Rioja & Txakoli Wine Tasting in Bilbao with Sommelier

Taste five wines and learn why the soil matters

A wine tasting in Bilbao where you sample 5 Spanish wines—Rioja and Txakoli varieties—paired with local dried meats and cheeses, led by a sommelier in a private tasting room in the city center. The group stays small (max 12 people), and the sommelier explains the tradition, terroir and how to order wine in local bars. Minimum age is 16; the tasting runs about 75 minutes.

The Experience

You arrive at Gastronomía Bilbao, a wine bar in downtown Bilbao, and step into a warm tasting room built for this. The sommelier greets the group—no more than 12—and opens five wines, each one chosen to show the range of what grows in the Basque region and Rioja. You taste whites and reds, each paired with dried meats or cheeses that let you taste what the wine actually is instead of what you expect it to be.

The sommelier walks you through what matters: the soil under each vineyard, the climate that shapes the grapes, the tradition of how these wines are made and how to order them when you're sitting in a txoko or a local bar. You learn to taste deliberately—what you're noticing in the glass, why one wine tastes different from the last, what the winemaker was trying to do. These aren't industrial wines; they come from small family wineries, so every sip connects back to someone who made a choice about how to grow and ferment it.

The tasting room itself is part of the experience: proper wine glasses, a private space, and the sommelier's attention on the group instead of a crowd. If you have food allergies or intolerances, let them know when you book and they'll adjust the pairings.

What’s included

• Tasting of 5 Spanish wines from Rioja and Txakoli.
• local dried meats and cheeses paired with each wine.
• English-speaking sommelier host.
• use of proper wine glasses.
• private tasting room in downtown Bilbao.

Good to know

Wheelchair accessibleAccessible transportPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Gastronomía Bilbao

Is this one for you?You're in Bilbao for an afternoon or a day and want to understand the wines you'll see in local bars instead of just ordering blind—a sommelier-led tasting in a small group means you learn as you taste, and the pairing with cheeses and cured meats shows you how the wines actually work with food.

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Top questions

What wines will I taste at this tasting in Bilbao?

You taste 5 Spanish wines—a mix of whites and reds from Rioja and Txakoli, two of the Basque region's main wine areas. Each one is selected to show the variety of styles and terroir available in the region, and the sommelier explains what makes each one distinct.

What food is included with the wine tasting?

Each wine is paired with local dried meats and/or cheeses. These are light snacks meant to complement the wines, not a full meal; if you need a substantial lunch or dinner, you'll want to plan that separately.

How many people will be in the tasting group?

Groups stay small—maximum 12 people per tasting. That size means the sommelier can give real attention to the group and answer questions without rushing through the wines.

Is this tasting accessible if I use a wheelchair?

Yes. The tasting room in downtown Bilbao is wheelchair accessible, all surfaces are accessible, and service animals are welcome.

What language does the sommelier speak?

The sommelier speaks English and will guide you through the tasting in English, explaining the wines, the winemaking tradition, and how to order wine in local bars.

How long does the wine tasting take?

The tasting runs about 75 minutes, so it fits into a free afternoon or between other plans in Bilbao.