Madrid To Ribera Del Duero Wine Tour With Lunch & Hotel Pickup

This (~12 hour) day trip to Spanish Wine Country is amazing. We visited three unique wineries and also had lunch at a wonderful little village restaurant. Michael is the most amazing guide….extremely knowledgeable about Spanish wine and just fun to be around. Each winery was a great experience…the wine is excellent, the chocolate/cheese pairings were great and the hostesses were lovely. I’d highly recommend this trip if you have a free day in Madrid.

Beautiful experience in the Ribera del Duero region. We had a pick up just outside our hotel in the centre of Madrid and enjoyed the drive together with our guide, Michael Pope. He gave us lot of information and also some fun facts about the area and was very easy to talk to. We got to visit 3 different winemakers and they were all so friendly and you could really see the love they had for their vineyards. The area is amazing, and we would really love to go back one more time. Michael also organised a lunch at a local restaurant and the food was good and the staff were so kind and service minded. Michael is fluent in english and spanish and the tour doesn't feel "touristy" in any way.

Michael is an exceptional guide. Me and my girlfriend had a honeymoon experience lol. Before the tour, Michael asked if there was any particular bodega I wanted to visit, but I told him I trusted his criteria — and it was definitely the right choice. The three bodegas he took us to were all very different and incredibly special. What made the experience unique was how personal it felt. We were able to talk directly with the owners, their spouses, or their children, and they were the ones giving us the tours. It felt very authentic and one-on-one. Michael also knows a lot about wine and is a great conversationalist. He picked us up, drove us to every vineyard, and the food was delicious. I’m sure he could also arrange visits to larger, more well-known wineries if that’s what you’re looking for, but as he explained, those tours are usually bigger and you lose the personal touch which I would recommend. Just trust him you will not be unsatisfied.

Cancelled one business day before with no explanation and no call or text for 2 people for $1,000 USD. Thankfully I checked my email because we got in the evening before and were expecting to do this tour the next morning. Don’t plan around this guy. There are plenty of other options. Of course he cancelled after it was too late to book another tour and this was a weekend trip. Thanks for wasting 1/3 of our holiday.

My wife and I did a private wine tour with Michael based on the recommendation of friends of ours that had done a tour with him earlier this year that they loved! And my wife and I would totally agree! He picked out 3 unique wineries as well as had a wealth of knowledge about not just wine but the area in general. We have already said we would like to do a return trip to Madrid with the whole family and the number one thing we would do is book a tour with Michael again! Thanks from the Bruners!

This was an outstanding wine tour led by Michael. He was very knowledgeable about the industry and the area and was exceptionally patient with all of my questions. The tour never felt rushed and door to door pickup was a huge plus. We visited 3 wineries and they were all excellent but different for a well rounded view. The suckling lamb lunch was outstanding and highly recommended. Hard to imagine giving this a higher rating and would do this again in a heartbeat.

Michael is very knowledgeable. He curated a great tour for us. We were happy to try new wines, especially at Dominio Lubiano, a small family winery with a lot of soul. I recommend this tour if you want to go deep into exploring the wines of Ribera del Duero.

This was a one of a kind winery tour and tasting experience. Michael was amazing! And the wine was excellent.

As newbies to wine tasting, we were very open to whatever this experience would bring. There is no question that we were extremely satisfied!. With our guide, Michael, we visited three distinct wineries during the course of the day. Michael was attentive, intelligent, informative and really fun. Included in the day was a lunch stop at a lovely little restaurant where we ate a delicious traditional meal of lechazo, bread, salad and a very light cheesecake.. We learned so much that our brains were overloaded (in a good way) and we came back with more wine than we intended. We will certainly enjoy it when we get home. You should definitely do this tour!

Michael was very communicative from the start, and expertly customized our trip based on our current level of wine knowledge and preferences. He picked us up from our hotel and drove us straight away to Ribera del Duero. We enjoyed a visit to three different wineries - from small scale organic vitnor to larger productions, with a lunch stop at a local restaurant in between. We thoroughly enjoyed touring each place, and seeing first-hand the relationship Michael established with each wine-maker. So much that one (Jorge) entrusted Michael with his own set of keys to the "wine barn/cave" so that he could lock up and come and go as he pleases from now on. Another (Monica) commented how she rarely offers tours to her production facility but only does so for Michael's clients. Michael is an excellent and friendly host, speaks fluent Spanish and English, was very knowledgeable in wine theory and production. For our first visit to Madrid we learned so much about this Spanish wine region, tasted plenty of delicious offerings, and had a wonderful time. Michael also gave us restaurant recommendations for other cities we were visiting in Spain. Highly recommend!

Michael was simply spectacular. My wife and I have traveled extensively, including Tuscany in Italy and Napa California. This tour was better than both of those! Michael genuinely cares for his clients and is extremely gifted in his hospitality. When booked I didn’t realize he was a wine sommelier also. What an experience! If I could give it higher than 5 stars, I absolutely would. We almost didn’t book, being that there is a 2 hour drive to and from the wine region back to Madrid. Don’t let that scare you! The scenery is gorgeous and the company is even better! Book it…..now!

Michael was an amazing guide. Our family had so much fun and learned a lot about wine and the region. We highly recommend Michael and this trip!!!

My family and I had the absolute best time on this tour. Michael was attentive and really perfected the tour according to what we we're hoping to see and learn! The three wineries we visited were so different from each other, we LOVED it! The schedule is perfect, the lunch is great (and more than enough to keep you full for the rest of the day), and you really get to taste a lot of wines (more than enough to make your money's worth). We would most definitely recommend this tour if you're looking for a one of a kind and personalized experience.

My husband and our daughters had a wonderful visit to Ribera del Duero with Michael. From pickup at our hotel to drop off in the evening, Michael made our tour easy and we didn't have to think about a thing. The 3 vineyards we visited were all different and gave us a perspective on the different kinds of winemaking in the region. Michael's relationship with the winemakers made us feel like we were visiting friends. Michael was friendly, knowledgeable and fun and made the day both interesting and enjoyable for us all. The regional lunch at a local restaurant was excellent and delicious. We had a terrific day and I would highly recommend taking a tour with Michael. We hope to do so again when we return!

We have been on wine tours before, but this tour showed some early steps that we hadn’t seen before (e.g., how grape skins are handled). It was fascinating and our guide, Michael, was extremely knowledgeable….plus we met fun people on the tour. A great day!

We did this tour with Michael while spending a few days in Madrid, and it was easily one of the best decisions we've made. From the organisation of the trip to the actual day, Michael was super helpful and informative and ensured we got to do an experience based around our needs. The wineries were great the wines delicious and each one showed us something different. Lunch was also excellent. Michael was also flexible with the drop-off point and left us in the next city for our journey north (for a transfer fee of course). All in all a great day and we've already decided that we'll book with Michael to see some more of Spain's wine regions.

Yesterday truly exceeded our expectations. My husband and I wanted to take an adventure without being part of a large group, and this was the perfect activity! Michael picked us up from our hotel and educated and exposed us to the local wine culture in such an unforgettable way, each vintner with their unique process and contributions to the wine community. We are not new to the production or consumption of wine, however, what we experienced and learned is something we will never forget! The drive was beautiful (reminded us of our former home state!) and we enjoyed being outside of city centre for a day. This was a bucket list item we didn’t know we had!!

What a great day heading to wine country from Madrid! Michael was super knowledgable and we had an amazing time visiting 3 different wineries. Each one was unique and my group was able to really learn about the process. Michael was a fantastic guide and took us to great spots. Lunch was really yummy as well.

I met Michael through a professional wine organization we are both members of. I was eager to see the wine regions near Madrid and decided to visit Ribera Del Duero. Once you get out of Madrid, the drive to Ribera Del Duero was beautiful - many mountains and dramatic skylines. We visited Virtus Bodegas y Viñedos first. It is a lovely property surrounded by hills and vineyards, while Peñafiel Castle serves as a focal point in the surrounding landscape. The enologist, Paqui, greeted us and then showed us and then walked us through her process of making wine. She was very patient while Michael translated her Spanish explanations to English and was open to specific questions about the wines. Although Virtus primarily makes Tempranillo wine, they also make an indigenous grape - Albillo Mayor- into an elegant white wine. After the tour we were led through a tasting of two tintos and the Albillo Mayor. Tasting the reds (Tempranillo) side by side allowed us to taste the aging characteristics from a young to an older wine. The wines are available for purchase, so I suggest saving room in your luggage for several bottles! Next we went to a less traditional wine operation just a short drive away. There we met Jorge, who represents the third generation of family winemakers. The family owns vines within Ribera del Duero. Jorge makes wine in a traditional manner, relying less on technology and more on taste and feel. He is a very generous and passionate winemaker. We tasted samples directly from the barrel. I found the wines to be very expressive and impressive. One of my favorites (they were all good though) was blended with a small percentage of white grapes. After the barrel samples Jorge led us into a cave where he presented a sample of his bottled wine. Our tour ended with a drive through local vineyards, but not before having a traditional lamb dinner at one of Michael’s favorite restaurants in Peñafiel (this was a self-pay experience and not included in the tour price). We also took a short stroll to see the above-ground chimneys that are part of a system of underground caves. Whether you are a wine enthusiast, professional, or a curious traveler, contact Michael for a wine tasting that is outside of the norm. He is a certified expert in Spanish wines and his enthusiasm will leave you wanting to visit other wine regions in Spain!

Unbeatable experience with the best guide. Michael organized a weekend for all our family and we really enjoyed it! He brought us to very nice places and we tasted amazing wines! Thanks!

We chose this tour as we wanted to visit wineries “off the beaten track”. We had the chance to visit 3 very different locations each with their own charm, loved to get to see how process, space and produce can be so unique. It was a beautiful day enjoying nature, food and excellent wines. Michael, our guide was great! Totally recommend it if you are looking for an authentic experience, Pick up, lunch reservations and overall experience was great.

We had an amazing day in Ribera del Duero. Michael is a really good guide; during the tour, we visited 3 different wineries and had lunch in a local restaurant. He is very passionate about his work and I would definitely recommend him!

Was great to did this tour with Michael! He is passioned about the wine. Apart from that, his knowledge is huge and he made us feel as wine experts!! I did several tours like this in the past, but this is definitely the recommendable one!

Michael helped me organise the best trip for my boyfriend’s birthday. We were a group of 8 and he took care of everything, from wineries to local restaurants. Food, wines and tapas were DELICIOUS and we couldn’t have asked for a better guide, Michael is experience and fun!In our group we had wine tasting experiences before but we all agreed that this one was the best! We would definitely repeat!!

I will start by saying I have done this type of wine tours few times in the past but never as good as this one. Michael passion is tangible! We visited very nice wineries and also restaurants for lunch. Tried the best wine and food of the region. We will repeat for sure!

I spent a weekend in Madrid with some friends, and we decided to book a day tour in the Ribera del Duero. We couldn't have picked a better experience! Michael is an excellent host and a true wine expert. He's not just a guide but also a wonderful person to spend the day with. He took us to three different wineries in the Peñafiel area. Each winery offered a unique experience, from the well-known ones to hidden gems with a local touch. Even though some tours were in Spanish, Michael effectively conveyed the entire experience, helping us immerse ourselves in the culture, connect with the people and places. In between winery visits, he also took us to a local restaurant to try the traditional cuisine. It was delicious and really authentic! I highly recommend him and his tours, and I can't wait to return and try the others.

We were really excited to take in the Ribera Del Duero wine tour as part of our trip to Madrid. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and friendly throughout. The fact that he could speak both Spanish and English was fantastic, we really understood everything he was telling us. We’ll definitely be recommending to our friends

We took a day trip to Ribera and really enjoyed it. We set off early in the morning, and Michael guided us through three distinct wineries, each offering a unique perspective on the region. The highlight was undoubtedly a visit to a cave with barrel tasting. Michael was incredibly passionate and well-prepared about the area and its wines. During our journey to Ribera del Duero, he provided an excellent introduction to the region and engaged us in a lovely chat about Spanish wines in general. We returned to Madrid in the evening after a pleasant nap in the van, feeling refreshed and ready to explore the city's nightlife. Without a doubt, we'll be trying another one of Michael's tours the next time we're in Madrid. Highly recommended!

We chose Vine Travel after reading the reviews on TripAdvisor. Of the 19 reviews at the time of the survey, 18 gave maximum score to the tour. Another preliminary detail that caught our attention was the fact that many of these 18 positive reviews came from frequent clients of TA, which means that they are people with travel expertise. That said, let's go to our experience. The negotiations with Michael were made by email, in which we agreed the tour (three wineries with lunch) and the price. We combined a cellar of our preference (Matarromera) and left the other two on his own (Lubiano and Virtus). The lunch was in a traditional restaurant, where a “lechazo” was served, that is, a lamb of milk baked in the oven. Michael picked us up at the previously agreed time, drove the car throughout the course, and gave us very relevant information about the region of Ribera del Duero, curiosities about other wine-growing regions in Spain and about the mentioned wineries. His care was impeccable from the first treatments until the end of the tour, when he left us at the hotel. About the wineries, too, we only have compliments to make. Matarromera was our personal choice, cave with excellent structure to welcome tourists, in addition to producing an impeccable Reserve. At Lubiano we were greeted by the owner himself, who was very cordial at the time of the tasting (he offered a Velvet 2018 which we appreciate very much). And when we thought nothing else would impress us, we were also well received at Virtus, which prepares mimos for the customers. The three wineries deserved a visit, and the restaurant as well. Such lechazo fell very well with a glass of Ribera. After all, not only did we enjoy the tour, but we highly recommend the services of Vine Travel.

It was a beautiful and inspiring visit. Impeccable. We had a great time in the wineries that chose, in fact, very good wineries. We ate tasty. They picked us up on time and communication with the Young man who took us was excellent!!!!! It's a tour that you can't miss. It makes you love and appreciate the world of post wines much more. 💯 % recommended.