Work a Rioja vineyard: Harvest, taste wines & cave tour

Prune or harvest, then descend into 500 years of underground history

This hands-on vineyard activity in Rioja Alta puts you to work alongside a local grower doing seasonal tasks like pruning or harvesting, followed by a traditional almuerzo (Spanish potato omelette, chorizo, ham and bread) eaten in the vineyard. You then tour 16th-century underground caves and taste four wines (three estate and one premium) paired with local cured meats. The experience runs three hours with a live guide in English or Spanish.

The experience

Most wine experiences in Rioja stop at the tasting room. This one starts in the soil. You arrive at a family vineyard and work the land itself: pruning vines in winter, harvesting in autumn, whatever the season demands. The grower works alongside you, not narrating from the sidelines. After the physical work, you sit down to an almuerzo right there among the vines: Spanish tortilla, local Riojan chorizo, cured ham and fresh bread, eaten the way the vineyard workers have eaten for generations.

From the vineyard, you descend into the family's 16th-century underground caves, where 500 years of winemaking history is written into the stone. A guided tour moves through the cellars while you taste four wines (three estate-grown and one premium selection) paired with a spread of local cured meats. The caves stay cool year-round and the tasting happens at a pace that lets you linger on each wine without rushing through.

What’s included

• Seasonal vineyard work alongside a local grower (pruning or harvesting depending on the time of year).
• a rustic almuerzo of Spanish tortilla, Riojan chorizo, cured ham and fresh bread eaten in the vineyard.
• a guided tour of 16th-century underground caves.
• tasting of three estate wines and one premium wine paired with local cured meats.
• a live guide in English or Spanish.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:00 and 16:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (18 to 65 years) · Senior (66 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPets welcomeNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Luna Global Travel

Is this one for you?You'll need to arrange your own transport to the vineyard since pickup is not included, but once you arrive, the grower meets you there and the activity unfolds entirely on the property: no moving between locations. This works well if you're staying in Rioja Alta or can hire a driver for the day, and it means the whole three hours stays focused on the work, the food and the caves without travel time eating into the experience.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What kind of vineyard work will I actually be doing?

The seasonal tasks change throughout the year: pruning happens in winter, and harvesting in autumn. You work alongside the local grower doing whatever the vines need at that time of year, so the experience shifts with the calendar.

Is this a full meal or just a snack?

The almuerzo is a rustic countryside snack (Spanish potato omelette, local chorizo, ham and fresh bread) not a multi-course restaurant meal. It's substantial enough to fuel you after the vineyard work and eaten in the traditional way, sitting among the vines.

How do I get to the vineyard if I don't have a car?

Transportation to and from the winery is not included in this experience, so you'll need to arrange your own way there. A local guide meets you at the vineyard and leads the activity in English or Spanish.

What's inside the 16th-century caves?

The underground cellars hold the winery's aging wines and storage, carved into the stone centuries ago. The guided tour moves through them while you taste four wines paired with cured meats, so you see how the caves function as part of the winemaking process.

How long does the whole experience take?

The activity runs three hours from start to finish, covering the vineyard work, the almuerzo, the cave tour and the wine tasting.