la rioja
La Rioja, the smallest region in Spain, is located in the north and is famous for producing some of the best wine in the world. The town of Haro holds a wine festival, often referred to as the Battle of Wine, at the end of every summer. Beautiful towns line the Way of Saint James, including Calahorra, Arnedo, Santa Domingo de la Calzada, and Logroño, the capital of the region.
| D.O.C. RIOJA Wineries Bodegas Olarra Vina Real El Coto de Rioja Baron de Ley Baron de Ona La Rioja Alta, S.A. Bodegas Senorio de Villarica Contino CVNE Valserrano |
LOGRONO Restaurants Bar Soriano Wineries Marques de Murrieta Marques de Vargas HARO Wineries R Lopez de Heredia Ramon Bilbao Accommodations Hotel Los Agustinos |
d.o.c. rioja
WINERIES
Bodegas Olarra | grupobodegasolarra.com | Poligono de Cantabria s/n | Logroño
Tel: 34 941 23 52 99
This is a Gretchen Selections Winery.
One of the largest producers in Rioja, with a breath-taking barrel room. A must see for great photos, and their Cerro Anon Reserva is one of our favorite (and top selling) wines by the glass.
The high-tech tasting room at Bodegas Olarra:
Blog Post: Day 3 in Spain
The high-tech tasting room at Bodegas Olarra:
Vina Real | cvne.com | Ctra. Logrono-Laguardia km 4,8 | Laguardia (Alava) 01300
Tel: 34 945 625 255
Technically this is Basque Country, but the winery is D.O.C. Rioja.
owned by the CVNE family of wineries, it is one of the most modern facilities in Rioja, but the wines are soft and approachable.
El Coto de Rioja| elcoto.com | Camino Viejo de Lorgroño, 26| Oyon (Alava) 01320
Tel: 34 945 622 216
Technically this is Basque Country, but the winery is D.O.C. Rioja.
We've had a long love affair with El Coto, the wines are consistent and affordable. Enjoy rose on their balcony overlooking the vineyards.
Baron de Ley | barondeley.com | Carretera Mendavia a Lodosa km 5,5 | Mendavia 31897
Tel: 34 948 69 43 03
Technically this is Navarra, but the winery is D.O.C. Rioja.
Owned by the El Coto group, Baron de Ley makes famously rich wines in the Rioja Baja region.
Baron de Ona | riojalta.com | Torre de Ona S.A.| Finca San Martin s/n | Paganos-Laguardia 01307
Tel: 34 941 121 154
Technically this is Basque Country, but the winery is D.O.C. Rioja.
Owned by the Bodegas La Rioja Alta, the winery is one of the few chateau style wineries in Rioja, and they have an amazing guest house for staying the night at the winery.
La Rioja Alta, S.A. | riojaalta.com | Avda. De Vizcaya, 8 | Haro 26200
Tel: 34 941 31 03 46
One of the most beloved producers in Rioja, and one of the oldest. A stop in Haro to see the old Bodega and visit the wine store is a must. Grab a bottles of the Ardanza Reserva, a Barcelona favorite.
Bodegas Senorio de Villarrica | villarica.es | Carretera N-120, KM 41 | Hervias 26257
Tel: 34 941 420 151
Very modern and new, but a smaller producer in comparison to most in Rioja. There is a beautiful terrace for tasting the wines and viewing the vineyards.
Contino | Finca San Rafael | Laserna (Alava) 01321
Tel: 34 945 600 201
Technically this is Basque Country, but the winery is D.O.C. Rioja.
Owned by the CVNE family of wineries, and always considered one of the best producers in Rioja. Produces one of the most amazing 100% Graciano wines (very rare) in Rioja.
CVNE | cvne.com | Barrio de la Estacion s/n | Haro 26200
Tel: 34 941 304 809
A classic produer in Haro, that is an easy stop in when visiting the town. Neighbors with La Rioja Alta and Muga.
Barrels at CVNE:
Valserrano | valserrano.com | Herreria 76 | Villabuena 01307
Tel: 34 945 609 085
Technically this is Basque Country, but the winery is D.O.C. Rioja.
A great visit to see old caves utilized as wine storage and barrel ageing. They also produce some amazing "monovarietal" wines that are hard to find in Rioja, as well as an incredible white wine.
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logroño
Bar Soriano| Travesia Laurel 2 | Logroño 26001
Tel: 34 941 22 88 07
All they serve here are big button mushrooms cooked on a plancha with garlic oil and tiny shrimp on top. It's all you need to eat in Logrono - as the mad crowds will attest to.
WINERIES
Marques de Murrieta | marquesdemurrieta.com | Finca Ygay, Ctra. Logroño-Zaragoza Km 5 | Logroño 26006
Tel: 34 917 82 44 00
The OLDEST winery in Rioja, and one of the most beautiful with its new renovations. If you can grab a bottle of their limited release Gran Reserva Ygay, you won't regret it.
Marques de Vargas | marquesdevargas.com | Ctra. de Zaragoza, Km. 6 | Logroño 26006
Tel: 34 941 261 401
One of the few chateau style producers in Rioja with a very cool barrel ageing room, great for photos. One of the first wineries in Spain to utilize Russian oak in their blends. They only produce Reserva wines, and their super professional tasting room is a treat for sampling them.
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haro
WINERIES
R Lopez de Heredia | lopezdeheredia.com | Avda. de Vizcaya, 3 | Haro
26200
Tel: 34
941.310.244
One of the oldest wineries in Rioja, right next door to La Rioja Alta in Haro. This is an absolute must to visit, they produce some of the longest aged wines in all of Spain (even their whites and roses!) and haven't changed the decor or wiped the mold from the walls in over 100 years. Like stepping back in time. Appointments are required, but easy to get.
Ramon Bilbao | bodegasramonbilbao.es | Avda del Santo Domingo de la Calzada, 34 | Haro 26200
Tel: 34 941 31 02 95
Also one of the oldest in Rioja and located in Haro (with all the other most historic producers). Makes more modern and intense wines now, with a spectacular facility for ageing.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Hotel Los Agustinos | hotellosagustinos.com | San Agustin, 2 | Haro 26200
Tel: 34 941 311 308
This is one of Spain's famous parador hotels, and we always try to stay here. Beautiful ancient location, with great breakfasts in the morning.
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