Wine Journey in Old Castille

Tour Date: November 22 - 27, 2005

Trip Price: $3099 per person (Subject to currency fluctuation)

Tour starts in Madrid, Spain

Spain has the dramatic amount of 2,000 castles, and the greatest concentration of these, are found in "Castille", the central northern region. Indeed, the name Castille refers to this multitude of castles. Most of the castles were originally built during the 10th and 11th centuries, during the fierce battles between the Christians and the Moors. Many of the castles were later used as noble residences by the royal families and courts of the 17th and 18th centuries. Castles aside, this enchanting part of Spain also boasts some of the county's most famous historic architectural masterpieces, including the University of Salamanca, the Roman Aqueduct in Segovia and the Medieval Walls of Avila.

On this wine tour, we will have the opportunity to taste some of Ribera del Duero's most sophisticated and celebrated wines, climb in the ramparts of the Castles of Penafiel and Medina del Campo, and visit a string of captivating towns such as Salamanca, Avila, Segovia, and Tordesillas. From Madrid, we travel north, visiting first-rate cellars. We will sleep in a charming "Wine Themed Hotel" and dine on traditional Castilian fare. Classic dishes include: suckling pig cooked in "Hornos de Lena" (huge wood ovens), braised quail, Manchego cheese and wonderful vegetable dishes like roasted peppers, wild mushrooms with garlic and "Pisto" (a Spanish version of Ratatouille, with Mediterranean veggies).

Our journey takes us next, from Ribera del Duero to Tordesillas, an important village historically. Tordesillas is where the treaty was signed in 1494, dividing the conquered lands of the "New World" between Spain and Portugal. This division left the gigantic territory of Brazil to Portugal, due to an oversight by the Spanish cartographers! We will visit the "Convento de Santa Clara", a beautiful convent built in 1359, where Pedro the Cruel installed his mistress here, before his wife, Juana la Loca (Jane the Mad), moved in. Juana la Loca spent 46 years of her life in the convent, until her death in 1555. The convent has a lovely Moorish patio, and has the original organ that Juana la Loca played. We will have some free time to see the old town, before continuing on to visit one of Spain's most amazing castles, the Castillo de la Mota in Medina del Campo. Mota Castle looks like a Disney creation, but this Gothic-Mudejar structure dates back to the 1440's. Juana la Loca and Queen Isabel both stayed here. We'll have a walk around the castle, before transferring to our destination for the next few days, the lovely town of Salamanca.

Salamanca is home to the finest collection of Renaissance and Plateresque buildings in Spain. Its university is one of the oldest in Europe (besides Bologna in Italy and Oxford in England). A prime attraction in Salamanca is the arcaded Plaza Mayor, where you will have time to sit outside and admire the graceful arches, while having a glass of wine. Our accommodation in Salamanca is stylish and upmarket. Get ready for some gourmet meals! We will have a 4-course lunch ("Menu de Desgustacion") in Salamanca's most famous restaurant. For dinner, we will venture from traditional cuisine, to try more creative cooking, called "Cocina de Autor". From Salamanca, we will visit Segovia, famous for two architectural masterpieces: the 2,000 year old Roman Aqueduct and the "Alcazar", a castle that many say was Walt Disney's inspiration for his Disneyland castle. We'll have time to see the sites, have lunch, etc, before our transfer to Avila, a spellbinding town enclosed by a "Muralla", a medieval wall. We'll stay overnight in a lovely, historic hotel, before our transfer back to Madrid.

If you love great food and wine, and are interested in history and architecture, this is the wine tour for you!

Day 1 Meet and drink at the 5* Palace Hotel Madrid- Transfer to Penafiel- First Cellar Visit and wine tasting- Overnight and dinner in Wine Hotel, Ribera del Duero
Day 2 Castle Visit and Wine Museum- Wine tasting and lunch in Historic Cellar - Free time in Penafiel, optional excursion to local medieval village nearby - Overnight and dinner in Wine Hotel, Ribera del Duero
Day 3 Visit to Tordesillas, to "El Convento de Santa Clara" - Free time for lunch - Stop in Medina del Campo, for a walk around the "Castillo de la Mota" - Transfer to beautiful Salamanca - 3 course gourmet dinner-Overnight in charming 4* hotel, Salamanca
Day 4 Discover Salamanca - Optional walking tour of the city - Lunch in atmospheric, famous restaurant where we will have a 4 course, gourmet, "Menu de Degustacion" - Evening free - Overnight in same hotel, Salamanca
Day 5 Visit to Segovia, with its 12th century fairytale castle and 2,000-year-old Roman Aqueduct- Free time or optional city walking tour - Transfer to Avila, birthplace of Saint Teresa the Mystic - Splendid 3 course dinner with wine, digestifs and Cava- Overnight in historic hotel, Avila
Day 6 Full breakfast - Free time in Avila - Afternoon transfer to Madrid- End of services

What's Included:
· All Transportation in luxury, air conditioned bus · Aperitif at 5* Palace Hotel, Madrid · All accommodation (5 nights, in charming, historic and luxurious hotels) · 5 Full Breakfasts with fresh squeezed juices, fresh baked bread, etc · 2 Lunches with wine, mineral water, other beverages (including a 4 course, gourmet lunch, and a "Tapas" style lunch at a winery) · 4 Gourmet Dinners with wine and digestifs · Expert Bilingual Guide, owner led · 2-3 Winery Visits and Tastings · All Entrance Fees to Cultural Sites · Cellar Tours Gourmet Gift

What's not Included
· Airfare · Meals and Drinks not specified · Tips · Personal Expenses (mini bar, telephone, etc) · City walking tours in Salamanca and Segovia. We can arrange them for you with local guides

Prices quoted are per person, based on double occupancy. Single supplements apply when not sharing accommodation. Tour Itineraries listed are subject to change without notice. No unused portion of the vacation can be refunded. 15 % deposit and signed release form required to secure place on tour within 45 days of departure. Balance required within 30 days of trip.