Day 1 - Arrive Sevilla Share a guided walking tour through historic Sevilla and its charming labyrinthine streets. Marvel at this ancient city’s astonishing monuments, including the Alcázar, a Moorish-built palace complete with traditional patios and fountains and amazing hand-crafted tilework. Explore the Gothic cathedral – the third-largest church in the world – and climb to the bell tower to appreciate its magnificent panoramic views of the city, including of the Guadalquivir River and the many stunning bridges that span it, old and new. In the evening, a food and wine expert leads an appetizing and exciting tapas crawl through the Barrio de Santa Cruz’s maze of tapas bars. Day 2 – Sevilla Spend a free day strolling through Sevilla’s picturesque neighborhoods, exploring the Jewish quarter’s meandering lanes, having a leisurely tapas lunch, and enjoying all that Sevilla’s quaint shops and boutiques have to offer. In the early evening, attend a private wine tasting and cooking class at a popular Sevillan restaurant, home of a popular Cordon-Bleu-trained Spanish chef. First, the wine connoisseur will lead an introduction to Spanish wines, and tastings of 6-8 selections will be offered. After the wine tasting, the restaurant’s charming chef will lead you in creating a marvelously appetizing multi-course meal, where traditional Andalucían cuisine enjoys a fusion with contemporary preparations. Day 3 – Aracena Participate in a full-day Iberian ham tour. Marvel at the unique Holm oak-studded landscape while you travel through the Iberian countryside. The production of Iberian ham, or jamón ibérico, is an example of the ultimate traditional, sustainable, and low-impact agricultural system. Accompany a local expert on a visit to a farm to see how the native pigs are reared, ranging free, feeding on acorns. After sampling the mouth-watering ham at the farm, continue on to the town of Aracena to enjoy a lunch that truly highlights what “eating local” should be: savor the finest local ham, cheese, mushrooms, pork, and produce. Back in historic Sevilla, join a local wine professional to sample a variety of wines and Spanish charcuterie at a tasting in Sevilla’s oldest bar. Day 4 – Jerez de la Frontera Today, learn why many of the world’s top wine critics believe that sherry is the most underrated fine wine in the world. Travel to nearby Jerez de la Frontera, where a private wine expert will guide you through tastings of Jerez sherries and brandies. The first visit will be to a vineyard outside of Jerez to see how the Palomino grapes are cultivated and to learn what factors affect grape production and quality. Once in town, come to understand the sherry-making process by exploring two bodegas and participating in a tasting of various brandies and sherry types, ranging from dry fino to sweet sherry. Savor a delicious lunch in one of the best restaurants in Jerez, sampling traditional local delicacies and fine wines. After lunch, a special treat awaits: a performance of the world-famous Andalucían “dancing stallions”, run by the Royal Andalucían School of Equestrian Art, which maintains the classical traditions of Spanish baroque horsemanship (this show is only available on certain days). Day 5(a) – Departure If you are on a tight schedule and only have a few days to spend in this lovely region, your tour can end after your experiences in and around Sevilla. If you have a few more days to spend, visit the historic town of Ronda. Day 5(b) - Ronda Journey through the countryside, across endless acres of olive trees, to the magical town of Ronda, Andalucía’s rural and most beautiful pueblo blanco, or “white village”. Of Moorish and Christian legacy, Ronda is known for its spectacularly dramatic waterfall-covered gorge, its picturesque and aged bullring, and for being one of Hemingway’s favorite inspiring haunts. Explore boutique wineries where grapes are picked by hand, companion planting is used to organically control insects, and natural yeasts are used in the winemaking process. Join the winemakers as they share their wines, their stories and their expertise, followed by a private lunch in a boutique winery. After lunch, visit a traditional olive oil mill in the rolling hills outside Ronda, where skilled cultivators make organic olive oil in much the same way as they have for hundreds of years. After observing the process, partake in a special olive oil tasting. Day 6 – Ronda Explore a typical Andalucían culinary workshop when you visit an artisanal cheesemaker in the scenic mountains near Ronda. Afterward, enjoy free time to explore the beautiful old town, the finely preserved Arabic baths, and the Neoclassical bullring, the oldest in Spain. Consider having a drink on the terrace of the historic town hall, which is now home to a luxury parador hotel, and affords dramatic views of the canyon and surrounding countryside. Day 7 – Departure Private transfer to the airport or train station for the return journey home. Notes: The trip price is based on the included services and the number of people traveling. Trips start from $400 per person per day. This trip is available year round and is fully customizable, whether your ideal trip would last three days or three weeks. Please contact Epicurean Ways for detailed information and suggestions. Let us help you complete your Spanish experience. 
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