Private Day in Rioja from San Sebastian

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. We begin the day in Briones, a beautiful medieval town perched on a hilltop above the vineyards. Walking through its quiet streets and stopping at the Rioja lookout, we take in the landscape and talk about what makes this region so special: the surrounding mountains, the wide valley below, and the key role of the Ebro River in shaping Rioja’s climate and wines. It’s the perfect place to understand the big picture before heading into the cellars. Walking visit · No tasting.

   30 min

2. Our next stop is Cenicero, where we visit a small, unique modern wine project housed inside a 15th-century winery. Here, you’ll explore an underground cellar and learn about the long history of winemaking in Rioja, while also discovering how the region is evolving today. The wines are natural and expressive, made from vineyards with vines over 100 years old, followed by a guided tasting that connects past and present in the glass. Guided winery visit and tasting included.

   2 h

3. Around Villabuena de Álava, we visit a family-owned winery where wine is still very much a hands-on, personal craft. During a guided tasting, you’ll learn how to read Rioja labels, understand classifications, and recognize different styles, all while tasting wines that reflect both tradition and everyday life in Rioja. Guided winery tasting included.

   1 h

4. We then head to Haro’s famous Barrio de la Estación to visit a classic winery founded at the end of the 19th century. This is where you taste traditional Rioja aged in American oak barrels and learn why this style became so influential, both in Spain and internationally. It’s a key chapter in understanding what “classic Rioja” really means. Guided winery tasting included.

   30 min

5. We finish the day in Labastida with a relaxed traditional lunch at a small, family-loved restaurant run by two sisters and popular with locals and wine makers from the surrounding villages. The menu focuses on classic Rioja dishes made with local produce, paired with village wines. It’s an easy, authentic ending to a day of learning, tasting, and conversation.

   2 h

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

Ratings come from 90 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Showing reviews written in English.

• 5Great day of wine!

  We had a great day with Malena, taking us to three wineries in Rioja, The wake up was early, but worth it. Malena was knowledgeable, and went out of her way to try and find us a wine we had tried in Barcelona. The wineries visited were great, we really enjoyed the smaller producers, and getting to taste wines we wouldn’t be able to get at home. We would definitely book again, when we return to San Sebastián.

  goundar-mortonOctober 2026via Tripadvisor

• 5Best Day of Our Entire Trip!

  This was the greatest day of our entire trip. Our guide Iñigo felt more like a family member. From the hotel pickup, the winery visits, lunch, and the drive back, the entire experience far exceeded our expectations. He was incredibly knowledgeable and had a wonderful ability to balance sharing his knowledge with giving us time to explore and enjoy things for ourselves. He tailored the day to our interests and preferences, adjusting the experience as he got to know us. The wineries and tastings were intimate, personal, and never rushed. Lunch was authentic and spectacular. We loved how the pace of the entire day was tailored to fit our interests including our visit to the medieval town. Also have to mention communication during the booking process was excellent. Highly recommend this tour. Hope you get Iñigo.

  DaBigKSeptember 2026via Tripadvisor

• 5Great Tour, Great guide, Great Wine

  Luis was a wonderful guide, sharing a lot of rich history about the region, the geography, and basque winemaking. The wineries we toured had excellent wine that we really wouldn’t have been able to experience and enjoy without going in and doing the tour.

  J6770ZCsilviamSeptember 2026via Tripadvisor

• 5A great day, start to finish!

  We did a customized tour for our family of 11 to visit a few Rioja wineries and see some unique architecture in the area. Our guide, Malena, and driver picked us up promptly, and Malena used the drive time to give us an interesting history of the Basque region and culture. She is incredibly knowledgeable and engaging. The visits and lunch they arranged were excellent, and she was so patient an accomodating with our interests. We had three young boys along for the trip, and Malena made sure they were comfortable and entertained during the tastings. The entire experience, from communications during the booking months ago, through some modifications due to our schedule, and even some restaurant recommendations for the remainder of our trip, was all handled professionally. I would highly recommend using this group for anything in the region.

  yadkinJune 2026via Tripadvisor

• 5Wonderful Experience

  Start to finish - amazing experience. Lucia was so helpful with curating the perfect experiences by email, very patient and very helpful, even before we booked the tours. Great communication leading up to the tour as well. And finally our guide Luis was fantastic and would for sure recommend him for any group. We did both a San Sebastián old town pintxos walking tour and then also a day driving to Rioja to tour some wine houses and a bit of shopping. Luis was super friendly, relaxed, knowledgeable, kept us feeling safe, and just a cool guy to be around.

  foodchainzJune 2026via Tripadvisor

• 5An unforgettable day in the Basque Country & Rioja

  Best day of our trip — book Ikusnahi Tours My wife and I did the Rioja region tour with Ernes and it was the highlight of our time in the Basque Country. Wineries, olive oil tastings, beautiful landscapes and real local insight into the food and wine culture — all in one day. Ernes is a fantastic guide. Knowledgeable, warm and genuinely passionate about sharing his region. Not a single dull moment. Worth every penny. Highly recommend.

  534yousseffJune 2026via Tripadvisor

Know before you go

How it compares in San Sebastián

• Its from-price is 102% above the median of the 397 experiences we list in San Sebastián.
• It is longer than most of them.
• By number of reviews it ranks 27 of 397.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About San Sebastián

San Sebastián, or Donostia, is a Basque seaside city around a shell-shaped bay, with a golden beach, a hilltop fort and a pintxo scene known across Spain.

San Sebastián curves around La Concha Bay, a near-perfect shell-shaped inlet with a white-railed promenade and a sheltered city beach. Monte Urgull guards the east end with an old fort, and Monte Igueldo, at the west end, has a funicular and a viewpoint. The Parte Vieja, the old town, was rebuilt after the fire of 1813 and is packed with bars and a baroque basilica.

Top-ranked sights in San Sebastián: San Sebastian Old Town (Parte Vieja Donostiarra), La Concha Beach (Playa de la Concha), Constitution Square (Plaza de la Constitución).

See all 397 experiences in San Sebastián