For UK travellers seeking food and wine tours in Spain, the only problem is the amazing variety of choice!  You can’t go wrong with starting slap bang in the centre and discovering what Madrid has to offer for foodies and wine lovers. It boasts a hip gastronomic scene, with great tapas bars as well as opportunities to try regional favourites such as Lechazo (slow cooked lamb) and bocadillos de calamares (fried squid baguette sandwiches).  Heading north from here through the beautiful countryside above Madrid, wine tours abound in the Ribera del Duero ‘Golden Mile’.  You can experience vineyard tastings of flavourful tempranillo-based reds and rosés.  For an added culinary dimension, a food-and-wine-pairing evening offers the best of everything in this interesting region.

Culinary Tours in Spain

Further north still you’ll find infamous Rioja territory, perfect for a wine tasting holiday. Logroño is the capital of this region and a great place to head to for sampling world-renowned Rioja, not to mention a thriving food scene.  From here, the Basque cities of Bilbao and San Sebastian are not far at all, and food lovers can immerse themselves in the culinary experience of Pintxos – the Basque equivalent of tapas. A ‘Pintxos Crawl’ will take you to some of the best bars for these sumptuous morsels, from bacalao (salt cod) to txangurro (spider crab).  These are popularly accompanied by the region’s tangy cider, worthy of a tasting tour in its own right. San Sebastion ranks with the best cities in Europe for gastronomy  - look through our culinary holidays in Europe if you would like to make the comparisons yourself!

Best Food and Wine Tours in Galicia

In the northwest of Spain, jutting out above Portugal, is green Galicia.  This region is a must for wine lovers who wish to get better acquainted with its unrivalled Albariño white wine. Wine tours around the Rias Baixas will provide for tasting opportunities of this characterful wine.  You may even be fortunate enough to pair it with typical dishes at one of its many food festivals, often in honour of some delicious seafood, such as percébes (unusual but delicious goose-necked barnacles). Galicia is also home to walking tours in Spain, along the Camino de Santiago, and walking the beautiful countryside is of course the perfect way to whet the appetite for the local food and wine.

Southern Spain Gastronomy

The South of Spain, its climate and landscape very distinct from the green and mountainous north, conjures up different flavours and opportunities. For a different experience entirely, why not try an olive oil farm tour in Andalucía to take in the complexities of an outstanding extra virgin oil.  This sun-kissed region also provides interesting trips for UK travellers seeking the delights of Spanish sherry. These range from crisp, light manzanilla to the rich and raisiny Pedro Ximenez, with a whole host in between.  Sampled with a slice of jamón iberico, a southwestern ham speciality, this is a pretty idyllic adventure!

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