Debbie Thomas, beloved Paso Robles restaurateur of Thomas Hill Organics fame, is the consummate foodie. She is also author of the fascinating memoir "Fork Me" (available on Amazon), all about her experiences running this Paso favorite fine dining icon.

Now that Debbie has left the responsibilities of owning a restaurant to others, she is using her time to roam the world in a quest to sample the best food and wine experiences and to share these experiences with you.

Her 2025 destination of choice is Northern Spain, and she wants you to join her with a small, intimate group of similar-minded people who want to taste some of the best food in Europe. Starting in Spain's capital Madrid, you'll also spend time in the renowned Rioja region, known for world-class Tempranillo wine. The trip will conclude in Spain's ultimate food destination, San Sebastian, which has more Michelin-starred restaurants per capita than anywhere in the world.

You'll stay at exquisite hotels and eat meals that were personally curated by Debbie.  There is only space for 14 people, so don't delay in booking your spot today!

• All hotels specified in the itinerary with breakfast and taxes included.
• Deluxe bus with a private driver at disposal as per itinerary.
• All winery visits and experiences, such as vineyard tours. (Names of specific wineries will be announced closer to the departure date.)
• Meals specified in the itinerary, all including wine.
• Full-day food and wine pairing experience at Marques de Murrieta in Rioja.
• Lunch with wine at a Michelin-starred restaurant.
• Private departure transfers (1 per couple).
• Tour manager who will travel with the group to provide management of all arrangements throughout the trip.
• Gratuities.

• International air.
• Transfer from airport to hotel in Madrid upon arrival.
• Travel/trip cancellation insurance (required or show proof of waiving coverage).
• Expenses of a personal nature.
• Meals not specified in itinerary.

• Private guided tour of Madrid with a welcome dinner at Posada de la Villa with wines. 
• Private visit and food pairing at Marques de Murrieta Winery in Rioja.
• Lunch at the fabulous Venta Moncalvillo, a Michelin-star restaurant.
• Tour of Bilbao including the renowned Guggenheim Museum and the Old Quarter. 
• Private guided tour of San Sebastian and visit to a "Gastronomic Society" as well as a Pintxos tour.
• Explore the French side of San Sebastian in the French Basque Region.
• Visit to Bayonne, where we will experience a chocolate demonstration and tasting.
• A day trip to the Basque Coast, where we will visit a farmhouse where they make cheese. 

Arrive in Madrid (transfer on your own) and check into the marvelous NH Collection Abascal Hotel. We'll start our adventures with a walking tour of the old quarter including Plaza Mayor, San Miguel Market, and other specialty shops. Given the food focus of this trip, the Market will be of particular interest and the guide will point out the best vendors and some of the more unusual offerings.

Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner at Posada de la Villa with wines. Resurrected from a 17th-century flour mill, this restaurant is known for its excellent preparation of traditional Spanish dishes. Specialties include Roast Lamb in a wood-fired oven, the Stew Pot and Hen in Madrilean sauce.

Start your day with an Ibérico Ham Carving & Tasting. Ibérico ham is considered one of the world’s top delicacies, no trip to Spain is complete without savoring this delicacy! In this workshop, you will learn about the traditional art of carving Ibérico ham. Under the guidance of a master carver, you will learn what makes Ibérico ham unique, why its curing process takes so long, and you will be invited to carve your own slices from a leg of premium Jamon lbérico de Bellota with the help of our expert. Once you're done with the carving, relax with a selection of Ibérico charcuterie and a Spanish cheese board, accompanied with a glass of wine or beer.

After your ham tasting, proceed with your guide and coach to Mercado de la Paz.

Visit our favorite food market in Madrid seeing the different stalls and the impressive presentation of fresh produce.

Next, enjoy a unique and original Master Class guided by Pilar Oltra, sommelier and founder of Vinology. More than a tasting, it is a journey through 5,000 years of Spanish history in a fun and enjoyable way. We will talk about the main autochthonous varieties, production areas, Spanish winemakers and wineries, methods and elaborations, tips on wine preservation and pairings. And all of this in the intimate and welcoming surroundings of our Bodega.

After lunch, those who wish can accompany the tour escort to the Retiro Park. The Retiro Park is not only the lungs of Madrid, but also offers culture, leisure, and sports activities to locals and tourists alike. Located in the center of the city, Retiro Park is home to 125 hectares of greenery and over 15,000 trees. From the botanical point of view, the park includes some very important gardens: the Jardin de Vivaces, the Jardines de Cecilio Rodriguez (classical gardens of an Andalusian style), the Jardines del Arquitecto Herrero Palacios, the Rose Garden, and the Parterre Francés with the oldest tree in Madrid, a bald cypress that is believed to be 400 years old. Admire the rowboats in the Great Pond, as well as the Velazquez and Crystal Palaces, both used today as exhibition halls. Our tour continues down the Paseo del Prado, a grand, tree-lined boulevard surrounded by fountains, gardens, mansions, and triumphal arches. This area is known as ‘Bourbon Madrid’ because King Philip V of the House of Bourbon designed the space according to the taste of European royal courts. Along the way, you will see the Cibeles and Neptune Fountains, Banco de Espana, and the Puerta de Alcala. The Paseo del Prado is believed to be the first public green space designed within a European capital in the early modern period. In 2021, the Paseo del Prado and Buen Retiro were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

After all the ham, that may suffice for dinner, so have a glass of wine or an ice cream. But if you want to sample some of Madrid''s wonderful restaurants, dinner tonight is on your own. We will provide you with a list of recommendations in advance of the trip so that if you want to make reservations in advance, you can do so.

After breakfast and checking out from our hotel, we will get on the bus and depart for Rioja Wine Country! On the way, we will stop in the medieval village of Pedraza for wine and a roast lamb at our favorite place, La Olma de Pedraza. After finishing our drive, we will check in at the beautiful 4-star Hotel Viura for three nights. After you settle into your Deluxe Rooms, you will have the opportunity to explore at your leisure and have dinner on your own.

We'll start exploring this wonderful region with a visit to the famous Marques de Riscal historic winery. Their wines are very popular, but what sets them apart is the colorful and playful architecture of Frank Gehry. They also have one of the best gift shops (and we rarely say that about gift shops), so you'll have a little time to find your own treasures. Then we'll proceed to a second winery for a private visit and tasting. 

After the wine tasting, reunite with your driver and continue to the village of Laguardia for a guided tour of the oldest and most charming towns in the region. Each home sits atop a private wine cellar, approached only by several levels of stairs. According to local lore, all the wine cellars connect via secret tunnels, so that in case of siege, the townspeople could join together. Visit Laguardia's church, Iglesia de Santa Maria de los Reyes. The Gothic style portal was restored and then protected by a 17th century Baroque facade that was built over it. This unique portal is thought to be the only one in Europe with its polychrome painting still intact. We'll then stop for lunch at Hospederia los Parajes.

After lunch, we will visit Casa Primicia, one of Spain's oldest wineries for a private visit with tastings. This historic estate offers visitors a unique experience with its ancient cellars, where tradition and modern winemaking converge. The tour includes exploring the historic site and tasting some of their finest wines, reflecting centuries of craftsmanship.

Dinner on your own and free time to relax, or do as you please.

Meet your tour manager and driver in the hotel lobby for your transfer to Marques De Murrieta. Founded in 1852 is the oldest operating winery in Rioja. Luciano Murrieta introduced innovative techniques from Bordeaux in Spain improving the quality and preservation of wine. Upon arrival, enjoy a private visit of the installations and their exclusive museum.

Enjoy a tasting menu with wine pairing, 5 courses and then 3 desserts, 4 wines.
At 5:00 pm, we will end of the experience by meeting back with your driver and continue to the hotel. Your evening and your dinner is on your own.

This morning, we will check out from Hotel Viura then meet your tour manager and driver in the hotel lobby and depart to Bilbao. Once we arrive, we will start with a guided tour of the Guggenheim Museum. The new Bilbao is best symbolized by the striking Guggenheim Museum, a work of Frank O. Gehry, a unique building representing the new generation of buildings in today’s Bilbao. After, we will proceed to the Old Quarter. The narrow streets of Bilbao's Old Town or Casco Viejo give off an age-old atmosphere. This historical corner, which keeps intact its buildings from the beginning of the century, rebuilt after the 1983 floods, is one of the most alive and dearly loved areas of a city which is full of contrasts. For lunch, we will enjoy a Pintxos lunch in the Old Quarter. 

After lunch, we will head to our final hotel, De Londres y de Inglaterra, and check-in to your Sea View room. Tonight we give you more free time to explore this foodie capital of Spain. We will provide you in advance a list of recommended restaurants so you can make reservations before you depart for Spain. San Sebastián has one of the highest concentrations of Michelin-starred restaurants in the world, and even the other restauaurants are sensational. You'll have no trouble finding a place to dine.

This morning, meet your top local guide and driver in the hotel lobby and depart by bus to Monte Igueldo to see the beautiful views of the city and the bay. Continue with a walking tour in the Old Quarter. Visit the famous beach of La Concha, the monumental buildings, the church of Santa Maria and the charming old fishing port. Finally stop at a Gastronomic Society for a look into this unusual way of sharing meals. Here you will enjoy a glass of Txacoli wine accompanied by a txistorra (typical sausage) and a Gilda.

After lunch, it will be a perfect time for a siesta, just like the locals. Or use your free time to shop, enjoy the spa, or go down to the beach. 

Tonight, we will dine together at Restaurant Rekondo, your very special Michelin style restaurant for dinner.

This morning we will depart for Biarritz. On arrival, begin your tour with a visit to the Grande Plage and the Casino, which is considered one of the main symbols of Biarritz. Continue up to the Rock of the Virgin (Rocher de la Vierge), which is connected to the mainland by an iron bridge that was commissioned by Napoleon Ill. Continue your way to the tiny Port Vieux. Stroll around with your guide and enjoy the local anecdotes of the rich history of the city and Basque Country. Discover the Biarritz market where you will see the local producers and enjoy the fresh food tastings.

Next you will continue to St. Jean de Luz, which was considered one of the most important fishing ports in France in the 17th century. Take a stroll through its lovely old town with its beautiful Basque houses. Walk down Rue Gambetta, the main pedestrian street, where you will find many boutiques selling local produce, clothes & shoes. Visit the church of St. John Baptist which is famous for the royal wedding that took place in 1660 between Louis XIV and Maria Theresa of Spain. See the House of the Infanta, an elegant building from the 17th century where Maria Theresa stayed when she came to get married.

After our tour, we will have lunch at a traditional cider house. Then, after lunch, we will return to our hotel and have a free evening with dinner on your own.

For our great day exploring the Spanish Basque Coast, we will have a tour that includes a visit to a Txakoli producer, a white wine unique to this region. On the way, you will pass through many small villages such as Zarautz. It is currently one of the most popular beach and surf spots in the Basque Country. Continue to the town of Getaria, the birthplace of distinguished figures such as Sebastian Elcano and Cristobal Balenciaga. During the Middle Ages, the people from this village were whale hunters. A walk through this village is like stepping back through time, taking you by medieval houses, the port, and the boulevard.

In Guetaria, you will visit a Txakoli winery and a cheese factory with tastings.

We will head back to San Sebastián before lunch, which you can have on your own. Spend your late afternoon packing up, relaxing, or doing whatever you do best.

Sadly, our last night has come. We wanted to make it extra festive, so we're letting you make your own dinner! Our farewell dinner will be a cooking class of local specialities, enhanced with lots of local wine.

After enjoying your last breakfast at the hotel, private driver transfers will be available to either the Bilbao or San Sebastián airports, whichever is more convenient for you to journey home or onto an extension of your trip. If you do want to spend additional time in Spain, or anywhere in Europe, Wine Lovers Travel is happy to design a private itinerary for you, with as few as 1 person.