Is the tour suitable for solo travelers?

Yes, solo travelers are welcome but must cover the cost equivalent to two adults for the private tour.

Are the winery visits private?

Winery tours are conducted in small groups, though the rest of the itinerary remains private.

What meals are included?

A light lunch featuring three pintxos paired with local wines is included during the visit to Laguardia.

Is transportation provided from Bilbao?

Yes, the tour includes private, air-conditioned transport with pickup and drop-off at your accommodation or cruise port in Bilbao.

Can children join the tour?

Yes, the tour is open to all ages with special pricing for youth and children, but alcohol tastings are only for adults.

What should I wear for the tour?

Comfortable walking shoes and weather-appropriate layers are recommended for walking and vineyard visits.

Private Rioja Wine Tour from Bilbao by Local Experts Tours | Guided Tour | Food Tour

Set out from Bilbao for an eight-hour private journey into La Rioja, one of Spain’s premier wine regions, with Local Experts Tours. This intimate experience blends the region’s rich viticultural heritage with immersive tastings at two contrasting wineries, matched with a stroll through Laguardia, a medieval village etched into the rolling landscape. La Rioja’s geography—a patchwork of gently sloping vineyards framed by limestone hills—creates ideal conditions for Tempranillo and Garnacha grapes, defining the region’s celebrated reds.

The tour begins with a scenic drive from Bilbao, crossing into Euskadi’s southern neighbor, arriving at a small, family-owned winery where traditional winemaking is still an art form passed down through generations. Here, guests experience personalized tastings that reveal the nuances of Rioja’s age-old varietals. Later, visit a medium-sized estate that embraces modern techniques alongside Rioja traditions, showcasing the evolution of Spanish viticulture.

A highlight unfolds in Laguardia, a village with cobbled streets and remnants of ancient walls. Visitors have time to wander its labyrinth-like alleys and take in sweeping views over the harvest-season vineyards—which, adorned in shades ranging from deep green to fiery gold, underscore the region’s cyclical rhythms.

Local Experts Tours elevates this day trip beyond the typical wine tour by offering private transport, expert guidance, and small group tastings, making it ideal for wine enthusiasts who prefer a tailored pace. The inclusion of three pintxos paired with local wines provides an authentic taste of Basque culinary culture amid the greater Rioja adventure.

This blend of culture, landscape, and enology crafts an experience that’s as informative as it is sensory. For travelers based in Bilbao seeking a rich, off-the-beaten-path wine journey, Local Experts Tours delivers a standout immersion into northern Spain’s celebrated terroir and traditions.

About Local Experts Tours

Local Experts Tours is a guided-tour operator based in Pamplona, Navarra that organizes day trips and experiences across the Basque Country, Rioja and the French Basque coast. The company sells a wide range of tours departing from Pamplona and nearby cities listed in its offerings, including San Sebastián, Bilbao, Logroño, Vitoria and Biarritz. Its catalog features wine tours in Rioja with visits to two bodegas and traditional lunch options, txakoli wine experiences from Bilbao and Getaria, and guided visits to the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao.

Food-focused experiences include sidrería visits, Idiazabal cheese tours in rural Basque Country, pintxo routes with Spanish D.O. wines, and cooking courses in San Sebastián.

Coastal and cultural excursions cover Gaztelugatxe, Mundaka, Gernika, Hondarribia, Zarautz, Getaria, Zumaia, Biarritz and Bayonne, with options for minibús transfers and private tours. Active itineraries include e-bike and bicycle routes in San Sebastián, trekking on sections of the Camino de Santiago, and paragliding near San Sebastián.

Local Experts Tours lists private and group formats, small-group departures, and secure online payment links. It also offers transfers and full-day excursions from neighboring cities. All descriptions and departure points reflect the trip names and summaries provided for the operator’s public listings. The operator's program also includes specialized excursions such as visits to the Sanctuary of Lourdes, the Royal Palace of Olite and Ujué, the Baztán Valley with Elizondo and the Zugarramurdi caves, and guided walks on Camino de Santiago routes. Several wine tours explicitly include bodega visits, tastings and traditional lunches. Bookings available online.