Unspoiled Spain: Food & Wine Tasting For Foodies & Nature Lovers

Chef Paul and Juan really gave us a magical day touring the area surrounding this amazing Moorish castle. They welcomed us into their wonderful home attached to the castle walls and with tunnels running beneath the house under the castle. The food (sucking pig) was INCREDIBLE with great sausage, bread, cheeses, olive oil, and local wines and Vermouth. HIGHLY recommend. They really work to give you an unforgettable experience!

I really enjoyed the hike near the Tagus river, all the blooming plants, the olive groves , and other scenery. I also loved the fact that it was not crowded with tourists. Food was delicious.

Really great opportunity to get out of Madrid (but not too far!) and experience a small village, history, nature and delicious food. The hospitality was amazing and we would highly recommend it!

What a special experience! My family and I loved every bit of this tour! All of the guides were wonderful. Hank was such an added bonus. The food was the best we had in Spain. I highly recommend unspoiled Spain.

Massive thanks to Paul, Juan, and Hank (the pup) for a phenomenal afternoon and for sharing Zorita de los Canes with us, a hidden gem. The trip is aptly named ‘Unspoiled Spain,’ giving you a taste of La Mancha’s essence and the region’s beautiful foods. The morning walk was a perfect start, with panoramic views of the region, village, and castle. Then the star of the show - a phenomenal lunch built around fantastic local ingredients. So delicious – a multi-course meal of simple dishes that let the ingredients shine. The young manchego was outstanding and hard to find elsewhere. Paul and Juan share deep knowledge of the cuisine and the area. Ending the day with a visit to the caves was great because when do you get to see underground castle caves? Logistically, they ensure the trip is easy and seamless, with great communication, and the hospitality is second to none. I look forward to bringing friends for another visit and checking in on the progress of those pistachios.

Our Unspoiled Spain foodie and nature experience was nothing short of magical. Hosts Paul, Ian, and Juan were incredibly hospitable, and their genuine love for this beautiful region helped us completely fall in love with unspoiled Spain ourselves. After days in the city, the fresh air and peaceful surroundings felt like a reset for all of us. We visited on Thanksgiving, and Paul prepared a meal in his warm, inviting home that genuinely rivaled a Michelin-star restaurant. Every dish featured fresh, local ingredients and was absolutely delicious — even our four kids (ages 11–15) were captivated. They sat, listened, asked questions, and ate everything without a single complaint because Paul and Juan made the food and the stories behind it come alive. And of course, Hank the dog added an extra dose of joy to the day. This was, without question, the best Thanksgiving our family has ever experienced. The memories we made and the joy we felt on this tour are beyond anything a five-star rating can capture. It was worth every penny — and then some. Highly, highly recommend!

If I could rate this higher than a 5 I would! Fantastic! Great get away from the city. Learned so much about the region and Spain in general. And the culinary experience was spectacular! This tour is above and beyond! Paul, Ian, Juan and of course Hank- did a wonderful job!

A must do tour if in Madrid. Chef Paul takes you to a rural town with an ancient castle. From his home built in the wall of the castle he feeds you a delightful lunch of many courses paired with wine. You will learn of the history of this olive rich countryside and tour the abandoned escape tunnels of the castle. Overall just a great experience.

My husband and I had the best day in the country. Beautiful scenery, great wines, delicious food and wonderful company. The trip was perfect!

Paul, Ian, Jose & Hank (the dog) gave us an unforgettable experience in unspoiled Spain! Starting with the walk alongside the hillside to the village, through the food & wine experience & finishing with the tunnels under the castle, everything was perfect. All the guides have a deep knowledge of the history & culture of the area & answered all our questions including those on the drive to & from Madrid. You will not be disappointed with this tour, it’s a one in a lifetime experience!

Where do I start! Everything was amazing! Paul, Ian, and Juan were so accommodating. The knowledge they have for wine, food, and the local area was superb. The food was scrumptious. Nice casual hike down to their house for lunch and got to explore the underground caves. Best tour!

We had an amazing time on this experience. Paul and Juan were wonderful hosts. We learned so much about the beautiful countryside and the history of the area. The setting was really unusual and I can’t recommend this enough. Paul and Juan made the most delicious food and really welcomed us like family. We also had the privilege of meeting Paul’s mother and auntie as well as Hank the adorable dog. This was an unforgettable experience that we will treasure.

From pickup to drop-off, this a an amazing experience. Our guides, Paul, Ian and Juan, each offer something a little different. Ian explains the surrounding history as you stroll/hike to their home. Once there, you're greeted with drinks, delicious snack and, finally, an amazing meal made from locally sourced foods, made by Paul and Juan. You will not leave hungry!! Juan took us through the tunnels, explaining what they know of them. It was so wonderful, we were sad to go.

Paul and company did a great job. They made the trip enjoyable and went out of their way to make it a great day- Thanks!!!

What a wonderful experience provided by our three hosts. Their goal was to show us- their guests - an “unspoiled Spain” and they truly succeeded with this daytrip outside of Madrid. This is an excursion designed for guests who 1) love local foods and dishes made with great skill; 2) want a relaxing trip without crowds; and 3) need a bit of fresh air in the countryside outside of Madrid. We had a lovely visit and an enjoyable day.

Great guides and fabulous food! Setting was very nice, Hank the dog was a treasure! Views were great,

This is a wonderful tour if you want to do something different than all the main tourist attractions. You get a taste of not only the beauty of a more rural area of Spain, but also a taste (and education) of the fresh and delicious local cuisine sourced and produced right down the road. A very unique day. We really enjoyed it.

We went on the *Unspoiled Spain for Foodies and Nature Lovers* tour with Paul on Saturday, March 1, 2025, and I can honestly say it was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. Paul has an extraordinary gift for hospitality and kindness that made me feel like I was part of the family from the moment we met. His deep, unmatched knowledge of food and culture, paired with his genuine heart and openness, created an experience that was refreshingly beautiful in ways I didn’t even know were possible. There simply aren’t enough stars to express my gratitude to him. The tour filled spaces in my heart I didn’t realize were empty. This is, without a doubt, the best tour in Madrid—unless it’s another one led by Paul. 20 out of 10, would absolutely recommend! We will be back!

Best day of our entire trip! Ian and Paul are amazing hosts. The hike was stunning and the meal they prepared for us was perfection. We left feeling like we made new friends!

It was more like a fun day with friends rather than your typical day tour. Paul, Juan, & Ian provided so much knowledge and history about Zorita de Los Canes and the castle where their home is located. This area truly has a stunning beauty and is just outside of Madrid. Don’t even get me started on the lunch they prepared for us. Absolutely divine. Everything served comes from local farmers, amazingly fresh and delicious, and accompanied by a variety of different beverages. We weren’t shy…we tried them all! The fun doesn’t end there. There are tunnels to be explored. This had to be my favorite day of our trip. Thanks again for the wonderful experience, Juan, Ian, and Paul.

Paul, Ian and Juan are absolutely lovely people. They are exceptional cooks and we thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of the tour. From the food, to the wines, to the walk in the countryside. It was great to get out of the city and experience the country and learning about the small village where their home is located. Would highly recommend this tour!

Lovely experience for a day outside of Madrid. Hosts were gracious, informative and took great care of us. Seeing the Spanish countryside was really nice. We visited local artisan producers and had an amazing locally sourced lunch. You can tell these hosts really care about their community and want to share the great things about it with visitors.

I have a wonderful time. Paul and his team are professionals they walked me through the history and explained benefits of corporatve farming and I enjoyed the labour of it. Food served was so delicious and you can taste the freshness of he produces. Great work.

This was a vacation from our vacation. So picturesque, no hustle just relaxation with great food and wine in the shadow of a castle dating back to 1000 CE. The culinary offerings were superior to anything we found in the larger cities. We learned so much about the food and preparation as well of the local wines. If you are into good quality food off the beaten path than this is a must.

We came across this experience somewhat accidentally - had done the “flavours of Spain” tasting earlier in the week and Ian mentioned the possibility of joining this one for Friday afternoon. So we jumped at the opportunity as we had the time free. This was a genuinely different and end-to-end enjoyable experience! So glad we did it. Paul, Ian and Juan are terrific hosts and carefully curated things every step of the way. We were driven out of Madrid and it took just over an hour to reach the village. Really enjoyed the relatively short walk down the hill to their house (right near the castle). Beautiful rural views. Inside we were looked after so well. Vermouth and snacks on arrival. So much cheese! I especially loved the black garlic. Had so much well prepared food thrown at us. Several tapas (mushrooms!!) with the pork jowl and then the lamb and potatoes. Very tasty. And the wine just kept on coming. Must also mention the tunnels under the house - quite the experience! This was something different, more than worth the money, and gave us an unforgettable way to close out our stay in Madrid. Thanks so much guys!

The whole experience was great. Our guides were amazing, the food was incredible and plentiful, the setting was beautiful. We almost canceled at the last minute just cause we weren’t sure we wanted to leave the city, but I am so glad that we kept the reservation. It was magical, and I would do it all over again. We were a party of five, a grandmother, ourselves, and our two children school aged. Excellent.

This was one of the best tours we’ve ever been on! The small group size gave this tour such a personal feel. Our tour guides, Paul, Ian and Juan, were so friendly and knowledgeable about La Mancha and the small town’s history, the food, the wine, the agriculture and the culture. To top it all off, the food and wine was incredibly delicious and enjoyed in the most charming home built into the side of the castle. Thank you for the best way for me to spend my birthday!

From start to finish, this experience was above even my highest expectations. Every bit of it felt hand-crafted with care. The hosts were charming, knowledgeable, and funny. The hospitality was unmatched. The word "phenomenal" seems inadequate to describe the quality of the food and drink shared with us. The small group size, coupled with the fact that it was hosted in their charming home put the entire experience over the top. It felt like a family meal, and the people we met were wonderful. If you're wondering if this experience is worth the expense, stop wondering and just do it. You will not regret it!

Brilliant all round day trip , just 1 hour from Madrid. The hosts were kind & friendly, the food & wine amazing and the village something from a fairy tale. Great all round value.

This is one of the most amazing experiences I have done while traveling. Paul and Juan were warm and knowledgeable hosts who took great care of us, cooked delicious food for us and educated us about Spanish history. They provided us with a unique, bespoke adventure into the Spanish countryside, welcomed us to their beautiful, castle-based home and showed us the adorable little surrounding village of generations-old farmers. It is the main tour we tell friends and family about and we will never forget it.

This was one of the most unique experiences I’ve ever tried. Great food, great company, very accommodating & easy going hosts. I got lucky with my group, they were amazing people. Highly recommended.

My wife, 15-year-old daughter, and I got picked up in Madrid, and drove an hour east to Zorita de los Canes. We hiked for forty minutes (at a leisurely pace) and saw historical Visigoth settlements, a castle, and some tunnels. Then we had a culinary feast prepared with mostly local ingredients interspersed with conversations with Ian, Paul, and Juan. All three of them were great hosts and were able to provide extensive details about the origins of the food. They were also willing to share conversation, to answer tourist questions, and to make us feel at home in their home. Lastly, we walked down to the village and then drove back to Madrid. It was a memorable experience and *highly* recommended.

My wife and I booked this excursion (we're in our 30s) and were joined with another solo traveler. From the second we were were picked up by Paul, we felt like one big happy group. After a beautiful hour drive outside of Madrid and learning a little about about the area along the way, we enjoyed about an hour hike downhill to the castle. This is where we met Ian as he led the tour and also showed us some AMAZING views and told us more about the history of the castle and area. Without spoiling all the secrets, once inside we were welcomed with unlimited, fabulous wine, great food, and just a great overall experience. Before leaving you have to visit the tunnels under the castle and of course dip your toes in the crystal clear river. I was hesitant to commit a full day of our trip but it turned out to be the best part of our vacation!

To be very honest, we took a long shot on this tour and I must say it paid off. When we saw there were no reviews it made us think for a few especially the price, but we would have paid double that's how amazing this excursion was. The drive to the countryside was pleasant, the walk although mostly down hill(🤔🤣) helped work up our appetite. Now about the food, HANDS down the best food we've eaten here in Spain so far. The home cooked feel, the intimacy of the gathering, the conversation, and YES the wine!!!!! If I could give Iain, Paul, & Juan 5 Diamond Award I would. Oh yeah don't forget the underground caves