate in lively olive oil festivals in local villages, see their olive mills in full swing and taste the freshly pressed olive oil – its aroma and taste are truly delicious!

Olive trees, though native to Asia Minor, have been grown around the Mediterranean since the 8th millennium BC. Cultivating and eating olives has existed before written language came to be! The Phoenicians brought olive trees to southern Spain almost 3000 years ago, so it is no wonder they are such an integral part of Spanish cuisine and agriculture.

The Spanish region of Andalucia grows most of the world’s olive oil, but Catalonia produces some of the world’s best and most distinct in flavour. The first official protected designation of origin for Spanish extra-virgin olive oil was bestowed on the Catalan Oli de Borges in 1975.

Nowadays, the most prestigious Olive Oil D.O. in Catalonia is Siurana, where the legendary OleAurum DOP Siurana oil was born. Here, on the outskirts of Reus every November, the Siurana Olive Oil Fair takes place, a lively event gathering the most important producers of the DOP Siurana. Olive and olive oil tastings abound, as well as a raffle whose winner succeeds in being given their ‘weight in oil’!

So many olive oils to choose from!

In Andalucia, Jaen is the iconic olive oil region, with miles and miles of olive orchards and many olive oil producers and co-operatives. During the olive harvest, between November and February,   you can enjoy here not only fantastic olive oil mills visits and tastings, but also lively traditional gatherings and gastronomic festivals, like the one in Martos, where you can participate in the harvesting of olives and see the extraction of olive oil from the olive. A delicious end to this festival is the handing out of ´hoyos´ by local olive growing families, a traditional dish of bread, oil, salt, cod and olives.

The beautiful Catalan region of Priorat, well-known amongst the wine lovers for its mind-blowing reds, also abounds in excellent olive oil. Here the Oil Festival of Cabacés takes place on the first weekend of December and includes olive oil tastings, guided tours of the local mills, displays of country produce, as well as music and a communal lunch.

We are passionate about our olive oil and would love to assist you with a Spanish foodie tour, so you can experience the ambience and conviviality of these very community-strong olive oil festivals here in Spain, be it south or north!

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Christmas is a very religious and traditional time here in Spain, with truly unique events, such as live Nativity Scenes, bizarre local traditions like Caga-tio (or Pooping Log) and beautifully emotive Catholic celebrations. The Spanish Christmas season starts off with the Catholic bank holiday of Immaculate Conception on December 8th. In Seville each year, the day is celebrated in front of the Gothic cathedral (the largest in the world!)  with a moving dance ceremony performed by children and  called Baile de Los Seises (dance of six).

The guests who join us on a private tour in Spain during  the Christmas season, can experience first-hand the unique Spanish live nativity scenes, a sacred symbol of local Christmas tradition. Some of the most beautiful medieval villages in Spain magically convert for a few nights before Christmas into incredibly scenic live Nativity scenes, with locals playing the parts of Mary and Joseph, the three wise men, shepherds  etc. All illuminated with torches and replete with the necessary cast of live animals, to see this is a truly unique experience!

Traditional nativity scenes are set-up everywhere in Spain – in many plazas and areas where people might gather, even in storefront windows! Once we see these scenes in the streets, we can be aware that this special season is approaching!

In Catalonia and Aragòn, a beloved and typical character is the Tío de Nadal or Caga Tió. It is a hollow wooden log, about thirty centimeters long with a painted smiling face, enhanced by a little red sock hat and often a three-dimensional nose. In the days between the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and Christmas Eve, children are instructed to care for the log, giving Tió a little bit to “eat” every night and covering him with a little blanket so that he will not be cold at night. On Christmas day one puts the Tió partly into the fireplace and orders it to “poop” presents. To make him “poop”, one hits him with sticks, while singing various songs of Tió de Nadal. Before ordering the Tió to poop gifts, the adults ask children to leave the room in order for them to arrange for the small gifts from Tió to be put in place. The Tió does not drop larger objects, as those are considered to be brought by the Three Wise Men. It does leave candies, nuts, torrons and small toys: for what the Tió leaves is a communal gift rather than an individual one, to be shared by all.

Oh Christmas tree…

Christmas Eve in Spain is called Nochebuena and like many other parts of the world, is celebrated with two very important traditions; eating an enormous meal, and going to Christmas Midnight Mass .

There is a wide variety of typical Christmas dishes one might find on plates across Spain on this night.  Each region has its own distinct specialities. Among typical dishes served on Christmas Eve and during the days that follow are roast lamb and suckling pig (typically served in the regions of Castilla León, Castilla la Mancha, and Madrid), turkey or duck (commonly prepared in Andalucía), and an enormous variety of seafood, including shrimp, lobster, crab, and various types of fish like hake, trout, sea bream, sea bass, and salmon (common in many regions, but mostly on the coasts).  For dessert there is quite an array of delicacies; among them are turrón (a version of nougat), made of honey, egg and almonds that are Arabic in origin, as well as polvorones, an almond shortbread and a variety of nuts and dried fruits. All these wonderful foods contribute to Christmas celebrations in Spain.

To drink, one must have a glass of cava, the Spanish equivalent of champagne.  After the meal, many Spaniards get their second wind and go to midnight mass, known as “La misa del Gallo”, or “Rooster Mass”, named such because the Rooster  is known as the first to announce the birth of Christ. On Christmas day people spend time with their families and feast on another large meal. Some households have children enjoy the gifts that they have received from Papa Noel (Santa Claus).  The custom of giving gifts on this date is not as popular as it is in many countries, as Spaniards traditionally wait until Three King’s Day to exchange gifts. New Year’s Eve, or Nochevieja, in Spain, is quite an impressive spectacle.  In all plazas across the country, one can see a similar scene that includes church bells and grapes. When the clock strikes 12, the church bells sound 12 times, and at this moment all Spaniards eat 12 grapes, one for each toll of the bell. This lively celebration will go on until the wee hours of the morning!

Who will wear the crown?

Epiphany (or Three Kings Day) on January 6 signifies the end of Christmas, the long-awaited day for children to receive their presents. First, in the afternoon of January 5th, a grand Three Kings Parade takes place in every Spanish city, town and village, with thousands of participants and wide TV coverage. The kings carry loads of gifts on their carriages and throw sweets to the enthusiastic crowds. Before going to bed that night, children leave their shoes out on their balcony and hope that when they wake up they will find gifts left by Melchor, Gaspar, and Balthasar.  After festive lunch, families have the typical dessert of the day, the “Roscón de los Reyes”, a large ring shaped cake that is decorated with candied fruits, symbolic of the emeralds and rubies that adorned the robes of the three kings.  Somewhere inside the cake there is a surprise, and the person to find it will be crowned King or Queen of the house for the remainder of the day!

We hope you enjoy a wonderful festive season ahead! If you would like to witness and partake in these traditional Spanish festivities first-hand, join us for a private tour around Christmas and New Year: for example, if you choose our  Majestic Madrid & Authentic Andalucia Tour you too can watch first hand the ceremony of Los Seises from Seville Cathedral or soak up the atmosphere while eating grapes on New Year’s Eve in Spain’s glorious capital of Madrid!

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Christmas cakes and biscuits which contain an array of dried fruits, nuts and spices are the focus when it comes to celebrating the festive season in Spain, Portugal, France and Italy.

For Christmas in the Catholic countries of the Mediterranean, from Portugal to Spain, France to Italy, the patisseries and bakeries adorn their luminous windows with a display of traditional delicacies such as the Bolo Rei and Rosco de Reyes, Polvorones and Rousquilles, as well as the more famous Panettone. The use of flour is strong here, with a variety of fruit breads, biscuits and cakes to be found.

Bolo Rei– a Christmas Cake Tradition of Portugal

If your Portuguese private food and wine tour with us coincides with Christmas, be warned that you will not leave without tasting the delicious Bolo Rei, Bolo Rainha and sonho!  In Portugal, there are many cakes and pastries using seasonal vegetables such as carrots, pumpkin or sweet potatoes to enhance their flavour and add moisture. An Alentejo favourite is the sonho which is a ball of dough deep fried, then rolled in sugar and cinnamon – perfect for warming cold hands! The variations of this sweet include the use of pumpkin or carrot through the dough for a deeper flavour and a denser texture. Then there are rice and milk-based sweets, with the Portuguese pudim being a type of flan and the rice pudding of arroz doce being a family favourite. Then comes the Portuguese Christmas cake, of which there are two varieties: Bolo Rei and Bolo Rainha. These breadier cakes, similar to the Italian Panettone or Spanish Rosco de Reyes are filled and topped with dried and candied fruits and nuts. 

Polvorones– a wonderful Spanish Christmas spiced biscuit

Those venturing on a Christmas custom tour of Spain will be sure to encounter the fabulous array of nut and cinnamon-based biscuits and cakes. The Spanish Christmas cake of Rosco de Reyes always has a ‘treasure’ stored inside its bready walls, and whomever receives the piece of cake in which it is contained, is given the title of ‘king or queen for the day’! In the lead-up to Christmas day, various biscuits and turrons (a sweet made of ground almonds with added flavours or whole nuts throughout, as well as nougat) are enjoyed at the family and work get-togethers. Polvorones are a typical Spanish Christmas biscuit whose heritage is Moorish, again made with almond meal to which various warm spices and butter are added to create a delicious, perfect-with-coffee treat.

Rousquilles – French Christmas tradition in a biscuit!

In the Occitane region of France which borders Spain, the array of biscuits at Christmas time is immense! Should you be on a French Christmas Voyage in this south-western region, you will no doubt encounter the delicate French biscuits sablés des Pyrénées and Rousquilles. Sablés des Pyrénées are famous in the mountainous border between Spain and France, shortbread-like in consistency the dough is flavoured with cinnamon, walnuts and sometimes chocolate chips. Rousquilles du Roussillon on the other hand, are a simple vanilla biscuit, flavoured with anise and iced with a sugar-meringue coating taking the shape of a ring. These are the perfect adult treat, as they are not too sweet and ideal with a glass of vermouth, armagnac or port on a cold winter’s night…

The Italians being a country of sweet-lovers, also enjoy a variety of baked Christmas goodies! In Tuscany Ricciarelli are a short-bread made with almond meal, cinnamon and dusted with icing sugar, similar in flavour to Spanish Polvorones. Probably the most famous Italian Christmas cake is the Panettone, originating in Milan 500 years ago, a type of sponge cake made with eggs, yeast, milk and flour, containing dried fruit within. It is very light and has a simple bread-like flavour, again ideal when consumed with liquors such as the Italian vin santo or grappa.

Panettone- An Italian Christmas cake with Milanese heritage

On a Gourmet Tour of Italy over the festive period,  you will have the benefit of our knowledgeable guides escorting you to the variety of delicious regional Christmas cakes such as Panettone or the moreish Ricciarelli biscuits.

The warm spices and dried fruits and nuts used in these biscuits and bready cakes are sure to warm your palate as well as your heart when you visit southern Europe for Christmas time. If you are tempted by the idea of fireplaces, a smattering of snow and wonderful Mediterranean hospitality; do not hesitate to contact us and we can create the ideal customised tour for your European Christmas!

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We all wish you Happy Holidays and a very healthy and prosperous 2020!

Travel with us this new year to Spain, Portugal, France and/or Italy on a fabulous private tour, to make 2020 even more special!

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Mas Estela set amongst the incredible scenery of the Cap de Creus

The up and coming Empordà wine region in Catalonia, northern Spain is known for it’s high-quality wines, olive oil and beautiful scenery. The windswept Emporda landscape between the Costa Brava and Girona, does not only offer bucolic vineyards and olive trees vistas,  but fascinating medieval hamlets and gorgeous seaside villages as well. If you are a wine lover and like to discover exciting new wines, the Empordà wine region is a perfect wine travel destination.  Still undiscovered, but with great food, lovely rural hotels and charming vintners,  who are always ready for a chat with fellow wine buffs and of course, an Emporda wine tasting!

More and more local Emporda wine makers prefer to grow their grapes in a way which is in harmony with the local environment. One such Emporda winery is Terra Remota lying at the base of the mountains, close to the border of Spain with France.  This ecologically run vineyard is one of the best wineries in Catalonia and their fine organic Emporda wines have gained a fabulous reputation by being included on the wine lists of many Michelin 3 starred restaurants! Not only does this Catalan cellar produce organic wines, but they also aim for minimal impact on the surrounding nature. Their raw concrete “bodega” designed by architects Pépe Cortés & Nacho Ferrer is recently built, but in time will surely hide itself entirely in its natural surroundings, as  it is perfectly integrated in a side of a hill, lying long and low with the mauve Pyrenees high above, with its roofs covered with vegetation.  On our Spanish wine tours, covering the Emporda wine region, our guests also enjoy a picnic at this special winery!  It is lovely to relax and unwind, surrounded by vineyards,  where you can put your feet up and lounge in the shade of the tall trees on the sun beds provided. With the sun filtering through the tree tops, take time out to breathe in the fresh mountain air.

Close by, another Emporda winery, Mas Estela,  is tucked within the Cap de Creus natural park and only 3 kms from the Mediterranean sea; its moderating influence protecting the valley of vines. Another of the best wineries in Catalonia, here not only do they produce highly-regarded wines but the location of the winery is sublime. The family came here in 1988 and bought a large ruin with some 20 hectares of valley and scrub land with steep slopes on either side. Having rebuilt their house, they planted the terraces with varieties like syrah, monastrell and garnatxa gris to complement the garnatxa, cariñena and muscat which already existed.  This Emporda winery is organic as well and applies biodynamic principles that obey the cycles of the moon in order to interact with the soil or when to work on the vines. Their use of natural fertilizer only, means that the environment is not polluted by any type of chemical which ensures that the biodiversity remains strong and creates a truly healthy environment.

Another of the best wineries in Catalonia is La Vinyeta, in the heart of the Empordà wine D.O region. A young winery, it was purchased in 2002 by an enthusiastic Catalan wine making couple and is the fruit of much effort and ambition. From that moment on, more and more vines were planted, up to the present 30 hectares. The project was consolidated in 2006 with the construction of the winery and the making of the first wines. In 2009, La Vinyeta became one of the first Spanish wineries to adopt Integrated Production, an environmentally-friendly cultivation system. Their signature Emporda wines are not only delicious but structured as if they were part of a unique story. From the starting “Once upon a time” for the Heus label, the freshest and youngest of their wines; which is produced in red, white and rosé varieties. Passing on to the Llavors (it can be translated as “then”), which signals an evolution after spending six months in oak casks. This Emporda wine story is completed with the distinct Punt i Apart (which translates to “new paragraph”); La Vinyeta’s flagship wine, and our definite favorite, which stays 13 months in oak casks.  

Our carefully designed Wine Lovers Tour of Spain covers not only the beautiful-up-and-coming Emporda wine region, but also many of our other favorite Spanish vineyards, some well known, others hidden gems waiting to be discovered. If you have just a few days, our Emporda Wine Region & Costa Brava Tour is a perfect opportunity to indulge in local wine, food and culture! Combining a few days of pure relaxation in medieval villages with a customized tour of the area including Emporda wine tastings, fine food and the best privately guided tours. Just drop us a line with your dates and budget and we will take it from there!

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While on a wine tour in Spain, the beautiful Priorat wine region is a must of any serious wine lover! The Priorat red wines are world famous for their unique personality, attributed to the extreme climate and unique and breathtaking geography. Priorat experiences sharp temperature fluctuations between night and day, caused by the proximity of the Montsant mountain range. These spectacular mountains help create mist and moisture in the vineyard valleys, which dissipate to leave warm grape-ripening sun during the days. This slate-soiled land is full of majestic cliffs and steep hillsides where terraces have to be built in order to grow further vineyards.

The name, Priorat has been linked to wine since ancient times. A great place to start any Priorat wine tour is the birthplace of the Priorat wine,  the Carthusian Priory (or Priorat) of Scala Dei, the first carthusian monastery on the Iberian Peninsula, founded in the 12th century. This picturesque site, situated at the foot of the Montsant mountain range, is where the Priorat wine making tradition originated. The monastery thrived until 1835, when the church shut the operations down. Today the ruins of Scala Dei can still be explored on foot, the immensity of the Montsant range truly apparent.

The ruins of the Carthusian Monastery of Scala Dei

With the sale of Scala Dei’s lands and vineyards and the phylloxera outbreak at the turn of the century,  the Priorat wine region went through economically hard times up until the wine-making revival of the 1980s.

One of the families whom we can thank for the revival of Priorat wine making is the Barbier-Meyer. Rene Barbier bought his first vines in Priorat in 1979, after many years of experience in Bordeaux and Borgogne. Returning to the area close to his birthplace of Tarragona, he and his family have grown up amongst the vineyards, loving the terroir and tending carefully to the earth which creates these incredible wines. His emblematic winery, Clos Mogador, is named after the single vineyard that Rene started to cultivate in the 1970’s in the now-famous wine village of Gratallops, heart of the Priorat wine making activity. Robert Parker was one of the first international critics to praise his incredible wines, which are nearly elixirs. The Priorat wines in general are already highly concentrated and “normal” yields are incredibly small, but Rene goes even further – at Clos Mogador winery they press the grapes using an olive press, which means they extract only half of the amount of juice that a typical wine press would, making the wine 50% more concentrated!

His wall by wall wine cellar neighbour, Carles Pastrana, is together with Rene  of the founders of the Priorat wine revolution. At his family owned and run winery, Clos d Obac, he produces some of the most iconic Priorat wines, Clos de l’Obac, Misere and Kyrie.  A visit to both Clos Mogador and Clos d Obac cellars is a must for any Spanish wine lover!

Another not to be missed winery is Clos Figueres, in the village centre, where the charming owners not only show our clients their unusual barrel room but also treat them to a great meal at their fantastic restaurant. Clos Figueres owns 18 hectares of some of the best Priorat vineyards, planted with Grenache, Carignan (some over 60 years old), Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Monastrell, Viognier and Chenin Blanc.

Clos Figures vineyards in DOQ Priorat wine region

As for the Priorat wine region most typical grape varieties, the native red grapes of Carinyena (Carignan) and Garnatxa (Grenache) are the absolute stars, in coupage and also in some incredible mono varietal single vineyard wines.

All the permitted grape varieties of the DOQ Priorat Wine Region are:

• Red Priorat Grape Varieties: Grenache, Carignan, Hairy Grenache, Tempranillo, Piquepoul, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Syrah
• White Priorat Grape Varieties: Garnacha Blanca, Macabeo, Pedro Ximinez, Chenin Blanc, Muscat of Alexandria, Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains, Xarello, Piquepoul

While visiting the Priorat wine region, aside from refining your wine-palate, you may also want to taste Priorat world-class olive oils, which are also classified into DOs.

One of the best Priorat olive groves are in the area of the fairly tale hamlet of Siurana, which is set upon a cliff, surrounded by mountains, with views fit for an eagle! Set 1000m high atop a cliff, Siurana was the last Moorish stronghold in Catalonia, and the legend is that, wanting to evade capture by the Christians, the Moorish queen Abdelazia drove herself and her horse off the cliff into the valley below… Today this charming rural stone village is worth a slow wander, taking in the spectacular views and the marks of hundreds of years of history.

So, if you love fine red wines, aromatic olive oils and enjoy spectacular scenery; you can’t miss the Priorat wine region!

Join us on a private Wine Lovers Tour of Spain to explore the Priorat wine region, as well as other incredible Spanish wine regions of Ribera del Duero, La Rioja, Emporda and Penedes. We always want to show our clients the most scenic areas, with expert guided visits to fantastic wineries as well as great local restaurants and boutique accommodations. 

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For a wine lover, a wine tour of Spain & Portugal  is an easy way to experience the best wine regions of both countries. For us, the ideal route starts in Barcelona and ends in Porto or Lisbon. The cava cellars of Penedes and mythical reds of the Priorat wine region are highly accessible from Barcelona. Then from Priorat head to the source of Spanish red wine, the famous la Rioja. Just 3 hours away is the most exclusive wine region of Spain, Ribera del Duero, where the Tempranillo grape is king. From here, one crosses the border from Spain into Portugal, and enjoys the scenic beauty of the Douro Valley,  the most iconic wine region of Portugal. If you end your Spain & Portugal wine tour in Porto a visit to one of the many historic lodges along the Douro river with Port tastings is a must! Continuing to Lisbon, the undiscovered Vinho Verde and authentic rural Alentejo wine regions are mandatory stops.

For those wishing to experience the best of Spanish and Portuguese wine regions, we have carefully crafted our Wine Lovers Tour of Spain & Portugal. This 10 day wine tour covers the best regions of Spain & Portugal, the most interesting wineries and the most beautiful scenery.

Fly to Barcelona and start your wine trip in the Penedes Wine Region of Spain, famed as Cava country. Cava is a Spanish sparkling wine produced in the Traditional Method, just like Champagne. This Spanish bubbly was awarded it’s own D.O. (Wine Appellation) in 1986 and, although there are a few Spanish wine regions that produce Cava, the wine region of Penedes is the main area of production, over 90%. The Penedes wine region flagship grape variety is Xarel.lo making it the Penedes cava icon. Your visit to Penedes should include at least one of the spectacular modernist cava cellars as well as one of the emerging high- quality organic producers.

Your wine lovers tour continues to the Priorat Wine Region of Spain, where exceptional quality, red wines await you. These limited production reds are labelled DOC (Qualified Appellation of Origin) a denomination reserved to only Priorat and la Rioja. The Priorat wine region is famous for its mineral-rich soil and terraced hillsides of slate (called licorella by the locals), which create a unique humidity for the vines. Priorat wines blend the wine varietals of Garnacha and Cariñena and are substantial, inky wines of distinct character and reputation.

A not-to-be-missed stop is the Rioja Wine Region of Spain. Here we love to showcase the contrasts between historic and traditional wineries, some of them still making their own barrels and the sleek, modern cellars with amazing state-of -the-art wine-making techniques.  In the Rioja wine region there is a heavy use of oak for long ageing, which is the signature Rioja style, resulting in polished reds based mainly on Tempranillo but also Graciano and Garnacha blends.

Continuing west, you arrive to the Ribera del Duero Wine Region of Spain. Here you will taste the more modern, full-bodied and slightly more sophisticated single-vineyard wines at two of our favourite cellars. Part of Ribera del Duero wines’ uniqueness is due to Tinto Fino, the indigenous type of Tempranillo grape. The most mythical and inaccessible Spanish wineries are here, along the legendary Ribera del Duero Golden Mile and you will be lucky to visit one.

Crossing the border now you arrive to the beautiful Douro Valley wine region in Portugal, considered one the most spectacular wine regions of the world! Its characteristic terraced vineyards on the sloping hills meet the meandering river below. The in-vogue again Port wine is made here at various quintas (port wine cellars) along a narrow river gorge that winds 100 miles through the mountain ranges. Historically, Port wine was shipped downriver to the city of Porto for ageing, aboard sail-boats called Rabelos. Nowadays, the Douro Valley wine region of Portugal produces not only Port wines but also excellent reds mainly using the Touriga Nacional grape.

Following the route of Port wine, as the grape juice once did from the Douro, you arrive to Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia, famous for the Port Wine Lodges of historic port wine producers. Port houses have aged their wines in Vila Nova de Gaia for over three centuries and here, the ageing and blending of most of the world’s supply of Port wine takes place beneath a sea of red roofs emblazoned with some of the most famous names in wine-making.

If your Spain & Portugal wine tour is 10 days only, Porto is the perfect finale for this unique wine trip!  Take advantage of our expertise and let us take you to the very best wine regions and wineries of Spain and Portugal. We will ensure for you the best winery visits and wine tastings with expert in-house guides,  hand selected hotels and you will e able to make the most of your wine tastings as your chauffeur takes the driving strain!

You may like to include other wine regions of Spain and Portugal in your private wine tour, for example the up and coming Vinho Verde in northern Portugal and the rural, quaint and very authentic Alentejo wine region, half way between Andalucia and Lisbon. Just let us know and we can happily custom build your perfect wine tour based on your preferences. If you are looking for an ideal for the best route, have a look at our sample itinerary  Wine Lovers Tour of Spain & Portugal . Contact us for pricing or to start custom building your perfect wine tour of Spain and Portugal!

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The long period of self-isolating we are experiencing worldwide means that travelling is proving more difficult than ever at the moment, with most of us at home and trying to stay upbeat while our medical professionals are working so hard to support our communities. Better times will come, but in the meantime, here is our list of the best wine movies to inspire your future wine travels and contribute to a positive mindset; a glass a good red or white in hand!

Not only does good wine taste great, but it comes from some of the most scenic places on earth, many of them featured in our wine tours; imagine picture-postcard vineyards of Italy, Spain, France or Portugal; rolling hills set to the backdrop of beautiful sunsets, add the mystery of winemaking, the glamour of wine châteaux, the drama of winemakers, intense sommeliers and delicious wine tastings – watch some of the best wine movies ever for a perfect virtual wine getaway!

Best wine movies for the wine aficionado

Red Obsession is a wine documentary narrated by Russell Crowe, which delves into how the demand for France’s finest Bordeaux by the Chinese market has caused the price of these wonderful reds to skyrocket, forcing the ‘traditional’ buyers out of the market. This wine movie is not only an interesting story, perfect to learn about how France’s finest wine region operates, but also a good chance to discover which Bordeaux you may well want to try and taste yourself! A brief history of French and Chinese history is also covered. Compelling viewing.

The wine documentary Red Obsession

Somm is a wine documentary about four wine stewards who are attempting to learn everything about wine as they prepare for the master sommelier exam, one of the world’s most challenging tests, of which only 170 people in the world over the past forty years have passed. The information included in this wine movie is incredible, really delving into how to understand wine and how wine obsessives become sommeliers of this calibre. If you want to understand more about grape varietals, wine categories, wine regions, appellations, etc; this is one wine movie you cannot miss while self-isolating. Maybe grab a glass while you’re watching..?

Best wine movies to cheer you up

Sideways is a wine movie about two middle-aged men (one a wine lover, the other is soon-to-be-married) who take a road trip through the Santa Ynez wine region. What starts as a kind of bachelor party converts into a journey full of surprises and many laughs! Set amongst some beautiful vineyards as well as seeing the process behind wine tastings, and the difference between those who want to understand wine, and those who just want to drink it! 

Bottle Shock wine movie is the true story of how a British wine snob living in Paris, comes to understand that Californian wines are just as good as those from France. The brilliant Alan Rickman plays Spurrier, a Briton who owns a specialty wine shop and plans to show Parisians that the quality of wines from outside of France is also very high. Showcasing the difference in cultures between laidback and unpretentious Californians and the snobbish and elitist Europeans is priceless! Many beautiful wine regions are showcased here.

Corked is a mockumentary wine movie based on four distinctly different wineries vying for approval from international wine critics. If you  are after a good laugh, don’t miss this movie, which showcases the beautiful wine regions of California. A true spoof portraying the stereotypes we all think of when it comes to wine elitism.

Best wine movies for the romantic viewer

Conte d’automne (Autumn tale) is a wine movie set amidst the lush vineyards of France. This iconic Eric Rohmer’s wine movie is a celebratory tale of matchmaking and misunderstandings! If you want to dream about your next trip to France, indulge in viewing the sunkissed French wine regions, adorable villages and quintessentially French protagonists. Vive du vin!

The beautiful vineyards of the Rhône Valley wine region featured in Autumn Tale wine movie

French Kiss is the comedic story of a woman who goes to Paris to win back her fiancé who has run away with a beautiful Parisienne. The hilarious antics of Meg Ryan and Kevin Klein are the big claim to this wine movie if you want to have an entertaining time without pretentiousness. Wine and vineyards are present all the time in this romantic comedy.

The Strange Case of Angelica is a magical realism romance set in amongst the landscape of Portugal’s incredible Douro Valley. Manoel de Oliveira’s film is about a photographer haunted by a deceased bride, and the love that plays out between them, with hilarious consequences! As well as being a wonderful story, it is a fabulous excuse to be enticed by the beauty of this Portuguese wine region.

El Año y la viña (The Year and the Vineyard) is a gently whimsical time-travel yarn that starts with Andrea Pesce, a Sicilian member of the International Brigades during the Spanish Civil War, falling through the sky and landing in a vineyard in a small village in contemporary Spain. Set amongst the vineyards in Salamanca province, the film is about coming to terms with loss, and making the best of what you have around you, even if it seems unlikely. The score is a reason to watch, in itself.

A Good Year is a wine movie starring the unlikely duo of Russell Crowe and Marion Cotillard. Crowe plays a London-based investment banker who learns that his uncle has died and left him a chateau and vineyard in Provence. A little cheesy, but certainly warm and light-hearted! A love story about starting over, set amidst the glorious backdrop of Provence’s villages and vineyard landscapes.

A wine movie for the more serious viewer 

Tu seras mon fils (You will be my son) is a French film about the tension between a wine-making father and the son he has never accepted, who so desperately wants to follow in his father’s footsteps; run the vineyard and gain his father’s love. An intense wine film set amongst the magnificent vineyards of Bordeaux. 

The compelling wine movie of You Will Be My Son, set in the Bordeaux wine region

Blood & wine is another intense wine movie with the ever-superb Jack Nicholson, who plays the role of a well-to-do wine merchant. In reality, however, he is ruined and will attempt to steal a diamond necklace to save his family’s future. A fantastic cast which includes Jennifer Lopez and Michael Caine.

Please enjoy watching these wine movies while you are cuddled up at home during this period of self-isolating. Make sure to take notes of some of the wonderful wine regions you may wish to visit; and if you want some more inspiration, look no further than our wine experiences – you are sure to find a wine region you wish to visit on a private wine tour with us!

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