Highlights:

• 11 Days/10 Nights of cultural immersion in majestic Spain including stays in Rioja Alavesa, its leading wine region, the Basque Country, its top gourmet destination and vibrant Barcelona with a full-day excursion to the gorgeous hidden-gem appellation of Priorat

• Luxury five-star accommodations in some of Spain’s leading hotels, including the avant-garde Hotel Marques de Riscal, designed by Frank O. Gehry, the world’s most celebrated living architect, the classic Hotel Maria Cristina in the elegant seaside Basque resort of San Sebastian and Barcelona’s Casa Fuster, which is most emblematic of the city’s modernist past and contemporary sophistication

• Insider, private guided wine tours in Rioja Alavesa, Spain’s showcase wine region, and Priorat, a fast-rising star on the world wine stage, along with a visit to a charming, family-run winery in the Basque Country, where several generations have produced delightful Txakoli wines in a stunning setting overlooking the Atlantic. Optional private guided tour of Penedes, Spain's cava region. Along with premium private tastings, you will have the opportunity to interact with winemakers and bodega owners who will be in the throes of this year’s harvest.  Due to harvest timing and individual schedules, details on which winemakers and bodegas owners will spend time with our group will be confirmed closer to the travel date.

• Private guided cultural experiences highlighting the rich culture and history of Spain: in Rioja Alvesa – private guided walking tour of the medieval village of Laguardia and visits to nearby monasteries that were key to the development of the Spanish language; in Navarre – walking tour of medieval Olite and its imposing castle along with nearby Pamplona, a favorite of Ernest Hemingway and site of the San Fermin Festival, during which the running of the bulls occurs; in Basque Country – walking tour of San Sebastian’s quaint old town, and a visit to a Basque seaside village, and an opportunity to view the Bilbao Guggenheim, Frank Gehry’s masterpiece; in Barcelona – a walking tour of the historic Gothic Quarter, and the charming old El Born district, and an optional private, half-day tour of the modernist masterpieces of Antoni Gaudi.

• Epicurean experiences that showcase why Spain is the “it” destination for food enthusiasts: Basque culinary demonstration and lunch at one of the city’s unique Gastronomic Societies; private guided tours of outstanding food markets, including La Bretxa market in San Sebastian and La Boqueria in Barcelona, Europe’s most outstanding food market; a guided excursion to Logroño, the capital of La Rioja, to experience firsthand Spain’s tapas tradition on a tapas walk in the old Calle Laurel district; a series of group lunches and dinners that will showcase regional cuisine, plus detailed restaurant recommendations for selected meals at leisure.

• Private deluxe transfers throughout the program, as well as a short flight via Spanair (jet service) from Bilbao to Barcelona

• Recommendations for time at leisure (including shopping!)

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Departure: Saturday, October 2

Day 1: Sunday, October 3:  Arrival to Bilbao, Spain.  Airport meet-and-greet. During a drive through Bilbao, you will see some of the contemporary architectural marvels of the rejuvenated city, including the celebrated Guggenheim Museum (a tour of the interior is not included, but there will be time to explore this area). Private transfer 1 hr 30 min to the seaside resort of San Sebastian, which still celebrates the good life in Belle Époque style. Balance of the day at leisure. Welcome dinner in the old town. Accommodations: Hotel Maria Cristina, a five-star, Empire-style landmark property overlooking the Urumea River.

Day 2: Monday, October 4: Your morning program will focus on Basque cuisine and culture, while the afternoon will be free. Tiny San Sebastian is food-obsessed and home to more Michelin-star restaurants than are many European capitals. Begin the day with a private guided stroll through the charming old town with attention to the wonderful La Bretxa market and the splendid art nouveau architecture. During the walk, you will learn not only about the bygone era when San Sebastian was the summer destination of choice for European royalty, but also about the Basque people and their unique way of life. The program will conclude with a Basque culinary demonstration and lunch at a leading Gastronomic Society, an institution that is unique to the Basque Country and San Sebastian. Afternoon at leisure, when you may enjoy shopping, a stroll along the Paseo de la Concha beachfront promenade or a funicular ride to the top of Monte Igueldo to take in the million-dollar panoramic views. Dinner at leisure For dinners at leisure, CORK & FORK will provide detailed dining recommendations and manage advance bookings, as appropriate. Accommodations: Hotel Maria Cristina

Day 3: Tuesday, October 5: Today, you will depart San Sebastian by the beautiful coastal road along which green mountains cling to the coast. First you will visit the picturesque 13th-century village of Hondarribia, which features a lovely medieval quarter as well as an interesting collection of brightly-painted, fishermen’s dwellings. Up the coast in Getaria, you will visit Bodegas Ameztoi, a small, family-run winery that produces fine Txakoli, the slightly effervescent, high acidity, low alcohol Basque white wine produced from the indigenous Hondarribi Zuri and Hondarribi Beltza grapes. The family has been producing Txakoli from its beautiful vineyards overlooking the Atlantic Ocean for seven generations. Next you will visit the charming seaside town of Getaria for lunch at one of the restaurants known for char-grilled fish (the perfect complement to Txakoli). Return to San Sebastian for several hours of leisure followed by dinner at leisure. Accommodations: Hotel Maria Cristina

Day 4: Wednesday, October 6: Morning departure from San Sebastian. Transfer 1 hr 30 min to Pamplona, site of the Festival of San Fermin and the running of the bulls as popularized by Ernest Hemingway in The Sun Also Rises, and also for centuries the capital of the ancient kingdom of Navarre. A guided walk of the historic old city will showcase highlights such as the bullring, the cathedral and the Three Boroughs. While in Pamplona, you you will learn about the history of the running of the bulls and visit the main plaza where Hemingway frequently took pen to paper. Next, following a 40-minute transfer, you will visit the quaint medieval village of Olite for a brief guided walk of the village and a private tour of the imposing palace-castle, built between the 13th and 15th centuries and a major seat of the royal court during the reign of Charles III. Continue 1 hr 25 min to La Rioja wine country and a late afternoon visit to the charming Remirez de Ganunza bodega for a private tour and tastings. Conclude the day at the stunning five-star titanium and sandstone Hotel Marques de Riscal, co-located with the legendary winery of the same name. Evening group dinner at the hotel's gastronomic restaurant (cost of this dinner is not included, which will give you the opportunity to order a la carte from the menu, which features modern interpretations of Basque-Riojan classics).  Pre-dinner visit to the oldest part of the winery, including the Riscal family’s delightful and dusty private cellar, which dates to 1858. Accommodations:  Hotel Marques de Riscal

Day 5: Thursday, October 7: A day of private touring in Rioja Alavesa wine country, where you will experience the contrast between traditional and modern winemaking techniques.  Today’s program will begin just minutes from your hotel at Bodegas y Vinedos Pujanza, a boutique winery established in the impossibly charming hilltop wine town of Laguardia in 1998 by Carlos San Pedro, whose family has been in the wine business for five generations.  Afterward, your guide will lead you on a walking tour of Laguardia’s cobbled streets where you will learn about the town's interesting history and ancient winemaking practices. Located prominently on an outcropping of rock and established in 908, the walled city has changed little since the 13th century and once was home to several hundred underground wineries.  Following lunch at Restaurante El Bodegon, a fine Basque restaurant and a CORK & FORK favorite, you will visit Bodegas Primicia, located in Laguardia’s charming medieval quarter in Casa Primicia, the oldest building in the village.  Winemaking, based on carbonic maceration, takes place in the restored cellars of this 600-year-old structure.  Following several hours at leisure at the hotel, depart to Logroño, the capital city of La Rioja and the commercial center for much of the region's wine trade. Upon arrival to Logroño, take part in a private guided walking tour of the old quarter followed by escorted visits to some of the charming tapas establishments that jam the city center.  Enjoy participating directly in this essential Spanish tradition.  Along with San Sebastian and Seville, Logroño is one of the great destinations for tapas in Spain.  In fact, some would argue that this is the most authentic tapas experience in the country, as Logroño is not a tourist town. Each bar specializes in just two or three tapas, such as chorizo with sweet paprika and garlic, wild mushrooms cooked in garlicky butter, then skewered with shrimp, or white asparagus grilled with Riojan cheese and paired with a crab and shellfish cake with a rich béchamel.  Your tapas dinner will include wine pairings and will span several different establishments.  Accommodations:  Hotel Marques de Riscal

Day 6: Friday, October 8: Today’s program will begin in the southern part of the region with a private guided visit to San Millán de la Cogolla, which was the site of monastic traditions as early as the 6th century.  The village’s twin monasteries of Yuso and Suso, which you will visit, are a World Heritage Site.  It was here that the first Castilian writings were recorded, from which the Spanish language was derived.  En route, you will pass by the fortress-like monastery of Santa María La Real, built in 1032 in the town of Najera. Next, you will visit Finca Valpiedra, a wonderful wine estate in a beautiful setting on a bend in the Ebro River. A light lunch will be served at the end of the visit. Following lunch, transfer 1 hr 30 min to Bilbao's airport in advance of tech 5:10 p.m. jet service via Spainair from Bilbao to Barcelona (1 hr 5 min). Private transfer to your accommodations in the city’s upscale L’Eixample district. Dinner at leisure. Accommodations: Casa Fuster, a five-star, small luxury hotel that is situated in a commanding position at the top of Barcelona’s prestigious Passeig de Gracia (boulevard). Casa Fuster exudes the elegant style that is Barcelona.

Day 7: Saturday, October 9: Begin the morning with a guided visit with Marta covering the aromas and colors of the exceptional Boqueria market located just off La Rambla. A market first was held on this site in 1470. Following the market visit, Marta will escort the group on a guided walk of the Gothic Quarter and Born district, which encapsulate the rich Roman, Christian and Jewish histories of the city. For those inclined to more active pursuits, we can make arrangements for championship golf at the exclusive Real Club de Golf El Prat, an excellent Greg Norman design located in an upscale Barcelona suburb. Rental golf clubs are available. (Pricing is not included for this activity and a minimum of four individuals is required.) Afternoon at leisure with time for shopping both in the Born district and among the designer boutiques of L’Eixample. Dinner at leisure. Accommodations: Casa Fuster

Day 8: Sunday, October 10: In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Barcelona expanded significantly outside the walls of the old city with the construction of the L'Eixample district. During this time, one architect, Antoni Gaudi, left a major imprint on the cityscape with the design of the iconic Sagrada Familia temple and a number of private buildings located in prominent positions on the Passeig de Gracia. Today's optional morning tour will focus on the works of Gaudi starting with Parc Guell to the north of L'Eixample and also including the Sagrada Familia temple and fanciful private apartment buildings such as Casa Battló and Casa Mila. Lunch on your own followed by the afternoon at leisure. (unless you are continuing on the afternoon optional Penedes tour,which includes lunch). Afternoon optional excursion (via private transfer, 55 min) to the Penedes appellation for a private visit to Pares Balta, an exceptional family-operated producer of a wide range of wines based on varietals including Syrah and Cabernet, traditional cava grapes including Macabeo and Parellada and even Chardonnay. You will also visit an artisanal producer of cava, Spanish sparkling wine. Penedes produces 95% of all cava in Spain. Lunch at a traditional Catalan restaurant is included in this optional program. A minimum of 6 individuals is required for this optional program.Dinner at leisure. Accommodations: Casa Fuster

Day 9: Monday, October 11: Day at leisure in Barcelona. CORK & FORK will provide a range of suggested activities for the day. Group dinner at Botafumeiro, Barcelona's premier seafood restaurant and a favorite of local movers and shakers (cost of this dinner is not included, which will give you the opportunity to order a la carte from the menu featuring specialties from the region of Galicia in the northwest corner of Spain). Accommodations: Casa Fuster

Day 10: Tuesday, October 12: Morning transfer 2 hrs 15 min to the southwest of Barcelona to Priorat, a scenic appellation largely undiscovered by tourists and comprised of narrow valleys and steep mountains. Priorat is just a fraction of the size of La Rioja and is a rising star on the international wine scene. The historic region was the site of the first Carthusian monastery in Spain. The steeply-terraced vineyards make the region most appropriate for boutique producers who craft wine by hand. This warm-weather appellation produces outstanding wines based on old vine Grenache and Carignan softened with international varietals such as Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. Your private visit to two bodegas will include the highly-regarded Clos de L’Obac and Cellers de Scala Dei, a boutique winery located next to the ruins of the Scala Dei monastery and known for its excellent Garnacha Blanca, among other wines. Visits will be hosted by the bodega owners, based on availability. Lunch will be at Irreductibles, a wonderful restaurant located in the hilltop village of Gratallops. Dinner at leisure. Accommodations: Casa Fuster

Day 11: Wednesday, October 13: Private transfers to Barcelona’s El Prat airport for departure.
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What's included:

• The company of your group hosts: Richard deBondt, owner of Greenville's Northampton Wines, and his wife, Karen

• 10 Nights of luxury accommodations: 3 Nights at the Five-Star Hotel Maria Cristina, San Sebastian - Deluxe Garden View room category; 2 Nights at the Five-Star Hotel Marques de Riscal, El Ciego (La Rioja) - Grand Deluxe and Premium Deluxe room categories; 5 Nights at the Five-Star Hotel Casa Fuster, Barcelona - Standard room category. Guestroom upgrade options available.

• 8 Discrete private guided touring programs: La Rioja: Two days of wine touring including cultural visits as specified and private bodega visits with premium tastings (tastings included); Evening Cultural Walking Tour and Tapas Walk in Logrono (includes tapas with wine pairings at three tapas establishments); Basque Country: Half-Day Basque Cultural & Culinary Touring to include a walking tour of the Old Town of San Sebastian, a culinary guide-led visit to La Bretxa market and a culinary demonstration at the Sociedad Gastronomica, the leading gastronomic society in town, Half-Day Tour of the Basque Coast including a guided visit to the port village of Hondarribia and Getaria along with a private visit to a leading Txakoli bodega (tastings included); Navarre: En route from San Sebastian to La Rioja, guided visit to the medieval village of Olite and its castle, and a walking tour of Pamplona; Catalonia (including Barcelona and Priorat): Day excursion from Barcelona to Priorat to include a wine tasting lunch at the private restaurant of Clos de l’Obac, the region’s best-known bodega, Private visit with tastings and estate owner/winemaker greetings at two bodegas including Clos de l’Obac (tastings included), Private guided tour of La Boqueria market followed by a walking tour of the atmospheric Gothic Quarter and El Born. A ninth tour - a private half-day tour of the modernist masterpieces of Antoni Gaudi in Barcelona - is optional and not included in the main program pricing.

• Breakfasts each morning at leisure (at hotels)

• 2 Dinners included + 2 Dinner a la carte (separate checks): 1: On the day of arrival, dinner at a traditional Basque restaurant in San Sebastian; 2: Dinner at the gastronomic restaurant of the Hotel Marques de Riscal, a la carte; 3: Tapas in Logrono, one of the best destinations for tapas in Spain; 4: Dinner at Botafumeiro, Barcelona's leading seafood restaurant, a la carte

• 5 Lunches 1: Lunch at El Bodegon, our favorite restaurant in Laguardia; 2: a light lunch at Finca Valpiedra winery during Rioja wine country touring; 3: Lunch at the Sociedad Gastronomica in San Sebastian featuring Basque specialties prepared during group culinary demonstration/lesson; 4: Lunch in Getaria in conjunction with Basque Coast touring; 5: lunch with wine pairings at Irreductibles, a fine restaurant located in the charming hilltop village of Gratallops and operated by Rene Barbier, Jr., a famous name in the world of Spanish wine.

• Private deluxe transfers for all program elements specified in the program in addition to airport meets-and-greets

• Spanair coach class service from Bilbao to Barcelona

• Entrance fees to cultural sites included in tour program

• All CORK & TEE fees, taxes and guide/driver gratuities and other gratuities with program elements specified in this program

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Pricing (based on a private group of 18, double occupancy): $6,195

A $1,500 personal check payable to Young Travel & Cruises is required at the time of booking to secure your reservation. Final payment is due on July 23.

Pricing and arrangements are subject to availability/price fluctuation and will be guaranteed prior to final booking. Pricing is based on an rate of exchange between US$ and the Euro as of 6/07/10.

Optional Penedes Excursion: As described in the itinerary on Sunday, October 10, this excursion includes transportation approximately 55 minutes to and from Penedes, two private guided visits and tastings at family-run bodegas (Pares Balta and a boutique cava producer) and a traditional Catalan lunch with wine pairings in the town of Sant Sidurni, the epicenter of Spanish cava production. The program will commence with departure from Barcelona at 1:00 p.m. and conclude with a return to Casa Fuster, just prior to the Spanish dinner hour (at 9:00 p.m.)

Pricing: To be determined based on the number of individuals interested in this program.

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FOR INFORMATION AND RESERVATIONS, PHONE: