I have an upcoming trip that is scheduled as follows: Fly to Barcelona then drive to Toulouse for four days, Bordeaux for three, Biarritz for three, Zaragoza for two days, Madrid for three, and fly home from Madrid.

This trip is mostly about food and wine and particularly cassoulet.

I am considering skipping Bordeaux based on the fire situation. I will probably wait until closer to our 8/21 departure date to make any decisions, but I am wondering if anyone has suggestions for an alternative. San Sebastian and Bilbao come to mind, or maybe Pau. We have been to both San Sebastian and Bilbao but basically on a drive-by. We have never been to Pau. Open to any and all suggestions.

BTW if it's still 100 degrees, we will probably reconfigure the whole trip and catch a flight from Barcelona to someplace cooler. The only thing I am really locked into is the three days in Madrid.

Agree with coming up with a backup plan. The lack of rain and high temps in the area over the coming week aren't going to help the fire slow down.

You could pivot to Saint-Jean-de-Luz, french Basque Country that has great wine options and close to San Sebastin & Bilbao for day trips. I don't know if that's far enough away from the fires to feel comfortable, maybe more so on the smoke and road closure front.

I would personally lean toward flying somewhere else from Barcelona to not worry about that area.

Considerations based on wine, food, and more mild temps
- Reims or Epernay to keep with the French theme
- Mosel Germany
- Wachau Valley Austria
- Alsace France

I also love Piedmont Italy, but it will be warm so maybe better for a future trip.

FWIW, I was chatting with friends in Madrid and they said the smoke isn't too bad. Comes in occasionally but you could still enjoy a few days there.

Hope it helps!

Thanks for those thoughts.

I also love Piedmont. Some great hotels in Sinio and Fassano, and the wine museum in Barolo is one of my favorites.

I haven't been to Sinio, and I'm not familiar with Fassano. I think there is a city with a similar name in like SE Italy but I might be wrong.

I've only done the Lake District of Piedmont but have had clients go to Relais San Maurizio and Nordelaia…both look amazing!

You are correct. I meant Fossano, and the hotel there is Palazzo Righini. The Castello di Sinio is a small hotel in a restored castle in Sinio. Both are fantastic.

Just looked up the castle in Sinio, that place looks awesome, thanks for sharing!

Kreg17 said:

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Agree with coming up with a backup plan. The lack of rain and high temps in the area over the coming week aren't going to help the fire slow down.

You could pivot to Saint-Jean-de-Luz, french Basque Country that has great wine options and close to San Sebastin & Bilbao for day trips. I don't know if that's far enough away from the fires to feel comfortable, maybe more so on the smoke and road closure front.

I would personally lean toward flying somewhere else from Barcelona to not worry about that area.

Considerations based on wine, food, and more mild temps
- Reims or Epernay to keep with the French theme
- Mosel Germany
- Wachau Valley Austria
- Alsace France

I also love Piedmont Italy, but it will be warm so maybe better for a future trip.

FWIW, I was chatting with friends in Madrid and they said the smoke isn't too bad. Comes in occasionally but you could still enjoy a few days there.

Hope it helps!

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I can confirm SJDL is far away from the fires.