Dreaming of a Rioja Wine vacation…Let’s talk some wine travel, as there’s no better way to get to know a region’s wines than to make a trip and experience it right at the source.
We stayed at the incredible hotel Marques de Riscal, which is a Frank Ghery masterpiece in the middle of the wine region. It is also home to the well-known Marques de Riscal winery, which makes some of the best wines in the region.
Other bodegas (wineries) we enjoyed were:
- The architectural wonder that is Bodegas Ysios. Go for the pictures but stay for the wine. This is a must-see wine mirage!
- The easily accessible Bodegas Muga tasting room in the middle of Haro. We have long been fans of the Muga rosé, but fell hard for their red blends too.
- Just down the road from Muga, Bodegas Roda is another must visit. Finally at Bodegas R. Lopez de Heredia and Bodegas Gomez Cruzado just across the street from each other round out a perfect day of wine-tasting in Haro.
No wine trip would be complete without good food, and that was plentiful in the region. We had a very memorable meal at Venta Moncalvillo, which was as homey and inviting of a Michelin Star restaurant meal as you can imagine (check out their beautiful take on a cheese course below). But the true food stars are the cheap, simple pinxtos eaten in cafe windows in the heart of Logroño.
I can’t recommend a trip to Rioja enough. This is a much less popular wine tourism destination than some of the French, Italian and California mainstays. Because of that you get a little more personal attention and the locals are very excited to share their wines with you. Whether traveling to a wine region or not, I’ve found the Spanish people to be extremely welcoming and friendly to tourists.
Do you have any other Rioja gems to share or favorite Rioja producers? Please share in the comments below…
Wine Levine 