La Rioja Wine Region
Spain
The greatest wine region in Spain, La Rioja loops through medieval walled villages above the Ebro River, where Tempranillo ages in oak-scented cave bodegas beneath Haro's streets, Frank Gehry and Zaha Hadid have designed wineries for marquee estates, and every bar runs a pintxo culture as serious as San Sebastián.
Explore on the interactive map →Stops along the route
- Logroño
Capital of La Rioja and a Camino de Santiago crossing, the Calle del Laurel pintxo street packs more bars per metre than anywhere in Spain. The old quarter pulses every evening.
- Haro
Rioja Alta's wine capital. The Barrio de la Estación holds a dozen century-old bodegas built beside the railway to ship Tempranillo to France. The 29 June Wine Battle drenches thousands in red wine.
- Briñas
A tiny hilltop village above the Ebro with a 360-degree vineyard panorama and an 18th-century altarpiece hiding behind a plain medieval church facade.
- Laguardia
A wholly intact medieval walled village on a ridge above the vine sea, with three Romanesque churches and more cave bodegas cut into the rock beneath it than houses above.
- Marqués de Riscal
Frank Gehry's titanium-ribbon winery hotel cascades silver, gold, and pink waves over a 19th-century bodega in the village of Elciego. The restaurant is among the finest in Rioja.
- Briones
A Renaissance hilltop town above the Ebro, home to the Vivanco Museum of Wine Culture, the finest wine museum in Spain with 220,000 exhibits. The rooftop panorama of Rioja is the best in the region.
Where to Eat
- Restaurante 1860 TradiciónSpanish
Located within the Marqués de Riscal Hotel, this restaurant offers traditional Spanish dishes with a modern twist, paired with local wines.
- Asador TintoGrill
A renowned grill house in Haro, specializing in wood-fired meats and regional specialties, offering a cozy atmosphere.
- Restaurante Los ParajesBasque
Situated in Laguardia, this restaurant serves authentic Basque cuisine using fresh, local ingredients in a rustic setting.
Things to Do
- Bodegas YsiosWinery
A striking winery designed by Santiago Calatrava, offering guided tours and tastings of their premium wines.
- Vivanco Museum of Wine CultureMuseum
An extensive museum in Briones dedicated to the history and culture of wine, featuring artifacts and interactive exhibits.
- Church of Santa María de los ReyesHistoric Site
A 14th-century church in Laguardia, renowned for its beautifully preserved polychrome Gothic portal.