Short Break to Inland Galicia: Discovering the Wine Country
Grilled Octopues
Sil Canyons
San Xoan De Mourentan Bridge, Arbo
San Clodio Monastery
Streets of Ribadavia
Os Cipreses Wine Cellar
Guided Visit at Os Cipreses Winery
Ribadavia
Casa Grande De Almuiña
Sil river boat Ride
Boat ride
Algueira
Algueira
Galician Cuisine
Grilled Octopues
Sil Canyons
4 Days / 3 Nights
Vigo
On Request Best Rate
- Slow-paced tour to explore the inland part of Galicia
- Walk through old wine country roads and visit the wine museum
- Visit 6 wineries and try some of their best wines
- Discover the Miño river valley, which separates Galicia from Portugal
General Overview
- ID: EW3278
Introduction
Grapes & Gastronomy: visit the best wineries in Galicia
On this short break to inland Galicia, we will move away from the coast we follow the course of the river into the Miño river valley, a magical land on both sides of the river Miño a natural border separating Galicia from Northern Portugal. Starting the day with a winery visit and tasting in the sub-zone of Condado de Tea (Tea County) which is part of the D.O. Rías Baixas. We will take a picturesque walk down at the river, following along a beautiful woodland path coming out where the rapids are and we will see the wall-like construction (Pesqueira) jutting out into the current tides with conical nets hooked to them. They have been used since Roman times to catch the lamprey eel a delicacy in the area. People come from all over during the season of the lamprey to taste it. On both sides of the Miño, they prepare the lamprey eel and they both make wine from the same grape Albariño/Alvarinho. You will get a taste of the wine made on each side of the river border and you will walk right across into Portugal´s D.O.C. Vinho Verde wine country!
Discover the rivers Sil and Miño in the Wine Country of D.O Ribeira Sacra
Exploring deeper inland Galicia we encounter a sacred wine country... D.O. Ribeira Sacra. The Romans first cultivated the vineyards alongside the banks of the rivers Sil and Miño. The monks continued it, but then the area was abandoned for years. Fortunately, Ribeira Sacra has undergone a renaissance over the last three decades since people have been coming back and replanting the terrace and making some of the best wines in the world. Such a hard land to cultivate taking years to build and with a steep slope incline of up to 86 degrees! No wonder the area is known as heroic viticulture. The most well-known grape varieties are Mencia (red) and Godello (white), but Albariño (white) is also planted here as well as other local indigenous varieties.
You will take a wine country walk to a viewpoint to admire the views of the river and vines then visit a winery with a VIP tasting including lunch at the restaurant of the winery. Then down to Sil River to take a boat ride to admire the vines from a different angle.
Get to Know the Oldest Appellation of origin in Galicia: D.O Ribeiro
Our journey continues to the neighbouring wine region D.O. Ribeiro. Another day of walking through old wine country roads and visiting the wine museum to learn the history of the oldest Appellation of Origin in Galicia. The heart of the wine country is a quaint town called Ribadavia with an interesting Jewish past which played a big part in the production of wine and is part of the Sephardic routes in Spain. Here we will taste the blended whites and reds as well as the mono-varietal of the Treixadura grape (white).
For those who would like to extend their trip, we have add-ons down to Porto, Lisbon over to Seville and could end up in Madrid the capital city of Spain. Let us know and we can suggest the best way to combine the add-on either pre-tour or post-tour just ask one of our tour specialists.
NOTE: We have also a Small Group Version of this tour, with chauffeur transportation and some more activities and excursions. If you are more interested in a tour of this sort, please check... Southern Galicia Coastal & Wine Country Walking Trails (See Add-ons)
Day by day itinerary
- Upon arrival at the airport, meet your food & wine Driver/Guide
- Bordering wine country: Condado de Tea & Vinho Verde alongside Miño River (Duration: 8hrs approx.)
- Today we drive by highway to the Condado de Tea Valley, another sub-zone of the D.O. Rias Baixas and the last on our journey through the Rias Baixas wine region and hop over the river to the Portuguese Vinho Verde wine country!
- The 1st stop will be at the winery Bodegas Fillaboa. The winery is located in south-eastern Galicia in the border area between Spain and Portugal. Found on the banks of the Miño River.
- We will enjoy a special visit to the vineyard, and winery, and a tasting of their wines.
- Then we cross the border over into the Vinho Verde wine region of Portugal into Monçao following along to Melgaço.
- To get the best views of the wine regions on both sides of the Miño river we will visit the tower of Melgaço in the old quarter of the town with panoramic views of the vineyards. A magical land, true wine country life on both sides of the border.
- We will stop to enjoy a tasting at the Adega Soalheiro winery. You will compare how the Albariño (or should I say Alvarinho as we are in Portugal!) grape variety tastes on this side of the border! Lunch at the winery after the visit.
- After lunch, we will go down to the natural border and cross the Miño River between Galicia, Spain, and Portugal here you will learn how they catch lamprey eel.
- Then we make our way by highway to the Ribeiro wine country which we will explore tomorrow.
- Check in hotel in the wine country
- 05:00PM: Drop off at the hotel.
- Dinner on your own (NOTE: Could have dinner at the restaurant of the hotel or we can add a dinner included at a restaurant for an extra cost)
- Overnight in San Clodio
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DAY 2:
SAN CLODIO - RIBEIRA SACRA WINE COUNTRY - SAN CLODIO
- Breakfast
- Today we make our way to the Ribeira Sacra, A Sacred place of wine! Since Roman times they made wines here then the monks continued the tradition.
- 10:15AM: Arriving in the sub-zone Amandi, D.O. Ribeira Sacra, take a 1hr riverboat ride to see how steep the vineyards are cultivated on the terraces which are the most included in the world at over 80% incline!
- Visit to winery Adega Algueira and enjoy a detailed visit of the winery and tasting of their Mencía, Godello, etc... wines
- After the visit, you will have a traditional lunch in the restaurant of the winery.
- To stretch your legs a bit after the meal we could go for a walk (3kms walking time about 45mins-1hr approx.) to the Mirador Pena do Castelo, a vantage viewpoint with a birds-eye view of the River Sil gorge.
- Now we will go to the river miño area of the Ribeira Sacra to visit another winery Adega Os Cipreses for a private visit and tasting.
- Retrun by highway back to our hotel in San Clodio
- Evening to relax on your own
- Dinner on your own (NOTE: Could have dinner at the restaurant of the hotel or we can add a dinner included at a restaurant for an extra cost)
- Overnight in San Clodio
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- Breakfast
- Today we make our way to the village of Ribadavia, we will visit the historical-medieval town of Ribadavia, the capital of O Ribeiro wine country, where they have an annual festival "Festa da Istoria".
- We walk through the well-preserved historical quarter, learning about the Jewish influence of this wine town, and then we will have the opportunity to taste toasted wines with a local winemaker.
- Then we will make our way deep into the Ribeiro wine country to visit the Museo do Viño de Galicia (Galicia Wine Museum).
- After that a stop at another special winery Cuña Davia where we will have a special visit of this micro-winery, and vineyard and a special lunch.
- In the afternoon return back to the hotel where you will have some free time to walk around the countryside, etc.. (NOTE: If you would like to add in a walking tour in the afternoon and even visit another winery please advise)
- Return back to our hotel.
- Dinner on your own (NOTE: Could have dinner at the restaurant of the hotel or we can add a dinner included at a restaurant for an extra cost)
- Overnight in San Clodio
B, L
- Breakfast
- Transfer to Vigo Airport
- Drop off at the airport and final goodbye from your food & wine expert food & wine guide expert.
- Take your flight back home (NOTE: Please advise flight time and details)
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Included
- 3 Nights accommodations in Double Occupancy based on hotels specified (See Lodging section)
- 3 (B): Breakfasts (daily except the day of arrival)
- 3 (L): Lunches with set menus as specified per itinerary and beverages included
- Private English-speaking Food & Wine Expert Driver/Guide as per itinerary.
- Transportation in a fully equipped SUV vehicle as per itinerary depending on the group size. (See Transportation).
- 6 Winery tours visits and tastings in the wine regions of Ribeiro, Ribeira Sacra, Baixo Miño & Vinho Verde (Portugal) as specified in the itinerary selected by our food & wine specialists. We will meet the winemakers, owners, etc..
- 1 Boat Ride in the Ribeira Sacra wine region for approx. 60mins.
- Local Taxes.
Excluded
- Transportation not specified.
- Meals not specified.
- Porterage
- City taxes in some location like in Barcelona and Porto to be paid directly at hotels when we check out if there is any of these taxes.
- Any entrance fees when not with guide.
- Tips & Gratuities to guides (Not mandatory but given if you enjoy the services)
- Trip Cancellation and Medical Insurance (Highly recommended)
- Any other items not specified in what´s included
Pick up
- Vigo Airport
- Other locations on request
Drop off
- Vigo Airport
- Other locations on request
Cancellation policy
- Please refer to our General Terms & Conditions for full details as to cancellation penalties, etc...
Lodging
Transport
- TRANSPORTATION WITH DRIVER/GUIDE - SUV in NISSAN QASHQAI 1.3 DIG-T MHEV 12V (2 to 3 People): dark grey, tinted back windows, black interior with Wi-Fi, and panoramic roof.
- TRANSPORTATION WITH DRIVER + GUIDE in Mercedes Benz Minibus Sprinter (4 to 8 People):
NOTE: Or similar type vehicles in the same class as mentioned above.
