Rioja Uncorked: Private Wine Experience from San Sebastián
Description
Visit 4 top Rioja wineries with guided tastings and a traditional lunch as part of this private, guide-led experience designed around quality rather than quantity. Led by passionate local guides who know Rioja inside out and love sharing it, the day unfolds at an unhurried pace. You’ll visit four carefully selected wineries, each with its own style, landscape, and story, with relaxed tastings that leave plenty of time for questions and real conversation—no scripts, no rush. We work with a small network of wineries and producers we know personally, allowing for thoughtful encounters and carefully chosen wines. Everything, from tastings to lunch, is included so you can focus entirely on enjoying Rioja at its best.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We start the day in the vineyards of Rioja Alavesa, surrounded by vines and wide open landscapes. This is where we slow down, look around, and talk about soil, climate, and why Rioja tastes like Rioja. No glasses yet—just fresh air, views, and the story behind the wines you’re about to taste. Scenic stop · No tasting
Then it’s on to Haro, where Rioja’s modern wine story really took off. We’ll talk about French winemakers, railway lines, and how a small town became one of Spain’s most important wine hubs. Here you’ll enjoy guided tastings at two traditional wineries, tasting classic Rioja styles and understanding why these wines put Spain on the world wine map. Two guided winery tastings included
Next stop is Samaniego, a tiny village surrounded by vineyards, where wine has been part of daily life for centuries. At a family-owned winery, you’ll taste wines made by growers whose roots here go back to the 17th century. This is Rioja at a human scale—personal, honest, and full of character. One guided winery tasting included
Our final tasting takes place in Labastida, a lively village known for small, independent wine projects. Here we taste wines that show how Rioja is changing today—new ideas, fresh energy, and a different way of looking at tradition. There’s time to stroll through the village and enjoy its atmosphere before lunch. One guided winery tasting included
We finish the day in Labastida, bringing together everything we’ve tasted and talked about. Lunch is relaxed and unhurried, with a menu prepared especially for us using excellent local produce. Expect dishes like sarmiento-grilled lamb chops—ever heard of sarmiento? (It’s vine cuttings used as fuel, and yes, it makes a difference.) Seasonal specialties and the classic goxua dessert follow, all paired with more Rioja wines. It’s a moment to sit down, compare notes, and enjoy Rioja beyond the tasting glass. Lunch and wine included
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Pick up from different locations is possible for an extra charge.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
Reviews(21)
Enjoyed our wine tour which included tasting at three different wineries along with tasty snacks and lunch. The views were amazing. Carlos was a knowledgeable guide who even dropped us at our Hotel because it was raining.
Sounds like a proper Rioja day :) Beautiful vineyard views, good wines, long lunches and a little rain at the end to keep things authentic Basque style. Very happy Carlos helped make the experience easy and relaxed for you from beginning to end. Thanks for exploring Rioja with us and for appreciating the slower rhythm of the region!
Two friends and I were staying in San Sebastián for three days. We took this tour to Rijoca and had the most wonderful day. Martin our guide was charming and knowledgeable. The wineries we visited were ‘boutique’ type makers all of whom were passionate about the wines they offered. We tasted a variety of wines from the region and learned about how they are produced. The tasting offered both traditional styles and some more modern and experimental wines. The tour also includes a very delicious lunch of regional specialties.
This sounds like a beautiful autumn Rioja day :) Boutique wineries, passionate winemakers, long conversations around wine and a slow regional lunch are exactly the kind of experiences that make this region so special. We’re very happy Martin helped bring together the history, personalities and different wine styles of Rioja in such an enjoyable and relaxed way. Thanks for spending part of your San Sebastián trip exploring Rioja with us!
This was the best day tour that we have ever done. An amazing experience from start to finish. Fantastic Rioja wines to savour and great food to share! The views and the wineries were fantastic. Each one a unique experience. And our host Martin looked after us like royalty all day from start to finish! Highly recommend this tour! Brenton and Julie.
Our guide Martin was amazing. We learned so much about Basque culture and the wine county. We visited 4 wineries and made a quick stop in Laguardia for a pintxo. The first one (Javier San Pedro Ortega) was our favorite because they took the time to present their wines and had an elaborate pairing menu. Special shout out to Ostatu who also proposed interesting and original wines and gave us a warm welcome. If I had to change something, it would be the final wine bar which seemed like an unnecessary quick stop with a description card instead of an actual person talking to us. But overall, we had a great day with Martin! I would recommend.
Don’t miss this La Rioja wine tour! Ania is a very knowledgeable and entertaining guide who knows her wines, the history of the Rioja region and the wine making process from medieval times to today. Come ready to try wonderful Rioja wines, a tasty lunch a visit to a quaint medieval town!
We had such an amazing time with Telmo - great guide, delicious wine and absolute stunning scenery! Communication beforehand and pickup were smooth. The selection of the wineries were excellent and perfectly prepared. Telmo was a great host, sharing his knowledge during the car ride with us! The whole trip deffo a 10/10
This tour could not have been better! Our tour guide and driver, Mikel, picked us up in a clean and comfortable vehicle at the arranged time. On the drive to the Rioja wine region, we discussed the day’s itinerary, history, culture, architecture, grape growing and wine making of the area. Mikel was very knowledgeable and engaging. We stopped for coffee, pastries and photo ops in a historic town and outside of 2 famous wineries known for their stunning architecture. The three wineries where we wine-tasted were all so different and all of the wines were delicious. Lunch at a family-run restaurant was one of the best meals we had in Spain. I highly recommend Ikusnahi Tours and Mikel and would book with them again!
We are from Japan and went to San Sebastian since we are foodie and had an excursion to Rioja wine region. Telmo, our guide, picked us up promptly in morning and gave us such a educational tour of Rioja region as well as Basque region. Very Knowledgeable of the history of Spain and Basque country. Many helpful tips and additional wine explanation during the winery tours. We thoroughly enjoyed our private tour!
Such a fun day visiting wineries, strolling around Laguardia and stopping for lunch! The three wineries we visited were a great variety and the wines we tasted were delicious. So glad we did this tour from San Sebastián!
Favorite part of the trip was the first winery (Tritium) with a cave tour and barrel tasting. As well as our guide Anya who was very knowledgeable about the region and the wines.
