Private wine tasting meals at Seville’s oldest tavern

Seville’s oldest bar, El Rinconcillo, opened in 1670. Upstairs, its restaurant provides the setting for a private wine tasting meal led by Roger, a host who has lived in Spain for 30 years. You’ll taste wines from Jerez alongside Spanish reds and whites, with each glass matched to a course.

I like the focus on food and wine together, not wine as a stand-alone parade of glasses. I also like the private format, which gives Roger room to adjust the wines or dishes to your preferences. The main caution is price: at $183.35 per person, this is a serious meal-and-tasting purchase, not a quick introduction to Spanish wine.

Key points to know before booking

• A 1670 setting: The tasting takes place above El Rinconcillo, Seville’s oldest bar, with bare brick walls and beamed ceilings.
• Roger leads the meal: He explains Spanish wine regions, grapes, production methods, and the ageing process behind sherry-style wines.
• Food is part of the lesson: Expect acorn-fed Iberian ham, Huelva prawns, a meat dish, Spanish cheese, dessert, coffee or tea, and wine pairings.
• Private and flexible: Only your group takes part, and the wines or dishes can be varied if you ask.
• Pickup is offered: You can meet at El Rinconcillo or arrange collection from where you are staying.
• Allow two and a half hours: This is a full evening or meal experience, not a brief tasting at a bar.

Starting above Seville’s oldest bar

Your meeting point is El Rinconcillo at C. Gerona, 40, in Seville’s Casco Antiguo. The wine tasting meal takes place in the restaurant on the first floor above the old bar, so the experience gives you two connected settings: a famous traditional drinking place below and a quieter dining room above.

The restaurant keeps as much of its original character as possible. Bare brick walls and beamed ceilings give the room a more useful sense of place than a modern tasting room would. You are not simply sampling Spanish wine in an anonymous venue. You are learning about it in one of Seville’s oldest food-and-drink institutions.

That setting matters because Spanish wine makes more sense when connected to local eating habits. The meal is not an optional extra placed beside the tasting. It is the structure of the evening. Each dish is selected to work with a particular wine, giving you a practical way to notice how salt, fat, sweetness, and texture affect what is in your glass.

The activity ends back at the meeting point. Pickup from your accommodation is also available, but you should arrange that in advance when booking. If you prefer to make your own way there, the venue is near public transportation.

Roger’s approach to Spanish wine

Roger leads the tasting for A Question of Taste. His role goes beyond pouring wine and naming grapes. He explains Spanish wine regions, the grapes used, and how the wines are made, with special attention to the ageing methods used for authentic sherry-style wines.

That focus is especially useful in Seville. Jerez wines can be confusing if you only know the broad label of sherry. The style is shaped by the region, the grape, and the way the wine matures. Roger’s explanations help connect those details to what you taste, rather than leaving you with a list of unfamiliar names.

He may use maps and photographs of wineries to make the regions easier to picture. That is a small but helpful touch. Wine talk can become abstract quickly, especially when several Spanish regions appear in one sitting. Visual aids give you something concrete to follow.

The tasting usually combines wines from the Jerez region with Spanish red and white wines. That range lets you compare different styles instead of spending the entire meal on one narrow category. You might find the sherry-style wines most useful if you have only encountered sweet versions before, or if you want a clearer idea of how Spanish fortified wines fit into a meal.

The pace also seems suited to people who want conversation. Roger has been described as an engaging host, and the private setting means your group can ask questions without worrying about holding up a larger class. If you already know wine, you can request different bottles. If you are new to Spanish wine, you can let Roger guide the progression.

The food pairings make the tasting practical

The planned meal includes several distinctly Spanish ingredients and dishes:

• Acorn-fed Iberian ham
• Fine prawns from the Huelva coast
• A meat dish
• Spanish cheese
• Typical desserts
• Coffee or tea

The Iberian ham is a strong choice for a wine pairing because its salt and fat give you an immediate way to compare wines. The Huelva prawns bring a different texture and flavor. Meat and cheese then move the meal toward fuller wines, while dessert gives the tasting a sweeter finish.

The important point is not simply that the food is included. The dishes are chosen as matches for the different wines, so you can taste the reason behind the pairing. That makes the experience more useful than ordering a random plate of tapas alongside a glass of wine.

You can also ask for other dishes served with the wine, and the selection can be adjusted to suit your wishes. The same applies to the wines. This flexibility is valuable for a private group with different tastes, though you should make requests clearly before or during the meal rather than assume every possible substitution is included.

The meal is substantial enough to function as lunch or dinner. The booking information lists alcoholic beverages, lunch, dinner, and coffee or tea as included. Soda and pop are not included, so a nonalcoholic drink beyond coffee or tea may cost extra.

Why the private format matters

This is a private activity, so only your group participates. That changes the tone considerably. You are not sharing the table with strangers, and Roger can spend more time on the questions that interest your group.

For two people, the format offers a more focused food-and-wine evening. For a group of six, it can work well as a social meal while still leaving room for instruction. The experience can also suit a somewhat larger private group, though no maximum group size is stated, so you should confirm the number when booking.

The private structure is particularly useful if your group has mixed experience. One person may want to understand sherry production, another may care more about food, and someone else may simply want a good Spanish dinner. A shared table with a responsive host gives everyone a way into the experience.

The tradeoff is that the price reflects exclusivity, food, alcohol, and a hosted lesson. At $183.35 per person, you should book this for the whole package. If you only want to sample a glass of sherry and eat a few tapas, you can spend less elsewhere in Seville. If you want a guided meal with tailored wine choices and a historic setting, the cost is easier to justify.

A useful backup when El Rinconcillo is unavailable

The usual setting is El Rinconcillo, but the experience can sometimes be adapted if the restaurant is closed. On one occasion, Roger met the group at their hotel and led them to four tapas places in the neighborhood, pairing wines with Iberian ham and tapas along the way.

That alternative is worth noting because it shows how the activity can retain its main purpose even when the primary venue is not available. Instead of a seated meal above El Rinconcillo, you may get a moving food experience with several stops and a closer look at neighborhood eating.

It also means the exact format can depend on availability. Do not book expecting a guaranteed four-stop tapas walk. The stated meeting point and normal venue remain El Rinconcillo, while the neighborhood option is an example of how Roger may adapt the plan.

If the restaurant setting is the main reason you are interested, confirm the venue after booking. Confirmation is sent within 48 hours, subject to availability.

Who will get the most from this experience

I would recommend this for you if wine is part of your interest in Seville, but you also want a full meal and local context. It fits couples, families, and private groups who enjoy sitting down for a long meal rather than rushing between sights.

It is also a good choice if you find Spanish wine labels hard to sort out. The combination of maps, regional explanations, food pairings, and side-by-side wines gives you a practical framework. You can leave with a better sense of why a wine tastes the way it does, not just a favorite bottle with no context.

Food lovers will have plenty to focus on. The Iberian ham, Huelva prawns, Spanish cheese, and meat dish make the evening more than a technical tasting. You can pay attention to the ingredients, the pairings, and the way the meal changes from one wine to the next.

I would think twice if you do not drink alcohol, since the main purpose is wine tasting and alcoholic beverages form the center of the meal. I would also be cautious if your Seville schedule is tightly packed. Two and a half hours is an approximate duration, and a private meal with discussion can feel longer than a fixed sightseeing stop.

Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. The activity is near public transportation, and pickup may make the arrival easier if you are staying in Seville’s historic center or nearby.

Practical details that affect your decision

The listed price is $183.35 per person. That covers the hosted tasting, wine, food, and coffee or tea, but not soda or pop. Because lunch and dinner are both listed among the inclusions, the meal is intended to be substantial rather than a small snack plate.

You can meet at El Rinconcillo, C. Gerona, 40, or request pickup from where you are staying. The activity returns to the meeting point. It is offered in English, which is important if you want detailed explanations about wine production and pairing.

The booking is not fully secure until availability is confirmed. Confirmation is expected within 48 hours. For planning, I would avoid scheduling another fixed activity immediately afterward. The tasting is designed around conversation and a meal, not a strict series of timed samples.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes made inside that window are not refunded or accepted. That rule is worth noting because private meals require preparation, and last-minute changes are restricted.

Should you book it?

Book this experience if you want a serious Spanish meal with wine instruction, not just a quick tasting. The setting above El Rinconcillo, Roger’s clear explanations, the focus on Jerez wines, and the carefully matched food give the evening a strong sense of place.

The price is high, but the package includes a private host, several food courses, Spanish wines, and about two and a half hours of attention. For a couple or small group celebrating a special night in Seville, that can be good value.

Skip it if your main goal is a cheap tapas crawl, a short bar stop, or a nonalcoholic food tour. For everyone else, especially people curious about sherry and Spanish regional wine, this is one of the more useful ways to turn a meal in Seville into a lesson you can remember.

FAQ

Where does the wine tasting take place?

It normally takes place in the restaurant on the first floor above El Rinconcillo, at C. Gerona, 40, in Seville’s Casco Antiguo.

How long does the experience last?

The approximate duration is 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Who leads the tasting?

Roger from A Question of Taste leads the experience. He discusses Spanish wine regions, grapes, production methods, and sherry-style ageing.

What wines will I taste?

The tasting normally includes wines from the Jerez region along with Spanish red and white wines. The wines can be varied to suit your wishes.

What food is included?

The meal normally includes acorn-fed Iberian ham, prawns from the Huelva coastline, a meat dish, Spanish cheese, typical desserts, and coffee or tea.

Is pickup available?

Yes. You can request collection from where you are staying or meet the group at El Rinconcillo.

Is this a private activity?

Yes. Only your group participates.

What happens if I need to cancel?

You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours in advance are not accepted or refunded.