Seville, Spain
Available year round

Visit Seville, the magnificent and historic city in southern Spain, where life is lived to the fullest and where eating and drinking are taken very seriously. This holiday offers you unrivalled gastronomy, incredible wines, food and cultural visits and fun loving visits to tapas bars and exquisite restaurants. This holiday is for those who have a passion for food and wine and for those who wish to learn the traditions and culture of this very special city.

Apart from dishes such as paella, Spanish omelette and gazpacho, Spain´s great cuisine has been little known throughout the world. However, this situation is gradually changing as more and more people become aware of the quality and variety of the country´s gastronomy. Also now, some of the world´s top chefs are Spanish.

We can offer you the chance to learn to make anything from basic dishes to much more elaborate ones. Great stews and meat dishes, seafood recipes, vegetable dishes, salads, desserts with a Moorish influence. You decide what you want to learn and we will put together a hands-on class or classes for you.

We work with Spanish chef Willy Moya. He was trained in Spain and Paris and runs one of Seville's top restaurants, Poncio, where his creative Andalusian cooking has brought him accolades from around the world. Cooking sessions are around 2½ to 3 hours long, giving clients plenty of time to learn to prepare a range of dishes. Clients can decide what they would like to learn or just leave it in Willy's hands.

Possibilities include:

*A selection of tapas dishes
*Popular rice dishes
*Andalucian cold soups
*Seafood recipes
*Cooking with extra virgin olive oil
*Cooking with sherry style wines and sherry vinegar
*Dishes made with the ham and meat of the acorn-fed Iberian pig

You will get to eat everything you make and drinks will be served throughout the class.

As well as offering the classes on their own, we can combine excursions with cooking classes. Thus a visit to the Jerez region could be combined with a class preparing dishes with sherry-style wines and sherry vinegar. In the same way an olive oil excursion could be combined with a session on the use of olive oil in Spanish cookery. A trip to the ham-producing area would also lend itself to making dishes using Iberian ham and Iberian pork.

Here are a couple of Willy's recipes to whet your appetite:

Raspberry Gazpacho with King Prawns

Ingredients ( for 4 people)

•  1 kilo tomatoes

•  1 cucumber

•  1 onion

•  1 green pepper

•  1 clove of garlic

•  5 raspberries

•  6 dessertspoons olive oil

•  2 dessertspoons sherry vinegar

•  100g bread

•  8 king prawns

Macerate the raspberries in the vinegar for 12 hours. Heat salted water in a large saucepan and when it starts to boil add the prawns. When the water starts to boil vigorously again leave for two minutes. Take out the prawns and put them in ice-cold water. Chop up all the vegetables and put them in a blender. Add salt, olive oil and the bread which has been soaked in water. Blend everything together and then pass the mixture through a sieve. Add vinegar and water to suit your taste. Serve the gazpacho with the king prawns (chopped up if you like) and the remaining raspberries.

Shellfish Paella

Ingredients (for 2 people)

•  red pepper

•  green pepper

•  3 cloves of garlic

•  a few threads of saffron

•  1 teaspoon tomato paste

•  2 cups rice

•  4 cups shellfish stock

•  12 peeled prawns (uncooked)

•  2 large red prawns

•  olive oil

•  salt

The shellfish stock can be made with the heads and peelings of the prawns by simmering them in 1½ litres water for 25 minutes with an onion, bouquet garni, a dash of fino sherry, a stick of celery and a carrot.

Sauté the chopped up peppers and garlic and then add the saffron and tomato paste. Add the rice and stock and salt. Bring to the boil and then add the prawns and cook for 16 minutes without stirring. When removed from the heat, leave covered for a few minutes before serving.

Tapa Tours (Group Size: Minimum 2 persons/Maximum 8 persons)

Seville is possibly the best city in Spain for tapas. It has the largest number of bars per inhabitant anywhere, offering an amazing range of food. There's something for everybody whether it be meat, seafood, vegetables, olives, cheese etc. You name it, somebody is sure to have used it in a tapa. For groups of as little as two people we offer you a guided tour of some of Seville's finest tapas bars. To help you out we will provide you with an English translation of Spanish food and cooking vocabulary. We will also advise you on all the best places to eat in and around Seville. The tour price includes four tapas and four drinks.

Excursions (Group Size: Minimum 2 persons/Maximum 15 persons)

Choose from six exclusive personalized excursions. The excursions go to the sherry towns of Jerez and Sanlúcar de Barrameda, to the Sierra of Grazalema, to the Sierra of Ronda and to the Sierra of Aracena in Huelva, home to the finest ham in the world.On our excursions you really get to know about authentic sherry wines and brandies, olive oil, fine red wine and great ham, and talk to the people who are directly involved in their production and not just to guides employed to show tourists round.

The excursions can be arranged on any day of the week public holidays. Also, excursion to Jerez or Sanlúcar de Barrameda cannot be run on Sundays. All the excursions leave Seville at 9:30 in the morning arriving back at between 17:30 and 18:00 and a little later for the trip to Ronda. Pricing includes, entrance fees, tastings and a gourmet lunch with wine.

1. Sierra of Aracena

On this trip we take you to the Sierra of Aracena in the province of Huelva, a mountainous area north-west of Seville near to the Portuguese border. It is here that the finest hams in the world are made from the Iberian pig. These hams are cured in the mountain air for up to 3 years and are considered by many people to be the jewel in the crown of Spanish gastronomy.. This area is situated about 90 kilometres (56 miles) from Seville. We will first visit a farm to see how the pigs are reared and then go on to see the installations of one of the best ham producers in the village of Jabugo, a mythical name in Spain for fine ham. An expert will show us around, explaining the processes involved in the production of ham and of other products which come from the Iberian pig. At the end of the visit you will be able to taste the wonderful ham along with a glass of the best fino. Afterwards, we will go on to the town of Aracena where we will have a gourmet lunch at the finest restaurant in the area. We will sample the finest local produce including fresh cheese, ham, mushrooms, pork from the Iberian pig, wild asparagus, artichokes etc. Many of the dishes will vary according to the season. The meal will be accompanied by fine Spanish red wine and end with typical desserts.

2. Jerez

Jerez is about 85 kilometres (53 miles) from Seville and is a beautiful town steeped in history. Prior to reaching the town we will be stopping to visit a vineyard where you will learn about the many factors which affect grape production and quality. Following this we will proceed to one of the bodegas (wineries) where we will be taken around what are spectacular buildings with their rows and rows of sherry butts stacked one on top of the other. These buildings are often compared to cathedrals and it is certainly true that they give the impression of being sanctified places. After a detailed tour including a complete explanation of the sherry-making process, there will be a tutored tasting of the different styles of wine, including high end wines not normally tasted. On the tour you will also find out how sherry vinegar and Jerez brandy are made and will also get the chance to sample some top brandies. Please let us know if you are more of a brandy fan as we can alter the tour accordingly. After this first visit we will proceed to a much smaller family-run bodega where as well as being shown around we will get the chance to taste some exceptionally fine wines unknown to all except a select few connoisseurs. We will then be going to one of the best restaurants in Jerez to enjoy a meal consisting of excellent local dishes accompanied by fine sherry wines. After this tour, and the one to Sanlúcar de Barrameda, we hope that you will agree with most of the world's top wine critics who believe that sherry is the most underrated fine wine in the world.

3. Sanlúcar de Barrameda

4. Sierra de Grazalema

On this excursion we take you first of all to visit a modern olive oil mill just outside the town of Zahara de la Sierra, 90 kilometres (56 miles) southeast of Seville. This small spectacular town, one of the renowned white villages, is situated in the mountainous and very beautiful area known as the Sierra de Grazalema. At the mill we will learn about how most olive oil is produced today and we will taste a selection of oils including organic ones. After a short drive we will then go on to a traditional olive oil mill which dates from 1755. Here you will learn about the old methods of production which are now used in very few places. After tasting the olive oil they produce there will be time to look around Zahara before heading on to another beautiful white village called Grazalema along one of the most spectacular roads in Spain. In Grazalema we will eat at one of the best restaurants in the area sampling fine local food including local cheese, soups, charcuturie, lamb, wild boar etc. There will be time to stroll around the village before heading back to Seville.

5. Sierra of Ronda

At 120 km to the south-east of Seville, Ronda is one of Andalucia's most beautiful towns. It is famous throughout Spain for the gaping river gorge with a sheer drop of 120m which divides the medieval from the 18th century parts of the town. A spectacular bridge constructed in the 18th century spans the gorge and the view looking down from it is not for the faint-hearted! As well as the town being an obvious tourist attraction, the area around Ronda is becoming well-known among enthusiasts as a producer of very good red wines and to a smaller extent whites, which are being made in what are principally boutique wineries with every attention to detail. Grape varieties include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Tempranillo, Garnacha, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The vineyards are at around 750 metres above sea level, a necessary requisite for making high quality tables wines so far south in Spain. We will be visiting two of the recently established wineries where the winemakers will be showing us around and sharing their incredible enthusiasm with us. When you taste their wines you'll realize why they are so upbeat and why they think that although production in the area is small, Ronda is going to become a hallmark for fine wines. Lunch will be at a fine local restaurant sampling local dishes accompanied (obviously!) by some great local wine. You will then have time to explore the wonderful town of Ronda town with its Moorish and Christian legacy as well as taking in some superb views of the surrounding mountain ranges and of course the plunging gorge. We will then head back to Seville after a very full day.

6. Arcos de la Frontera and surrounding area

Arcos de la Frontera is around an hour's drive south of Seville. It is one of the most dramatic and beautiful of the famous pueblos blancos or white towns, being situated on a rocky limestone ridge with a sheer cliff face that plunges down into the valley below. We will stop off at the town so that you can wander around its amazing streets and squares and take in the breathtaking views from the cliff edge We will then travel a little way out of Arcos to visit one of the most impressive wineries that has appeared in Andalucia in recent times. The beautifully designed winery is surrounded by 75 hectares of vines, including: Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Tintilla de Rota. The mountains of the Sierra de Grazalema form a backdrop making this a place of incredible beauty. The philosophy of the winery is to make wine of the highest quality that will be able to compete with top wines from other parts of Spain and the rest of the world. No expense has been spared in obtaining state-of-the-art equipment as well as the best French oak barrels from the finest coopers. You'll get to see the vineyard before looking around the installations and then of course tasting the excellent wine that the winery produces. The two wines that are in the market at the moment were given scores of 92 and 95 by Robert Parker. It's then off to lunch at a very down to earth locals' haunt. We will be going to a “venta” or country inn where we'll indulge in the house speciality which is rice stew with partridge, rabbit or farmyard chicken (plucked that morning).This will be accompanied by salads and of course wine, and finish with local desserts. After lunch there will be time to visit one or two of the other stunning white towns such as El Bosque before heading back to Seville.

Wine Tastings (Group Size: Minimum 2 persons)

We hold wine-tastings of Spanish wine accompanied by food at the the restaurant on the first floor above Seville´s oldest bar, El Rinconcillo. The bar was opened in 1670 and is as well worth a visit as many of the city´s other monuments. The restaurant preserves as much of the original decor as possible including the bare brick walls and the beamed ceilings.

Our main tastings feature the wines from Jerez. As well as explaining how the wines are made and tasting the different styles we show you how versatile they are with food; something which many people are not aware of. The wines will be accompanied by fine prawns from the Huelva coastline, acorn-fed Iberian ham, Spanish cheese, excellent fish and meat dishes, and typical desserts. Apart from this tasting we are able to offer tastings of quality Spanish red and white wines.

Customized Tours (Group Size: Minimum 2 persons/Maximum 50 persons)

We can adapt all of the activities we offer to meet the needs of any group of people. You may already have arranged a trip to Spain or Seville or you might be attending a conference here and wish to add on one of our activities to your agenda. As long as you advise us at least 15 days in advance we should be able to accommodate you.

We also design food and wine tours which go beyond southern Spain, taking you to wine regions such as La Rioja, and Ribera del Duero as well as sampling the culinary delights of Spain's capital city Madrid. Three times last year we led groups visiting wineries in the north of Spain and all the tours were a resounding success.

If you are interested in a wine tour to the Rioja and Ribera del Duero regions, please inquire and let us know your requirements and we will design an itinerary especially for you.

HOW TO ARRIVE

Sevilla Airport is about 20 minutes from Sevilla center
Sevilla Santa Justa train station is 10 minutes from Sevilla center

*These details are provided as additional information. Please check below to see if transfers are included in this tour.

BOOKING INFORMATION

For further inquiries or to register, click here.

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CANCELLATION POLICY
 

Please contact us for cancellation policy information. Travel insurance is highly recommended.

CLIENT REMARKS

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MAP*

This exciting region is depicted below. You can also access Google MapsTM by clicking HERE. 

*In some cases mapping may give clients a general sense of location due to changes in venue. Please inquire about specific location.

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