Full Day Tasting The Unknown Rioja Wine Region in San Sebastian, Spain
San Sebastian, Spain

Full Day Tasting The Unknown Rioja Wine Region

Outty Ranking 74 5.0 · 34 traveler reviews9 hoursFrom $571
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Outty Ranking

74/100

Strongly Recommended. Our proprietary evaluation. How we score

Traveler rating

5.0/5

Based on 34 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

Quick answer

Is Full Day Tasting The Unknown Rioja Wine Region worth booking?

Full Day Tasting The Unknown Rioja Wine Region is a 9-hour experience in San Sebastian, Spain, from $571 per person. It scores 74 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Strongly Recommended”, based on a 5/5 rating across 34 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.

Outty Ranking
74 / 100
Rating
5/5 (34)
Duration
9 hours
From
$571 per person

Get to know about the Rioja terroir, from classic Rioja wines to new trends while enjoying a drinking journey full of colors and vineyards along the way throughout the whole day. THIS EXPERIENCE IS UNIQUE because we emphasize meeting "the terroir", those humble hardworking people passionate about what they do. We will visit very small wineries, from rustic ones with medieval cellars to newer and sophisticated ones. You are not visiting only just waiters in a wine bar, you will meet the locals, the grower or winemaker and you will see that sparkle in their eyes that betrays the passion and magic that makes them enjoy every moment of their job. The wine aging system has been revolutionized (back to the past) and today wine is not only aged in oak, stainless steel or concrete barrels. With your expert guide you will have the chance to buy more wines aged in clay, ceramic or cement eggs.

What you get

    About this experience

    Get to know about the Rioja terroir, from classic Rioja wines to new trends while enjoying a drinking journey full of colors and vineyards along the way throughout the whole day. THIS EXPERIENCE IS UNIQUE because we emphasize meeting "the terroir", those humble hardworking people passionate about what they do. We will visit very small wineries, from rustic ones with medieval cellars to newer and sophisticated ones. You are not visiting only just waiters in a wine bar, you will meet the locals, the grower or winemaker and you will see that sparkle in their eyes that betrays the passion and magic that makes them enjoy every moment of their job. The wine aging system has been revolutionized (back to the past) and today wine is not only aged in oak, stainless steel or concrete barrels. With your expert guide you will have the chance to buy more wines aged in clay, ceramic or cement eggs.

    What's included

    Included

    • Private transportation
    • Lunch
    • Local Expert Tour Guide
    • In-vehicle air conditioning
    • 2 more tastings in 2 wineries (3 wines in each winery)
    • Wine tasting 1 (4 exclusive wines)

    Not included

    • Any extra item not specified above
    • Tips

    What you'll see and do

    1. Donostia - San Sebastian

      It will be a pleasure to pick you up at your hotel in San Sebastian (please let us know if you are staying in any other city) with my air-conditioned and heated vehicle. You will enjoy a pleasant 90 minutes drive to the Rioja wine region and you will be able to see how the landscape will change little by little.

      1 minutes here

    2. Bodegas y Vinedos Gomez Cruzado

      Tasting of 5 wines and local olive oil: at Gomez Cruzado you will taste some classic and new tendencies of Riojan wines. 5 wine tasting included and option to ship their some exclusive wines home. Haro, one of the first cities having electricity in Spain because of the wine production. We will walk by this lovely neighborhood admiring the architecture of the classic and oldest wineries. [The tour can be tailor-made, there is always option to visit another of the classic Rioja wineries, contact us].

      45 minutes here · Admission included

    3. Bodegas Hermanos Pecina S.l

      Tasting of their 3 great wines, Crianza, Reserva and a Gran Reserva (whites available for white lovers) and some local Riojan appetizer.

      40 minutes here · Admission included

    4. Bodegas Marques de Riscal

      Let's enjoy the views from our secret viewpoint among the vineyards admiring the innovative and avant-garde architecture of the Marqués de Riscal winery designed by the famous Canadian architect Frank O. Gehry, who created a work, which, although full of shapes, is in perfect harmony with the landscape of the area. Marqués de Riscal is one of the oldest wineries in Rioja since 1858. THE MARQUIS was one of the first person and winery in Rioja aging wine in oak barrels at the end of the XIX century. [The tour is tailor-made, there is always option to visit one of the classic Rioja wineries].

      10 minutes here

    5. Bodegas Ysios

      We will stop in front of this unique boutique winery to admire the modern architecture designed by the famous Santiago Calatrava surrounded by the dramatic setting of the Sierra de Cantabria.

      10 minutes here

    6. Bodegas Carlos San Pedro Perez de Vinaspre

      Short discovery visit and later tasting of 3 wines included in an underground Wine Cave. Some of the Unique Bodega are still aging their wines in the underground of the medieval village of Laguardia in the traditional way. It's a unique experience to discover the underground wine cellars and taste their wines.

      55 minutes here · Admission included

    7. Laguardia

      Lunch in a local restaurant and a short walk in the town. The medieval town of Laguardia located on the top of a hill, is the capital of Rioja Alavesa Wine Region and one of the most beautiful villages in Spain. It was founded in the 10th century as a defense of the Kingdom of Navarre and retains almost intact its medieval layout. There await the fortified churches of San Juan Bautista and Santa María de los Reyes. The town keeps many secrets and is entirely pedestrian because underground there are more than 300 tunnels dug hundreds of years ago. We will explain you the origin and the use that is given to them today.

      75 minutes here

    Where it starts and ends

    Hotel pickup

    Pickup is included for all travelers.

    Before you book

    Cancellation
    For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
    Languages
    en, es
    Ticket
    Mobile Only
    Runs on
    Every day
    Group size
    Up to 7 travelers per booking
    Operated by
    Earra Tours Basque Country

    Know before you go

    • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

    Photos

    Full Day Tasting The Unknown Rioja Wine Region in San Sebastian, photo 2Full Day Tasting The Unknown Rioja Wine Region in San Sebastian, photo 3Full Day Tasting The Unknown Rioja Wine Region in San Sebastian, photo 4Full Day Tasting The Unknown Rioja Wine Region in San Sebastian, photo 5Full Day Tasting The Unknown Rioja Wine Region in San Sebastian, photo 6Full Day Tasting The Unknown Rioja Wine Region in San Sebastian, photo 7

    What travelers are saying

    Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 34 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.

    Food and drink

    9 mentions

    The tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.

    Knowledge and storytelling

    8 mentions

    Reviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.

    The guide

    3 mentions

    Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.

    Small groups

    3 mentions

    The group size is repeatedly described as intimate rather than packed.

    Traveler reviews

    34 verified traveler reviews for Full Day Tasting The Unknown Rioja Wine Region. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

    5 star
    34
    4 star
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    3 star
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    P9747BGjennac · September 2025

    Rioja wine tour

    We enjoyed a private Rioja wine tour with the amazing John. His knowledge of the area was impressive which gave us an educational and also really fun day out! We stopped for a 3 course lunch at a local restaurant which did not disappoint. John also tailored the end of our day to our personal requirements which made the whole experience 10/10. We will be recommending John & earra tours to everyone! Thank you x

    Response from the operator: Dear Sarah and friends from London, it was a pleasure to guide you in Rioja, learning about the Region and its wines, but also about having fun and relaxing. Thank you for trusting our services and hope to see you again soon. Best regards guapas! Jon Gurrea & Earra Tours Team

    via Tripadvisor

    Stacy_C · June 2025

    Enjoyable Day in Rioja

    We had a wonderful time. Gorka picked us up from our hotel and drove us about 1.5 hours to Haro. Along the way, he shared some history of the Basque region with us. He also was kind enough to stop at gas station so my husband could get a cup of coffee. Once in Haro, we sampled 9 different wine varieties between the two wineries. We also had the opportunity to sample some delicious olive oil at Gomez Cruzado along with our wine. After leaving Haro, we continued on to Laguardia. It’s an adorable medieval town. We sampled three wines in a wine cave at Vinasperi before heading to lunch. My husband and I both had potato soup. He had lamb chops and I had steak. For dessert, we had ice cream and cheesecake. It was all delicious. After lunch, we briefly walked the town but unfortunately, due to rain we didn’t spend much time there. This tour was a lot of fun and Gorka helped make it a memorable experience.

    Response from the operator: Wow Stacy!! thank you very much for your glowing words. Our goal is to create the most memorable experiences so very happy for your experience. Best regards!!! Jon Gurrea & Earra Tours Team

    via Viator

    Meander556129 · May 2025

    Excellent and very highly recommended!

    Gorka was an exceptional guide and extremely knowledgeable. We learned much more than expected on our full day Rioja trip, tasted great and unique wines and even tasted in a 600 year old underground cave. Very highly recommended.

    via Tripadvisor

    85zackh · March 2025

    Earra Tours is 10 out of 5 stars! Amazing.

    Jon with Earra Tours gave my fiancée and I a private winery tour where I proposed! Jon was amazing and helped make the day perfect! Did the pintxos food tour with Darya the next day and she was amazing and so knowledgeable! It was so fun! Now doing a winery trail with Earra again this weekend! Earra is literally single handedly making our trip unforgettable!

    Response from the operator: Dear Zack and Lena, what can I say. It was great to be able to plan this for 2 months and to see everything was amazing and perfect. Thank you for trusting us and we hope to be able to celebrate the anniversary of the proposal. Earra! Jon Gurrea & Earra Tours Team

    via Tripadvisor

    Arthur_R · December 2024

    We had an amazing all day...

    We had an amazing all day tour with Jon! It was fun getting to know him and we had a great time going to the wineries and having a delicious local lunch together. We HIGHLY recommend this tour!

    Response from the operator: Dear Arthur, thank you so much for your kind words. It was fantastic to have you Marcia and you on our Rioja Wineries Tour and we are glad to see you had a blast. Thank you so much and we hope to see you again for more adventures!!! Best regards, Jon Gurrea & Earra Tours Team

    via Viator

    Good to know

    Duration
    9 hours
    Free cancellation
    Up to 24h before
    Minimum age to book
    All ages
    Availability
    Bookable today
    Runs on
    Every day
    Hotel pickup
    Included for all travelers
    Booked in 30 days
    12
    Verdict
    Strongly Recommended

    Who runs this experience

    Operated by Earra Tours Basque Country, who run 8 experiences we rank across 1 city, with an average Outty Ranking of 63.7 and 1 in the 90+ Club.

    See everything Earra Tours Basque Country runs

    Why this scores 74

    The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.

    Traveler sentiment (30% weight)97
    Review evidence (18% weight)58
    Booking momentum (14% weight)50
    Value for money (12% weight)55
    Listing quality (10% weight)85
    Local standing (8% weight)58
    Booking flexibility (8% weight)100

    Full Day Tasting The Unknown Rioja Wine Region: questions travelers ask

    Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for San Sebastian.

    How much does Full Day Tasting The Unknown Rioja Wine Region cost?

    +

    Prices start at $571 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in San Sebastian usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.

    How long does Full Day Tasting The Unknown Rioja Wine Region take?

    +

    Plan for about 9 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in San Sebastian is not rushed.

    Is Full Day Tasting The Unknown Rioja Wine Region worth it?

    +

    It holds an Outty Ranking of 74 out of 100, which we label "Strongly Recommended". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 34 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in San Sebastian, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.

    Can I cancel or reschedule Full Day Tasting The Unknown Rioja Wine Region?

    +

    Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.

    Is Full Day Tasting The Unknown Rioja Wine Region suitable for kids and families?

    +

    Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 9-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.

    How far in advance should I book Full Day Tasting The Unknown Rioja Wine Region?

    +

    Around 12 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in San Sebastian can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.

    What should I bring or wear?

    +

    Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in San Sebastian and add a light layer if any part of the 9-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.

    Where does Full Day Tasting The Unknown Rioja Wine Region start and how do I get there?

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    The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central San Sebastian within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.

    What are the best things to do in San Sebastian?

    +

    On Outty we rank every San Sebastian experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Small-Group Electric Bike Tour in San Sebastián, San Sebastian E-bike trour: Basque History and Cultural., San Sebastian Premium Pintxo Food, Wine & Market Foodie Tour. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.

    When is the best time to visit San Sebastian?

    +

    Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.

    How many days do you need in San Sebastian?

    +

    Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.

    Do I book through Outty or through the operator?

    +

    Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.

    What is included in Full Day Tasting The Unknown Rioja Wine Region?

    +

    Included: Private transportation; Lunch; Local Expert Tour Guide; In-vehicle air conditioning; and 2 more tastings in 2 wineries (3 wines in each winery). Not included: Any extra item not specified above; and Tips. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.

    Does Full Day Tasting The Unknown Rioja Wine Region include hotel pickup?

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    Yes, pickup is offered for every traveler from 83 listed pickup locations in and around San Sebastian. You can also enter a custom pickup address when booking.

    What languages is Full Day Tasting The Unknown Rioja Wine Region offered in?

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    It is offered in English and Spanish. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.

    Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Full Day Tasting The Unknown Rioja Wine Region?

    +

    Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.

    Is Full Day Tasting The Unknown Rioja Wine Region wheelchair or stroller accessible?

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    The operator notes: Not recommended for pregnant travelers. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.

    What happens to Full Day Tasting The Unknown Rioja Wine Region if the weather is bad?

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    It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in San Sebastian. Standard cancellation terms apply: free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.

    What do travelers say about Full Day Tasting The Unknown Rioja Wine Region?

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    Across 34 reviews averaging 5.0 out of 5, recurring themes include food and drink, knowledge and storytelling, the guide. The tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.

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