Wine and food in Seville’s oldest tavern.

This private tasting meal pairs Spanish wines with real Spanish plates in the restaurant set on the first floor above El Rinconcillo, the bar opened in 1670, with bare brick walls and beamed ceilings. What I like most is the focus on sherry-style aging (not just saying the word), and the way the food is built to match each pour—acorn-fed Iberian ham, Huelva prawns, a proper meat course, Spanish cheese, and typical desserts.

I also like that the host talks through the wines in a clear, hands-on way—wine regions, grapes, how the wines are made, and why the ageing process matters—often using simple visual helps like maps or pictures. One possible drawback: you’re signing up for a sit-down, course-by-course meal, not a quick snack, and soda/pop isn’t included.

You’ll meet at El Rinconcillo (C. Gerona, 40) unless pickup is arranged from your accommodation, and the whole thing runs about 2 hours 30 minutes in English with just your group.

Key things to know before you go

• Seville’s 1670 address: the meal happens on the first floor above El Rinconcillo, a landmark bar in the old center.
• Sherry-style aging is the star: you’ll learn how authentic sherry-style wines age and why that changes what you taste.
• Food pairings that actually follow the wine: acorn-fed Iberian ham, Huelva prawns, meat, Spanish cheese, and desserts are matched to the pours.
• Small, private, English-led: it’s private for your group, with an English host who explains as you go.
• Choices matter: you can ask to adjust dishes, and they can vary the wines to suit your wishes.

Seville’s El Rinconcillo setting: why the room matters

Seville has plenty of classic bars, but El Rinconcillo brings you straight into the city’s old rhythm. The bar dates back to 1670, and the tasting meal is held in a restaurant upstairs from there. That vertical setup is part of the charm: downstairs you get the historic bar atmosphere, and upstairs you get a calmer dining space for slow tasting and talking.

The restaurant keeps a lot of the original feel—think bare brick walls and beamed ceilings. You’re not in a polished, generic dining room. Instead, you’re eating in a place that looks like it’s been doing this for centuries, even if the wine education is modern and practical. That matters because sherry-style wines and food pairings are easier to appreciate when you’re not rushed or trying to hear over a loud club.

Also, this is in the Casco Antiguo, and the meeting point is right at C. Gerona, 40. It’s convenient to find and easy to pair with a day of wandering.

The flow of a private 2.5-hour wine tasting meal

This experience is built around one goal: taste Spanish wines, then eat Spanish food that makes those wines make sense.

You’ll start at El Rinconcillo, either meeting there or using pickup if it’s arranged from where you’re staying. Once you’re seated upstairs, the pacing stays steady for about 2 hours 30 minutes. It’s long enough to learn without feeling like you’re trapped, and it’s structured enough that you won’t be guessing what you should do next.

Here’s what the included meal setup signals for your planning:

• Alcoholic beverages are included, so you can expect multiple pours across the meal.
• Lunch and dinner are both listed as included, which lines up with the course sequence: starter/tapas-style items, a main meat plate, then cheese and desserts.
• Coffee and/or tea are included at the end, which is a nice reset if your wine stops running at the same time your appetite does.
• Soda/pop is not included, so if you like soft drinks alongside wine, you may want to plan for that cost.

One more practical point: it’s private for your group. That usually means questions don’t get shut down and you’re not stuck with the awkward group pace of a larger tour. Service animals are allowed, it’s near public transportation, and most people can participate.

How the tasting works: wines, regions, grapes, and the aging story

If you’re the type who likes tasting notes, you’ll get those. But the bigger win here is the explanation of what makes Spanish wine taste like Spanish wine.

The host typically combines wines from the Jerez region with Spanish reds and whites. Jerez matters because it’s tied to sherry-style wines, and these wines don’t get their flavor from just aging in general—they get their character from a specific ageing style. During the tasting, you’ll talk about:

• the wine regions involved (why Spain’s geography shows up in the glass)
• the grapes and how they behave
• how wines are made
• the unique ageing process behind authentic sherry-style wines

That last part is the key. Sherry-style ageing affects aroma and texture in a way that’s easiest to grasp when you taste in sequence. You’ll be able to connect the explanation to the glass right away, which turns a label into an actual story.

From the reviews, the host—Roger—does this in a way that feels friendly and concrete. He uses pictures or maps now and then to show where things come from (wineries, styles, and context). That’s a small detail, but it helps you remember what you tasted because you’re building a mental map, not just collecting names.

And it’s not rigid. If you want a twist, you can ask. The experience notes say they can vary the wines to suit your wishes, and if you’d rather have different dishes paired with the wine, you can request changes.

The menu and why each course is paired the way it is

This tasting meal doesn’t treat food as filler. Each plate is picked to work with what you’re drinking.

You can expect the meal to move through these highlights:

Iberian ham with a proper tasting mindset

You’ll start with acorn-fed Iberian ham. That’s not a random garnish. Ham like this brings intense, salty-savoury flavor plus a fatty richness. In a tasting meal, that sets up the “bridge” you need to understand how wine handles salt and fat.

If you’re wondering why a tasting host keeps bringing food into the equation, this is why. Wine doesn’t taste the same way on an empty stomach as it does alongside salty, fatty bites.

Fine prawns from the Huelva coastline

Next come fine prawns from the Huelva coastline. Seafood pairings in Spain often aim for balance: you want something that complements the briny freshness without overpowering it. This also helps you compare how different wine styles handle lighter proteins versus heavier meats.

A meat dish that earns its place

There’s an excellent meat dish in the lineup. While the exact cut isn’t specified, the intention is clear: you’re moving from lighter plates into deeper, more robust flavor. That shift is useful because it changes what you notice in the wine—body, finish, and how the wine holds up when the food gets serious.

Spanish cheese and the slow, final notes

After the main, you’ll get Spanish cheese, which is one of the best ways to understand why ageing style matters. Cheese can bring intensity—both aroma and texture—and it forces the wine to show more character. It’s also a comfort-food phase that keeps the meal from feeling like a lecture.

Typical desserts to close the loop

Finally, typical desserts show up. Dessert is where tasting meals either feel thoughtful or feel thrown together. Here, the pairing is chosen to match the wines rather than just end with sugar. Even if you don’t finish every bite, you’ll still get the education payoff: you’ll taste how sweetness and ageing interact.

And remember: the experience says they can adjust dishes if you prefer other ones served with the wine. So if you’re not a big seafood person or you want a different cheese situation, this is the moment to ask.

The host factor: why Roger’s approach elevates the meal

Wine tastings can go two ways: either the host performs trivia, or they make the tasting make sense. The strongest reviews point to the second approach.

The host, Roger, is described as engaging, and he’s clearly comfortable explaining Spanish wine and culture in a way that lands. One review notes he even has wines from his personal cellar, which adds a real sense of personality to what would otherwise be a generic tasting lineup.

You also get evidence of real-world context. In one review, Roger is said to have lived in Spain for 30 years, and that matters because he doesn’t just talk about winemaking—he connects it to everyday Spanish eating and how people think about food and wine.

The “practical” part shows up in the way he communicates:

• pacing the talk so you can taste along with it
• using occasional maps/pictures so geography clicks
• comparing wines so you can feel differences instead of memorizing them

That’s why the pairing is often called out as a highlight. It’s not random. The plates are chosen to follow the wine logic you’re learning.

Pickup, meeting point, and timing that won’t derail your day

Logistics are simple here. You start and end back at El Rinconcillo, so there’s no mystery final stop.

Pickup is offered in two ways:

• meet at El Rinconcillo (C. Gerona, 40)
• or be collected from where you’re staying

That flexibility is useful if you’re tired after a long walking day. Since the tour is about 2 hours 30 minutes, you don’t want to lose time finding it or figuring out transport. Being able to meet at the bar or get pickup helps you keep the rest of your afternoon or evening on track.

Also, it’s near public transportation, so even if you don’t arrange pickup, you’re not stuck.

Price and value: is $183.35 fair for what you get?

At $183.35 per person, this isn’t a budget tasting. But it’s also not paying for a small sip and a couple of bites.

You’re getting:

• alcoholic beverages included
• a full meal setup (lunch and dinner listed)
• coffee and/or tea included
• a private experience with English instruction
• a historic setting (restaurant above a bar opened in 1670)

What makes it feel like value is the pairing depth. In many wine experiences, you taste and the food is either minimal or generic. Here, the menu is designed around classic Spanish items: Iberian ham, prawns from Huelva, meat, cheese, desserts. That’s the kind of lineup that costs real money in Seville restaurants—especially in a place that’s part of a long-standing local landmark.

The one cost caveat is soda/pop isn’t included. If you prefer soft drinks alongside wine, you may want to budget a little extra.

If you’re the type who wants to leave with actual understanding—not just enjoying a nice meal—this price can feel reasonable because you’re paying for both food and guided comparison.

Who should book this, and who might prefer something else

This private wine tasting meal fits best if you:

• want a serious food-and-wine pairing experience, not a quick tasting
• enjoy learning about wine regions and ageing styles, especially sherry-style wines
• like the idea of a private setting where you can ask questions
• want to sit in a historic Seville room, not a standard tasting bar

It may not be the best match if you:

• want a very short activity or a pure sightseeing tour
• don’t plan to drink wine (alcohol is included, and the whole rhythm is built around it)
• hate course pacing and long meals

If you have preferences, the good news is you can ask to vary the wines and swap dishes if needed. That gives you more control than many fixed-menu experiences.

Should you book it?

I’d book this if you want Seville with flavor and context. The setting gives it weight, and the tasting education gives it purpose. You’ll get a structured meal with classic Spanish ingredients, and you’ll understand more about why sherry-style wines taste the way they do after you’ve tasted them in sequence.

But if your idea of a perfect evening is wandering with small snacks, this is more of a sit-down event than a roam-around one. Think of it as an evening you plan around, not a thing you squeeze in between other plans.

FAQ

Where does the tasting take place?

The experience starts at El Rinconcillo, C. Gerona, 40, Casco Antiguo, 41003 Sevilla, Spain.

Is pickup available?

Pickup is offered. You can either meet at El Rinconcillo or be collected from where you are staying.

How long is the experience?

The duration is about 2 hours 30 minutes.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. It is private, and only your group participates.

Is it offered in English?

Yes, it’s offered in English.

What’s included with the ticket?

Alcoholic beverages, lunch, coffee and/or tea, and dinner are included.

What foods are paired with the wine?

The tasting includes acorn-fed Iberian ham, fine prawns from the Huelva coastline, an excellent meat dish, Spanish cheese, and typical desserts.

Can the host adjust the wines or dishes?

Yes. You can ask to vary the wines to suit your wishes, and you can request other dishes if you prefer alternatives served with the wine.

What is not included?

Soda/pop is not included.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel for free. You must cancel at least 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience starts, you will not receive a refund.