Authentic Rioja Wine Experience

Dear Helen, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are genuinely sorry that the experience did not meet your expectations. However, we were surprised to receive this review, as throughout the day both you and the rest of your group repeatedly expressed how much you were enjoying the tour and did not raise any concerns with either your guide or our team. That said, we believe it is important to clarify a few points so that future travelers have a complete and accurate understanding of our experience. First of all, the tour delivered was exactly as described in our listing. Our experience includes two guided winery visits and one guided vineyard experience. This information is not only stated under “What’s Included,” but is also clearly explained in the tour description: • A historic winery where guests discover Rioja’s traditional winemaking methods. • A modern winery showcasing contemporary winemaking and oak-aging techniques. • A visit to one of our special vineyards to learn about viticulture, grape varieties, and the origins of Rioja wines. In other words, the tour does not advertise visits to three wineries. It offers three different guided wine experiences, exactly as described and exactly as delivered. Regarding the wineries visited, Rioja is home to nearly 600 wineries. One of the greatest advantages of booking with a local company is discovering authentic places and unique experiences that most independent travelers would never find on their own. We carefully select wineries based on the quality of the visit, the educational value, and the opportunity to provide exclusive, less commercial experiences. Our winery selection may also vary depending on daily availability and reservations. As for the promotional photographs, they showcase some of Rioja’s most iconic locations and reflect the beauty and diversity of the region. At no point do we state that a specific winery is included unless it is explicitly mentioned in the tour description. In fact, the winery you refer to is probably the most famous and photographed winery in Rioja, and many visitors choose to visit it independently because it is one of the easiest wineries to access without a guided tour. Regarding the vineyard experience, its purpose is to provide guests with an authentic understanding of where wine truly begins: the vineyards, the soil, the climate, the grape varieties, and the work behind every bottle. This is consistently one of the highest-rated parts of our tour because it offers an authentic perspective on Rioja that visitors rarely experience without a local guide. Regarding the meeting point, our tour description clearly states that, as this is a group tour, pick-up is from a designated meeting point. Your hotel is located inside the historic old town, in a pedestrian-only area with restricted vehicle access. Entering this area requires special authorization from the local police and significantly complicates both the logistics and the safety of a shared group tour. For this reason, we use convenient meeting points just outside the old town, which is standard practice for many group experiences. Nevertheless, whenever operationally possible, we are happy to drop guests closer to their accommodation at the end of the day, as we did in your case. Finally, after receiving your refund request several days after the tour, we carefully reviewed your concerns. We completely understand that you may have imagined a different type of experience. However, we cannot issue a refund because of expectations that were not part of the published tour description. The experience provided fully matched the itinerary and inclusions advertised, and therefore there was no failure to deliver the service purchased. At Rioja Like A Native, we firmly believe that trust is built through honesty and transparency. That is why we take great care to describe exactly what each tour includes, so our guests know what to expect before booking. We also value every review, as they help future travelers make informed decisions. For that reason, we believe it is important to clarify the facts in an objective and respectful manner. For more than a decade, we have been committed to showing visitors the authentic Rioja through family-run wineries, local vineyards, regional gastronomy, and experiences that go far beyond the typical tourist route. That commitment to quality, authenticity, and transparency remains at the heart of everything we do. We sincerely thank you for visiting Rioja and wish you all the best.Dear [Name], Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are genuinely sorry that the experience did not meet your expectations. However, we were surprised to receive this review, as throughout the day both you and the rest of your group repeatedly expressed how much you were enjoying the tour and did not raise any concerns with either your guide or our team. That said, we believe it is important to clarify a few points so that future travelers have a complete and accurate understanding of our experience. First of all, the tour delivered was exactly as described in our listing. Our experience includes two guided winery visits and one guided vineyard experience. This information is not only stated under “What’s Included,” but is also clearly explained in the tour description: • A historic winery where guests discover Rioja’s traditional winemaking methods. • A modern winery showcasing contemporary winemaking and oak-aging techniques. • A visit to one of our special vineyards to learn about viticulture, grape varieties, and the origins of Rioja wines. In other words, the tour does not advertise visits to three wineries. It offers three different guided wine experiences, exactly as described and exactly as delivered. Regarding the wineries visited, Rioja is home to nearly 600 wineries. One of the greatest advantages of booking with a local company is discovering authentic places and unique experiences that most independent travelers would never find on their own. We carefully select wineries based on the quality of the visit, the educational value, and the opportunity to provide exclusive, less commercial experiences. Our winery selection may also vary depending on daily availability and reservations. As for the promotional photographs, they showcase some of Rioja’s most iconic locations and reflect the beauty and diversity of the region. At no point do we state that a specific winery is included unless it is explicitly mentioned in the tour description. In fact, the winery you refer to is probably the most famous and photographed winery in Rioja, and many visitors choose to visit it independently because it is one of the easiest wineries to access without a guided tour. Regarding the vineyard experience, its purpose is to provide guests with an authentic understanding of where wine truly begins: the vineyards, the soil, the climate, the grape varieties, and the work behind every bottle. This is consistently one of the highest-rated parts of our tour because it offers an authentic perspective on Rioja that visitors rarely experience without a local guide. Regarding the meeting point, our tour description clearly states that, as this is a group tour, pick-up is from a designated meeting point. Your hotel is located inside the historic old town, in a pedestrian-only area with restricted vehicle access. Entering this area requires special authorization from the local police and significantly complicates both the logistics and the safety of a shared group tour. For this reason, we use convenient meeting points just outside the old town, which is standard practice for many group experiences. Nevertheless, whenever operationally possible, we are happy to drop guests closer to their accommodation at the end of the day, as we did in your case. Finally, after receiving your refund request several days after the tour, we carefully reviewed your concerns. We completely understand that you may have imagined a different type of experience. However, we cannot issue a refund because of expectations that were not part of the published tour description. The experience provided fully matched the itinerary and inclusions advertised, and therefore there was no failure to deliver the service purchased. At Rioja Like A Native, we firmly believe that trust is built through honesty and transparency. That is why we take great care to describe exactly what each tour includes, so our guests know what to expect before booking. We also value every review, as they help future travelers make informed decisions. For that reason, we believe it is important to clarify the facts in an objective and respectful manner. For more than a decade, we have been committed to showing visitors the authentic Rioja through family-run wineries, local vineyards, regional gastronomy, and experiences that go far beyond the typical tourist route. That commitment to quality, authenticity, and transparency remains at the heart of everything we do. We sincerely thank you for visiting Rioja and wish you all the best.

Dear Stan, Joni, Erica, and Jonathan, We’re still talking about how much fun we had with you four! What a wonderful day it was — full of great wine, real conversation, and the kind of laughter that makes everything feel easy and joyful. Robert came home raving about how curious and kind you all were, and it meant so much to us to be able to welcome you into our home and share lunch together. It’s those moments — the stories, the tastings, the relaxed pace — that make this feel less like a job and more like spending time with dear friends. Thank you for trusting us with your Rioja day. You’re always welcome back — next time, maybe we’ll even open a few bottles we’ve been saving for special guests like you. Warm hugs from both of us, Rebeca and Robert

Hola Jay and Hilaine, What a joy to read your message! You brought such great energy and genuine curiosity to the day — it made everything flow so naturally. We had a fantastic time showing you the contrasts of Rioja, from the timeless charm of the old family winery to the bold innovation of the modern one. And seeing you enjoy the wines (and those healthy pours!) made it all the more fun. It meant a lot to share lunch with you — those quiet moments at the table are always where the magic happens. Thank you for trusting us with your day and for your incredibly kind words. You felt like old friends by the end, and we’d love nothing more than to welcome you back again someday. A big hug from both of us, Rebeca and Robert

Jeffrey, Sara — what an absolute pleasure it was to share the day with you! We’re so happy you enjoyed the winery selection — we always try to create a little bit of magic with each stop, and hearing that it was full of surprises just makes us smile. You both brought such great energy to the day, and it truly felt like exploring wine country with friends. Thanks for the kind words and for letting us be a part of your Rioja memories. You’re always welcome back — there’s always more wine to discover and stories to share!

Dear Greg, Thank you so much — your message means a lot to us! It was such a pleasure having you with us, and we’re so happy to hear that your time in Rioja was a highlight of your trip. You brought such a great energy to the day — curious, kind, and completely open to the experience. Sharing Rioja with people like you makes what we do feel so special and personal. Robert and I both said afterward how easy and fun it was to spend the day with you. You’ll always have a place here with us, and we’d love to share another glass together whenever your travels bring you back this way. Big hug from both of us!