In this episode of Maison Voyage: The Art of Luxury Travel, Vanessa sits down with Josefina Melendez — founder of X-Plora Travel, military spouse turned travel professional, and a specialist in deeply curated wine country experiences in Spain. Josefina brings a uniquely personal lens to luxury travel: born in Chile, shaped by years living in Italy, and now based in St. Augustine where she also leads food and wine walking tours through one of America's oldest cities. Together they dive deep into the world of northern Spain — a region that most travelers completely overlook in favor of Barcelona and Madrid, and one that Josefina believes offers some of the most extraordinary food, wine, and cultural experiences in all of Europe. They explore the wines of Rioja and the rare, ocean-kissed Txakoli grape of Basque Country, the Michelin-starred food scene of San Sebastian, the historic Monday market of Guernica, Jai Alai, the Guggenheim Bilbao, and why tasting a private-cellar bottle of Rioja that never gets exported — opened only because your guide has the relationship — is one of the purest definitions of luxury travel there is. Josefina also gives a behind-the-scenes look at her small-group wine country itinerary (Bilbao to San Sebastian, late October) and her women-only "Women Who Wander" series headed to Bali. It's a rich, warmhearted conversation about why travel should change you — and how the right advisor makes that possible.

Maison Voyage: The Art of Luxury Travel is the official podcast of the Maison Voyage brand, hosted by luxury travel advisor and founder Vanessa Kromer. With more than 16 years specializing in Italy, Europe, and bespoke international journeys, Vanessa sits down with the hoteliers, DMCs, destination experts, and industry insiders who are quietly defining what luxury travel looks like today — beyond the price tag, beyond the postcard, and beyond what you'll find on a typical influencer reel. Whether you're an affluent traveler researching your next unforgettable trip or a travel professional looking to sharpen your craft, each episode is designed to inspire, educate, and reveal the access, relationships, and intentional design that turn a vacation into something truly extraordinary.

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Learn More About X-Plora Travel: https://x-plora.com

Subscribe to Maison Voyage Magazine https://maisonvoyagemagazine.com

Follow Vanessa on Instagram to keep the journey going between episodes! @vanessakromermmv and the podcast IG www.instagram.com/maisonvoyagemagazine

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