A two-day treat for foodies and art lovers! No better way to spend your days in the Basque Country than by sampling the sumptuous Basque cuisine, fine wines and exceptional architecture. If there is a city where art, architecture and gastronomy are blended to perfection, it must be Bilbao. From an artfully sculpted museum with titanium fish scales, to a miniature culinary architecture of layered crunchy vegetables and succulent seafood, it is in this vibrant city where the art of food and stunning contemporary urban landscape is celebrated.

We propose a splendid privately guided weekend, full of goodies. Picking you up from the hotel, we will head to the stunning Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, that seduces with its curved silver and golden lines, for an in-depth exploration of the permanent and temporary exhibitions, according to your liking.

After a pick-me up, Philippe Starck´s beautiful transformation of the Alhondiga is waiting for us. This old wine warehouse is now a cultural treasure in the heart of the city. Yet within its walls, we will find another gem: the culinary delights of a master chef. Under the expert guidance of the award-winning team of Yandiola, be prepared for some serious cooking! Don on an apron for a hands-on culinary cooking workshop or relax with a glass of wine while watching our master chef at work.

Each dish will be paired with Spanish premium wines and this exquisite seasonal lunch will be served in an extraordinary location. Afterwards explore the nooks and crannies of Bilbao´s contemporary architecture during a leisurely stroll to end this brimful day on a sweet and long lasting note.

The following day choose between two routes:

Urdaibai

Less than an hour from the bustling city centre of Bilbao, lies Urdaibai. The stunningly beautiful Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve is not only home to black storks and strawberry trees, but also to Bizkaiko Txakoli, a local white wine. Overlooking the Bay of Biscay, its vineyards soak up this saline air, its estuary shelters rare species of migrating birds. Closeby the sacred oak of Gernika stands as the symbol of historical traditions of the Basques. But it is art which speaks here in a clear voice: from Picasso´s Guernica, to Chillida and Henry Moore. An exceptional example of Land Art is the enchanted painted forest of Oma.Basque artist Ibarrola created figures, colours and shapes which appear and disappear in a magical landscape and where you play a key role. All senses activated, it will certainly work up some appetite. So afterwards, we will make our way to a smallscale winery hidden in the forest. Here, our wine and food expert, will introduce you to the seductive world of Txakoli.

La Rioja

The following day the most prestigious wine region in Spain awaits us. An unexpected change in scenery: from the misty, forested hills of Biscay to the vineyards and microclimate of La Rioja. Superb contemporary wineries created by Gehry, Calatrava, Hadid look out onto beautiful rows of Tempranillo vines and mediaeval towns. This magical region is where Spain´s leading winemakers live to the full. Our top wine expert Iñaki Suárez is the Basque Country´s leading sommelier and happy to share his passion and insights with you. We will visit remarkable wineries, delve into its histories and lands and enjoy a delicious lunch. A perfect marriage of outstanding architecture and wine, led by our renowned wine expert.

“Our Art, Architecture & Gourmet Weekend is the perfect opportunity to view cutting edge art and architecture, a chance to lay eyes on Urdaibai, and a unique occasion to talk with leading Basque chefs , winemakers & local professionals.”