Wine Tours and Tastings in Madrid

The perfect accompaniment to all the tortillas and churros you’ve been enjoying in Madrid is a wine tasting tour. You’ll discover a different side to the city while enjoying a slice of Spain’s culinary culture.

Wine tours in Madrid introduce you to the region’s finest vintages, with a side of history and sightseeing thrown in for good measure. These fun excursions often come with platters of delicious tapas to help soak up all the wine.

Here's all you need to know about wine tours, some of the most delightful gastronomic experiences in Madrid.

What are the best wine tours in Madrid?

Madrid wine tasting and tapas walking tours

Many wine tasting tours in Madrid include a selection of tapas at each stop, making for the perfect combination experience. These small group trips take place in the old town, where you’ll visit some of the city’s traditional bars and taverns.

After meeting up with your guide, you’ll walk the streets, pausing on occasion for a bit of historical insight into Spanish gastronomy. Inside the bars, you’ll sample local delicacies like ham and cheese – all washed down with some delicious local wine. This is lunch or dinner with a difference!

Winery tours in Vinos de Madrid

On these Madrid wine tours, you’ll head out of the city in search of some of the most upmarket wineries in the country.

The Vinos de Madrid region offers up verdant vineyards and traditional estates, where wine-making rituals have changed little over time. There are modern venues too, so it’s quite an eclectic mix of experiences.

Your group will travel by minivan, enjoying the bucolic scenery as you make your way deeper into the countryside. On arrival, there will be time to visit three different wineries, with cellar tours and tastings at each. Your guide will explain how the wine is produced, with demonstrations to show the techniques.

Ribera del Duero vineyard tours and tastings

The ultimate day out for wine connoisseurs is a day trip to Ribera del Duero from Madrid. Even if you’re a wine novice, you’ll love exploring the beautiful valleys and vineyard-clad hillsides of this renowned grape-growing region. These full-day group tours also take in medieval villages and castles along the route.

After a smooth ride north by minivan, you’ll stop at several wine estates, with in-depth guided tours behind the scenes. This is a great way to learn the secrets of wine production, and of course, you’ll get to taste the final products afterward.

If you’re visiting in September or October, you will be able to see the harvesting taking place too.

Want to explore even further afield? There are also day trips to Toledo from Madrid with wine tasting, as well as sightseeing on the cards.

Madrid wine tour with flamenco show

For something a bit different, why not combine two of Spain’s greatest pleasures – wine and flamenco? These tours take place in the evening when the city springs to life. This is an insightful experience, with your guide sharing secrets about local customs as you enjoy a buzzing night out on the town.

First up are the tapas bars, where you can dig into an inviting array of meats and cheeses, as well as wine. You’ll discover why tapas culture reigns supreme in Spain, and how flamenco has developed through the centuries.

Then it’s on to one of the city’s most famous flamenco venues for a dazzling performance of dancing and guitar playing.

After the show, the tour continues to a hidden tavern in the old town. Here, you’ll taste more traditional tapas dishes as well as some dessert to keep the sweet-toothed explorers happy. It’s a great place to reflect on the excitement of the evening and celebrate with a few more glasses of fine Spanish wine.

Private wine tours in Madrid

If you’d like more exclusivity on your Madrid wine tour, then a private excursion ticks all the boxes. They have a similar format to the group trips above, but you’ll have your own guide and luxury vehicle transfers where required. You’ll feel like a VIP from start to finish, with hotel pickups often provided for seamless transfers.

Private wine excursions often take place in the tapas bars of the city, with personalized itineraries and dedicated sommeliers. Sometimes even the menus themselves can be customized for a truly unique experience.

You can also visit the Ribera del Duero and Vinos de Madrid wine regions for a longer day out. Lunch and food pairings can be provided with a stunning vineyard setting that makes everything taste even better. Make sure you don’t have too big a breakfast – this will be a day of feasting, Spanish style!

Which places are visited?

Madrid tapas bars

Many wine tours take place in bars serving traditional Madrid tapas that pepper the capital. You’ll visit venues that are a little off the beaten track and a favorite with locals. This is Madrid at its most authentic.

At each place, you’ll sample the delectable wine and tuck into platters of tapas, including popular dishes featured in the famous Iberian ham tours in Madrid, as well as eggplant with honey, cod brandade and chickpea stew. You may also get to enjoy some Madrid cheese tastings during your excursion to accompany the wine.

Vinos de Madrid

The Madrid Wine Region is an easy half-day trip from the city. This verdant grape-growing area is just a stone’s throw from town, but a world away from the bustle. Here, you’ll explore prestigious wineries and learn about the organic grape-to-glass process during atmospheric cellar tours.

Traditions here are strong, and this is where you’ll find the oldest winery in Madrid. Medieval towns and ancient vineyards are at the heart of this rural community, where both historical and modern wine-making techniques are used.

Highlights of a tour here include visiting centenary wine caves and learning how wine is produced in clay baths.

Ribera del Duero

This famous wine region lies just a couple of hours north of the capital, making it one of the most popular day trips from Madrid. The countryside is punctuated with rolling hillsides, lush green vineyards and charming villages. There are several wineries here that are renowned for their tours and tastings.

Ribera del Duero is known for its delicious Tempranillo grapes, and during a guided visit, you’ll learn how they are produced and harvested. Sampling the final product while admiring the sweeping panoramas is an experience to savor.

How much do wine tours in Madrid cost?

Tapas and wine tasting tours in Madrid cost €70 per person for 2 hours and €80 for 3 hours. These are small group experiences, with up to 13 participants on the excursion. For a private trip, expect to pay around €150 per person for a 2.5-hour tour with a personal sommelier.

Winery tours near Madrid are more expensive, but you’ll spend longer out and about. Trips to the nearby Vinos de Madrid region are €150 per person for a 6-hour group tour with a maximum of 19 participants. Private excursions cost €340 per person and include hotel pickups.

Full-day group visits to the Ribera del Duero wine region cost €190 per person, with up to 19 people on the trip. Private experiences are priced at €410 per person and include lunch and a hotel pickup.

The Madrid wine tour with a flamenco show is €120 per person and lasts around 2 hours and 40 minutes. This is for a small group of up to 12 participants, with an hour-long flamenco performance at the end of the excursion.

What is included?

Wine tours in Madrid city usually include a bilingual guide and visits to around four different tapas bars and one alcoholic drink at each venue. Depending on the excursion, you can have up to 12 tapas dishes.

If you’ve booked the wine tasting and flamenco tour, you have a free admission to watch 1-hour flamenco show.

The vineyard tours near Madrid and to Ribera del Duero typically include a bilingual guide, round-trip transportation from Madrid by air-conditioned minivan, and guided visits at around three wineries.

You will have a wine tasting at each venue – often over 10 wines will be sampled, with tapas selections offered alongside. Some private tours also provide lunch.

Note that hotel pickups are not usually included in Madrid wine experience packages, so you’ll have to travel independently to the meeting point. Private tours are the exception – some will collect you from your accommodation in the city center.

Where does it start?

There are several different starting points for Madrid wine tours, depending on the excursion operator. Most are in the city center, conveniently located near to public transport routes.

Santa Ana Square is a popular location – it’s easily accessed via the Puerta del Sol and Sevilla metro stations. Another frequently used meeting place is Plaza de San Miguel, which is just a short walk from the grand Plaza Mayor.

How long does it last?

Wine excursions in Madrid generally last between 2 and 3 hours, although some are longer at 4.5 hours. This gives you plenty of time to walk around the historic center, stopping at multiple tapas bars along the way.

The Madrid winery tours are a little longer as you’ll be heading out of town. Expect to spend between 6 and 10 hours on wine tasting trips to Vinos de Madrid and Ribera del Duero.

Are children allowed?

The minimum age for Madrid wine tour participants is usually 9 or 12, although some providers do allow younger children. All those partaking in wine tasting must be at least 18 years old.

When is the best time for a wine tour in Madrid?

Madrid wine trips run throughout the day so you can easily fit one into your sightseeing schedule. Most people like to book an afternoon or evening excursion when the bars are livelier. For those looking for a quieter experience, a morning tour is a good bet.

If you’re visiting the Ribera del Duero wine region, go in summer for lush vineyards or fall if you want to see the grape harvest. It gets cold up there in winter, which is when the city-based tours are a better option.

Are there any combos available with wine tours in Madrid?

Madrid wine tours plus food tastings

Many wine tasting excursions in Madrid come with delicious sides of tapas. You’ll visit several venues on a walking tour, where wine and food tours in Madrid are all part of the culinary adventure.

The wines are often expertly paired with different dishes to enhance the flavors for a true foodie encounter. If you want to combine two experiences in one, this is the way to do it!

Wine tasting tours in Madrid plus a flamenco experience

For something a bit different, these wine experiences in Madrid come with added flamboyance in the form of flamenco. The tour takes in multiple tapas bars where you’ll enjoy food and wine while learning about the local culture.

You’ll then continue to one of the top-rated flamenco shows in Madrid for a colorful show of dancing, singing and music. Some trips even let you explore behind the scenes before the performers take to the stage.

Travel tips

• Madrid wine tasting tours often involve walking between venues, so comfortable footwear is recommended.
• Many of the experiences include tapas so don’t arrive with a full stomach – leave plenty of room for the food.
• If you enjoy discovering the culinary side of the city, you might like to try a Madrid food tour or a cooking class as well.