Eileen and I have penciled in a trip mid-November. We would fly into Madrid and drive to Rioja. My priority wine visit is Lopez de Heredia. The website says “open for professionals, by appointment”. Before I just go on line and ask for an appointment as a retired professional, does anybody have a contact there?
Are there any other Rioja producers that are imperative for wine quality, especially smaller or lesser-known Bodegas with some older wines?
After a day or two in Rioja, we will head towards San Sebastian. We have been there and will only stay for one night. Looking for a dinner suggestion for top quality food, below the Michelin * level.
We then want to take a few leisurely days traversing the Pyrenees towards Girona, staying mostly or entirely in Spain. We are looking for top quality food in the mountains… goat, lamb, rabbit, mushrooms! We’re happy to stay on back roads. Is there any food of interest in Andorra?
In Girona, I know it’s too late to book Cellar Can Roca, but they have a number of other restaurants. Suggestions? We are at least as interested in lunch as dinner. We’d take a couple of days before heading to France.
We want to stay in Paradors during this part of the trip. Again, recommendations please, there are a lot of them on our route.
From Girona we will cross over to France and I will be on familiar ground in Roussillon. But any suggestions for great food between Girona and Narbonne would be welcome.
Dan,
A few Rioja ideas, some of which you are probably familiar with:
In Haro, essentially across the street from LdH, Gomez Cruzao is a nice tasting. I also liked the more modern wines at Roda and Rioja Alta, though both are likely to be crowded with other tourists fwiw.
Further afield and away from the crowds, highlights from our trip were: Abeica: Younger generation taking over family business and turning the quality way up. Only people at this tour and tasting led by 20-something winemaker. Really cool! Bideona: Nice wines made in a fresher style. Worth a stop. Valserrano: Mix of traditional rioja with some modern flourishes. Nice stop. Only people on this tour.
My fave rioja experience was the e-bike tour and tasting at Izadi if that is at all appealing. Wines made in a very ripe, modern style.
Not sure if you have lodging, but the Hospederia Los Parajes in Laguardia was excellent for a mid-priced historic hotel in a walled village.
i have been to normal restaurant in girona twice now…last meal was august 2024 and i think its the best place for dinner in old town girona for new school eats. normal is cellar can roca’s more casual restaurant. honestly, if you put your name on the waitlist before arrive, you’ll probably get an email saying you can go as many book a year in advance and never confirm.
nexe took over for nu restaurant and it seems very similar. thats a decent option in old town girona.
november is a weird time to visit the area with the beaches less popular. if you find yourself in cadaques, we like compartir (affiliated with disfrutar in barcelona). sa rascassa is our favorite place on aiguafreda beach near begur. can platillos in begur is great. vicus in pals.