Today, the region of Rioja is highly regarded for producing some of the finest wines that can be found anywhere in the world and it remains one of the main reasons travelers love to visit this corner of Spain. Those who choose to visit the Rioja wine region will certainly not be short of things to do, however, it’s important to first clarify exactly what the Rioja wine region is as it can get a little complicated.
The wine region of Rioja is classified as DOCa (denominación de origen calificada) – the highest classification for a Spanish wine region – and is specially reserved for key areas that produce the finest grapes with the strictest quality control which in turn demands a high price tag. Rioja was the first region to receive this classification back in 1991, and today is only joined by Priorat, which achieved DOCa status in 2003.
Finally, it’s important not to confuse the Rioja wine region with the Spanish province of La Rioja. While all of the province of La Rioja is part of the wine region, it also includes parts of the province of Navarre and the Basque province of Álava.
With that understood, the Rioja wine region is truly your oyster, and what a wonderful part of Spain it is. Small, picturesque villages sit among endless fields of vines. The climate is beyond pleasant, not too far from the coast, but also protected by a small range of mountains, one of the many reasons Rioja is such a great terroir.
So, if you’re planning on visiting this luscious corner of Spain, here are a few things you may want to stick on your list to ensure you get the most out of a trip to the Rioja wine region.
Wine
The Rioja wine region is known for one thing in particular, a trip to this part of Spain is incomplete without stopping off at a vineyard or two. As an added bonus, wines always taste better when you drink them at the property on which they are produced, so make sure you leave time to do some tasting.
Vineyards come in all shapes and sizes, from huge operations that export all over the world, to smaller family affairs, so make sure you get a chance to see both. One of the most important and an absolutely unmissable sport is Marqués De Riscal, one of the most famous wineries in the world.
Also called the City of Wine, this winery was founded back in 1858, with the first bottles arriving in 1862. A lot has changed in 162 years, perhaps most drastically, the property’s incredible hotel – designed by Frank Gehry, also known for the Bilbao Guggenheim Museum – which now dominates the landscape. Visitors can purchase tickets online and enjoy a tour of the impressive facilities in addition to a tasting.
On the other end of the spectrum is Jilaba, a family-owned winery atop a hill near the river Ebro. Here, everything is much smaller, the tasting room is quaint and surrounded by flowers and vines. The vineyard itself stretches across 25 hectares, with many of the vines planted over a century ago. This stop provides the perfect place to rest as you pass through Rioja.
Stay
Of course, if you are visiting the Rioja wine region, you are going to need somewhere suitably luxurious to stay, thankfully there are plenty of options.
While you call in at Marqués De Riscal, the hotel designed by Frank Gehry is actually one of the best in the region and certainly worth a stop. Hotel Marqués De Riscal is A Luxury Collection Hotel that blends deep-rooted winemaking tradition with avant-garde design and modern luxury. Visitors will find 61 luxury rooms, ten of which are suites, these are split between two separate buildings that are linked by an impressive raised walkway.
Those seeking something a little more traditional should look to Hotel Palacio Tondón, a 16th-century converted palace that sits right next to the river Ebro and as we are in Rioja of course boasts vineyard views. This hotel is the ideal size with enough rooms to ensure the place still has a buzz, but also feels perfectly intimate with 33 rooms stretched over three wings. Its design blends classic brick and stonework with modern touches, allowing travelers to revel in the history, without losing the connection with modern luxuries.
Dine
Those spending time in the Rioja wine region will surely be enjoying plenty of the local produce, but it’s the beauty of the symbiotic relationship that is shared between great wine and food, that makes a truly impressive meal. Thankfully along with all the great wine, Rioja is also home to some seriously impressive restaurants.
In the small La Rioja town of Ezcaray lies El Portal De Echaurren, a two-star Michelin restaurant where chef Francis Paniego delivers creative, modern cuisine. Francis and his brother Chefe – maître d’ and sommelier – are the fifth generation of the family to run the restaurant, which has been in business for over a century. Expect exceptionally fresh local produce and daring ingredients like offal, which push the palate to new levels.
For something a little more traditional, why not call in at La Cocina de Ramón in Logrono, where they serve classic home-cooked rioja-style dishes. While this region gets a lot of attention for its wine, it’s also famed for its vegetables, which are renowned for their freshness.
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