Unforgettable Rioja Vineyard Stays: Explore Spain’s Top Wineries

03.09.2023 - 20:33 / forbes.com / Frank Gehry

The more than 600 vineyards, sprawled across the picturesque green rolling hills of La Rioja, Navarra and Basque Country in northern Spain, are not as visited as those of California and France but certainly should be. The World’s Best Vineyards awards were held in Rioja last month and a Rioja vineyard, Marqués de Riscal, took second place. The full-bodied reds and elegant whites are reason alone to visit Rioja and wine tastings are an essential part of the wine tourism experience. From the bold and fruity flavors of Crianzas to the more complex profiles of aged Gran Reservas, the tastings offer a delightful journey through the diverse region.

Rioja offers wine-focused activities that go beyond the tasting room. There’s the incredible Vivanco wine museum in Briones for starters that was inaugurated in 2004 by King Juan Carlos I. Six galleries feature wine-related art from Roman mosaics and paintings by Warhol and Lichtenstein plus a vast collection of memorabilia, wine presses and artefacts, covering 8,000 years of wine history. Visitors to Rioja can participate in harvest events, where they can join the grape-picking process, special wine pairing dinners are offered at many vineyards and you can stay on site at several too. Charming Haro and the region’s capital, Logroño, with their pretty cobbled streets and architecture, markets and local gastronomy, are among the many inviting towns to visit.

The Rioja region has a range of accommodations, including luxury hotels, boutique winery hotels and charming bed and breakfasts. If you can manage to secure a room, Hotel Marqués de Riscal in the vineyard of the same name, was designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry. Guests will recognise the futuristic architecture style similar to his Guggenheim museum in nearby Bilbao. The hotel's avant-garde architecture is a stunning contrast to the traditional wine region backdrop and along with chic guest rooms, there’s a Michelin-starred restaurant and spa facilities.

Hotel Eguren Ugarte, in Páganos, is a family-run hotel with loads of traditional charm. Situated on the Eguren Ugarte winery estate, guests can experience the winemaking process up close, explore the vast underground cellars and of course enjoy wine tastings. Dine in the restaurant serving local cuisine while taking in panoramic views of the vineyards and the Sierra de Cantabria mountains.

Hotel Bodega

Finca de los Arandinosinca, set within vineyards in Entrena, offers a tranquil retreat in a picturesque setting. This boutique vineyard hotel has comfortable rooms, gourmet cuisine, a spa and wine-themed activities, including vineyard tours and wine tastings.

Bodegas Finca La Emperatriz, in Haro, has three cute, well appointed guest villas on site. The