We now offer six exclusive personalized excursions for groups of up to fifteen people (minimum two). 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 except 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.

For groups of four to eight people the excursions cost 140 euros per person, for three people 160 euros per person and for two people 185 euros per person. For larger groups please consult us. All prices are inclusive of transportation, entrance fees, tastings and a gourmet lunch with wine.

Please e-mail us at enquiries@aqot.com or call +(34) 954713710 to make reservations Please reconfirm your reservation at least 48 hours before the excursion leaves.

Excursion to the 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.

Excursion to 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.

Excursion to Sanlúcar de Barrameda

On this trip we take you to Sanlúcar de Barrameda, the second most important sherry town, unknown to the majority of foreign visitors. It is a similar distance from Seville as Jerez and is a beautiful place at the mouth of the Guadalquivir estuary . It looks across to the Doñana National Park and out on to the Atlantic Ocean Among the many styles of sherry wine produced here manzanilla stands out as a style of sherry made in a similar way to fino but lighter with a salty hint to it. The town is also known for very fine seafood; it is one of the best places for this in Spain. The excursion follows a similar pattern as that to Jerez , visiting a vineyard before proceeding to a bodega where, after an extended tour, there will be a tutored tasting. After the bodega visit we will go to one of the fantastic seafood restauarants along the bank of the estuary where we will indulge in langoustines, shellfish, fine fried fish, sea food and rice stews etc., all washed down with the finest manzanilla.

Excursion to 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.

Excursion to the 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.

Excursion to 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.