World-Class Dining and Beaches in Basque Country

Basque Country, located in northern Spain and southwestern France, is one of the most captivating culinary havens worldwide. The independent region is home to the Euskaldunak people who have their own language, culture and community centered on the appreciation of food and wine. This beautiful area has hundreds of miles of coastline along the Bay of Biscay, and our small group of travelers will spend a week in San Sebastián, a small city formed around a horseshoe-shaped beach.

San Sebastián is a vibrant city, and you will explore it all from the local wine Txacoli to Rioja’s reds, tapas to tasting menus, farmhouse tables to farmers markets, queso Idiazabal to chocolat, sea views to cobbled streets. Our home base will be an exclusive 4-star boutique hotel located in a historical building in the center of the city and very close to the beach.

Chef Guillermo is your Guide

Chef Guillermo Delavault has been visiting San Sebastián for over twenty years and considers it his second home. He fell in love with Basque cuisine and culture and was the chef at a prestigious hotel there before moving to the United States. He will share his passion for this region with our group as he leads us through tastings that will electrify your senses. In addition to his deep knowledge and enthusiasm for the culinary world, Guillermo is an avid traveler and he makes a fun and friendly companion. Chef Guillermo will partner with a Basque colleague and close friend, Chef Lander Ganzo, to introduce us to the local cuisine firsthand.

Basque Cuisine

Basque cuisine is renowned worldwide for its exceptional quality and unique flavors. Pintxos, the Basque version of tapas, are a culinary highlight, often served in bars and taverns throughout the region. The “old town” is home to the largest concentration of bars in all of Europe and every night the Donostiarras (locals) head out in groups to hit as many pintxos bars as possible. Basque chefs are celebrated for their use of fresh, locally sourced ingredients, and Michelin-starred restaurants abound in cities like San Sebastián.

And we will take advantage of these restaurants! You will enjoy lunch at Elkano, the one-star restaurant known for creative, elegantly plated cuisine featuring seafood and fish. You will also visit one-Michelin star Restaurante Kokotxa for a seasonal tasting menu dictated by what’s fresh at the market.

The Story of Txakoli

What better wine to enjoy all of this beautiful seafood and fish than with the traditional wine of the Basque region, Txakoli (also called Txakolina, or Chacoli). You will visit a winemaker that grows the indigenous grapes Hondarribi Zuri (white) and Hondarribi Beltza (red). The wine has a natural spritz and is typically poured from high above, so it forms in the tall, flat-bottomed glasses and aerates, enhancing its youthful effervescence. Toast to your adventures while learning about this special local wine.

This time of year is harvest in Rioja so you’ll see vines heavy with grapes, mostly Tempranillo and Garnacha. The Rioja D.O.C. is Spain’s largest wine regions with more than 500 wineries in the area. The wines pair perfectly with the unforgettable views.

Sagardotegias (cider houses) surround San Sebastián so it’s only fitting that the first stop on this tour will be at a traditional cider house for cider shot straight from the barrels and a traditional Basque feast.

Piment d’Espelette: A Legendary Chile

You’ve likely heard of or even used Espelette pepper in your cooking. This chili pepper essential to Basque cuisine and has a flavor profile that’s fresh and fruity with a hint of heat. It’s spicy without being overpowering! It’s special because it is a DOP product which means it can only be grown in the French commune of Espelette, Pyrénées-Atlantiques. We’ll visit Atelier du Piment to explore the farm and learn about the process of growing and processing the peppers.

Architecture Tourism

Basque cities like San Sebastián are home to striking modern architecture juxtaposed with historic buildings. A great example of the quirky Basque architecture is St-Jean-de-Luz, a small Atlantic fishing village with a charming market which we will visit.

You will also see avant garde, contemporary buildings in the Basque Country, most notably The Guggenheim Bilbao designed by Frank Gehry in Bilbao, where you will depart for home. You’ll have the option to add another hotel night if you would like to see the art collection which spans from the mid-20th century to present day. The restaurant inside the museum also possesses a Michelin star so of course, you should dine there too!

This seven-day tour is full of delicious food, wine and irresistible photo ops. Whether you are drawn by the culinary scene or the stunning vistas that stretch from the mountains to sea, this journey will no doubt leave a lasting impression, especially when you experience the warm hospitality of its people. Basque County has countless treasures that await you!

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