Rioja wine region
Complete guide for wine lovers and holidaymakers
In Spain, Rioja is synonymous with wine. This may be a bit confusing to start with! The Rioja wine region has the same name as one of the administrative regions in Spain (La Rioja) but the wine region as such does not coincide 100% geographically with it. The denomination of origin Rioja spreads along 54.000 hectares around three different Communities (La Rioja, Basque Country, and Navarre).
La Rioja is about serious winemaking and wine drinking, but the region is so beautiful that it is also about vacation-making. In this section, we will cover both aspects. So no matter if you are looking for information about the wines or planning a trip to enjoy the region, we will try to get all your questions answered.
In this section, we will provide you with information to ensure you learn about Rioja from different perspectives. On the website, we have different articles that cover La Rioja wine region. To ensure you focus on what is of utmost interest for you we describe what you can find in different articles. Few regions in the world of wine make wine lovers dream of visiting to enjoy a wine tour. Only places like Bordeaux, Porto and the Douro Valley, Jerez de la Frontera in Southern Spain, Borgogne or Loire Valley have such power in Europe.
Rioja wine architecture tour
Enjoy an amazing wine and food pairing tasting meal at a top notch winery and discover wineries that are true architecture master pieces applied to wine making.
Enjoy great scenery, traditional tunnels, “guardaviña” huts doted here and there in the vineyards that contrasts with breath-taking avant-garde architecture. … Read More
1 Day Rioja traditional private tour
This is the tour we recommend most often to first-time visitors. It’s our most popular private tour and a perfect introduction to Rioja.
We take you to 4 carefully chosen family-run wineries, where you’ll taste a wide range of wines. Your guide will make you feel like a friend, and you’ll be welcomed as a local at the wineries.
The day is designed to be informative without being overwhelming. You’ll have time to enjoy the wines and stop at our 2 favorite places to get pictures of Rioja. … Read More
Rioja Spain - Wine region table of contents
If you are planning a holiday in Rioja along with our local partners we can run the of the best tours in Rioja. In case you want to spend one or two days in the region of Rioja, we are sure you will find lots of ideas and inspiration in these pages.
Rioja is a perfect place in Spain to enjoy tapas (known as pinchos here) and to pair these with local Rioja wines. The region extends from Haro on the west to Navarre on the west all along the Ebro River (Spain´s second-largest river). We believe 3 days is a perfect amount of time to spend in Rioja and discover not just its wines but also to enjoy beautiful monasteries, a bit of El Camino de Santiago, and to be able to relax.
In Rioja, you will find fabulous wine museums, emblematic wineries, fantastic hotels, some of which are built on wineries, breathtaking landscapes, and ancient monuments worth visiting. Modern Architecture has contributed in recent times to the reputation of Rioja and, luckily enough, some of these great wineries are also hotels and restaurants.
1- Landscapes
Landscapes are one of the main reasons (besides wine!) visitors to Rioja travel to our land. Every month offers something special in Rioja wine country. Some people prefer to enjoy the red landscapes late september and october bring, while others prefer to the green vineyard surfaces from March till August. I personally love Rioja in winter, when the vines show their powerful skeletons and their beauty.
If you are planning to pay a visit to the region, these are some of the best view points to enjoy our Riojan landscapes.
The lookout at El Collado in Laguardia is hard to beat. You stand above the vineyards with the Sierra de Cantabria in the background, and no matter how many times you’ve been there, it’s worth stopping for a few minutes.
I also love the view from the church in San Vicente de la Sonsierra. Looking out over the Ebro Valley, with vineyards, old villages and the mountains beyond, you really get a sense of what makes this region so special.
The terrace by the church in Labastida is another favourite of mine. It’s usually peaceful, and the views across the vines are especially beautiful as the light starts to soften in the evening.
One place that doesn’t get talked about as much is La Hez, above Ábalos. It’s a short walk to the viewpoint, but the reward is a wide-open panorama that feels completely different from the village lookouts. Wine tours offer a perfect way to enjoy the region. In our case our case, our local team organises incredible day trips to ensure you get the most of the Rioja wine region; its landscapes and wines.
2-Itineraries in Rioja
Since time is always limited you may want to plan your stay in Rioja wisely. Do you prefer small villages or mid-sized towns? Do you want to enjoy wineries but also culture? Discover the top destinations within Rioja in this article with recommendations to spend 1 or 2 days in Rioja.
3- Things to do in Rioja
Rioja is not just about wine. This region in Spain hosts in San Millan de la Cogolla one of Spain´s most important monasteries. Santo Domingo de la Calzada, on the road that leads to Burgos, is an important stop in El Camino de Santiago. There are many small fantastic villages, natural reservoirs and much more. Learn about the best things to enjoy in Rioja in this complete guide
4-Sub-regions in Rioja wine country
There are 3 sub-regions in Rioja. They are: Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Oriental (previously known as Rioja Baja) All 3 regions share important elements like wine making traditions, the classification system (Joven, Crianza, Reservas, Gran Reserva) or the grapes used; while tempranillo I sking, other grapes are also present: Garnacha (Grenache), Graciano, and Mazuelo (Carignan) for red wines and Viura, Malvasía, and Garnacha Blanca for white wines. You can learm more about Spanish grapes in this article.
Rioja Alavesa
Rioja Alavesa is the smallest of the sub-regions with 13,00 hectares. Soils are mainly clay and limestone. This sub.region is located in the basque Country and north of the Ebro river. It is the highest of the 3 sub-regions and this contributes to higher temperature contrast between day and night and higher fruit concentration as a result. We love its quaint villages. You should pay a visit to Laguardia and Labastida. The Basque country is well-known for the quality of its gastronomy and top Michelin star restaurants. Bilbao and above all San Sebastian are heavens for food lovers, and many visitors to these 2 cities decide to enjoy wine tours in Rioja. If you are one of them, please check-out this Bilbao to Rioja tour and this San Sebastian to Rioja day tour.
Rioja Alta
Rioja Alta has 20,000 hectares of vineyard, so a substantial amount of wine is produced here. Logroño and Haro are the most famous cities. Logroño is the administrative capital and Haro is known as the “wine capital” many wineries are located in Haro. Rioja Alta´s soils are similar to Rioja Alavesa, but the ownership structure of the wineries differ. There are more family owned, smaller wineries in Rioja Alavesa, while some of the most famous brands are from Rioja Alta. We love the fantastic balanced structure and bright acidity of wines from this sub-region, which is particularly famous for its spicy tempranillos
Rioja Oriental
Rioja Oriental is the largest of all 3 sub-regions. Close to 25,00 hectares, but also much more wine produced due to the higher yields in this area. The more mediterranean climate here brings earlier grape ripening and allows for higher yields. Soils here vary, but are generally alluvial with a mix of clay and silt, which can retain heat and contribute to the richness of the wines. Wine in Rioja Oriental are fuller-bodied and more fruit-forward, with higher alcohol levels than in the other sub-regions. They typically show flavors of ripe red and black fruits, with a softer tannic structure. there are fewer tours to Rioja Oriental, and if you plan a visit we strongly recommend Calahorra.
5-Rioja and its wines
We share a number of articles on our website where you will be able to find more insights into particular topics on Rioja and its wine. Enjoy the reading! and we share a toast of Riojan Wine with you
History of wine in Rioja
In this complete article, you will get to understand how the region originated, the influence of French winemakers and businessmen, and its most evolution. History of Rioja wines.
Types of wines in Rioja and classification
In this interesting article, you will learn about how wines are classified in Rioja. Rioja wines
Terroirs in Rioja
This article is awesome for anyone interested in understanding the soils and geography behind the wines. Soils and terroir in Rioja.
Wineries in Rioja
There are many wineries in Rioja! And we do not intend to get them all listed nor mentioned. Some of the wineries in Rioja are icons for the region. Maybe the best known example if Marqués de Riscal. A visit to Marqués de Riscal winery is a perfect way to learn about the history of local wineries, but there are so many other options. Believe us, most of the tiems, it is smaller family owned wineries that offer the best experiences. If you would like to get to find a sample with some of the best wineries in Rioja this post is perfect! Rioja wineries
6-5 things you probably did not know about Rioja
On this short video we mention 5 things you probably did not know about Rioja region and its wines. Check it out!
More interesting things and tours in Rioja
Hotels in Rioja – the top 10 hotels in Rioja
Winetourismspain´s blog with articles about Spain´s wine regions, wine tours in Spain´s wine country, local wines and gastronomy … Read More
Rioja road trip – Rioja at its best
Discover the best of La Rioja with this short but complete road trip itinerary in Spain´s top wine region in which you will visit emblematic wineries and taste their wines, explore magnificent landscapes, taste the traditional gastronomy of Rioja, get to know its culture and curiosities, and enjoy activities related to the world of wine. We have carefully selected each of the services recommended to make this the best way to discover this wonderful region. … Read More
Rioja wine map
A map to understand the extension of Rioja wine country and its location within Spain … Read More
Private wine tours in Rioja, Spain
Enjoy a private tour in Rioja with hotel pick-up and tastings at some of Rioja´s best wineries. Expert guides to discover Rioja wine region … Read More
Rioja wines – type of wines, regulation and history
All you want to know about Rioja wines: type of grapes, terroir, history of its wines, price evolution, regulations, size of wineries and much more in this guide to Rioja wines … Read More
Which wineries to visit in Rioja? – 15 ideas
One of the biggest attractions to visit La Rioja region is its wineries. Rioja offers a variety of small family-owned wineries and major brands, traditional and avant-garde architecture. Planning which ones to visit according to distances, visiting times, etc. is not easy. This post shows some of the most interesting wineries to visit in Rioja. To make the planning process smooth and your trip more enjoyable, we recommend contacting us for your trip to Rioja. … Read More