We are going to be in Madrid the first week of March. I inquired with Vintage Spain about a day trip to the Ribera del Duero and because it's low season, the tour would be private and cost 700 euros for my husband and I. That's more than we'd like to spend. These are our options as I see them:

1. Rent a car for the day and tour 2-3 wineries ourselves (I found several where we can make appointments in advance). We did this in Italy last year with mixed results (a GPS would have likely yielded better results). We've also driven in Spain before, but it's been years.

2. Take the Vintage Spain guided tour of the Madrid area wineries for a more reasonable price of 125 euros a person. The tour description indicates a max of 20 people on the tour, but I'm guessing we won't be close to that number given the time of year.

Thoughts? Has anyone done a self guided tour of the Ribera del Duero? Or, does anyone have any feedback about the wineries closer to Madrid? Seems like this might be an "up and coming" area.

>>Rent a car for the day and tour 2-3 wineries ourselves (I found several where we can make appointments in advance). << WHERE are these wineries?

Ribera del Duero, about a two hour drive north of Madrid.

For the Madrid area wineries, per the tour description they are all within an hour drive of Madrid.

The eastern edge of the Ribera del Duero is a 1-1/2 hour drive from Madrid, it will take you another 30 minutes or so to reach what is called the "Golden Mile" with or without the GPS, which can be unreliable at times. The Rivera del Duero runs east and west along the Duero River and has some 240 bodegas, many of which you can make reservations to tour, but some do not offer tours in English except for specific times of the day or week.

The Vintage Spain price is pretty average since you will have a car and English speaking driver/guide for the entire day (8 hours?), with access to the some of the best bodegas and a private tour.

If you end up driving yourselves, I'd make it a point to stay overnight. The last time we visited the Ribera, in early October, we shared several glasses with the owners at each stop, and never did more than three visits in one day. Some can take two hours or more and lunch will take at least another two hours, if not longer. Drinking and driving in Spain can be dangerous, and expensive if stopped.

Cor... a tour for 2 people and all for just Euro 250. Just to be clear that is something like a 12 case of Marques de Murrieta Grand Reserva 2004 in the UK.... I like the Ribera but I'd struggle to pay that much. There are vinyards around Madrid and Toledo which are upcoming. I'd research the local ones first. These guys might be able to help
http://www.cellartours.com/spain/spa...es/toledo.html

Wow, I just saw the prices. It's odd I took the train to the main Cava town from Barcelona, walked around the town tasting and had a grand meal for about Euro 50 a head, its hard to imagine 500 to 1000 per person/day

I'm shocked, looks like a real oportunity to improve. I chatted to a friend and he thinks these guys are good http://www.planetavino.net/

It's like comparing apples to oranges. The cava towns and the Ribera del Duero are worlds apart. The wines of the Ribera del Duero are, to put it mildly, spectacular, and expensive for the most part, but well worth the money. They are bold, powerful and full-bodied.

The wineries are not open to the public, you must have a reservation, and knowing someone, or going on a private tour, makes a world of difference in the experience.

oh I agree about the wines but prices are going to be about supply and demand of the service as much as the wine. R d D is a bit stuck out in the middle of nowhere and I guess that is why the prices are even higher than similar ones in Bordeaux. Still let the OE decide

I don't consider either the Ribera del Duero or the Rioja as being stuck in the middle of nowhere, but both are rural locations and just coming into their own as premier destinations for wine enthusiasts. The Rioja is a few years ahead of the Ribera in terms of accommodations and restaurants, but that is changing.

It would be less expensive but the experience wouldn't be the same if Spain great wine regions where located closer to a major city as the area would be overflowing with traffic and tourist. The cost of such a private tour is more about the personalized service they can offer and access to places you can't get to on your own.

This has opened an interesting idea for our travels to Spain in May. I am an avid wine enthusiast and have experienced little of Spain's wines. This could be an opportunity to do so. Originally was going to do 4 nights in Madrid and 3 in San Sebastian taking the bus or train between both. Now thinking of maybe getting a car and driving Madrid / San Sebastian and maybe taking a night off Madrid and doing this as a stop over. Comments / suggestions ??

In looking at a map, is there a particular town I should be looking for that is central to this winery region ??

nygvic- the wineries are located between Aranda de Duero and Valladolid.

thanks all for the comments. I think the hefty price tag to the Ribera has to do with the fact that it's just the two of us and it is a long day (I think 10 hours pick-up to drop-off). It sounds lovely, but 700 euros is the same as the cost of the apartment we are renting for the week! I will look into the Madrid area tour. My husband isn't too jazzed about driving back to Madrid given we have never been to this area before. I'll also check out the Planeta Vino link.

It's interesting that the Planeta Vino is using an photograph of Bodegas Pago de Larrainzar, which is just south of Pamplona (Navarra), for it's Spanish Wine section. Pago de Larrainzar makes some great wines.

nygvic, the main villages in the Ribera del Duero are Peñafiel (Valladolid), Roa and Aranda de Duero (Burgos) and San Esteban de Gormaz (Soria). Valladolid is at the western edge of the region, but worth a visit.

Hi to everyone and happy beginnings.
My husband and I wish to learn more about the winery tours as we are driving to Tirgo - Hotel Solar de Febrer for 3 nights May 31 June 3 (6 miles from Haro La Rioja).

We would like to know what a favorite tour is like. We want to learn from all of you so we can book those tours.

Thank you ALG for allowing me to introject my request into your question.

You could add a new post. It might be better...

May I say don’t squabble with Robert about wine regions, as that forms part of his business. He is quite knowledgeable on most of the Mid and Easterly-Northern regions of Spain.

Back to the subject:
Here is the website for the region:
http://www.drinkriberawine.com/home/
To answer the question which town is central; the most central is Aranda de Duero
http://turismo.arandadeduero.es/
I would suggest you stay to the north in the lovely city of Burgos.
There is far more to see than just the Bodegas (wineries). I would there fore suggest to the OP to hire car and stay awhile in the region.